Quantitative assessment of cervical disc degeneration using disc signal intensity index.

Background/context: The assessment of disc degeneration remains a significant challenge in clinical research. Pfirrmann grade is a frequently used classification for lumbar disc degeneration on MRI. However, there has been no gold standard for cervical spine disc degeneration.

Short-Term Outcomes of a Novel Non-Screw Based Expandable Posterior Interbody Fusion Cage.

Background: Lumbar interbody fusion is a well-established surgical technique for treating various lumbar degenerative pathologies. Expandable cages have been introduced to allow for insertion via the confined access and to improve disc height restoration, although concerns about the stability of the screw-based cages in the expanded state remain a concern. This study aims to evaluate the short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of a novel nonscrew-based expandable transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion cage.

Untreated Osteoporosis in Lumbar Fusion Surgery Patients: Prevalence, Risk-factors and Effect on Bone Metabolism.

Study Design: Secondary analysis of a prospective single-center study.

Objective: To analyze the prevalence and risk factors for untreated osteoporosis in patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion surgery (LFS) and its impact on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers.

Background: Osteoporosis is a risk factor for mechanical complications in LFS, which can be mitigated by antiosteoporotic treatment.

Impact of Erector Spinae Plane Blocks on Pain Management and Postoperative Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Pain Undergoing Spine Fusion Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of bilateral ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane blocks (ESPBs) on pain and opioid-related outcomes in a surgical population with chronic pain.

Methods: A retrospective, observational cohort study. Clinical data were extracted from the electronic medical records of patients who underwent lumbar fusion (February 2018 - July 2020).

The Impact of Prior Hip or Knee Arthroplasty on Oswestry Disability Index Two Years after Elective Lumbar Surgery.

Study Design: Secondary analysis of prospective study.

Objective: To analyze the impact of prior total knee arthroplasty (TKA), total hip arthroplasty (THA), or both on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) two years after elective lumbar surgery.

Background: Degenerative conditions that cause pain and mobility loss significantly reduce quality of life.

Previous Hip or Knee Arthroplasty is Associated With Less Favorable Patient-reported Outcomes of Lumbar Surgery.

Study Design: Review of cohort studies.

Objective: To ascertain if previous hip (THA) or knee (TKA) arthroplasty was associated with patients' outcomes assessments of subsequent lumbar surgery, specifically overall satisfaction, less disability due to pain, and an affective appraisal reflecting emotional assessment of results.

Background: Hip, knee, and lumbar symptoms often co-exist and increasingly are managed with surgery.

The Modified 5-Factor Frailty Score May Not be Useful in Predicting Complications and Unplanned Readmission After 1-Level or 2-Level Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion.

Background: The modified frailty index (mFI-5) has been shown to be a reliable risk stratification tool in different spine procedures. Its usefulness to predict complications after 1-level or 2-level anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) has not been studied extensively.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the usefulness of the mFI-5 in 1-level or 2-level ACDF surgery by asking the following questions: (1) Is the mFI-5 a reliable tool to predict complications after 1-level or 2-level ACDF? (2) Is the mFI-5 useful in predicting prolonged hospital stay after 1-level or 2-level ACDF? (3) Is the mFI-5 useful in predicting readmission after 1-level or 2-level ACDF?

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients who underwent 1-level or 2-level ACDF at our institution.

Multifidus Degeneration: The Key Imaging Predictor of Adjacent Segment Disease.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To identify imaging predictors on pre- and perioperative imaging that are associated with a future revision surgery for adjacent segment disease (ASD) following lumbar fusion.

Methods: Patients undergoing open posterior lumbar fusion between 2014-2022 were followed-up for >2-year.

The Disaggregated Oswestry Disability Index: What is the Most Predictive Subsection for Patient Satisfaction After Lumbar Surgery?

Study Design: Retrospective review of cohort studies.

Objective: To analyze how different ODI subsections and their improvement affect patient satisfaction 2 years after elective lumbar surgery for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS).

Background: The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is crucial in evaluating outcomes of spinal disorders and provides valuable insights into a patient's preoperative status.

The Impact of Paraspinal Muscle Degeneration on Oswestry Disability Index Subsections Two Years After Spinal Surgery for Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis.

Study Design: Secondary analysis of prospective study.

Objective: To investigate the impact of fatty infiltration (FI) in the paraspinal muscles (PM) on postoperative Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) subsection-scores in patients undergoing elective lumbar surgery for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS).

Background: DLS can increase FI in the PM like the multifidus (MF), erector spinae (ES), and psoas (PS), leading to greater spinal disability and higher ODI-scores.

The spinopelvic alignment in patients with prior knee or hip arthroplasty undergoing elective lumbar surgery.

Background Context: Concurrent degeneration of the lumbar spine, hip, and knee can cause significant disability and lower quality of life. Osteoarthritis in the lower extremities can lead to movement limitations, possibly requiring total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA). These procedures often impact spinal posture, causing alterations in spinopelvic alignment and lumbar spine degeneration.

Pedicle Screw Placement with Augmented Reality Versus Robotic-Assisted Surgery.

Study Design: This was a single-center prospective clinical and radiographic analysis of pedicle screw instrumentation with Robotic-assisted navigation (RAN) and augmented reality (AR).

Objective: This study aimed to compare the accuracy of lumbosacral pedicle screw placement with RAN versus AR.

Summary Of Background Data: RAN and AR have demonstrated superior accuracy in lumbar pedicle screw placement compared to conventional free-hand techniques.

The Association between prior arthroplasty and Paraspinal Muscle Degeneration in patients undergoing elective lumbar surgery.

Purpose: Spinal and lower extremity degeneration often causes pain and disability. Lower extremity osteoarthritis, eventually leading to total knee- (TKA) and -hip arthroplasty (THA), can alter posture through compensatory mechanisms, potentially causing spinal misalignment and paraspinal muscle (PM) atrophy. This study aims to evaluate the association between prior THA or TKA and PM-degeneration in patients undergoing elective lumbar surgery for degenerative conditions.

Relationship between Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis and Multifidus Muscle Atrophy - A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between lumbar foraminal stenosis (LFS) and multifidus muscle atrophy.

Background: The multifidus muscle is an important stabilizer of the lumbar spine.

Differences at Index Surgery in Operative Complexity and Residual Disease for Earlier and Later Repeat Lumbar Surgery.

Study Design: Retrospective review, single-institution cohort studies.

Objective: To compare patients with earlier ( i.e.

Association between skin ultrasound parameters and revision surgery after posterior spinal fusion.

Purpose: The literature is scarce in exploring the role of imaging parameters like ultrasound (US) as a biomarker for surgical outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the associations between skin US parameters and revision surgery following spine lumbar fusion.

Methods: Posterior lumbar fusion patients with 2-years follow-up were assessed.

Associations between surgeons' preoperative expectations of lumbar surgery and patient-reported 2-year outcomes.

Purpose: Surgeons' preoperative expectations of lumbar surgery may be associated with patient-reported postoperative outcomes.

Methods: Preoperatively spine surgeons completed a validated Expectations Survey for each patient estimating amount of improvement expected (range 0-100). Preoperative variables were clinical characteristics, spine-specific disability (ODI), and general health (RAND-12).

What is the Association of the Subsections of the Oswestry Disability Index and Overall Improvement Two Years after Lumbar Surgery for Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis?

Study Design: Retrospective review of a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To identify the association between Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) subsections and overall improvement 2 years after lumbar surgery for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS).

Background: DLS often necessitates lumbar surgery.

Relationship between facet joint osteoarthritis and lumbar paraspinal muscle atrophy: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: The paraspinal muscles play an essential role in the stabilization of the lumbar spine. Lumbar paraspinal muscle atrophy has been linked to chronic back pain and degenerative processes within the spinal motion segment. However, the relationship between the different paraspinal muscle groups and facet joint osteoarthritis (FJOA) has not been fully explored.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ambulatory Lumbar Spine Decompression Surgery.

Background Only a few studies have examined the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on spine ambulatory surgeries and changes in trends. Therefore, we investigated trends during the pre-pandemic period and three pandemic stages in patients undergoing lumbar decompression procedures in the ambulatory surgery (AMS) setting. Methodology A total of 2,670 adult patients undergoing one- or two-level lumbar decompression surgery were retrospectively reviewed.

Importance of the lumbar paraspinal muscles on the maintenance of global sagittal alignment after lumbar pedicle subtraction osteotomy.

Objective: There are limited data about the influence of the lumbar paraspinal muscles on the maintenance of sagittal alignment after pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) and the risk factors for sagittal realignment failure. The authors aimed to investigate the influence of preoperative lumbar paraspinal muscle quality on the postoperative maintenance of sagittal alignment after lumbar PSO.

Methods: Patients who underwent lumbar PSO with preoperative lumbar MRI and pre- and postoperative whole-spine radiography in the standing position were included.

Georg Schmorl Prize of the German Spine Society (DWG) 2023: the influence of sarcopenia and paraspinal muscle composition on patient-reported outcomes: a prospective investigation of lumbar spinal fusion patients with 12-month follow-up.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of sarcopenia and lumbar paraspinal muscle composition (PMC) on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after lumbar fusion surgery with 12-month follow-up (12 M-FU).

Methods: A prospective investigation of patients undergoing elective lumbar fusion was conducted. Preoperative MRI-based evaluation of the cross-sectional area (CSA), the functional CSA (fCSA), and the fat infiltration(FI) of the posterior paraspinal muscles (PPM) and the psoas muscle at level L3 was performed.