The exponential growth of nonsurgeons performing fusions for low-back pain.

Objective: This study aimed to report changes in utilization and payment trends of low-back pain (LBP) interventions and the impact of nonsurgeon interventionalists on these changes.

Methods: Medicare Part B national summary data files were used to gather annual utilization and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) payment data for LBP interventions from 2000 to 2021. Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes were grouped as decompression, spinal fusion, sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion, epidural steroid injections (ESIs), physical therapy (PT), and chiropractic manipulation (Chiro).

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is Associated with Increased Rates of Adjacent Segment Disease Following TLIF: A Propensity Matched Study.

Background: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a collection of connective tissue disorders which are often associated with tissue laxity and disc degeneration. However, the implications of EDS on the risk of adjacent segment disease (ASD) after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) are not well described. The objective of this study is to compare the rates of ASD among patients with EDS and those without EDS.

Cannabis Use is Associated With Higher Rates of Pseudarthrosis Following TLIF: A Multi-Institutional Matched-Cohort Study.

Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To compare the rates of pseudarthrosis in patients undergoing 1 to 3 level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) procedures between cannabis users and noncannabis users.

Summary Of Background Data: Recreational use of cannabis is common, though it remains poorly studied and legally ambiguous in the United States.

Anterior occipital condyle screw placement through the endonasal corridor: proof of concept study with cadaveric analysis.

Purpose: Odontoidectomy for ventral compressive pathology may result in O-C1 and/or C1-2 instability. Same-stage endonasal C1-2 spinal fusion has been advocated to eliminate risks associated with separate-stage posterior approaches. While endonasal methods for C1 instrumentation and C1-2 trans-articular stabilization exist, no hypothetical construct for endonasal occipital instrumentation has been validated.

Robotic and navigated pedicle screws are safer and more accurate than fluoroscopic freehand screws: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Context: Navigated and robotic pedicle screw placement systems have been developed to improve the accuracy of screw placement. However, the literature comparing the safety and accuracy of robotic and navigated screw placement with fluoroscopic freehand screw placement in thoracolumbar spine surgery has been limited.

Purpose: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials that compared the accuracy and safety profiles of robotic and navigated pedicle screws with fluoroscopic freehand pedicle screws.

Catastrophic acute failure of pelvic fixation in adult spinal deformity requiring revision surgery: a multicenter review of incidence, failure mechanisms, and risk factors.

Objective: There are few prior reports of acute pelvic instrumentation failure in spinal deformity surgery. The objective of this study was to determine if a previously identified mechanism and rate of pelvic fixation failure were present across multiple institutions, and to determine risk factors for these types of failures.

Methods: Thirteen academic medical centers performed a retrospective review of 18 months of consecutive adult spinal fusions extending 3 or more levels, which included new pelvic screws at the time of surgery.

C1 Lateral Mass Screw Placement Through Endonasal Corridor for Purpose of O-C1 Fusion: Morphometric Analysis in Cadaveric Specimens.

Background: Odontoidectomy may pose some risks for O-C1 and/or C1-C2 instability, with previous authors reporting techniques for endonasal C1-C2 fusion. However, no technique for endonasal O-C1 fusion currently exists. We sought to describe the feasibility of endonasal anterior C1 (AC1) screw placement for endonasal O-C1 fusion.

Generation of Cross-Specialty Consensus Statements on Soft Tissue Management via a Modified Delphi Method.

Background: Soft tissue management (STM) training programs for surgeons are largely tradition based, and substantial differences exist among different surgical specialties. The lack of comprehensive and systematic clinical evidence on how surgical techniques and implants affect soft tissue healing makes it difficult to develop evidence-based curricula. As a curriculum development group (CDG), we set out to find common grounds in the form of a set of consensus statements to serve as the basis for surgical soft tissue education.

Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Development and Natural History [AO Spine RECODE-DCM Research Priority Number 2].

Study Design: Narrative review.

Objectives: To discuss the current understanding of the natural history of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).

Methods: Literature review summarizing current evidence pertaining to the natural history and risk factors of DCM.

Noninvasive electrical stimulation as an adjunct to fusion procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Noninvasive electrical stimulation represents a distinct group of devices used to augment fusion rates. However, data regarding outcomes of noninvasive electrical stimulation have come from a small number of studies. The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine outcomes of noninvasive electrical stimulation used as an adjunct to fusion procedures to improve rates of successful fusion.

Role of psychosocial factors on the effect of physical activity on physical function in patients after lumbar spine surgery.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal postoperative relationship between physical activity, psychosocial factors, and physical function in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery.

Methods: We enrolled 248 participants undergoing surgery for a degenerative lumbar spine condition. Physical activity was measured using a triaxial accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X) at 6-weeks (6wk), 6-months (6M), 12-months (12M) and 24-months (24M) following spine surgery.

Retrograde ejaculation following anterior lumbar surgery: a systematic review and pooled analysis.

Objective: The present systematic review and pooled analysis aims to assess the incidence and risk factors for the development of retrograde ejaculation (RE) following first-time open anterior lumbar surgery.

Methods: A systematic MEDLINE review via PubMed was performed, identifying 130 clinical papers relating to the topic. Eighteen publications were selected according to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria and were used to determine the incidence of RE.

How Many Steps Per Day During the Early Postoperative Period are Associated With Patient-Reported Outcomes of Disability, Pain, and Opioid Use After Lumbar Spine Surgery?

Objective: To investigate whether early postoperative walking is associated with "best outcome" and no opioid use at 1 year after lumbar spine surgery and establish a threshold for steps/day to inform clinical practice.

Design: Secondary analysis from randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Two academic medical centers in the United States.

Early postoperative physical activity and function: a descriptive case series study of 53 patients after lumbar spine surgery.

Background: The purpose of this prospective case series study was to compare changes in early postoperative physical activity and physical function between 6 weeks and 3 and 6 months after lumbar spine surgery.

Methods: Fifty-three patients (mean [95% confidence interval; CI] age = 59.2 [56.

Examining the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act: impact on telemedicine for neurotrauma.

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) protects patient access to emergency medical treatment regardless of insurance or socioeconomic status. A significant result of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the rapid acceleration in the adoption of telemedicine services across many facets of healthcare. However, very little literature exists regarding the use of telemedicine in the context of EMTALA.

The History of Anterior and Lateral Approaches to the Lumbar Spine.

Anterior and lateral approaches to the lumbar spine are commonly used today for a variety of indications. These approaches can ultimately be traced back to early attempts to treat Pott's disease. Evidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of the spine dates as far back as 2400 BCE, with ancient Egyptian mummies exhibiting lesions consistent with Pott's disease.

Physical Performance Tests Provide Distinct Information in Both Predicting and Assessing Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Lumbar Spine Surgery.

Study Design: Secondary analysis of randomized controlled trial data.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether preoperative physical performance is an independent predictor of patient-reported disability and pain at 12 months after lumbar spine surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are commonly used to assess clinical improvement after lumbar spine surgery.

Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy and the Aging Spine: Introduction to the Special Issue.

Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM) is the most common cause of spinal cord injury in the world, but despite this, there remains many areas of uncertainty regarding the management of the condition. This special issue was dedicated to presenting current research topics in DCM. Within this issue, 12 publications are presented, including an introductory narrative overview of DCM and 11 articles comprising 9 research papers and 2 systematic reviews focusing on different aspects, ranging from genetic factors to clinical assessments, imaging, sagittal balance, surgical treatment, and outcome prediction.

Bouncing back after lumbar spine surgery: early postoperative resilience is associated with 12-month physical function, pain interference, social participation, and disability.

Background Context: Positive psychosocial factors early after surgery, such as resilience and self-efficacy, may be important characteristics for informing individualized postoperative care.

Purpose: To examine the association of early postoperative resilience and self-efficacy on 12-month physical function, pain interference, social participation, disability, pain intensity, and physical activity after lumbar spine surgery.

Study Design/setting: Pooled secondary analysis of prospectively collected trial data from two academic medical centers.

Psychosocial Mechanisms of Cognitive-Behavioral-Based Physical Therapy Outcomes After Spine Surgery: Preliminary Findings From Mediation Analyses.

Objective: Changing Behavior through Physical Therapy (CBPT), a cognitive-behavioral-based program, has been shown to improve outcomes after lumbar spine surgery in patients with a high psychosocial risk profile; however, little is known about potential mechanisms associated with CBPT treatment effects. The purpose of this study was to explore potential mediators underlying CBPT efficacy after spine surgery.

Methods: In this secondary analysis, 86 participants were enrolled in a randomized trial comparing a postoperative CBPT (n = 43) and education program (n = 43).

The Relationship Between Gastrointestinal Comorbidities, Clinical Presentation and Surgical Outcome in Patients with DCM: Analysis of a Global Cohort.

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most common cause of spinal cord impairment in adults, presenting most frequently in patients 50 years or older. Gastrointestinal comorbidities (GICs) commonly occur in this group; however, their relationship with DCM has not been thoroughly investigated. It is the objective of the present study to investigate the difference between patients with or without GICs who are surgically treated for DCM.

Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Brief Review of Past Perspectives, Present Developments, and Future Directions.

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most common cause of spinal cord injury in developed countries; its prevalence is increasing due to the ageing of the population. DCM causes neurological dysfunction and is a significant cause of disability in the elderly. It has important negative impacts on the quality of life of those affected, as well as on their caregivers.