The neurologically intact patient with TLICS 4 or 5 burst fracture should be given a trial of nonoperative management.

Thoracolumbar burst fracture treatment in neurologically intact patients is controversial with many classification systems to help guide management. Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity score (TLICS) provides a framework, but evidence is limited, and recommendations are primarily based on expert opinion. In this retrospective cohort study, data was reviewed for patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures at a Level-1 Trauma Center in New England from 2013 to 2018.

Learning by drawing and modeling: Teaching modalities for spinal anatomy in medical students.

Ongoing research has attempted to discern the optimal way to teach surgical anatomy. This study investigated the relative effectiveness of drawing and clay modeling on learning spinal anatomy among medical students. Participants were recruited from a first-year medical school class to participate in an optional educational session in their regular course schedule.

The positive prediction of single photon emission computed tomography/ computed tomography (SPECT/CT) in the outcome of intervention for cervical facet pain.

Background Context: Previous studies have reported that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) do not predict response to facet blocks. However, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) uptake within facet joints has been shown to correlate with pain relief after intervention in the lumbar spine. There is minimal data regarding the predictive value of single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) for neck pain.

Perioperative Family Updates Reduce Anxiety and Improve Satisfaction: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine if standardized updates at specific perioperative events affect anxiety and satisfaction of the family members and if the length of surgical procedure affects the satisfaction with updates.

Methods: This study was a randomized control trial. In the control group, surgeons communicated with the family only once near the completion of the procedure.

The Role of High School Football Coverage in Resident Education.

Athletic team coverage experience varies widely across orthopedic surgery residency programs in the United States. There is a paucity of literature regarding whether serving as a team physician contributes to resident education and whether it can be performed within the bounds of current work-hour restrictions. Residents consider coverage of high school football games a valuable educational experience that does not adversely affect their 80-hour work week.

Lean principles to optimize instrument utilization for spine surgery in an academic medical center: an opportunity to standardize, cut costs, and build a culture of improvement.

Study Design: Case study OBJECTIVE.: To optimize the utilization of operating room instruments for orthopedic and neurosurgical spine cases in an urban level 1 academic medical center through application of Lean principles.

Summary Of Background Data: Process improvement systems such as Lean have been adapted to health care and offer an opportunity for frank assessment of surgical routines to increase efficiency and enhance value.

Vertebral artery injuries in cervical spine surgery.

Background Context: Vertebral artery injuries (VAIs) are rare but serious complications of cervical spine surgery, with the potential to cause catastrophic bleeding, permanent neurologic impairment, and even death. The present literature regarding incidence of this complication largely comprises a single surgeon or small multicenter case series.

Purpose: We sought to gather a large sample of high-volume surgeons to adequately characterize the incidence and risk factors for VAI, management strategies used, and patient outcomes after VAI.

Safety of thromboembolic chemoprophylaxis in spinal trauma patients requiring surgical stabilization.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Objective: To determine the incidence of thromboembolic events, bleeding complications such as epidural hematomas, and wound complications in patients with spinal trauma requiring surgical stabilization.

Summary Of Background Data: Literature addressing the safety and efficacy of chemoprophylactic agents in postoperative patients with spinal trauma is sparse.

Operative treatment of cervical myelopathy: cervical laminoplasty.

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a degenerative process which may result in clinical signs and symptoms which require surgical intervention. Many treatment options have been proposed with various degrees of technical difficulty and technique sensitive benefits. We review laminoplasty as a motion-sparing posterior decompressive method.

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using the Opus knotless suture anchor fixation system.

Background: The reported failure rate of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair varies widely. The influence of repair technique on failure rates and functional outcomes after arthroscopic cuff repair remains controversial.

Purpose: To determine the functional outcome of arthroscopic knotless fixation using the Opus AutoCuff device for rotator cuff repair and to compare our results with those reported in the literature.

Meniscal repair using an all-inside, rapidly absorbing, tensionable device.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical success rate of all-inside meniscal repairs using a rapidly absorbing device in patients undergoing concurrent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions.

Methods: Patients with menisci repaired using the polydioxanone Mitek RapidLoc (Depuy Mitek, Raynham, MA) during concurrent ACL reconstruction were evaluated clinically 2 years following index surgery. We performed examinations on 38 meniscal tears in 30 patients using the International Knee Documentation Committee form and the Knee Disorders Subjective History visual analog scale.