Therapeutic Plasma Exchange for Fibrinogen-Associated Hyperviscosity: Results of the COPLEX Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is the primary intervention for treating symptomatic hyperviscosity from hypergammaglobulinemia, yet its efficacy for treating hyperviscosity related to hyperfibrinogenemia is unclear.

Objective: Define the safety and efficacy of TPE for critically ill COVID-19 patients with elevated blood viscosity from hyperfibrinogenemia.

Method: A prospective, randomized controlled trial in critically ill COVID-19 patients at a single US healthcare system.

A retrospective cohort review of BMI on SI joint fusion outcomes: examining the evidence to improve insurance guidelines.

Purpose: The demand for SIJ fusion among obese patients has grown substantially. However, the clinical relevance of obesity in the context of SI joint fusion has not been well investigated specifically, whether there is a BMI cutoff above which the benefit-risk ratio is low.

Methods: Adult patients ≥ 21 years of age who underwent minimally invasive SIJ fusion between 2020 and 2023.

Removal of infected bone in-growth pelvic fixation implants and microcomputed tomography analysis of osseous integration: illustrative case.

Background: A novel pelvic fixation screw fusion device (iFuse Bedrock Granite implant) was designed to promote bony fusion through self-harvesting fenestrations throughout the outer screw shank. Bone on-growth and in-growth using this design have been demonstrated in a sheep model, but data from human subjects have not been reported. A 66-year-old medically complex female with 2 prior spine fusions developed spondylodiscitis cephalad to a prior fusion, requiring the removal of instrumentation, which included screw fusion devices.

Standing versus supine pelvic incidence in adult spinal deformity patients.

Purpose: Pelvic incidence (PI) is commonly used to determine sagittal alignment. Historically, PI was believed to be a fixed anatomic parameter. However, recent studies have suggested that there is positionally-dependent motion that occurs through the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) resulting in changes in PI.