Impact of wedge-shaped resection of the posterior bony arch on postoperative outcomes after open door laminoplasty in the cervical spine: a 2-year follow-up study.

Background Context: Open door laminoplasty (ODLP) can also lead to significant postoperative motion restriction that further increases over time, for which one of the possible factors is the bony impingement between neighboring posterior bony arches. Previously, we reported this phenomenon and modified technique of ODLP, wedge-shaped resection of the posterior bony arch that produced greater range of motion (ROM) of the cervical spine and less posterior neck pain compared with conventional ODLP (cODLP) in 1-year follow-up time, but no longer follow-up outcomes of the surgical technique has been reported.

Purpose: The study aimed to thoroughly evaluate the impact of posterior bony impingement following ODLP on postoperative cervical motion and related outcomes, and to compare postoperative outcomes of conventional ODLP (cODLP with those of modified ODLP (mODLP) in 2-year follow-up times.

A Sternum-Disk Distance Method to Identify the Skin Level for Approaching a Surgical Segment without Fluoroscopy Guidance during Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion.

Study Design: A retrospective review of prospectively collected data.

Purpose: To introduce the sternum-disk distance (SDD) method for approaching the exact surgical level without C-arm guidance during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery and to evaluate its accuracy and reliability.

Overview Of Literature: Although spine surgeons have tried to optimize methods for identifying the skin level for accessing the operative disk level without C-arm guidance during ACDF, success has rarely been reported.

Wedge-Shaped Resection of the Posterior Bony Arch During Open Door Laminoplasty to Prevent Postoperative Motion Limitation.

Study Design: Prospective randomized double-arm noninferiority study.

Objective: To evaluate an additional surgical procedure (wedge-shaped resection of the cranial portion of the posterior bony arch) during open-door laminoplasty (ODLP), and to compare the outcomes with those of conventional ODLP surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: In clinical practice, spine surgeons sometimes encounter patients who show bony impingement on lateral radiographs after ODLP; bony impingement may lead to reduced motion of the cervical spine and posterior neck pain.

Feasibility Study of Free-Hand Technique for Pedicle Screw Insertion at C7 without Fluoroscopy-Guidance.

Study Design: Retrospective interventional study.

Purpose: To introduce a free-hand pedicle screw (PS) insertion technique without fluoroscopic guidance in the C7 vertebra and evaluate the procedure's feasibility and radiologic outcomes.

Overview Of Literature: Although PS insertion at C7 has been recognized as a critical procedure in posterior cervical fusion surgery, conventional techniques for C7 PS have several limitations.

Repair using conventional implant for ruptured annulus fibrosus after lumbar discectomy: surgical technique and case series.

Study Design: A retrospective review of annulus fibrosus repair (AR) using a novel technique with a conventional implant.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to present the feasibility and clinico-radiological outcomes of a novel AR technique using a conventional implant to minimize recurrence following a lumbar discectomy (LD).

Overview Of Literature: Conventional repair techniques to prevent recurrence following LD have several drawbacks.

Direct repair surgery with screw fixation for young patients with lumbar spondylolysis: patient-reported outcomes and fusion rate in a prospective interventional study.

Study Design: Prospective interventional study.

Objectives: To thoroughly investigate the therapeutic outcomes of direct repair (DR) for young patients with lumbar spondylolysis.

Summary Of Background Data: DR surgery with screw fixation for a pars defect of lumbar spondylolysis is considered a notable surgical option.

The impact of generalized joint laxity on the occurrence and disease course of primary lumbar disc herniation.

Background Context: Generalized joint laxity (GJL) has been associated with spine-related disorders such as low back pain, accelerated disc degeneration, and recurrence after discectomy surgery for primary lumbar disc herniation (p-LDH). Generalized joint laxity might be a causative factor of p-LDH, but this relationship is poorly understood. In addition, the impact of GJL on outcomes after the treatment for p-LDH has not been reported.

Gender difference of symptom severity in lumbar spinal stenosis: role of pain sensitivity.

Background: Given that there are gender differences in pain perception, it is likely that there are differences in pain responses between men and women with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Furthermore, these differences may lead to different degrees of impairment in both daily activities and quality of life between men and women.

Objective: To elucidate the difference of LSS symptom severity between genders in relation to pain sensitivity.

A new technique for reduction of atlantoaxial subluxation using a simple tool during posterior segmental screw fixation: clinical article.

Object: The authors introduce a simple technique and tool to facilitate reduction of atlantoaxial subluxation during posterior segmental screw fixation.

Methods: Two types of reduction tool have been designed: T-type and L-type. A T-shaped levering tool was used when a pedicle or pars screw was used for C-2, and an L-shaped tool was used when a laminar screw was used for C-2.

The influence of pain sensitivity on the symptom severity in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Background: The symptom severity of back pain/leg pain is not correlated with the severity of degenerative changes and canal stenosis in lumbar stenosis. Considering the individual pain sensitivity might play an important role in pain perception, this discordance between the radiologic findings and clinical symptoms in degenerative lumbar stenosis might originate from the individual difference of pain sensitivity for back pain and/or leg pain.

Objective: To determine the relationship among the clinical symptoms, radiologic findings, and the individual pain sensitivity in the patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.

A therapeutic efficacy of the transpedicular intracorporeal bone graft with short-segmental posterior instrumentation in osteonecrosis of vertebral body: a minimum 5-year follow-up study.

Study Design: A retrospective review of clinical and radiological parameters.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of transpedicular intracorporeal bone graft (IBG) in osteonecrosis of vertebral body (ONV) for 5-years follow-up period.

Summary Of Background Data: Although a broad spectrum of surgical options has been described for the treatment of ONV without neurological deficits, no effective treatment has been definitely established.

Use of thoracodorsal artery perforator flap for soft tissue reconstruction in children.

Perforator free flap (PFF) is now performed with increasing frequency for soft tissue reconstruction in adults. When compared with conventional free skin flaps, PFFs are thinner and have less donor-site morbidity because only the skin is harvested. The advancement of the PFF design has spurred the identification of many skin flaps based on the perforator principle.