Biomechanical Effects of an Oblique Lumbar PEEK Cage and Posterior Augmentation.

Objective: Lumbar interbody spacers are widely used in lumbar spinal fusion. The goal of this study is to analyze the biomechanics of a lumbar interbody spacer (Clydesdale Spinal System, Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Memphis, Tennessee, USA) inserted via oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) or direct lateral interbody fusion (DLIF) approaches, with and without posterior cortical screw and rod (CSR) or pedicle screw and rod (PSR) instrumentation.

Methods: Lumbar human cadaveric specimens (L2-L5) underwent nondestructive flexibility testing in intact and instrumented conditions at L3-L4, including OLIF or DLIF, with and without CSR or PSR.

Biomechanical Analysis of an Expandable Lumbar Interbody Spacer.

Objective: Recently developed expandable interbody spacers are widely accepted in spinal surgery; however, the resulting biomechanical effects of their use have not yet been fully studied. We analyzed the biomechanical effects of an expandable polyetheretherketone interbody spacer inserted through a bilateral posterior approach with and without different modalities of posterior augmentation.

Methods: Biomechanical nondestructive flexibility testing was performed in 7 human cadaveric lumbar (L2-L5) specimens followed by axial compressive loading.

Cardiac screening to prevent sudden death in young athletes.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a sudden and unexpected death caused by loss of heart of function. SCD may occur in any population, but when it occurs on the playing field in a young individual, communities worldwide are affected. Although these events are rare, media coverage of sudden cardiac arrests in young athletes have created the impression that these events are far more common than they appear.

Comparison of CT versus MRI measurements of transverse atlantal ligament integrity in craniovertebral junction injuries. Part 1: A clinical study.

OBJECTIVE Craniovertebral junction (CVJ) injuries complicated by transverse atlantal ligament (TAL) disruption often require surgical stabilization. Measurements based on the atlantodental interval (ADI), atlas lateral diameter (ALD1), and axis lateral diameter (ALD2) may help clinicians identify TAL disruption. This study used CT scanning to evaluate the reliability of these measurements and other variants in the clinical setting.

Comparison of CT versus MRI measurements of transverse atlantal ligament integrity in craniovertebral junction injuries. Part 2: A new CT-based alternative for assessing transverse ligament integrity.

OBJECTIVE The rule of Spence is inaccurate for assessing integrity of the transverse atlantal ligament (TAL). Because CT is quick and easy to perform at most trauma centers, the authors propose a novel sequence of obtaining 2 CT scans to improve the diagnosis of TAL impairment. The sensitivity of a new CT-based method for diagnosing a TAL injury in a cadaveric model was assessed.

Biomechanics of Nested Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Cages.

Background: Arthrodesis is optimized when the structural graft occupies most of the surface area within a disc space. The transforaminal corridor inherently limits interbody size.

Objective: To evaluate the biomechanical implications of nested interbody spacers (ie, a second curved cage placed behind a first) to increase disc space coverage in transforaminal approaches.

Instrumentation of the posterior thoracolumbar spine: from wires to pedicle screws.

Over the past 120 years, spinal stabilization has advanced immensely. An updated review highlighting these advancements has not been performed in the past 20 years. The objective of this report is to provide a historical assessment of the decades outlining various key innovators, their techniques, and instrumentation.