Observations of supermicron-sized aerosols originating from biomass burning in southern Central Africa.

During the 3 years of the ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS (ORACLES) campaign, the NASA Orion P-3 was equipped with a 2D stereo (2D-S) probe that imaged particles with maximum dimension () ranging from 10 < < 1280 μm. The 2D-S recorded supermicron-sized aerosol particles (SAPs) outside of clouds within biomass burning plumes during flights over the southeastern Atlantic off Africa's coast. Numerous SAPs with 10 < < 1520 μm were observed in 2017 and 2018 at altitudes between 1230 and 4000 m, 1000 km from the coastline, mostly between 7-11° S.

The Effect of Esophageal Temperature Probes on Postoperative Dysphagia Following Primary Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Randomized Prospective Study.

Background: The anterior approach to the cervical spine is associated with postoperative dysphagia. It is difficult to predict which patients are most at risk for dysphagia. The objective of this study was to determine if placing an esophageal temperature probe preoperatively would affect the severity and length of postoperative dysphagia.

Outcomes following outpatient anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for the treatment of myelopathy.

Introduction: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a commonly performed procedure for the treatment of degenerative cervical disease. With continued increase in U.S.

Increased Rates of Septic Shock, Cardiac Arrest, and Mortality Associated With Chronic Steroid Use Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Cervical Stenosis.

Objective: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is an established treatment modality for cervical spondylosis. Many patients are on immunosuppressant therapy in the management of various inflammatory spinal pathologies and other comorbid conditions. The impact of chronic steroid use on postoperative complications has not been examined in cervical fusion procedures.

Risk Factors for Postoperative Urinary Tract Infections Following Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

Background: Although risk factors contributing to UTI have been studied in posterior approaches to lumbar fusion, there is a lack of literature on factors contributing to UTI in anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF). Our purpose was to identify preoperative independent risk factors for postoperative urinary tract infection (UTI) following anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) so that surgeons may be able to initiate preventative measures and minimize the risk of UTI-related morbidity following ALIF.

Methods: The American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried to identify 10 232 patients who had undergone ALIF from 2005 to 2016; 144 patients (1.

A Case Series That Supports the Application of the S2AI Technique for Fractures and Failures After Lumbosacral Fusion.

Background: Sacral fractures and failures are uncommon after lumbosacral fusion but have received increasing attention in the surgical literature. They can be difficult to diagnose, making timely treatment difficult. No consensus has been reached on the characteristics of these complications or on optimal treatment.

Characterizing efficiency in the ambulatory surgery setting: An analysis of operating room time and cost savings in orthopaedic surgery.

Changing surgical settings for orthopaedic procedures could drive reductions in operative time and reduce healthcare costs. Time-cost differences were calculated using estimated operating room costs by utilizing the ACS-NSQIP database. Multivariate analyses were generated from propensity-matched cohorts to assess differences between inpatient/outpatient outcomes, and whether surgical length increased risk for complications.

The Effect of Alendronate on Subsidence After Lateral Transpsoas Interbody Fusion: A Preliminary Report.

Background: Success after lateral transpsoas interbody fusion (LLIF) partially depends on avoidance of subsidence to maintain spinal alignment, disc space height, and indirect neural decompression. Techniques for preventing subsidence have focused largely on surgical and biomechanical properties of spinal reconstruction; however, medical management may also affect subsidence rates as well. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of alendronate on minimally invasive LLIF patients with regard to radiographic and catastrophic subsidence.

Far-lateral Disc Herniation Treated by Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion without Complete Fragment Excision: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Symptomatic far-lateral lumbar disc herniation is a less common causes of lumbar radiculopathy than paracentral or central disc herniation. Treatment of far-lateral disc herniation with a retroperitoneal, transpsoas approach and disc fragment excision has been described. However, treatment of far-lateral disc herniation using lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) without neural manipulation has not been described.

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion With Cement Augmentation Without Posterior Fixation to Treat Isthmic Spondylolisthesis in an Osteopenic Patient-A Surgical Technique.

Background: Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) has been well established as an effective surgical intervention for chronic back pain due to osteoporotic vertebral collapse. Historically, ALIF has consisted of an anterior approach to disc height restoration with a subsequent posterior pedicle screw fixation. Although the applications of cement augmentation with posterior fixation have been previously reported, treatment of patients with both isthmic spondylolisthesis and decreased bone mineral density using a stand-alone ALIF is controversial because of concerns for decreased fusion rates and increased subsidence risk, respectively.

Clinical and radiographic analysis of expandable versus static lateral lumbar interbody fusion devices with two-year follow-up.

Background: Utilization of static and expandable interbody spacers for minimally invasive lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) offers favorable clinical results. However, complications such as implant migration and/or subsidence may occur with a static implant. Expandable devices allow for expansion to optimize fit and mitigate iatrogenic endplate damage during trialing and impaction.

Clinical Perspective-The Case for Adoption of LLIF.

Open surgical procedures have been the mainstay of spinal surgery for decades, but minimally invasive spinal surgery (MIS) has recently gained traction. Translaterally placed cages permit insertion of large cages and promote skeletal realignment and fusion. Lateral surgical procedures with percutaneous skeletal fixation and good fusion allow patients to leave the hospital earlier with fewer complications as compared with open procedures.

Commentary on the primary stability of three different iliosacral screw fixation techniques in osteoporotic cadaver specimens-a biomechanical investigation.

Oberkircher L, Masaeli A, Bliemel C, Debus F, Ruchholtz S, Krüger A. Primary stability of three different iliosacral screw fixation techniques in osteoporotic cadaver specimens-a biomechanical investigation. Spine J 2016:16:225-31 (in this issue).

The unusual presentation of a vascular injury after lumbar microdiscectomy: case report.

Vascular injury during lumbar spine surgery is a relatively rare complication but can have devastating outcomes. The injury may not be apparent during surgery and can present acutely or late in various manners, and some injuries can be asymptomatic. This report discusses the unusual case of a 35-year-old woman who underwent a right L4-5 microdiscectomy for disc herniation and 4 days postoperatively presented with a pulmonary embolus.

Biomechanical analysis of an expandable lateral cage and a static transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion cage with posterior instrumentation in an in vitro spondylolisthesis model.

Objective: Insufficient biomechanical data exist from comparisons of the stability of expandable lateral cages with that of static transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) cages. The purpose of this biomechanical study was to compare the relative rigidity of L4-5 expandable lateral interbody constructs with or without additive pedicle screw fixation with that of L4-5 static TLIF cages in a novel cadaveric spondylolisthesis model.

Methods: Eight human cadaver spines were used in this study.

3D nano/microfabrication techniques and nanobiomaterials for neural tissue regeneration.

Injuries of the nervous system occur commonly among people of many different ages and backgrounds. Currently, there are no effective strategies to improve neural regeneration; however, tissue engineering provides a promising avenue for regeneration of many tissue types, including the neural context. Functional nerve conduits derived from tissue engineering techniques present bioengineered 3D artificial substitutes for implantation and rehabilitation of injured nerves.

Recent advances in the prevention and management of complications associated with routine lumbar spine surgery.

Lumbar spine surgery is often associated with complications in the perioperative and postoperative periods. Evidence-based literature in the prevention and management of adverse events, including surgical site infection, venous thromboembolism, and positioning-related complications, has advanced the understanding of the etiology of these complications and preventive measures. Cost-effective measures to reduce intraoperative bleeding can lead to a lower incidence of infection, disease transmission, and morbidity in the postoperative period.

Use of vertebroplasty to prevent proximal junctional fractures in adult deformity surgery: a biomechanical cadaveric study.

Background Context: Vertebral compression fractures at the proximal junction are common complications of long spinal fusion surgeries that can contribute to the development of proximal junctional kyphosis or proximal junctional failure. To our knowledge, no biomechanical studies have addressed the effect of vertebral augmentation at the proximal junction.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic vertebroplasty in reducing the incidence of vertebral compression fractures at the proximal junction after a long spinal fusion in a cadaveric spine model.

Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after spine surgery: incidence and patient risk factors.

Anticoagulation after spine surgery confers the unique risk of epidural hematoma. We sought to determine the incidence of and patient risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) after spine surgery. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 1485 patients who had spine surgery at a single tertiary-care center between 2002 and 2009.

Anatomical feasibility of C-2 pedicle screw fixation: the effect of variable angle interpolation of axial CT scans.

Object: Anatomical variability of the C-2 pedicle poses a challenge for C-2 fixation. The use of multidimensional CT scanning is not widely used but might be an asset to preoperative planning. Careful preoperative planning is imperative for instrumentation at C-2.

Traumatic C4-C5 unilateral facet dislocation with posterior disc herniation above a prior anterior fusion.

We report the case of a unilateral cervical facet dislocation above the level of a prior non-instrumented cervical discectomy and fusion, resulting in incomplete neurologic injury. Pre-reduction imaging demonstrated a large posterior disk extrusion. This finding altered our management approach from closed reduction to urgent anterior cervical discectomy, open anterior reduction, and fusion.

Anatomical parameters of subaxial percutaneous transfacet screw fixation based on the analysis of 50 computed tomography scans: Clinical article.

Object: Cervical transfacet screw placement has been described in the literature. Although the technique shows promise for percutaneous application, parameters for screw placement have not been well delineated. This study used reconstructed CT scans with imaging software to assess the feasibility of percutaneous transfacet screw placement, analyzing potential entry angles, transfacet lengths, and sex differences at each subaxial level.