MRI measurement of neuroforaminal dimension at the index and supradjacent levels after anterior lumbar interbody fusion: a prospective study.

Background: Anterior interbody fusion has previously been demonstrated to increase neuroforaminal height in a cadaveric model using cages. No prior study has prospectively assessed the relative change in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated neuroforaminal dimensions at the index and supradjacent levels, after anterior interbody fusion with a corticocancellous allograft in a series of patients without posterior decompression. The objective of this study was to determine how much foraminal dimension can be increased with indirect foraminal decompression alone via anterior interbody fusion, and to determine the effect of anterior lumbar interbody fusion on the dimensions of the supradjacent neuroforamina.

Load sharing properties of cervical pedicle screw-rod constructs versus lateral mass screw-rod constructs.

Lateral mass screws have a history of successful clinical use, but cannot always be used in the subaxial cervical spine. Despite safety concerns, cervical pedicle screws have been proposed as an alternative. Pedicle screws have been shown to be biomechanically stronger than lateral mass screws.

Postoperative lumbar epidural hematoma: does size really matter?

Study Design: Prospective clinical series with comparison to retrospectively collected data.

Objective: To compare direct measures of postoperative hematoma volume against a new measure of hematoma effect on the thecal sac: the critical ratio.

Summary Of Background Data: Asymptomatic epidural hematoma is common after lumbar surgery.

Prospective study of postoperative lumbar epidural hematoma: incidence and risk factors.

Study Design: Prospective clinical series.

Objective: To determine the incidence, volume, and extent of postoperative epidural hematoma resulting in thecal sac compression, and to identify risk factors correlated with measured hematoma volumes.

Summary Of Background Data: Risk factors for postoperative hematoma development have been retrospectively determined in small populations of symptomatic patients.

Acute outcomes of cervical spine injuries in the elderly: atlantaxial vs subaxial injuries.

Background/objective: Recent studies have reported on the outcomes of spinal cord injuries in the elderly. Our aim was to identify acute survival differences between elderly patients with atlantoaxial injuries relative to subaxial injuries at our institution and to determine whether operative treatment is associated with improved survival rates in either population.

Study Design: Retrospective database review of all traumatic cervical spine injuries in patients at least 65 years of age at a single tertiary care center.

Acute mortality and complications of cervical spine injuries in the elderly at a single tertiary care center.

Study Design: Retrospective database review of all traumatic cervical spine injuries at a single tertiary care center.

Objective: To determine the acute survival of patients aged 65 and over with a variety of cervical spine injuries, regardless of operative or conservative treatment.

Summary Of Background Data: Elderly patients with cervical spine injuries have historically suffered from high mortality rates.

Delayed epidural hematoma after spinal surgery: a report of 4 cases.

Symptomatic postoperative epidural hematoma is a rare and potentially devastating complication of spinal surgery. The overwhelming majority of reported cases have occurred in the immediate postoperative period. A recent publication defined the clinical entity of delayed postoperative epidural spinal hematoma as neurologic deterioration due to an epidural hematoma occurring at least 3 days after the index procedure.