Impact of Erector Spinae Plane Blocks on Pain Management and Postoperative Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Pain Undergoing Spine Fusion Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of bilateral ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane blocks (ESPBs) on pain and opioid-related outcomes in a surgical population with chronic pain.

Methods: A retrospective, observational cohort study. Clinical data were extracted from the electronic medical records of patients who underwent lumbar fusion (February 2018 - July 2020).

The Impact of Prior Hip or Knee Arthroplasty on Oswestry Disability Index Two Years after Elective Lumbar Surgery.

Study Design: Secondary analysis of prospective study.

Objective: To analyze the impact of prior total knee arthroplasty (TKA), total hip arthroplasty (THA), or both on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) two years after elective lumbar surgery.

Background: Degenerative conditions that cause pain and mobility loss significantly reduce quality of life.

The Modified 5-Factor Frailty Score May Not be Useful in Predicting Complications and Unplanned Readmission After 1-Level or 2-Level Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion.

Background: The modified frailty index (mFI-5) has been shown to be a reliable risk stratification tool in different spine procedures. Its usefulness to predict complications after 1-level or 2-level anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) has not been studied extensively.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the usefulness of the mFI-5 in 1-level or 2-level ACDF surgery by asking the following questions: (1) Is the mFI-5 a reliable tool to predict complications after 1-level or 2-level ACDF? (2) Is the mFI-5 useful in predicting prolonged hospital stay after 1-level or 2-level ACDF? (3) Is the mFI-5 useful in predicting readmission after 1-level or 2-level ACDF?

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients who underwent 1-level or 2-level ACDF at our institution.

Multifidus Degeneration: The Key Imaging Predictor of Adjacent Segment Disease.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To identify imaging predictors on pre- and perioperative imaging that are associated with a future revision surgery for adjacent segment disease (ASD) following lumbar fusion.

Methods: Patients undergoing open posterior lumbar fusion between 2014-2022 were followed-up for >2-year.

Relationship between Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis and Multifidus Muscle Atrophy - A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between lumbar foraminal stenosis (LFS) and multifidus muscle atrophy.

Background: The multifidus muscle is an important stabilizer of the lumbar spine.

Association between skin ultrasound parameters and revision surgery after posterior spinal fusion.

Purpose: The literature is scarce in exploring the role of imaging parameters like ultrasound (US) as a biomarker for surgical outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the associations between skin US parameters and revision surgery following spine lumbar fusion.

Methods: Posterior lumbar fusion patients with 2-years follow-up were assessed.

Relationship between facet joint osteoarthritis and lumbar paraspinal muscle atrophy: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: The paraspinal muscles play an essential role in the stabilization of the lumbar spine. Lumbar paraspinal muscle atrophy has been linked to chronic back pain and degenerative processes within the spinal motion segment. However, the relationship between the different paraspinal muscle groups and facet joint osteoarthritis (FJOA) has not been fully explored.

Importance of the lumbar paraspinal muscles on the maintenance of global sagittal alignment after lumbar pedicle subtraction osteotomy.

Objective: There are limited data about the influence of the lumbar paraspinal muscles on the maintenance of sagittal alignment after pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) and the risk factors for sagittal realignment failure. The authors aimed to investigate the influence of preoperative lumbar paraspinal muscle quality on the postoperative maintenance of sagittal alignment after lumbar PSO.

Methods: Patients who underwent lumbar PSO with preoperative lumbar MRI and pre- and postoperative whole-spine radiography in the standing position were included.

How Much Improvement in Oswestry Disability Index is Necessary to Make Your Patient Satisfied After Lumbar Surgery?

Study Design: Retrospective review of cohort studies.

Objective: To clarify the necessary Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) improvement for patient satisfaction 2 years after lumbar surgery.

Background: Evaluating elective lumbar surgery care often involves patient-reported outcomes.

Abdominal Aortic Calcification is Associated with Degeneration of The Paraspinal Muscles - A Retrospective cross-sectional Study.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To analyze the relationship of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and a reduction in the cross-sectional area (CSA) and the fatty infiltration (FI) of the paravertebral muscles in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery.

Background: Both AAC and paraspinal muscle degeneration have been shown to be associated with poorer outcomes after surgical treatment of degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine.

Association Between Severity of Cervical Central Spinal Stenosis and Paraspinal Muscle Parameters in Patients Undergoing Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between severity and level of cervical central stenosis (CCS) and the fat infiltration (FI) of the cervical multifidus/rotatores (MR) at each subaxial levels.

Summary Of Background Data: The relationship between cervical musculature morphology and the severity of CCS is poorly understood.

Assessing paraspinal muscle atrophy with electrical impedance myography: Limitations and insights.

Paraspinal muscle atrophy is gaining attention in spine surgery due to its link to back pain, spinal degeneration and worse postoperative outcomes. Electrical impedance myography (EIM) is a noninvasive diagnostic tool for muscle quality assessment, primarily utilized for patients with neuromuscular diseases. However, EIM's accuracy for paraspinal muscle assessment remains understudied.

The relationship between paraspinal muscle atrophy and degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis at the L4/5 level.

Background/context: Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) is a prevalent spinal condition that can result in significant disability. DLS is thought to result from a combination of disc and facet joint degeneration, as well as various biological, biomechanical, and behavioral factors. One hypothesis is the progressive degeneration of segmental stabilizers, notably the paraspinal muscles, contributes to a vicious cycle of increasing slippage.

Abdominal aortic calcification is an independent predictor of perioperative blood loss in posterior spinal fusion surgery.

Objective: Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC), often found incidentally on lateral lumbar radiographs, is increasingly recognized for its association with adverse outcomes in spine surgery. As a marker of advanced atherosclerosis affecting cardiovascular dynamics, this study evaluates AAC's impact on perioperative blood loss in posterior spinal fusion (PSF).

Methods: Patients undergoing PSF from March 2016 to July 2023 were included.

Association between lumbar intervertebral vacuum phenomenon severity and posterior paraspinal muscle atrophy in patients undergoing spine surgery.

Purpose: Intervertebral vacuum phenomenon (IVP) and paraspinal muscular atrophy are age-related changes in the lumbar spine. The relationship between both parameters has not been investigated. We aimed to analyze the correlation between IVP and paraspinal muscular atrophy in addition to describing the lumbar vacuum severity (LVS) scale, a new parameter to estimate lumbar degeneration.

Association between severity of the cervical foraminal stenosis and paraspinal muscle parameters in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

Objective: The cervical multifidus and rotatores muscles are innervated by the posterior rami of the spinal nerves of the corresponding level, and it has been hypothesized that cervical foraminal stenosis (CFS) affecting the spinal nerves results in changes in these muscles. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the severity of CFS and fat infiltration (FI) of the multifidus and rotatores muscles.

Methods: Patients who received preoperative cervical MRI, underwent anterior cervical decompression and fusion between 2015 and 2018, and met inclusion and exclusion criteria were included.

Association Between Cervical Sagittal Alignment and Subaxial Paraspinal Muscle Parameters.

Study Design: Retrospective review of prospectively collected data.

Objective: The authors aim to investigate the association between muscle functional group characteristics and sagittal alignment parameters in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

Summary Of Background Data: The relationship between the morphology of cervical paraspinal muscles and sagittal alignment is not well understood.

Predicting postoperative outcomes in lumbar spinal fusion: development of a machine learning model.

Background Context: Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) is a prevalent spinal disorder, often requiring surgical intervention. Accurately predicting surgical outcomes is crucial to guide clinical decision-making, but this is challenging due to the multifactorial nature of postoperative results. Traditional risk assessment tools have limitations, and with the advent of machine learning, there is potential to enhance the precision and comprehensiveness of preoperative evaluations.

Association of abdominal aortic calcification and lower back pain in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is hypothesized to lead to ischemic pain of the lower back. This retrospective study aims to identify the relationship between AAC and lower back pain (LBP) in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Lower back pain was assessed preoperatively and 2 years after surgery using the numeric analogue scale.

Relationship between lumbar spinal stenosis and axial muscle wasting.

Background Context: Although the effect of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) on the lower extremities is well documented, limited research exists on the effect of spinal stenosis on the posterior paraspinal musculature (PPM). Similar to neurogenic claudication, moderate to severe spinal canal compression can also interfere with the innervation of the PPM, which may result in atrophy and increased fatty infiltration (FI).

Purpose: This study aims to assess the association between LSS and atrophy of the PPM.

Understanding the Interplay Between Paraspinal Muscle Atrophy and Lumbar Endplate Degeneration: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of longitudinal data.

Objective: To assess the association between the paraspinal musculature (PM) and lumbar endplate degeneration.

Background: The PM is essential for spinal stability, while the vertebral endplate is pivotal for nutrient transport and force distribution.