Lumbar Spinal Fusion Affects Sitting Disability on the Floor.

Background: Lumbar spinal fusion is a standard of care for certain lumbar spinal diseases. However, its impact on sitting, especially on the floor, has not been assessed, even in the countries where people usually sit on the floor instead of using a chair.

Methods: A total of 100 Korean patients who underwent lumbar spinal fusion and 47 patients who underwent decompression surgery were enrolled.

Comparison of cervical kinematics between patients with cervical artificial disc replacement and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for cervical disc herniation.

Background Context: Although anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is an effective treatment option for patients with cervical disc herniation, it limits cervical range of motion, which sometimes causes discomfort and leads to biomechanical stress at neighboring segments. In contrast, cervical artificial disc replacement (ADR) is supposed to preserve normal cervical range of motion than ACDF. A biomechanical measurement is necessary to identify the advantages and clinical implications of ADR.

Clinical and radiological comparison of femur and fibular allografts for the treatment of cervical degenerative disc diseases.

Objective: This consecutive retrospective study was designed to analyze and to compare the efficacy and outcomes of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using a fibular and femur allograft with anterior cervical plating.

Methods: A total of 88 consecutive patients suffering from cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD) who were treated with ACDF from September 2007 to August 2010 were enrolled in this study. Thirty-seven patients (58 segments) underwent anterior interbody fusion with a femur allograft, and 51 patients (64 segments) were treated with a fibular allograft.

Factors affecting clinical outcomes in treating patients with grade 1 degenerative spondylolisthesis using interspinous soft stabilization with a tension band system: a minimum 5-year follow-up.

Study Design: Retrospective clinical study.

Objective: To explore the factors influencing the clinical outcomes and motion-preserving stabilization after interspinous soft stabilization (ISS) with a tension band system for grade 1 degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS).

Summary Of Background Data: Despite increasing recognition of the benefits of dynamic stabilization systems for treating lumbar degenerative disorders, the factors affecting the clinical and radiological outcomes of these systems have rarely been identified.

Comparison of multilevel oblique corpectomy with and without image guided navigation for multi-segmental cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Objective: Multilevel Oblique Corpectomy (MOC) is an emerging technique for surgical treatment of multi-segmental cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) featuring extensive ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). However, the use of an oblique drilling plane is unfamiliar to most surgeons and there is no anatomical landmark present on the posterior portion of the vertebral body. To overcome these difficulties, the authors used intraoperative C-arm-based image guided navigation (IGN), and this study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of IGN in MOC.

Anterior bone cement augmentation in anterior lumbar interbody fusion and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in patients with osteoporosis.

Object: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of anterior polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement augmentation in instrumented anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) for patients with osteoporosis.

Methods: Sixty-two patients with osteoporosis who had undergone single-level instrumented ALIF for spondylolisthesis and were followed for more than 2 years were included in the study. The patients were divided into 2 groups: instrumented ALIF alone (Group I) and instrumented ALIF with anterior PMMA augmentation (Group II).

Adjacent segment disease after interbody fusion and pedicle screw fixations for isolated L4-L5 spondylolisthesis: a minimum five-year follow-up.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Objective: The purpose of this study are (1) to analyze prevalence of clinical and radiologic adjacent segment diseases (ASD), (2) to find precipitating factor of clinical ASD in each isthmic and degenerative spondylolisthesis groups, and (3) to compare clinical and radiologic change in isthmic and degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Summary Of Background Data: There is no clinical report regarding the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for evaluating ASD in patient who underwent 360° fusion with single-level spondylolisthesis with healthy adjacent segment.

Comparison of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy and open lumbar microdiscectomy for recurrent disc herniation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) and open lumbar microdiscectomy (OLM) for recurrent disc herniation.

Methods: Fifty-four patients, who underwent surgery, either PELD (25 patients) or repeated OLM (29 patients), due to recurrent disc herniation at L4-5 level, were divided into two groups according to the surgical methods. Excluded were patients with sequestrated disc, calcified disc, severe neurological deficit, or instability.

Transcorporeal approach for disc herniation at the C2-C3 level: a technical case report.

The authors describe a less invasive approach for a disc herniation at the high cervical region. A 68-year-old female patient presented with posterior neck and shoulder pain, and tingling sensation and numbness in the left hand after she fell down stairs 2 months before presentation. On neurologic examination, the power of flexion and extension of the left elbow and grasping of the left hand was decreased.

Biomechanical evaluation of an interspinous stabilizing device, Locker.

Study Design: A biomechanical study.

Objective: To evaluate the biomechanical properties of a novel dynamic interspinous device named Locke

Summary Of Background Data: There has been no biomechanical study on this device.

Methods: Five human cadaveric lumbar spine specimens (L2-S1) were tested in the following sequence: (1) intact state; (2) after removal of the interspinous ligaments of L3-L4; (3) after application of the Locker at the interspinous space; (4) after destabilization of the L3-L4 motion segments; and (5) after reapplication of the Locker to the destabilized segments.

Percutaneous endoscopic approach for highly migrated intracanal disc herniations by foraminoplastic technique using rigid working channel endoscope.

Study Design: A retrospective analysis of 59 patients operated for excision of soft highly migrated intracanal lumbar disc herniations by percutaneous endoscopic foraminoplasty.

Objective: To describe a safe and effective percutaneous endoscopic technique for removal of migrated herniations and report the results on the basis of modified MacNab criteria.

Summary Of Background Data: Migrated herniations pose a great challenge even for experienced endoscopic surgeons.

Posterior avulsion fracture at adjacent vertebral body during cervical disc replacement with ProDisc-C: a case report.

Study Design: A case report.

Objective: To report posterior avulsion fractures at the adjacent vertebral bodies that occurred during cervical arthroplasty with ProDisc-C, which was thought to be related to design of the prosthesis and lack of the prudence in surgical technique.

Summary Of Background Data: There is no previous report on the avulsion fracture of the posterior vertebral body during cervical arthroplasty.

CHARITE versus ProDisc: a comparative study of a minimum 3-year follow-up.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Objectives: To evaluate and compare clinical and radiologic outcomes of the CHARITE and ProDisc.

Summary Of Background Data: There is no clinical report comparing CHARITE and ProDisc.

Soft stabilization with an artificial intervertebral ligament in grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis: comparison with instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion.

Background: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of soft stabilization with an artificial intervertebral ligament after microdecompression for the treatment of grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Methods: From a total of 54 patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis who were treated surgically from May 2000 to April 2003, 36 patients who showed grade I spondylolisthesis without evidence of concomitant disc herniation necessitating discectomy were enrolled in the study. After decompression, the patients had undergone either soft stabilization with an artificial intervertebral ligament (n = 17) or instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF; n = 19).

Early clinical and radiologic outcomes of cervical arthroplasty with Bryan Cervical Disc prosthesis.

Among 61 patients underwent disc replacement with the Bryan prosthesis, 47 patients were followed more than 3 months and their clinical and radiologic data were retrospectively analyzed to clarify very early clinical and radiologic outcomes and complications of disc arthroplasty with the Bryan Cervical Disc prosthesis during the learning period. Mean follow-up period was 6 months. Mean age was 45.

Vertical split fracture of the vertebral body following total disc replacement using ProDisc: report of two cases.

As ProDisc has a tall keel on the plates, it has the potential to cause a vertical fracture of the vertebral body. However, to our knowledge, there is no previously reported case of a vertical split fracture of the vertebral body after ProDisc disc arthroplasty that was attributed to the keel design of the ProDisc. We report two cases of vertical split fracture of the vertebral body after total disc replacement (TDR) with ProDisc and discuss the issue of the height of the keel of the prosthesis.

Fluoroscopically assisted percutaneous translaminar facet screw fixation following anterior lumbar interbody fusion: technical report.

Study Design: A technical report of fluoroscopically assisted percutaneous translaminar facet screw fixation after anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF).

Objectives: To describe a minimally invasive translaminar facet screw fixation technique that was modified from the Magerl method, and to assess its technical feasibility and clinical efficacy.

Summary Of Background Data: There is no previous study in the literature on percutaneous translaminar facet screw fixation assisted only by fluoroscopy without using any specially designed guiding device.

Partial disc replacement with the PDN prosthetic disc nucleus device: early clinical results.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the PDN prosthetic disc nucleus device for the treatment of chronic discogenic back pain caused by degenerative disc disease. Among the 48 patients who underwent nucleus replacement surgery from January 2001 through May 2002, 46 patients were followed >6 months. The mean Oswestry Disability Index score was 58.