Evolution of the Cross-Sectional Area of the Osseous Lumbar Spinal Canal across Decades: A CT Study with Reference Ranges in a Swiss Population.

Spinal canal dimensions may vary according to ethnicity as reported values differ among studies in European and Chinese populations. Here, we studied the change in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the osseous lumbar spinal canal measured in subjects from three ethnic groups born 70 years apart and established reference values for our local population. This retrospective study included a total of 1050 subjects born between 1930 and 1999 stratified by birth decade.

Generational Changes in Lumbar Spinal Canal Dimensions: Findings from a Sample U.S. Population.

Objective: Evaluation of lumbar canal dimensions in a Chicago population born in 2 different decades.

Methods: This is a retrospective chart review analyzing computed tomography reconstruction from patients born between 1940 and 1949 (older group) and 1970 and 1979 (younger group). The cross-sectional area (CSA) and anterior-posterior diameter (APD) of the lumbar bony canal was measured at each lumbar level at the level of the pedicle.

Do intra-operative neurophysiological changes predict functional outcome following decompressive surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis? A prospective study.

Background: To analyse the relation between immediate intraoperative neurophysiological changes during decompression and clinical outcome in a series of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) undergoing surgery.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with neurogenic intermittent claudication (NIC) due to LSS undergoing decompressive surgery were prospectively studied. Intra operative trans-cranial motor evoked potentials (tcMEPs) were recorded before and immediately after surgical decompression.

Pedicle Screw Insertion Accuracy Using O-Arm, Robotic Guidance, or Freehand Technique: A Comparative Study.

Study Design: A retrospective radiological study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of pedicle screw insertion using O-Arm navigation, robotic assistance, or a freehand fluoroscopic technique.

Summary Of Background Data: Pedicle screw insertion using either "O-Arm" navigation or robotic devices is gaining popularity.

T-1 pedicle subtraction osteotomy for the treatment of rigid cervical kyphotic deformity: report of 4 cases.

Cervical kyphotic deformity represents a difficult to treat pathology often arising from multiple factors including, but not limited to, traumatic injuries, degenerative changes, and ankylosing spondylitis. Furthermore, treatment of these deformities becomes increasingly difficult with any preexisting instrumentation. Currently, several options exist to treat these severe deformities, with the Smith-Petersen osteotomy and C-7 pedicle subtraction osteotomy being the most frequently used approaches.

A photopolymerized composite hydrogel and surgical implanting tool for a nucleus pulposus replacement.

Nucleus pulposus replacements have been subjected to highly controversial discussions over the last 40 years. Their use has not yet resulted in a positive outcome to treat herniated disc or degenerated disc disease. The main reason is that not a single implant or tissue replacement was able to withstand the loads within an intervertebral disc.

ISSLS Prize Winner: Consensus on the Clinical Diagnosis of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Results of an International Delphi Study.

Study Design: Delphi.

Objective: The aim of this study was to obtain an expert consensus on which history factors are most important in the clinical diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).

Summary Of Background Data: LSS is a poorly defined clinical syndrome.

Dimensional changes of cervical and lumbar bony spinal canals in one generation in Western Switzerland: a computed tomography study.

Purpose: We aimed to study generational changes in the dimensions of cervical and lumbar bony spinal canals in Western Switzerland.

Methods: A total of 254 patients were retrospectively included, 144 of whom were born during 1940-1949 and 110 during 1970-1979. Cervical spine CTs were performed as part of the spinal clearance procedure following trauma (n = 135) or while investigating neurological symptoms (CT angiography, n = 119).

Miniature probe for the delivery and monitoring of a photopolymerizable material.

Photopolymerization is a common method to cure materials initially in a liquid state, such as dental implants or bone or tissue fillers. Recent advances in the development of biocompatible gel- and cement-systems open up an avenue for in situ photopolymerization. For minimally invasive surgery, such procedures require miniaturized surgical endoscopic probes to activate and control photopolymerization in situ.

Influence of anatomical variations on lumbar foraminal stenosis pathogenesis.

Introduction: Symptomatic foraminal stenosis has been observed in patients with degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, asymmetrical disc degeneration and spondylolisthesis. Nevertheless not all patients with the above pathologies will develop symptomatic foraminal stenosis. We hypothesised that symptomatic patients have anatomical predisposition to foraminal stenosis, namely a larger pedicle height (PH) to vertebral body height (VH) ratio, leaving less room below the pedicle for the exiting nerve root compared to asymptomatic patients.

Secular changes of spinal canal dimensions in Western Switzerland: a narrowing epidemic?

Study Design: Computed tomography-based anatomical study.

Objective: To study the secular changes in lumbar spinal canal dimensions.

Summary Of Background Data: Development of symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis, among other factors, is related to the dimensions of the bony canal.

[Inter-hospital CHUV-HUG medical consensus of back pain management. Its application in care pathways within CHUV of Lausanne].

Back pain is a considerable economical burden in industrialised countries. Its management varies widely across countries, including Switzerland. Thus, the University Hospital and University of Lausanne (CHUV) recently improved intern processes of back pain care.

Photopolymerizable hydrogels for implants: Monte-Carlo modeling and experimental in vitro validation.

Photopolymerization is commonly used in a broad range of bioapplications, such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, and surgical implants, where liquid materials are injected and then hardened by means of illumination to create a solid polymer network. However, photopolymerization using a probe, e.g.

Factor analysis of the North American Spine Society outcome assessment instrument: a study based on a spine registry of patients treated with lumbar and cervical disc arthroplasty.

Background Context: Studies involving factor analysis (FA) of the items in the North American Spine Society (NASS) outcome assessment instrument have revealed inconsistent factor structures for the individual items.

Purpose: This study examined whether the factor structure of the NASS varied in relation to the severity of the back/neck problem and differed from that originally recommended by the developers of the questionnaire, by analyzing data before and after surgery in a large series of patients undergoing lumbar or cervical disc arthroplasty.

Study Design/setting: Prospective multicenter observational case series.

Interspinous distraction in lumbar spinal stenosis: a neurophysiological perspective.

Study Design: Prospective neurophysiological study.

Objective: To identify and quantify the neurophysiological effects of interspinous distraction during spine surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).

Summary Of Background Data: Interspinous devices have been introduced as an alternative treatment of LSS in selected patients aiming at obtaining indirect decompression.

Neurophysiological changes during shortening osteotomies of the spine.

Background Context: Kyphotic deformities with sagittal imbalance of the spine can be treated with spinal osteotomies. Those procedures are known to have a high incidence of neurological complications, in particular at the thoracic level. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) have been widely used in helping to avoid major neurological deficits postoperatively.

[Trends in the treatment of spinal osteoporic fractures: vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty].

Vertebral osteoporotic fracture (VOF) is a major problem of public health. Surgical treatments such as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are interesting adjuvant treatments for the management of osteoporosis. A consensus proposed by the principal contributors of this management is important.

Pedicle screw insertion: robotic assistance versus conventional C-arm fluoroscopy.

Bone-mounted robotic guidance for pedicle screw placement has been recently introduced, aiming at increasing accuracy. The aim of this prospective study was to compare this novel approach with the conventional fluoroscopy assisted freehand technique (not the two- or three-dimensional fluoroscopy-based navigation). Two groups were compared: 11 patients, constituting the robotical group, were instrumented with 64 pedicle screws; 23 other patients, constituting the fluoroscopic group, were also instrumented with 64 pedicle screws.

Is spinal stenosis assessment dependent on slice orientation? A magnetic resonance imaging study.

Introduction: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) treatment is based primarily on the clinical criteria providing that imaging confirms radiological stenosis. The radiological measurement more commonly used is the dural sac cross-sectional area (DSCA). It has been recently shown that grading stenosis based on the morphology of the dural sac as seen on axial T2 MRI images, better reflects severity of stenosis than DSCA and is of prognostic value.