The "state of the art" of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring: An Italian neurosurgical survey.

Introduction: Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IOM) is widely used in neurosurgery but specific guidelines are lacking. Therefore, we can assume differences in IOM application between Neurosurgical centers.

Research Question: The section of Functional Neurosurgery of the Italian Society of Neurosurgery realized a survey aiming to obtain general data on the current practice of IOM in Italy.

Stent augmentation of an anterior odontoid screw for type 2 odontoid fracture-dislocation in the elderly population: Report of two cases and literature review.

The fixation of type 2 odontoid fractures poses significant challenges in the elderly population due to coexistent osteoporosis and communition resulting in a high failure rate with conventional anterior screw fixation. Two elderly patients with unstable odontoid peg fractures and coexistent osteoporosis were treated with stentoplasty and anterior odontoid screw fixation. Additional anterior transarticular C1-2 screws were placed to address C1-2 instability.

Bone marrow washout for multilevel vertebroplasty in multiple myeloma spinal involvement. Technical note.

Introduction: Vertebral involvement is found in a high percentage of multiple myeloma (MM) patients, often requiring multilevel surgical treatment to reduce pain and disability and to receive prompt access to oncological care. We describe the clinical use of washout technique for multilevel vertebroplasty in MM patients with diffuse spinal involvement. The aim of this technique is to reduce the risk of pulmonary fat embolism after cement injection and possibly to increment the amount of cement and treated levels in one surgical stage.

Reliability of the radiographic variables in the International Spinal Cord Injury Spinal Column Injury Basic Data Set compared with the AO classification.

Study Design: Intra- and interrater reliability study for radiological variables of the International Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Spinal Column Injury Basic Data Set.

Objectives: To test reliability of the radiological variables in the International SCI Spinal Column Injury Basic Data Set and compare it with the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO) classification.

Setting: The database of Eastern Denmark Regional SCI Referral Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.