The Effect of Oblique Magnetic Resonance Imaging on Surgical Decision Making for Patients Undergoing an Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Cervical Radiculopathy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine if oblique magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences affect the surgical treatment recommendations for patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Methods: In this cohort study consecutive clinical cases of persistent cervical radiculopathy requiring surgical intervention were randomized, blinded, and reviewed by 6 surgeons. Initially each surgeon recommended treatment based on the history, physical examination, and axial, coronal and sagittal preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) images; when reviewing the cases the second time, the surgeons were provided oblique MR images.

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.