Early experience of a local pathway on the waiting time for MRI in patients presenting to a UK district general hospital with suspected cauda equina syndrome.

Aim: This study evaluated the impact of the Salisbury Protocol for Assessment of Cauda Equina Syndrome (SPACES) on the waiting time for MRI in patients presenting with suspected Cauda Equina Syndrome (sCES) within a UK district general hospital.

Patients And Methods: All consecutive patients undergoing an MRI scan in our hospital, for sCES, over a 12 month period, prior to and following the introduction of SPACES, were identified. Patient's gender, age, MRI diagnosis, time from MRI request to imaging and outcome were recorded.

Evaluation of Back Pain and Lead Apron Use Among Staff at a District General Hospital.

Objectives To evaluate the prevalence of back pain among staff who regularly use lead aprons, correlating this to their use, and improve the knowledge and understanding of lead apron use among staff. Methods A questionnaire study was undertaken from November 2018 to February 2019 on staff in departments using lead aprons on a routine basis (n = 59) defined as the study group (SG), and staff who did not wear lead aprons (n = 62) defined as the control group (CG). Additionally, a separate questionnaire (n = 43) was distributed to lead apron users regarding education and knowledge, following which an education session was set up and the staff was re-evaluated.

A New Fixation Technique for French-Door Cervical Laminoplasty: Surgical Results With a Minimum Follow-up of 6 Years.

Design: A case series of 5 patients with multilevel cervical myelopathy treated by French-door cervical laminoplasty (FDCL) and use of unicortical iliac crest graft as spacer fixed with titanium miniplates and screws is described.

Objective: To report a minimum of 6-year follow-up results of our new plate-screw fixation technique for FDCL.

Summary Of Background Data: Hardware-assisted laminoplasty has the potential advantage of preventing restenosis by holding the laminar door "open" while healing progresses and also prevents spacer dislodgement.

The 'three-legged stool': a system for spinal informed consent.

Many hospitals do not have a structured process of consent, the attainment of which can often be rather 'last-minute' and somewhat chaotic. This is a surprising state of affairs as spinal surgery is a high-risk surgical specialty with potential for expensive litigation claims. More recently, the Montgomery ruling by the United Kingdom Supreme Court has placed the subject of informed consent into the spotlight.

Risk factors for vertebral artery injuries in cervical spine trauma.

Blunt cerebrovascular injuries (i.e. involvement of carotid and vertebral arteries) are increasingly being recognized in setting of cervical spine trauma/fractures and are associated with high incidence of stroke/morbidity and mortality.