Closed reduction of fracture-dislocation of the sub-axial cervical spine with Gardner-Wells tongs. Technical note.

Study Design: Technical note.

Purpose: To provide a technical description of the placement of Gardner-Wells tongs and the performance of awake cranio-cervical traction to reduce AO type C injuries of the sub-axial cervical spine with Gardner-Wells tongs.

Methods: In this technical note, the authors present the indications, the contraindications, the pull-out of the pins, a detailed description of the technique for its proper placement, traction reduction technique, reduction maneuvers, complications and post-reduction care.

Variability in wound closure technique in midline posterior lumbar fusion surgery. International survey and standardized closure technique proposal.

Background: Surgical wound complications represent an important risk factor, particularly in multilevel lumbar fusions. However, the literature regarding optimal wound closure techniques for these procedures is limited.

Methods: We performed an online survey of 61 spinal surgeons from 11 countries, involving 25 different hospitals.

Spinal canal invasion as a predictor of neurological deficit in traumatic vertebral burst fractures.

Background: This study correlated the extent of spinal canal compression from retropulsed traumatic burst cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine fractures with the severity of neurological dysfunction.

Methods: One hundred and sixty-nine patients with cervical, thoracic, or lumbar sub-axial traumatic burst fractures were seen in an emergency department from 2019 to 2021; 79.3% were men, averaging 37 years of age.