Factors associated with increased length of stay in degenerative cervical spine surgery: a cohort analysis from the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network.

Objective: Postoperative length of stay (LOS) significantly contributes to healthcare costs and resource utilization. The primary goal of this study was to identify patient, clinical, surgical, and institutional variables that influence LOS after elective surgery for degenerative conditions of the cervical spine. The secondary objectives were to examine the variability in LOS and institutional practices used to decrease LOS.

Vertebral artery stenosis from osteophyte: A systematic review and case series.

Background: Rotational vertebral artery syndrome, also referred to as Bow Hunter's syndrome (BHS), manifests when the vertebral artery (VA) is compressed following head rotation. This compression is often caused by an osteophyte and may lead to symptoms of a posterior stroke. This systematic review aims to shed light on the current management strategies for BHS resulting from osteophytes.

Surgical tips for the implantation of BDYN dynamic stabilization system: combining spinal navigation with motion preservation for low-grade lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Background: As required in every dynamic stabilization system, the implantation of the BDYN device implies a perfect positioning of the screws and rods to benefit from its biomechanical properties. To achieve this goal, intra-operative imaging seems mandatory.

Method: Through a case report of a patient with symptomatic grade I lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis, we present the surgical tips for the implantation of BDYN dynamic stabilization system under the assistance of spinal navigation Surgivisio® 2D/3D.

Radiological factors affecting functional outcome after the implantation of BDYN™ dynamic stabilization system for low-grade lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Background: The objectives of this study are to identify radiological factors associated with good functional outcomes after the implantation of BDYN™ dynamic stabilization system in the setting of painful low-grade degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS).

Material And Methods: In this monocentric, retrospective study, we followed 50 patients, a 5-years period, with chronic lower back pain, radiculopathy and/or neurogenic claudication evolving for at least one year that failed conservative treatment. All patients presented low-grade DLS and underwent lumbar dynamic stabilization.

Pneumorrhachis and pneumocephalus resulting from pneumothorax: illustrative case.

Background: Pneumorrhachis and pneumocephalus are rare conditions in which air is found within the spinal canal and brain, respectively. It is mostly asymptomatic and can be located in the intradural or extradural space. Intradural pneumorrhachis should prompt clinicians to search and treat any underlying injury of the skull, chest, or spinal column.

Spinal meningiomas, from biology to management - A literature review.

Meningiomas arise from arachnoidal cap cells of the meninges, constituting the most common type of central nervous system tumors, and are considered benign tumors in most cases. Their incidence increases with age, and they mainly affect females, constituting 25-46% of primary spinal tumors. Spinal meningiomas could be detected incidentally or be unraveled by various neurological symptoms (, back pain, sphincter dysfunction, sensorimotor deficits).

Unusual presentation of a common neurosurgical shunt procedure in an adult patient.

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery is one of the treatments of hydrocephalus. It involves placing a shunt from the cerebral ventricles to the peritoneum serving as a drainage point. Infection and catheter blockage are some of the possible complications resulting from this procedure.

Minimally Invasive Approach for Complete Resection of a Cervical Intramedullary Tumor via a Dorsal Root Entry Zone Using Fixed Tubular Retractor.

We describe the surgical aspects of the resection of a large 2cm intramedullary ependymoma at the C6-7 level associated with an extensive syrinx using a unilateral minimally invasive approach through a fixed tubular retractor. A gross total resection was achieved. Total operative time was 5 hours.

CT-Guided Aspiration of a Hemorrhagic Tarlov Cyst for the Treatment of a Sciatica: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature.

Background: Tarlov or perineural cysts are dilations of nerve roots resulting from a pathologically increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Although it is very common in the general population, most of these cysts remain asymptomatic. In some cases, they can evolve and exert pressure on neural elements, independently from their initial size.

Anterior Longitudinal Ligament Flap Technique: Description of Anterior Longitudinal Ligament Opening During Anterior Lumbar Spine Surgery and Review of Vascular Complications in 189 Patients.

Background: One of the main concerns of anterior lumbar spine approaches are vascular complications. The aim of our study is to provide technical details about a flap technique using the anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) when approaching the lumbar spine via an anterior corridor. This can help decrease complications by protecting the adjacent vascular structures.

Pentoxifylline significantly reduces radicular pain secondary to lumbar disc hernia: A prospective, randomized crossover, single-blind controlled pilot study.

Background And Objectives: Optimal medical treatment for low back pain, sometimes associated to radicular pain, has yet to be established. Herniated nucleus pulposus has been found to release TNFα, a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in radiculopathy. Interestingly, Pentoxifylline (PTX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, blocks the activity of TNFα.

CT guided percutaneous vertebroplasty of C2 osteolytic lesion: a case report and technical note.

Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive treatment option for osteolytic spinal lesions. It provides pain relief and stability with established good results. In this paper, we describe a new CT guided percutaneous vertebroplasty technique using a direct lateral approach between the carotid sheath and the vertebral artery, that can be safely performed under conscious sedation in an outpatient setting.

Ten Years After SINS: Role of Surgery and Radiotherapy in the Management of Patients With Vertebral Metastases.

The objective of the different types of treatments for a spinal metastasis is to provide the best oncological and functional result with the least aggressive side effects. Initially created in 2010 to help clinicians in the management of vertebral metastases, the Spine Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) has quickly found its place in the decision making and the treatment of patients with metastatic spinal disease. Here we conduct a review of the literature describing the different changes that occurred with the SINS score in the last ten years.

Cervical Spine Reconstruction with Chest Tube Technique After Metastasis Resection: A Single-Center Experience.

Background: The silastic tube technique, in which a chest tube is placed into the vertebral body defect and impregnated with polymethyl methacrylate, showed good results in patients with lumbar and thoracic neoplastic diseases. There has been only 1 study about the effectiveness and safety of this technique in patients with cervical metastases. We aimed to report our experience in using this technique to reconstruct the spine after corpectomy for cervical metastasis.

Minimally Invasive Contralateral Over-the-Top Approach for Lumbar Calcified Foraminal Lesions: A Technical Note.

Background: Various surgical techniques have been described to address intraforaminal/extraforaminal lumbar lesions. They vary from the classic posterior open approaches to minimally invasive techniques with tubular retractors and even endoscopy. These lesions have been approached from either an ipsilateral or a contralateral approach.

Case Report: A Rare Case of Fourth Ventricle to Spinal Subarachnoid Space Shunt Migration: Surgical Pearl and Literature Review.

In the event of syringomyelia communicating with the fourth ventricle, a fourth ventricle to cervical subarachnoid space shunting could be proposed. In this review article, we describe the case of a 40-year-old woman who had a previously implanted fourth ventricle to spinal subarachnoid space shunt for the treatment of syringomyelia in the context of Chiari syndrome. The catheter migrated intradurally to the lumbosacral space, but in the absence of neurological repercussions, we decided to leave it in place.

Outcome and Prognosis of Microsurgical Decompression in Idiopathic Severe Common Fibular Nerve Entrapment: Prospective Clinical Study.

Objective: Compression of the common fibular nerve at the level of the fibular neck is considered to be the most frequent lower limb entrapment syndrome, which can be either idiopathic or secondary. Decompressive surgery is indicated only after failure of conservative treatment and/or severe neurologic deficit. The effectiveness of microsurgical decompression has been established only for secondary entrapment syndrome.