Finite Element Modeling for Biomechanical Comparisons of Multilevel Transforaminal, Posterior, and Lateral Lumbar Approaches to Interbody Fusion Augmented with Posterior Instrumentation.

Objective: Verifying the intervertebral stability of each intervertebral fusion procedure, including transforaminal, posterior, and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF, PLIF, and LLIF, respectively), and the ratio of stress on the rods and pedicle screws during initial fixation may help select a fixation procedure that reduces the risk of mechanical complications, including rod fracture and screw loosening. Thus, we aimed to assess whether these procedures could prevent mechanical complications.

Methods: Using the finite element method (FEM), we designed 4 surgical models constructed from L2-5 as follows: posterior lumbar fusion (PLF), TLIF, PLIF, and LLIF models.

Effect of low body mass index on clinical recovery after fusion surgery for osteoporotic vertebral fracture: A retrospective, multicenter study of 237 cases.

A retrospective multicenter study. Body mass index (BMI) is recognized as an important determinant of osteoporosis and spinal postoperative outcomes; however, the specific impact of BMI on surgery for osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) remains inconclusive. This retrospective multicenter study investigated the impact of BMI on clinical outcomes following fusion surgery for OVFs.

Comparison of Hybrid Posterior Fixation and Conventional Open Posterior Fixation Combined with Multilevel Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Adult Spinal Deformity.

We compared radiological and clinical outcomes between multilevel lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) + hybrid posterior fixation (PF) and multilevel LLIF + conventional open PF in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). Patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery for ASD in a single institution between 2014 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty-six patients (hybrid PF, 30; open PF, 26) who underwent ASD correction surgery were enrolled between 2014 and 2018.

Short- versus long-segment posterior spinal fusion with vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral collapse with neurological impairment in thoracolumbar spine: a multicenter study.

Background: Vertebroplasty with posterior spinal fusion (VP + PSF) is one of the most widely accepted surgical techniques for treating osteoporotic vertebral collapse (OVC). Nevertheless, the effect of the extent of fusion on surgical outcomes remains to be established. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of short- versus long-segment VP + PSF for OVC with neurological impairment in thoracolumbar spine.

Effect of bisphosphonates or teriparatide on mechanical complications after posterior instrumented fusion for osteoporotic vertebral fracture: a multi-center retrospective study.

Background: The optimal treatment of osteoporosis after reconstruction surgery for osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) remains unclear. In this multicentre retrospective study, we investigated the effects of typically used agents for osteoporosis, namely, bisphosphonates (BP) and teriparatide (TP), on surgical results in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Methods: Retrospectively registered data were collected from 27 universities and affiliated hospitals in Japan.

Surgical Treatment of Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture with Neurological Deficit-A Nationwide Multicenter Study in Japan.

Introduction: The prevalence of patients with osteoporosis continues to increase in aging societies, including Japan. The first choice for managing osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVF) is conservative treatment. Failure in conservative treatment for OVF may lead to non-union or vertebral collapse, resulting in neurological deficit and subsequently requiring surgical intervention.

Quantification of metal-induced susceptibility artifacts associated with ultrahigh-field magnetic resonance imaging of spinal implants.

Reports on spinal-implant metallic artifacts in 7-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are lacking. Thus, we investigated the magnitude of metal artifacts derived from spinal implants in 7-T MRI and analyzed the differences obtained with spinal rods manufactured from pure titanium, titanium alloy, and cobalt-chrome (5.5-mm and 6.

Complications after spinal fixation surgery for osteoporotic vertebral collapse with neurological deficits: Japan Association of Spine Surgeons with ambition multicenter study.

Background: There have been few reports on the incidence and risk factors of the complications after spinal fixation surgery for osteoporotic vertebral collapse (OVC) with neurological deficits. This study aimed to identify the incidence and risk factors of the complications after OVC surgery.

Methods: In this retrospective multicenter study, a total of 403 patients (314 women and 89 men; mean age 73.

Surgical outcomes of spinal fusion for osteoporotic vertebral fracture in the thoracolumbar spine: Comprehensive evaluations of 5 typical surgical fusion techniques.

Background: A consensus on the optimal surgical procedure for thoracolumbar OVF has yet to be reached due to the previous relatively small number of case series. The study was conducted to investigate surgical outcomes for osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) in the thoracolumbar spine.

Methods: In total, 315 OVF patients (mean age, 74 years; 68 men and 247 women) with neurological symptoms who underwent spinal fusion with a minimum 2-year follow-up were included.

Risk Factors for Proximal Junctional Fracture Following Fusion Surgery for Osteoporotic Vertebral Collapse with Delayed Neurological Deficits: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 403 Patients.

Introduction: Approximately 3% of osteoporotic vertebral fractures develop osteoporotic vertebral collapse (OVC) with neurological deficits, and such patients are recommended to be treated surgically. However, a proximal junctional fracture (PJFr) following surgery for OVC can be a serious concern. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify the incidence and risk factors of PJFr following fusion surgery for OVC.

The factors related to the poor ADL in the patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture after instrumentation surgery.

Purpose: Osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) with nonunion or neurological deficit may be a candidate for surgical treatment. However, some patients do not show improvement as expected. Therefore, we conducted a nationwide multicenter study to determine the predictors for postoperative poor activity of daily living (ADL) in patients with OVF.

Surgical outcomes of spinal fusion for osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures in patients with Parkinson's disease: what is the impact of Parkinson's disease on surgical outcome?

Background: To date, there have been little published data on surgical outcomes for patients with PD with thoracolumbar OVF. We conducted a retrospective multicenter study of registry data to investigate the outcomes of fusion surgery for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) with osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) in the thoracolumbar junction.

Methods: Retrospectively registered data were collected from 27 universities and their affiliated hospitals in Japan.

Evaluation of the serum ionic fluoride concentration as a biomarker of bone metabolism post-spinal fusion surgery.

Background: Bone union after spinal fusion surgery with instrumentation has been determined only with imaging studies. We evaluated the usefulness of the serum ionic fluoride (SIF) concentration as a biomarker of the bone union status.

Methods: We enrolled 25 patients who underwent spinal surgery in our institution, and we divided patients into three groups with and without instrumentation (G1, G2, and G3).

The hybrid assisted limb (HAL) for Care Support, a motion assisting robot providing exoskeletal lumbar support, can potentially reduce lumbar load in repetitive snow-shoveling movements.

An excessive lumbar load with snow-shoveling is a serious problem in snowfall areas. Various exoskeletal robots have been developed to reduce lumbar load in lifting work. However, few studies have reported the attempt of snow-shoveling work using exoskeletal robots.

Evaluation of Water Content in Lumbar Intervertebral Discs and Facet Joints Before and After Physiological Loading Using T2 Mapping MRI.

Study Design: T2 mapping was used to quantify the water content of lumbar spine intervertebral discs (IVDs) and facet joints before and after physiological loading.

Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify the interaction between lumbar spine IVD and facet joints as load-bearing structures by measuring the water content of their matrix after physiological loading using T2 mapping magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Summary Of Background Data: To date, few reports have functionally evaluated lumbar spine IVD and facet joints, and their interaction in vivo.

Assessment of magnetic field interactions and radiofrequency-radiation-induced heating of metallic spinal implants in 7 T field.

The safety of metallic spinal implants in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed using ultrahigh fields has not been established. Hence, we examined whether the displacement forces caused by a static magnetic field and the heating induced by radiofrequency radiation are substantial for spinal implants in a 7 T field. We investigated spinal rods of various lengths and materials, a screw, and a cross-linking bridge in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials guidelines.

Evaluation of Water Retention in Lumbar Intervertebral Disks Before and After Exercise Stress With T2 Mapping.

Study Design: T2 mapping was used to quantify moisture content of the lumbar spinal disk nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus before and after exercise stress, and after rest, to evaluate the intervertebral disk function.

Objective: To clarify water retention in intervertebral disks of the lumbar vertebrae by performing magnetic resonance imaging before and after exercise stress and quantitatively measuring changes in moisture content of intervertebral disks with T2 mapping.

Summary Of Background Data: To date, a few case studies describe functional evaluation of articular cartilage with T2 mapping; however, T2 mapping to the functional evaluation of intervertebral disks has rarely been applied.