Diagnosis of spine pseudoarthrosis based on the biomechanical properties of bone.

Background Context: Failure to fuse following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) may result in symptomatic pseudoarthrosis. Traditional diagnosis involves computerized tomography to detect bridging bone and/or flexion-extension radiographs to assess whether segmental motion is above specific thresholds; however, there are currently no well-validated diagnostic tests. We propose a biomechanically rational approach to achieve a reliable diagnostic test for pseudoarthrosis.

Post-Operative Spinal Epidural Hematoma: Are We Discontinuing Aspirin Early Enough?

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: (1) To compare the risk of Spinal Epidural Hematoma (SEH) associated with specific pre-operative and post-operative anticoagulation (AC) and antiplatelet medications (APM). (2) To define the incidence of SEH and identify risk factors for SEH in our population.

Use of Allogenic Mesenchymal Cellular Bone Matrix in Anterior and Posterior Cervical Spinal Fusion: A Case Series of 21 Patients.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Purpose: To report our early experience using allogenic mesenchymal cellular bone matrix (CBM) products in cervical spine fusion.

Overview Of Literature: Multi-level cervical fusions have historically yielded lower fusion rates than single level fusions, especially in patients with high risk medical comorbidities.

Extensive Deep Venous Thrombosis Resulting from Anterior Lumbar Spine Surgery in a Patient with Iliac Vein Compression Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Study Design Case report. Objective Although May-Thurner syndrome or iliac vein compression syndrome is covered in the vascular literature, it remains absent from the orthopedic and neurosurgery literature and has not been previously reported to occur in concordance with spine surgery. We review the salient points of disease presentation, diagnosis, and treatment.

Number of recent inpatient admissions as a risk factor for increased complications, length of stay, and cost in patients undergoing posterior lumbar fusion.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To identify risk factors for increased complication rate, hospital charges, and length of stay in patients undergoing posterior lumbar fusion.

Summary Of Background Data: A better understanding of risk factors for perioperative complications in patients undergoing posterior lumbar fusion can aid with patient selection and postoperative monitoring.

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease (pseudogout) of lumbar spine mimicking osteomyelitis-discitis with epidural phlegmon.

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease (pseudogout) of the axial spine is rare. To our knowledge, there are few reports of the disease presenting with a presumed diagnosis of infection in the lumbar spine. As reported here, the diagnosis of osteomyelitis-discitis with epidural phlegmon was presumed before intervention.

High-grade adult isthmic L5-s1 spondylolisthesis: a report of intraoperative slip progression treated with surgical reduction and posterior instrumented fusion.

Adult isthmic spondylolisthesis most commonly occurs at the L5-S1 level of the lumbar spine. Slip progression is relatively rare in adults with this condition and slippage is typically associated with advanced degeneration of the disk below the pars defect. When symptomatic, radiculopathy is the typical complaint in adults with isthmic spondylolisthesis.

Cervical spine surgery: cervical laminaplasty.

Multilevel cervical spondylosis resulting in myelopathy is a complex condition to treat surgically. Several anterior and posterior procedures have been described. Cervical laminaplasty is a procedure that provides multilevel posterior cord decompression while attempting to eliminate the postoperative development of instability and kyphosis by retaining the posterior elements.

Minimally invasive approaches to the cervical spine.

Minimally invasive approaches and operative techniques are becoming increasingly popular for the treatment of cervical spine disorders. Minimally invasive spine surgery attempts to decrease iatrogenic muscle injury, decrease pain, and speed postoperative recovery with the use of smaller incisions and specialized instruments. This article explains in detail minimally invasive approaches to the posterior spine, the techniques for posterior cervical foraminotomy and arthrodesis via lateral mass screw placement, and anterior cervical foraminotomy.

Minimally invasive cervical spine foraminotomy and lateral mass screw placement.

Study Design: This technique article describes accomplishing multilevel posterior cervical decompression and lateral mass screw placement through a tubular retraction system.

Objective: Multilevel foraminotomy and instrumented fusion using lateral mass screw fixation can be achieved through a minimally invasive technique using specialized retractors and intraoperative fluoroscopic imaging.

Summary Of Background Data: Minimally invasive surgical techniques have been adapted to the cervical spine with good results.

Postoperative culture positive surgical site infections after the use of irradiated allograft, nonirradiated allograft, or autograft for spinal fusion.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Objective: We report the rate of postoperative infection at our institution following the use of irradiated allograft, nonirradiated allograft, or autograft for spinal fusion procedures.

Summary Of Background Data: Infection after a spinal fusion procedure is a devastating complication.

Multilevel diskitis and vertebral osteomyelitis after diskography.

Diskitis is a rare but serious complication following diskography. The signs and symptoms may be easily confused or attributed to patients' preexisting chronic axial degenerative conditions. Unrecognized, it can progress to deep-seated infection with vertebral osteomyelitis.

Mechanical strength of bone allografts subjected to chemical sterilization and other terminal processing methods.

Infectious disease transmission through the use of human donor allografts can be a catastrophic complication in an otherwise straightforward surgical procedure. The use of bone allograft in reconstructive orthopedic surgeries is increasing, yet severe complications, including death, can result if the transplanted tissues transmit a communicable disease to the tissue recipient. The BioCleanse tissue sterilization process is a fully automated, low-temperature chemical sterilization process that renders allograft tissue sterile.