Should We Operate on Octogenarians with Cervical Myelopathy or Radiculopathy?

Study Design: Retrospective Cohort.

Objective: Investigate the disparities between octogenarians and non-octogenarians undergoing cervical spine surgery regarding perioperative, and postoperative outcomes.

Summary Of Background Data: As the population ages, the demand for elective cervical spine surgery among older, more active adults increases.

Factors Associated With Return to Work Following Laminoplasty for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To identify factors predictive of returning to work within 90 days of laminoplasty for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).

Background: DCM is a debilitating condition resulting from spinal canal stenosis and spinal cord compression.

Open Versus Endoscopic Approach for Thoracic Disk Herniations: Equivalent Short-Term Outcomes With Significantly Different Costs.

Background And Objectives: Open thoracic diskectomy often requires significant bone resection and fusion, whereas an endoscopic thoracic diskectomy offers a less invasive alternative. Therefore, we sought to compare one-level open vs endoscopic thoracic diskectomy regarding (1) perioperative outcomes, (2) neurological recovery, and (3) total cost.

Methods: A single-center, retrospective, cohort study using prospectively collected data of patients undergoing one-level thoracic diskectomy was undertaken from 2018 to 2023.

Revisiting the Posterior Approach for Cervical Radiculopathy Utilizing Endoscopic Techniques: A Favorable Short-Term Outcome and Cost Comparison With Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Background: Cervical radiculopathy is a spine ailment frequently requiring surgical decompression via anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or posterior foraminotomy/discectomy. While endoscopic posterior foraminotomy/discectomy is gaining popularity, its financial impact remains understudied despite equivalent randomized long-term outcomes to ACDF. In a cohort of patients undergoing ACDF vs endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy/discectomy, we sought to compare the total cost of the surgical episode while confirming an equivalent safety profile and perioperative outcomes.

Obstacles to receiving postoperative radiation therapy following separation surgery for metastatic spine disease.

Objective: Obtaining timely postoperative radiotherapy (RT) following separation surgery is critical to avoid local recurrence of disease yet can be a challenge due to scheduling conflicts, insurance denials, and travel arrangements. In patients undergoing metastatic spine surgery for spinal cord compression, the authors sought to: 1) report the rate of postoperative RT, 2) describe reasons for patients not receiving postoperative RT, and 3) investigate factors that may predict whether a patient receives postoperative RT.

Methods: A single-center retrospective case series was undertaken of all patients who underwent metastatic spine surgery for extradural disease between January 2010 and January 2021.

Stopping at C2 Versus C3/4 in Elective Posterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion: A 5-Year Follow-up Study.

Study Design: This is a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: In patients undergoing elective posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion (PCLF) with a minimum of 5-year follow-up, we sought to compare reoperation rates between patients with an upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) of C2 versus C3/4.

Summary Of Background Data: The long-term outcomes of choosing between C2 versus C3/4 as the UIV in PCLF remain unclear.

Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Laminoplasty Versus Laminectomy With Fusion in Patients With Cervical Spondylosis.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate preoperative differences in racial and socioeconomic factors in patients undergoing laminoplasty (LP) versus laminectomy and fusion (LF) for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).

Summary Of Background Data: DCM is prevalent in the United States, requiring surgical intervention to prevent neurological degeneration.

Efficacy and Safety of the Ultrasonic Bone Scalpel in Lumbar Laminectomies.

Introduction: Despite recent advances in applied instruments and surgical techniques, the incidence of iatrogenic durotomies caused by traditional techniques remains significant. The ultrasonic bone scalpel (UBS) has been shown to improve speed and reduce complications in laminectomies in the cervical and thoracic spine when compared to traditional methods utilizing high-speed burr, punch forceps, or rongeurs. Thus, in this study, we aim to evaluate whether the use of the UBS in the lumbar spine would result in equivalent safety, efficacy, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) improvement when compared to traditional methods of laminectomy.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Presentation of Patients With Spinal Metastases.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Objective: The aim was to determine if preoperative spinal instability neoplastic scores (SINSs) and Tokuhashi prognostication scores differed in patients receiving surgical care before and during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Summary Of Background Data: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused delays in scheduling nonemergent surgeries.

Characteristics and Trends of the Most Cited Spine Publications.

Study Design: Bibliometric literature review.

Objective: The aim of this study was to recognize and analyze the most frequently cited manuscripts published in the journal Spine.

Summary Of Background Data: Although the journal Spine is considered a premiere location for distributing influential spine research, no previous study has evaluated which of their publications have had the most impact.

Effects of Body Mass Index on Perioperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Surgery.

Objective: Obesity has become a public health crisis and continues to be on the rise. An elevated body mass index has been linked to higher rates of spinal degenerative disease requiring surgical intervention. Limited studies exist that evaluate the effects of obesity on perioperative complications in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

Peroneal Tendinosis and Subluxation.

Peroneal tendinosis and subluxation are lifestyle-limiting conditions that can worsen if not properly diagnosed and treated. Adequate knowledge of ankle anatomy and detailed history and comprehensive physical examination is essential for diagnosis. Peroneal tendinopathy is likely to result from overuse, whereas subluxation often precipitates from forceful contraction of peroneals during sudden dorsiflexion while landing or abruptly stopping.

Effects of menopausal state on lumbar decompression and fusion surgery.

Menopause leads to fluctuations in androgenic hormones which directly affect bone metabolism. Bone resorption, mineralization, and remodeling at fusion sites are essential in order to obtain a solid and biomechanically stable fusion mass. Bone metabolic imbalance seen in the postmenopausal state may predispose to fusion related complications.

Soft Tissue Masses in Patients Who Underwent Cosmetic Fat Transfer Procedures for Gluteal Augmentation: A Report of 3 Cases.

Cases: Three patients were referred to our musculoskeletal oncology service after undergoing autologous fat grafting procedures. Two masses were suspected to be "soft tissue sarcomas," and one was due to a mass of unknown origin. These findings have not been reported in the orthopedic literature and may generate potential referrals for orthopedic oncologists.

Short-term safety of tranexamic acid use in posterior cervical decompression and fusion surgery.

Posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PCDF) can result in substantial blood loss, leading to blood transfusions and associated complications, such as infections, hypotension and organ damage. The antifibrinolytic tranexamic acid (TXA), an inhibitor of the activation of plasminogen, has been shown to be beneficial in multiple surgical procedures without any apparent increase in postoperative complications. However, there are only few studies reporting TXA utilization in cervical spine surgery and there is currently no literature detailing the short-term safety of its use in this setting.

Fish-Mouth Thoracic Fracture Fixation with Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Reduction: A Technical Note.

Background: Surgical stabilization of thoracic spine fractures is recommended for unstable patterns, yet much debate exists regarding the best approach for reduction. The aim of this article was to report the outcome of a novel method for stabilization of a fish-mouth thoracic spine fracture.

Methods: A retrospective patient chart review was conducted.

Histone acetyltransferase-deficient p300 mutants in diffuse large B cell lymphoma have altered transcriptional regulatory activities and are required for optimal cell growth.

Background: Recent genome-wide studies have shown that approximately 30% of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cases harbor mutations in the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) coactivators p300 or CBP. The majority of these mutations reduce or eliminate the catalytic HAT activity. We previously demonstrated that the human DLBCL cell line RC-K8 expresses a C-terminally truncated, HAT-defective p300 protein (p300ΔC-1087), whose expression is essential for cell proliferation.