Risk of Infective Endocarditis in Patients with Spinal Surgical Site Infection and Bacteremia.

Surgical site infection (SSI) is responsible for significant morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and increased costs. Infectious endocarditis (IE) is a rare but serious complication of bacteremia, particularly that resulting from SSI. The VIRSTA score predicts the risk of IE and determines the priority of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in patients with bacteremia.

The Implications of Sacralized Transitional Vertebra on Spinal Alignment.

Study Design: Retrospective study of a multicentric prospective database.

Objective: This study aimed to determine, in a cohort of healthy volunteers, the impact of sacralized lumbo-sacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) on spinal alignment according to its grade, particularly regarding lumbar lordosis magnitude and distribution, and the implications for spinopelvic parameters measurement.

Summary Of Background Data: There is little data regarding spinopelvic alignment assessment in LSTV patients.

Distal Junctional Failure: A Feared Complication of Multilevel Posterior Spinal Fusions.

Distal junctional failure (DJF) is less commonly described than proximal junctional failure following posterior spinal fusion, and particularly adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. We describe a case series of patients with DJF, taking into account sagittal spinopelvic alignment, and suggest potential risk factors in light of the current literature. We performed a single-center, retrospective review of posterior spinal fusion patients with DJF who underwent subsequent revision surgery between June 2009 and January 2019.

Sex-dependent evolution of whole-body postural alignment with age.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to explore sex-related variations of global alignment parameters and their distinct evolution patterns across age groups.

Methods: This multicentric retrospective study included healthy volunteers with full-body biplanar radiographs in free-standing position. All radiographic data were collected from 3D reconstructions: global and lower limb parameters, pelvic incidence (PI) and sacral slope (SS).

A prospective multicenter randomized study comparing the SpineJack system and nonsurgical management with a brace in acute traumatic vertebral fractures: the SPICO study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efffectiveness of a titanium vertebral augmentation device (SpineJack system) in terms of back pain, radiological outcomes, and economic burden compared with nonsurgical management (NSM) (bracing) for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures. Complications were also evaluated for both treatment methods.

Methods: A prospective multicenter randomized study was performed at 9 French sites.

Contribution of MRI and imaging exams in the diagnosis of lumbar pseudarthrosis.

Introduction: The diagnosis of pseudoarthrosis is based on imaging and clinical exam findings. The standard for pseudarthrosis diagnosis remains postoperative observation through computer tomography (CT) and patient's symptoms. This can be further augmented by dynamic X-ray imaging or nuclear positron emission tomography (PET) CT to demonstrate an absence of fusion by showing a persistence of mobility.

Effects of indirect foraminal decompression during anterior cervical disc fusion procedure: preliminary results of a prospective study with clinical and radiological outcomes.

Introduction: The respective effects of direct and indirect decompression in the clinical outcome after anterior cervical disc fusion (ACDF) is still debated. The main purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of indirect decompression on foraminal volumes during ACDF performed in patients suffering from cervico-brachial neuralgias due to degenerative foraminal stenosis, i.e.

An age and sex matched study on the effect of obesity on the functional outcomes and complication rates in patients with adult spinal deformity undergoing primary multi-level thoracolumbar spinal fusion.

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of obesity on the functional outcomes and complication rates of patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD) undergoing multi-level thoracolumbar fusion.

Methods: An age and sex matched comparison of functional outcomes [Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) back and leg scores, Core Outcome Measurement Index (COMI) back scores, Scoliosis Research Society 22 (SRS22) satisfaction and total scores, Short Form 36 (SF36) general health scores, Physical Component Score (PCS), Mental Component Score (MCS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) (including all domains)] at 6 months, 1, 2, 3 and 4 years and the complication rates at final follow-up between obese [body mass index (BMI) >30] and normal BMI (18.5-24.

Sagittal Balance Using Position and Orientation of Each Vertebra in an Asymptomatic Population.

Study Design: A monocentric, retrospective radiographic study with 99 asymptomatic volunteers.

Objective: The authors performed the postural analysis commonly scheduled when evaluating sagittal balance in a vertebra-by-vertebra manner by enrolling an asymptomatic population. They measured the position and angulation of each vertebra to reveal those for which the spatial positioning could be relevant during spinal surgeries.

Tomodensitometric bone anatomy of the intervertebral foramen of the lower cervical spine: measurements and comparison of foraminal volume in healthy individuals and patients suffering from cervicobrachial neuralgia due to foraminal stenosis.

Purpose: Degenerative foraminal stenosis of the cervical spine can lead to cervicobrachial neuralgias. Computed tomography (CT)-scan assists in the diagnosis and evaluation of foraminal stenosis. The main objective of this study is to determine the bony dimensions of the cervical intervertebral foramen and to identify which foraminal measurements are most affected by degenerative disorders of the cervical spine.

How was spinal surgery activity maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic? Results of a French multicenter observational study.

Introduction: The French Society of Spinal Surgery (SFCR) offered guidelines during the COVID pandemic. The objective of this work was to report the organization and activity in spinal surgery during the first month of confinement across 6 centers in France. The secondary objective was to monitor the adequacy of our practices within the SFCR guidelines.

Personalised gravitational loading of the cervical spine from biplanar X-rays for asymptomatic and clinical subjects in neutral standing position.

Background: As a leading cause of disability with a high societal and economic cost, it is crucial to better understand risk factors of neck pain and surgical complications. Getting subject-specific external loading is essential for quantifying muscle forces and joint loads but it requires exertion trials and load cells which are uncommon in clinical settings.

Methods: This paper presents a method to compute the gravitational loading at four levels of the cervical spine (C3C4, C4C5, C5C6, C6C7) in neutral standing position from biplanar radiographs exclusively.

The feasibility of implementing an enhanced recovery programme in patients undergoing pelvic exenteration.

Background: Pelvic exenteration (PE) is a complex operative procedure, reserved for patients with locally advanced and recurrent pelvic malignancies. PE is associated with a high index of post-operative morbidity. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programmes have been successful in improving postoperative outcomes, however, its application in PE has not been studied.

Analysis of apex and transitional vertebra of the spine according to pelvic incidence using orientation and position parameters.

Objective: To identify the different apex and transitional vertebra according to the shape of the pelvis of individuals despite their difference in sagittal alignment using our measurement system.

Methods: Full-spine X-rays using EOS in standard stand-position of 99 volunteers were selected (47 women, 52 men, mean age 31 years old). Validated 3D reconstruction technique allows extraction of spinopelvic parameters, and position and rotation of each vertebra and lumbar disks.

Diagnosis of reoperated cervical non-union: Multicenter retrospective study about 45 patients.

Introduction: Non-union is one of the main complications of single- or multi-level cervical spine fusion, considerably impairing functional results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the respective contributions of imaging examinations in the diagnostic process, the challenge being to avoid inappropriate surgery and unnecessary complementary examinations.

Material And Method: A retrospective multicenter study included all patients managed for cervical spine non-union between 2008 and 2018.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, a Therapeutic Target in Chordoma: Analysis in 3D Cellular Models.

Chordomas are rare, slow-growing tumors of the axial skeleton. These tumors are locally aggressive and refractory to conventional therapies. Radical surgery and radiation remain the first-line treatments.

Doughnut vertebroplasty for circumferential aggressive vertebral hemangiomas.

Background: To assess the feasibility, safety and efficacy of a percutaneous doughnut vertebroplasty of circumferential aggressive vertebral hemangiomas (VHs).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our prospectively collected database of patients with VHs treated with vertebroplasty between January 2009 and January 2018. Patient demographics, clinical presentations and procedural details were recorded.

An Anterior Dislocation after Mobi-C Cervical Disc Arthroplasty.

The objective is to report a case of an early dislocation of Mobi-C prosthesis used for the replacement of C4-C5 disc. A 57-year-old man who was operated 17 years before for C6-C7 fusion complained of cervicalgia associated with bilateral but predominantly right-sided brachialgia. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated central and foraminal stenosis in the C5-C6 segment and soft medial disc herniation in the C4-C5 segment.

Prediction of satisfaction after correction surgery for adult spinal deformity: differences between younger and older patients.

Purpose: Achieving an adequate level of patient's satisfaction with results is one of the goals of adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. However, it is unclear whether the same factors affect satisfaction in all patient populations. Patients' age influences the postoperative course and prevalence of complications after ASD surgery.

Clinical Performance and Concurrent Validity of the Adult Spinal Deformity Surgical Decision-making Score.

Study Design: Multicenter, retrospective study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the performance and concurrent validity of the adult spinal deformity surgical decision-making (ASD-SDM) score compared to decision-making factors in the ASD population.

Summary Of Background Data: The ASD-SDM score, which has been recently proposed, is a scoring system to guide the selection of treatment modality for the ASD population.

Idiopathic Epidural Lipomatosis Associated with Degenerative Discopathy: Grand Round Presentation of Unusual Lumbar Canal Stenosis Resolved by Weight Loss.

Here, we report a case of idiopathic epidural lipomatosis presented with a clinical picture of lumbar canal stenosis with neurogenic claudication which resolved completely only by weight loss. A 53-year-old obese male with a body mass index of 36 without significant past medical history presented to the outpatient clinic with neurogenic claudication and bilateral sciatic radiculopathy. Initially, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed epidural lipomatosis at the level of L5 vertebral body and L5-S1 intervertebral disc.

Anterior Cervical Idiopathic Hyperostosis and Dysphagia: The Impact of Surgical Management-Study of a Series of 11 Cases.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of surgery for dysphagia in anterior cervical idiopathic hyperostosis.

Methods: This retrospective study included 11 consecutive patients presenting with dysphagia and anterior cervical idiopathic hyperostosis. Computed tomography scans and dynamic swallowing fluoroscopies were performed.