Recurrence rate after posterior percutaneous screw fixation without anterior debridement for pyogenic spondylitis compared with conservative treatment: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Purpose: Previous studies have shown that percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) posterior fixation without anterior debridement for pyogenic spondylitis can improve patient quality of life compared with conservative treatment. However, data on the risk of recurrence after PPS posterior fixation compared with conservative treatment is lacking. The aim of this study was to compare the recurrence rate of pyogenic spondylitis after PPS posterior fixation without anterior debridement and conservative treatment.

Association of two-staged surgery with systemic perioperative complications in lateral lumbar interbody fusion for adult spinal deformity: a propensity score-weighted study.

Purpose: Adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery carries a higher risk of perioperative systemic complications. However, evidence for the effect of planned two-staged surgery on the incidence of perioperative systemic complications is scarce. Here, we evaluated the effect of two-staged surgery on perioperative complications following ASD surgery using lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF).

Radiological follow-up of the degenerated facet joints after lateral lumbar interbody fusion with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation: Focus on spontaneous facet joint fusion.

Background: Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) is widely used in degenerative lumbar spine surgery. Previous studies of radiographic investigations after LLIF have assessed the anterior interbody fusion rate, the changes in the segmental lumbar lordosis, efficacy of indirect neural decompression, and remodeling of the ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and spinal canal dimension, and so on. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiological changes in the degenerated facet joints following LLIF with bilateral percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) fixation, focusing on spontaneous fusion.

Decreased rate of surgical site infection after spinal surgery with instrumentation using bundled approach including surveillance and intrawound vancomycin application.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) increase the risk of mortality, postsurgery, extend hospital stay, and increase the costs of healthcare. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary, evidence-based, surveillance program combined with intrawound application of vancomycin in lowering the incidence rate of SSI after spinal surgery with instrumentation.We conducted a retrospective analysis of 637 patients who underwent spinal fusion with instrumentation in our institution at 3 different time periods: prior to our surveillance program (control group), surveillance only (surveillance group 1), and surveillance combined with intrawound vancomycin application (surveillance group 2).

Analysis of detailed clinical characteristics of spinal subdural hematoma following lumbar decompression surgery.

Background: Only a few reports have described symptomatic patients with postoperative spinal subdural hematoma (SSH) for which further surgery may have been required. No report has focused on the detailed clinical characteristics of postoperative SSH, including asymptomatic cases, in a case series. The reasons for this may be that SSH is an implicitly recognized rare entity, and there is no established consensus regarding the significance of performing postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for all cases and the time at which to perform it.

Risk factors for implant removal after spinal surgical site infection.

Purpose: Few studies have investigated the risk factors for implant removal after treatment for spinal surgical site infection (SSI). Therefore, there is no firmly established consensus for the management of implants. We aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors for implant removal after SSI managed with instrumentation, and to examine potential strategies for avoiding implant removal.

Lumbar Spinal Surgery in Patients With Parkinson Disease: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Study Design: A multicenter, retrospective study.

Objective: To identify the factors that affect surgery-related complications and to clarify the surgical strategy for treating lumbar disorders in Parkinson disease (PD).

Summary Of Background Data: Previous studies have reported a high complication rate for spinal surgery in patients with PD.

Quantification of changes in gait characteristics associated with intermittent claudication in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Objective: To quantify changes in gait characteristics associated with claudication after continuous walking, and to investigate the relationship between walking capacity and gait characteristics in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).

Summary Of Background Data: Walking difficulty due to pain or neurological symptoms accompanied by continuous walking may have negative effects on gait characteristics in patients with LSS.

The reinforcement of a C2 laminar screw by a C2 laminar hook as an anchor of occipito-C2 fusion.

Although a C1-C2 transarticular screw (TAS) or a C2 pedicle screw (PS) is the most rigid anchor for C2, each entails the risk of vertebral artery injury. Although a C2 laminar screw (LS) is often used as an alternative anchor in such cases, its anchoring strength may be inadequate. We introduce a technical tip, in which a C2 LS is reinforced by a C2 infralaminar hook without extending the fusion range.

The O-C2 angle established at occipito-cervical fusion dictates the patient's destiny in terms of postoperative dyspnea and/or dysphagia.

Purpose: We have revealed that the cause of postoperative dyspnea and/or dysphagia after occipito-cervical (O-C) fusion is mechanical stenosis of the oropharyngeal space and the O-C2 alignment, rather than total or subaxial alignment, is the key to the development of dyspnea and/or dysphagia. The purpose of this study was to confirm the impact of occipito-C2 angle (O-C2A) on the oropharyngeal space and to investigate the chronological impact of a fixed O-C2A on the oropharyngeal space and dyspnea and/or dysphagia after O-C fusion.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed 13 patients who had undergone O-C2 fusion, while retaining subaxial segmental motion (OC2 group) and 20 who had subaxial fusion without O-C2 fusion (SA group).

Utility of the analysis of intracranial venous sinuses using preoperative computed tomography venography for safe occipital screw insertion.

Study Design: Prospective descriptive study.

Objective: To verify the feasibility and utility of evaluating venous sinuses (VSs) using computed tomography venography (CTV) concomitant with preoperative CT angiography (CTA) for safe occipital screw fixation.

Summary Of Background Data: Preoperative evaluation of the vertebral artery by CTA is indispensable in occipitocervical spinal instrumentation surgery.

Reduction of atlantoaxial subluxation causes airway stenosis.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of reduction of anterior atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) on the oropharyngeal airway space.

Summary Of Background Data: Our previous studies have shown that reduction of the occipito-C2 angle (O-C2A) makes the mandible shift posteriorly, resulting in oropharyngeal airway stenosis, which occasionally causes postoperative dysphagia after occipitocervical fusion.

Does the formation of vertebral endplate cysts predict nonunion after lumbar interbody fusion?

Study Design: A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the impact of vertebral endplate cyst formation on union status after lumbar interbody fusion.

Objective: To assess the impact of cyst formation at the vertebral endplate in the early detection of nonunion after lumbar interbody fusion. The relationship between vertebral endplate cyst formation and subsequent union status was evaluated retrospectively using dynamic x-ray and computed tomography (CT) and multiplanar reconstruction.