The contribution of E3D imaging integrated with robotic navigation: analysis of the first 80 consecutive posterior spinal fusion cases.

Eighty consecutive complex spinal robotic cases utilizing intraoperative 3D CT imaging (E3D, Group 2) were compared to 80 age-matched controls using the Excelsius robot alone with C-arm Fluoroscopic registration (Robot Only, Group 1). The demographics between the two groups were similar-severity of deformity, ASA Score for general anesthesia, patient age, gender, number of spinal levels instrumented, number of patients with prior spinal surgery, and amount of neurologic compression. The intraoperative CT scanning added several objective factors improving patient safety.

Surgical outcomes of long spinal fusions for scoliosis in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Object: In this study, the authors compared outcomes and complications in patients with and without rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who underwent surgery for spinal deformity.

Methods: The authors searched the Johns Hopkins University database for patients with RA (Group RA) and without RA (Group NoRA) who underwent long spinal fusion for scoliosis by 3 surgeons at 1 institution from 2000 through 2012. Groups RA and NoRA each had 14 patients who were well matched with regard to sex (13 women/1 man and 12 women/2 men, respectively), age (mean 66.

Thoracic disc disorders with myelopathy: treatment trends, patient characteristics, and complications.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Objective: To analyze trends in the use of 3 surgical treatments (anterior/anterolateral decompression and spinal fusion [ASF], posterior/posterolateral decompression and spinal fusion [PSF], and disc decompression/excision without fusion [DDE]) for patients with thoracic disc disorders with myelopathy (TDM), and how the treatments differ in terms of patient and hospital characteristics, complications, mortality, and resource utilization.

Summary Of Background Data: Various approaches have been described in the literature, but the preferred method is not well established.

Changing trends in cervical spine fusions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Study Design: Retrospective data analysis.

Objective: To compare the trends in primary cervical spine fusion procedures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) against those in the general population.

Summary Of Background Data: RA severely impacts multiple joints in the body and can result in substantial deformity and functional impairment.

Postoperative incentive spirometry use.

The authors hypothesized that the use of incentive spirometry by orthopedic patients is less than the recommended level and is affected by patient-related factors and type of surgery. To determine its postoperative use, the authors prospectively surveyed all patients in their institution's general orthopedic ward who had undergone elective spine surgery or total knee or hip arthroplasty during a consecutive 3-month period in 2010, excluding patients with postoperative delirium or requiring a monitored bed. All 182 patients (74 men, 108 women; average age, 64.

Role of hematologic laboratory studies in the postoperative management of patients undergoing anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion.

Anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion is a common spinal procedure. Over time, complications and hospital stay have decreased. However, to the authors' knowledge, no study has examined the necessity of routine postoperative hematologic laboratory studies for patients undergoing this procedure.

An analysis of the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination rehabilitation section.

Objective: One subject tested by the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE) is rehabilitation. Our purpose was to analyze the OITE's rehabilitation section to (1) identify the rehabilitation subjects that are tested, (2) evaluate trainee performance on this section, and (3) evaluate the literature cited for this section as an aide to the trainee preparation for future OITE examinations.

Design: This study included OITE examinations from 2004 through 2009.

A method for intraoperative repositioning of the cervical spine during posterior cervical surgery.

Positioning of the head during posterior cervical decompression and fusion requires invasive techniques (eg, pins placed through the skull) and manual repositioning intraoperatively. This article describes a new technique with a noninvasive device for such positioning. From February 2005 until June 2010 at our institution, 94 patients underwent posterior cervical decompression and fusion with instrumentation.

Bilateral pars fractures complicating long fusion to L5 in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

Study Design: Case report.

Objective: To report bilateral pars fractures at L5 complicating a long fusion for adult idiopathic scoliosis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

Summary Of Background Data: To our knowledge, there are no reports in the literature regarding bilateral pars fractures at the end instrumented vertebrae of a long fusion at the lumbosacral junction, nor reports that have evaluated long spinal deformity corrections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Functional outcome and radiographic correction after spinal osteotomy.

Study Design: A prospective clinical trial to study the radiographic parameters and functional outcome in patients undergoing spinal osteotomy.

Objectives: To determine whether correction of specific radiographic parameters is associated with improved functional outcome.

Summary Of Background Data: Although vertebral osteotomies have been shown to improve functional outcome in patients with spinal deformity, no prospective reports have studied whether correction of specific radiographic parameters is associated with improvement in functional outcome.