'Need of the Hour': Early Diagnosis and Management of Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis of the Spine: An Analysis of 30 Patients from a "High Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis Burden" Country.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Purpose: To report the prevalence of patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR) tubercular spondylodiscitis and their outcomes. Additionally, to assess the role of Xpert MTB/RIF assay in early detection of MDR tuberculosis.

Non-Caseating Granulomatous Infective Spondylitis: Melioidotic Spondylitis.

Study Design: Retrospective clinical analysis.

Purpose: To delineate the clinical presentation of melioidosis in the spine and to create awareness among healthcare professionals, particularly spine surgeons, regarding the diagnosis and treatment of melioidotic spondylitis.

Overview Of Literature: Melioidosis is an emerging disease, particularly in developing countries, associated with a high mortality rate.

The Extended Posterior Circumferential Decompression Technique in the Management of Tubercular Spondylitis with and without Paraplegia.

Study Design: Retrospective clinical series.

Purpose: To study the clinical, functional and radiological results of patients with tuberculous spondylitis with and without paraplegia, treated surgically using the "Extended Posterior Circumferential Decompression (EPCD)" technique.

Overview Of Literature: With the increasing possibility of addressing all three columns by a single approach, posterior and posterolateral approaches are gaining acceptance.

Hemophilic pseudotumor of the first lumbar vertebra.

Hemophilic pseudotumor involving the spine is extremely uncommon and presents a challenging problem. Preoperative planning, angiography, intra and perioperative monitoring with factor VIII cover and postoperative care for hemophilic pseudotumor is vital. Recognition of the artery of Adamkiewicz in the thoracolumbar junction helps to avoid intraoperative neurological injury.

Recurrent Echinococcal Infection of the Lumbar Spine: An 11 Year Follow-up.

Spinal hydatid cyst is a rare occurrence in non endemic countries. We present a case of recurrent lumbar hydatid disease in a 21-year-old male who following initial treatment had a good functional outcome and healing for 8 years, following which he came back with complaints of low back ache and neurological deficit. Patient underwent a second surgery with global debridement of L3-L5 vertebrae followed by medical management for two years.

Chondrosarcoma of the spinous process: a rare presentation.

Chondrosarcomas are malignant cartilage forming tumours. They form the second most common primary malignant tumour involving the vertebral axis. We present a rare presentation of a secondary chondrosarcoma from the spinous process of lumbar vertebra and discussed its management.

Left second rib exostosis, spinal cord compression and left upper thoracic scoliosis: a rare triad.

Exostosis of the rib with neural foraminal extension as a cause of spinal cord compression and scoliosis has to the best of our knowledge not been reported. We describe a young male with hereditary multiple exostosis who presented with a spastic gait, lower limb weakness and a deformity of the upper back. Radiographic imaging revealed a lesion arising from the left second rib which was encroaching the spinal canal and a scoliotic deformity of the upper thoracic spine.

The use of titanium mesh cages in the reconstruction of anterior column defects in active spinal infections: can we rest the crest?

Study Design: Retrospective clinical series.

Purpose: To assess whether titanium cages are an effective alternative to tricortical iliac crest bone graft for anterior column reconstruction in patients with active pyogenic and tuberculous spondylodiscitis.

Overview Of Literature: The use of metal cages for anterior column reconstruction in patients with active spinal infections, though described, is not without controversy.

Long-term outcome of high-energy open Lisfranc injuries: a retrospective study.

Background: The outcome of open Lisfranc injuries has been reported infrequently. Should these injuries be managed as closed injuries and is their outcome different?

Methods: We undertook a retrospective study of high-energy, open Lisfranc injuries treated between 1999 and 2005. The types of dislocation, the associated injuries to the same foot, the radiologic and functional outcome, and the complications were studied.

Salmonella spondylodiscitis in the immunocompetent: our experience with eleven patients.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Objective: To report the clinical features, diagnostic dilemmas and management options of 11 immunologically normal patients with salmonella spondylodiscitis.

Summary Of Background Data: Majority of existing data on salmonella spondylodiscitis in the immunologically normal patient is from anecdotal case report.

Extended posterior circumferential approach to thoracic and thoracolumbar spine.

Objective: Posterior spinal surgical approach to achieve a retropleural/ retroperitoneal corpectomy with circumferential spinal cord decompression following subtotal vertebrectomy, posterior instrumentation and interbody spacer placement under compression as well as kyphosis correction with spinal column shortening.

Indications: Infective, traumatic or neoplastic lesions of the vertebral body that lead to vertebral body destruction, instability and neurologic deficit. Need for immediate postoperative loading stability to permit ambulation and rehabilitation.

Pathological dislocation of the dorsal spine following granulocytic sarcoma in a non-leukaemic patient.

We describe a previously healthy, non-leukaemic young male presenting with neurological deficit and a pathological dislocation of D8 over D9 vertebra. The magnetic resonance imaging showed an enhancing soft tissue tumour. His basic laboratory workup as well as a bone marrow biopsy was normal.

Childhood nonunion of ulna presenting with wrist deformity in an adult: a case report.

We describe an adult patient with traumatic, nonunion of ulna sustained at 11 years of age who presented with wrist deformity. The possible pathogenesis, differential diagnoses and its successful management are described. A 23-year- old right hand dominant male presented with a progressive wrist deformity of his right upper limb.