The use of a new high-speed shielded curved drill is associated with improved intraoperative and clinical outcomes after cervical corpectomy and fusion procedures: a retrospective case series.

Background: Anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) is an effective technique to address multi-level degenerative cervical myelopathy. However, as the number of surgical levels increases, the outcomes worsen with respect to complication rates, range of motion and length of surgery. This study aimed to determine the clinical outcome of ACCF procedures performed using a new distally curved and shielded drilling device.

Economic Analysis of Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery Utilizing a Curved Bone Removal Device.

Background: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) represents a commonly performed spinal procedure that poses a significant financial burden on patients, hospitals and insurers. Reducing these costs, while maintaining efficacy, may be assisted by a new powered endplate preparation device, designed to shorten procedural time while offering positive impacts on other elements that contribute to the cost of care.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess and compare the individual cost elements of TLIF procedures with and without the use of the device, to determine whether application of this technology translated into any material procedural savings.

A New High-Speed Shielded Curved Device Allowing Safe Posterior Thoracic Discectomy Through a Modified Transforaminal Thoracic Interbody Fusion Approach: Technique Description and Case Series.

Background: The appropriate approach for surgical removal of thoracic disc herniations is controversial. The posterior approach historically acquired a bad reputation due to high rates of neurologic deterioration subsequent to spinal cord manipulation. The anterior approach has consequently gained popularity but entails a larger magnitude of surgery if open and is technically demanding if approached thoracoscopically.

Surgical management of moderate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with a fusionless posterior dynamic deformity correction device: interim results with bridging 5-6 disc levels at 2 or more years of follow-up.

Objective: A posterior dynamic deformity correction (PDDC) system was used to correct adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) without fusion. The preliminary outcomes of bridging only 3-4 discs in patients with variable curve severity have previously been reported. This paper examines a subgroup of patients with the authors' proposed current indications for this device who were also treated with a longer construct.

Efficacy of Head Repositioning in Restoration of Electrophysiological Signals During Cervical Spine Procedures.

Purpose: To evaluate the frequency of loss of neurophysiological potentials during head positioning, the usefulness of head repositioning to restore the potentials, and the effect on neurological outcome.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive cervical spine surgeries performed at the Israel Spine Center, Assuta Medical Center, during 2006 to 2013. Surgeries performed with neuromonitoring (transcranial-electric motor evoked potentials, somatosensory evoked potentials, electromyographic recordings) were included.

Remote Cerebellar Hemorrhage Complicating Unintended Durotomy in Lumbar Spine Surgery.

Study Design: Case reports and retrospective review of accidental durotomies in lumbar surgeries during 5 years.

Objectives: To draw attention to a potentially serious complication of incidental durotomy-remote cerebellar hemorrhage.

Summary And Background Data: Accidental durotomy is a frequent complication of spinal surgery.

[Acute subdural hematoma following spine surgery].

Spinal anesthesia and lumbar puncture may lead to intracerebral, subdural or subarachnoid bleeding and there have been previous reports on patients who developed subdural hematoma a few days after surgery on the spine. This is a case report of a patient who developed acute subdural hematoma during surgery performed to remove an intradural spine tumor. This report suggests that the possibility of an intracranial hematoma should be considered in cases of neurological deterioration following spinal surgery.

Seven years follow-up for total lumbar facet joint replacement (TOPS) in the management of lumbar spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and clinical improvement of a total posterior arthroplasty system in the surgical management of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis and or spinal stenosis.

Methods: During a 1-year period (June 2006 to July 2007), ten patients were enrolled in a non-randomized prospective clinical study. The primary indication was neurogenic claudication due to spinal stenosis with single-level degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Instrumented slip reduction and fusion for painful unstable isthmic spondylolisthesis in adults.

Background Context: Although in situ posterolateral fusion is considered the gold standard for surgical treatment of low-grade adult spondylolisthesis, correction of the sagittal translation by instrumented slip reduction is more controversial in adults; nevertheless it may delay adjacent level disc degeneration.

Purpose: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the safety and clinical outcome of operative instrumented slip reduction in 12 adults with isthmic spondylolisthesis accompanied by advanced disc degeneration at that level.

Study Design: This study was a retrospective review of 12 consecutive lumbar or lumbosacral isthmic slip, which underwent operative slip reduction in our institute.

Failure of the Wallis interspinous implant to lower the incidence of recurrent lumbar disc herniations in patients undergoing primary disc excision.

Background: Ipsilateral recurrent disc herniation after lumbar discectomy is a significant problem in the management of lumbar disc disease and may necessitate repeat surgical intervention. A population-based study in Finland found that about 14% of all primary lumbar discectomies required additional surgical interventions. Interspinous devices, which have been shown to unload the posterior anulus, may reduce the occurrence of recurrent herniations.

Management of deep wound infection after posterior lumbar interbody fusion with cages.

Objectives: To evaluate long-term treatment outcome of patients with infected posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) managed with surgical debridement and or prolonged antiobiotic treatment without removal of the interbody cages.

Methods: Between 1996 and 1999, 8 out of 111 patients who underwent PLIF were diagnosed with deep wound infection (7.2%).

Association between sciatica and microbial infection: true infection or culture contamination?

Study Design: Discs were cultured during discectomy from patients with back pain, sciatica, and radiologic evidence of disc herniation causing nerve root compression.

Objective: To investigate the claim of culpability of bacteria in causing the local inflammatory process seen in patients with disc herniation and radiculopathy.

Summary Of Background Data: Bacteria have been cultured from intervertebral discs of patients with sciatica.

Mid- to long-term outcome of disc excision in adolescent disc herniation.

Background Context: Adolescent disc herniation and its surgical treatment have been the subjects of many published clinical series. The majority of these series were heterogeneous; the number of adolescent patients (12-17 years) as opposed to young adults (18-20 years) was generally small and the length of follow-up varied greatly. Although the short-term outcome of disc excision in adolescents was mostly favorable, their long-term outcome is unknown.

Accuracy and safety of thoracic pedicle screw placement in spinal deformities.

Objectives: To determine the safety of pedicle screw fixation in thoracic spine deformity correction.

Methods: One hundred twelve pedicle screws were surgically placed in 25 patients with degenerative, posttraumatic, and Scheuermann kyphosis and idiopathic and neuromuscular scoliosis. Screw position was evaluated using intraoperative and postoperative radiographs and thin-slice computed tomography.

Anterior decompression combined with corpectomies and discectomies in the management of multilevel cervical myelopathy: a hybrid decompression and fixation technique.

Object: The authors retrospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of a decompression and fixation technique in the treatment of patients with multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

Methods: The authors describe the "hybrid decompression fixation" technique, a procedure involving a combination of corpectomies and discectomies to preserve a vertebra intact within the area of the decompression, thus augmenting mechanical stability. The authors retrospectively reviewed outcomes in 25 patients with multilevel CSM in whom the hybrid technique was performed between 1999 and 2003.