The Impact of Unilateral Transfemoral Amputation on Lumbar Bone and Muscle Quality.

Objective: To examine the long-term perioperative changes in lumbar bone density, muscle size and fatty atrophy, and facet degeneration after transfemoral amputation (TFA).

Design: All patients who underwent TFA at an academic center between 2002-2022 were retrospectively identified. Patients were required to have preoperative and postoperative CT (>1 year) and regularly utilize a prosthesis.

Contemporary Practice Patterns in the Treatment of Cervical Stenosis and Central Cord Syndrome: A Survey of the Cervical Spine Research Society.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Objective: To evaluate for areas of consensus and divergence of opinion within the spine community regarding the management of cervical spondylotic conditions and acute traumatic central cord syndrome (ATCCS) and the influence of the patient's age, disease severity, and myelomalacia.

Summary Of Background Data: There is ongoing disagreement regarding the indications for, and urgency of, operative intervention in patients with mild degenerative myelopathy, moderate to severe radiculopathy, isolated axial symptomatology with evidence of spinal cord compression, and ATCCS without myelomalacia.

Unilateral versus bilateral pedicle screw fixation with anterior lumbar interbody fusion: a comparison of postoperative outcomes.

Purpose: To determine of the impact of ALIF with minimally invasive unilateral pedicle screw fixation (UPSF) versus bilateral pedicle screw fixation (BPSF) on perioperative outcomes, radiographic outcomes, and the rates of fusion, subsidence, and adjacent segment stenosis.

Methods: All adult patients who underwent one-level ALIF with UPSF or BPSF at an academic institution between 2015 and 2022 were retrospectively identified. Postoperative outcomes including length of hospital stay (LOS), wound complications, readmissions, and revisions were determined.

Factors Related to Clinical Performance in Spine Surgery Fellowship: Can We Predict Success.

Introduction: The factors most important in the spine fellowship match may not ultimately correlate with quality of performance during fellowship. This study examined the spine fellow applicant metrics correlated with high application rank compared with the metrics associated with the strongest clinical performance during fellowship.

Methods: Spine fellow applications at three academic institutions were retrieved from the San Francisco Match database (first available to 2021) and deidentified for application review.

The effects of whey, pea, and collagen protein supplementation beyond the recommended dietary allowance on integrated myofibrillar protein synthetic rates in older males: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Skeletal muscle mass is determined predominantly by feeding-induced and activity-induced fluctuations in muscle protein synthesis (MPS). Older individuals display a diminished MPS response to protein ingestion, referred to as age-related anabolic resistance, which contributes to the progression of age-related muscle loss known as sarcopenia.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the impact of consuming higher-quality compared with lower-quality protein supplements above the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) on integrated MPS rates.

The Effect of C2 Muscular Exposure Technique on Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes After C2-T2 Posterior Cervical Fusion.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort analysis.

Objective: To determine whether the C2 exposure technique was a predictor of change in cervical alignment and patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) after posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PCDF) for degenerative indications.

Background: In PCDF handling of the C2 posterior paraspinal musculature during the operative approach varies by surgeon technique.

The effect of C2 screw type on perioperative outcomes and long-term stability after C2-T2 posterior cervical decompression and fusion.

Purpose: To determine if C2 pedicle versus pars screw type predicts change in fusion status, C2 screw loosening, cervical alignment, and patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) after C2-T2 posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PDCF).

Methods: All adult patients who underwent C2-T2 PCDF for myelopathy or myeloradiculopathy between 2013-2020 were retrospectively identified. Patients were dichotomized by C2 screw type into bilateral C2 pedicle and bilateral C2 pars screw groups.

Does Intrawound Vancomycin Decrease Postoperative Surgical Site Infection in Spine Surgery: A Retrospective Case-control Study.

Study Design: Retrospective Case-Control series.

Objective: The objective of this study is to define the overall postoperative rate of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing spine surgery and examine the effects of intrawound Vancomycin on postoperative infection rates.

Summary Of Background Data: Surgical site infections (SSI) account for 22% of all health care-associated infections.

Pain management for post-treatment survivors of complex cancers: a qualitative study of opioids and cannabis.

We aimed to understand experiences with opioids and cannabis for post-treatment cancer survivors. We conducted seven focus groups among head and neck and lung cancer survivors, using standard qualitative methodology to explore themes around 1) post-treatment pain and 2) utilization, perceived benefits and perceived harms of cannabis and opioids. Survivors (N = 25) experienced addiction fears, stigma and access challenges for both products.

C1-C2 Posterior Screw-Rod Fixation.

Multiple approaches for instrumentation of the upper cervical spine have evolved to treat atlantoaxial instability which, until the 20th century, was largely considered to be inoperable and managed nonsurgically with immobilization. Surgeons set out to provide safe and effective approaches in a clearly dangerous and technically complex anatomic region. It is important to provide a historical analysis of the evolution of techniques that have shaped C1-C2 instrumentation, and how the diligent efforts of surgeons to improve the biomechanical stability and fusion rates of their constructs eventually led to the prevailing Harms technique.

Surgical management of malignant melanotic nerve sheath tumors: an institutional experience and systematic review of the literature.

Objective: Malignant melanotic nerve sheath tumors are rare tumors characterized by neoplastic melanin-producing Schwann cells. In this study, the authors report their institution's experience in treating spinal and peripheral malignant melanotic nerve sheath tumors and compare their results with the literature.

Methods: Data were collected from 8 patients who underwent surgical treatment for malignant melanotic nerve sheath tumors between 1996 and 2023 at Mayo Clinic and 63 patients from the literature.

Resistance training prescription for muscle strength and hypertrophy in healthy adults: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine how distinct combinations of resistance training prescription (RTx) variables (load, sets and frequency) affect muscle strength and hypertrophy.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched until February 2022.

Eligibility Criteria: Randomised trials that included healthy adults, compared at least 2 predefined conditions (non-exercise control (CTRL) and 12 RTx, differentiated by load, sets and/or weekly frequency), and reported muscle strength and/or hypertrophy were included.

The influence of resistance exercise training prescription variables on skeletal muscle mass, strength, and physical function in healthy adults: An umbrella review.

Purpose: The aim of this umbrella review was to determine the impact of resistance training (RT) and individual RT prescription variables on muscle mass, strength, and physical function in healthy adults.

Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we systematically searched and screened eligible systematic reviews reporting the effects of differing RT prescription variables on muscle mass (or its proxies), strength, and/or physical function in healthy adults aged >18 years.

Results: We identified 44 systematic reviews that met our inclusion criteria.

Fortetropin supplementation prevents the rise in circulating myostatin but not disuse-induced muscle atrophy in young men with limb immobilization: A randomized controlled trial.

Supplementation with Fortetropin® (FOR), a naturally occurring component from fertilized egg yolks, reduces circulating myostatin concentration. We hypothesized that FOR would mitigate muscle atrophy during immobilization. We examined the effect of FOR supplementation on muscle size and strength during 2-wk of single-leg immobilization and recovery.

Paraspinal Sarcopenia is Associated With Worse Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Laminoplasty for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: The present study is the first to assess the impact of paraspinal sarcopenia on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following cervical laminoplasty.

Background: While the impact of sarcopenia on PROMs following lumbar spine surgery is well-established, the impact of sarcopenia on PROMs following laminoplasty has not been investigated.

Oxidation in Retrieved, Never-Irradiated UHMWPE Bearings: What Can We Learn About in Vivo Oxidation?

Background: Published analyses of never-irradiated, ethylene oxide (EtO)-sterilized tibial inserts and EtO- and gas plasma (GP)-sterilized acetabular ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) retrievals demonstrated minimal UHMWPE in vivo oxidation, whereas another analysis of EtO-sterilized acetabular liners found elevated oxidation linked with in vivo stresses. This study explored whether never-irradiated UHMWPE bearings are (1) oxidized by the in vivo environment, and (2) more likely to oxidize in higher-stress articulations (knee, ankle, shoulder).

Methods: An institutional review board-approved retrieval archive was queried for never-irradiated, EtO- and GP-sterilized UHMWPE bearings received at revision from 2001 to 2021.

Risk Factors for Allograft Subsidence Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Objective: The purpose this study was to precisely characterize patterns of allograft subsidence following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) utilizing computed tomography scans, determine risk factors for cervical allograft subsidence, and investigate the impact of subsidence on pseudarthrosis rates.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients undergoing 1-to 3-level ACDF utilizing allograft interbodies with anterior plating between 2011 and 2019. Subsidence measurements were performed by 2 independent reviewers on computed tomography scans obtained 6 months postoperatively.

En bloc resection of a high cervical chordoma followed by reconstruction with a free vascularized fibular graft: illustrative case.

Background: Wide excision of chordoma provides better local control than intralesional resection or definitive radiotherapy. The en bloc excision of high cervical chordomas is a challenging endeavor because of the complex anatomy of this region and limited reconstructive options.

Observations: This is the first case report to describe reconstruction with a free vascularized fibular graft following the en bloc excision of a chordoma involving C1-3.

At Mean 30-Year Follow-Up, Cervical Spine Disease Is Common and Associated with Thoracic Hypokyphosis after Pediatric Treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) often have reduced sagittal thoracic kyphosis (hypokyphosis) and cervical lordosis causing an uneven distribution of physiologic load. However, the long-term consequences of hypokyphosis in AIS patients have not been previously documented. To evaluate whether uneven load distribution leads to future complications in patients with AIS, we conducted a retrospective chart review and subsequently surveyed 180 patients treated for idiopathic scoliosis between 1975 and 1992.

Semispinalis Cervicis Sarcopenia is Associated With Worsening Cervical Sagittal Balance and Junctional Alignment Following Posterior Cervical Fusion for Myelopathy.

Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: The present study is the first to investigate whether cervical paraspinal sarcopenia is associated with cervicothoracic sagittal alignment parameters after posterior cervical fusion (PCF).

Summary Of Background Data: Few studies have investigated the association between sarcopenia and postoperative outcomes after cervical spine surgery.