Dural tears in spine surgery.

Dural tears are among the most commonly seen complications in spine surgery. Most studies in the literature indicate that long-term outcomes are not negatively affected, provided that the tears are diagnosed early and managed appropriately. Direct suture repair remains the preferred method for the management of durotomy caused by or found during surgery.

Donor-site complications of autogenous nonvascularized fibula strut graft harvest for anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion surgery: experience with 163 consecutive cases.

Background Context: The fibula is a source of bone graft for reconstruction of the appendicular and axial skeleton.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine donor-site complications and morbidity in a large series of patients who underwent autogenous fibula harvesting for anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) surgery.

Study Design/setting: Retrospective review (Level III).

Prevention, identification, and treatment of inadequate decompression of the cervical spine.

Inadequate decompression is one of the most common reasons for failed spinal surgery. Understanding the common areas where neural impingement occurs in the cervical spine, recognizing these changes on imaging studies, and recognizing the clinical manifestations help provide an intraoperative template for thorough decompression. A thorough preoperative workup assesses sagittal alignment of the cervical spine, determines if instability exists, identifies the location of the compression, and determines the etiology of the compressive lesion.

Utilization of predonated autologous blood in anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion surgery.

Objective: To determine the utilization of predonated autologous blood in patients treated with anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF).

Methods: Retrospective chart review of 154 patients who underwent 1, 2, or 3-level ACCF over a 6-year period was performed. Variables collected included patterns of autologous and allogenic blood use, blood loss, and hematocrit at admission and discharge from the hospital.

Quantifying the effect of the distal intrinsic release procedure on proximal interphalangeal joint flexion: a cadaveric study.

Purpose: The distal intrinsic release procedure is a popular treatment for intrinsic hand tightness. The literature remains ambiguous regarding the optimal amount of extensor hood to excise. Our goals were to quantify the mathematic relationship between the amount of extensor hood excised and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint flexion and to determine the minimum amount of extensor hood excision required to significantly change PIP joint flexion capability (the ability to achieve a change from the initial PIP joint angle).

Anatomic and radiographic analysis of arthroscopic tack placement into the anteroinferior glenoid.

Tack location within the anteroinferior aspect of the glenoid when performing simulated repairs of anteroinferior capsulolabral avulsions (Bankart lesions) was evaluated anatomically and radiographically. Arthroscopy was performed on six fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders, and bioabsorbable tacks were placed through an accessory anteroinferior portal coming into the joint just above the subscapularis tendon using an outside-in technique. Tack location was studied after removal of all soft tissues.