Clinical and surgical results related to anterior-only multilevel cervical decompression and instrumented fusion for degenerative disease.

Introduction: Anterior-only multilevel cervical decompression and fusion surgery (AMCS) on 3-5-levels is challenging due to potential complications. Also, outcome predictors after AMCS are poorly understood.

Research Question: We hypothesize that in patients with at most mild/moderate cervical kyphosis (CK) of the cervical spine, restoration of cervical lordosis (CL) positively influences clinical outcomes.

Assessment of atlantoaxial rotation: how accurate is clinical measurement? a comparative study of cervical range of motion using MRI and standard orthopedic techniques.

Purpose: Measurement of neck rotation is currently reliant on radiologic imaging. Given the radiation exposure for CT imaging and the additional inconvenience for the patients, an alternative assessment is needed. Goniometers are comfortably to use and easy to access, also for private consulting.

Surgical Realignment After Anterior Multilevel Decompression Using Cages and Plate for 3-level to 5-level Degenerative Fusions: Lessons Learned From the Analysis of Geometric Changes, Reciprocal Coupling, and Prediction of Sagittal Cervical Balance.

Study Design: Retrospective, single-center case study.

Objective: Postoperative cervical imbalance with cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA) >4 cm can be predicted in 3-level to 5-level anterior-only cervical multilevel fusion surgery (ACMS).

Summary Of Background Data: Previous studies established correlations between cervical kyphosis (CK) correction and postoperative balance (cSVA ≤4 cm) with improved clinical outcomes.

Resolution of the lumbosacral fractional curve and evaluation of the risk for adding on in 101 patients with posterior correction of Lenke 3, 4, and 6 curves.

Objective: In double and triple major adolescent idiopathic scoliosis curves it is still controversial whether the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) should be L3 or L4. Too short a fusion can impede postoperative distal curve compensation and promote adding on (AON). Longer fusions lower the chance of compensation by alignment changes of the lumbosacral curve (LSC).

Center of rotation analysis for thoracic and lumbar 3-column osteotomies in patients with sagittal plane spinal deformity: insights in geometrical changes can improve understanding of correction mechanics.

Objective: Three-column osteotomy (3CO) is used for severe spinal deformities. Associated complications include sagittal translation (ST), which can lead to neurological symptoms. Mismatch between the surgical center of rotation (COR) and the concept of the ideal COR is a potential cause of ST.

Surgical outcomes with anatomic reduction of high-grade spondylolisthesis revisited: an analysis of 101 patients.

Objective: The ideal strategy for high-grade L5-S1 isthmic spondylolisthesis (HGS) remains controversial. Critical questions include the impact of reduction on clinical outcomes, rate of pseudarthrosis, and postoperative foot drop. The scope of this study was to delineate predictors of radiographic and clinical outcome factors after surgery for HGS and to identify risk factors of foot drop.

Temporary treatment with magnetically controlled growing rod for surgical correction of severe adolescent idiopathic thoracic scoliosis greater than 100°.

Introduction: Correction of severe idiopathic scoliosis poses surgical challenges. Treatment options entail anterior and/or posterior release, Halo-gravity traction (HGT) and three-column osteotomies (3CO). The authors report results with a novel technique of temporary short-term magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) as part of a posterior-only strategy to treat severe idiopathic major thoracic curves (MTC).

The Effect of Rod Pattern, Outrigger, and Multiple Screw-Rod Constructs for Surgical Stabilization of the 3-Column Destabilized Cervical Spine - A Biomechanical Analysis and Introduction of a Novel Technique.

Objective: Anterior-only reconstructions for cervical multilevel corpectomies are prone to fail under continuous mechanical loading. This study sought to define the mechanical characteristics of different constructs in reducing a range of motion (ROM) of the 3-column destabilized cervical spine, including posterior cobalt-chromium (CoCr)-rods, outrigger-rods (OGR), and a novel triple rod construct using lamina screws (6S3R). The clinical implications of biomechanical findings are discussed in depth from the perspective of the challenges surgeons face cervical deformity correction.

[Surgical challenges with spinal balance in adult spinal deformities-the forgotten coronal plane].

This article gives a brief overview of the importance, planning and correction of coronal spinal imbalance in patients with adult and pediatric spinal deformity.

Coexistence of Neck and Shoulder Disability: Results of a Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study on Normative Scores and Multifactorial Risk Factors for Neck and Shoulder Problems.

Study Design: Cross-sectional population-based study.

Purpose: The study objective was to evaluate the coexistence of neck- and shoulder-disability, to establish normative scores for Neck Disability Index (NDI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS)-neck, VAS-arm, Quick Disability of Shoulder and Hand (Quick-DASH), and modified Constant score (mConstant score), and to determine the influence of psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]) on the disability measures. The authors also investigated the distribution of dysphagia across the population and its relation to the NDI scores.

Osteotomies in ankylosing spondylitis: where, how many, and how much?

Introduction: This article presents the current concepts of correction of spinal deformity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. Untreated AS can be a debilitating disease. In a few patients, disease progression results in severe spinal deformity affecting not only the thoracolumbar, but also the cervical spine.

The influence of isolated thoracoplasty on the evolution of pulmonary function after treatment of severe thoracic scoliosis.

Introduction And Purpose: Isolated thoracoplasty (iTP) on the convex side is performed long time after scoliosis surgery has been performed. ITP is thought to cause a further decline in pulmonary function (PF); however, the amount of decline is ill defined. The objectives of this study were to examine the influence of iTP on the postoperative evolution of PF and rib hump reduction in patients that previously undergone scoliosis surgery.