Virtually bloodless posterior midline exposure of the lumbar spine using the "para-midline" fatty plane.

Purpose: The authors have developed a "para-midline" approach to the posterior lumbar spine using a virtually avascular surgical plane not previously described in the literature. It was their purpose to document consistent MRI presence of this plane and to prospectively evaluate its clinical use in terms of blood loss.

Methods: Fifty consecutive patients undergoing primary lumbar surgery on 1-3 levels were prospectively enrolled from September 2014 to May 2015.

Perioperative complications associated with spine surgery in patients with established spinal cord injury.

Background Context: Only a small percentage of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) require consideration for reconstructive surgery after their initial injury. For those who do, perioperative complications can be frequent and significant. There has been very little published literature examining treatment of these patients and essentially nothing to guide the surgeon in perioperative decision making and management.