Athletic cervical spine injury in the setting of fusion failure of the anterior and posterior atlas.

This article describes a rare congenital abnormality of anterior and posterior C1 fusion failure presenting after an acute athletic injury to the fibrous nonunion. C1 congenital malformations are rare, occurring in approximately 2% of patients; even rarer are combined anterior and posterior arch malformations in the same patient. Posterior ring abnormalities are more common than anterior ring injuries (4.

Does early fixation of posterior wall acetabular fractures lead to increased blood loss?

Objective: Controversy exists regarding the ideal timing of acetabular fracture surgery. Surgery within the first 24 hours might put patients at risk for increased blood loss; however, early treatment might facilitate fracture reduction and patient mobilization. The purpose of this study was to determine whether early surgery for posterior wall acetabular fractures results in higher intraoperative blood loss.

A novel radiographic targeting guide for percutaneous placement of transfacet screws in the cervical spine with limited fluoroscopy: A cadaveric feasibility study.

Background: We describe a technique for percutaneous transfacet screw placement in the cervical spine without the need for lateral-view fluoroscopy.

Methods: Previously established articular pillar morphometry was used to define the ideal trajectory for transfacet screw placement in the subaxial cervical spine. A unique targeting guide was developed to allow placement of Kirschner wires across the facet joint at 90° without the guidance of lateral-view fluoroscopy.

Successful treatment of thoracolumbar fractures with short-segment pedicle instrumentation.

Study Design: Retrospective radiographic review.

Objective: To determine whether clinical factors or common classification systems can predict the radiologic outcome of short-segment thoracolumbar fracture fixation.

Summary Of Background Data: Previous reports have indicated that short-segment thoracolumbar fracture fixation might not be appropriate for highly comminuted fractures or for patients with multiple traumatic injuries.