Factors associated with increased length of stay in degenerative cervical spine surgery: a cohort analysis from the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network.

Objective: Postoperative length of stay (LOS) significantly contributes to healthcare costs and resource utilization. The primary goal of this study was to identify patient, clinical, surgical, and institutional variables that influence LOS after elective surgery for degenerative conditions of the cervical spine. The secondary objectives were to examine the variability in LOS and institutional practices used to decrease LOS.

Minimally Invasive Tubular Lumbar Discectomy Versus Conventional Open Lumbar Discectomy: An Observational Study From the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: We evaluated the effectiveness of minimally invasive (MIS) tubular discectomy in comparison to conventional open surgery among patients enrolled in the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network (CSORN).

Methods: We performed an observational analysis of data that was prospectively collected.

Lumbar Fusion Surgery for Patients With Back Pain and Degenerative Disc Disease: An Observational Study From the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network.

Study Design: Uncontrolled retrospective observational study.

Objectives: Surgery for patients with back pain and degenerative disc disease is controversial, and studies to date have yielded conflicting results. We evaluated the effects of lumbar fusion surgery for patients with this indication in the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network (CSORN).

Clinical predictors of achieving the minimal clinically important difference after surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy: an external validation study from the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network.

Objective: Recently identified prognostic variables among patients undergoing surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) are limited to two large international data sets. To optimally inform shared clinical decision-making, the authors evaluated which preoperative clinical factors are significantly associated with improvement on the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scale by at least the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) 12 months after surgery, among patients from the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network (CSORN).

Methods: The authors performed an observational cohort study with data that were prospectively collected from CSM patients at 7 centers between 2015 and 2017.

Decompression alone vs. decompression plus fusion for claudication secondary to lumbar spinal stenosis.

Background: Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis is a common condition, predominantly affecting middle-aged and elderly people. This study focused on patients with neurogenic claudication secondary to lumbar stenosis without spondylolisthesis or deformity.

Purpose: To determine whether the addition of fusion to decompression resulted in improved clinical outcomes at 3, 12, and 24 months postsurgery.

Effect of preoperative symptom duration on outcome in lumbar spinal stenosis: a Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network registry study.

Background Context: Lumbar degenerative stenosis is one of the most common spine pathologies for which surgical intervention is indicated. There is some evidence that a prolonged duration of neurological compression could lead to a failure of surgery to alleviate symptoms.

Purpose: Determination of whether longer symptom duration was associated with worse postoperative disability outcomes after decompressive surgery for lumbar degenerative stenosis.

Avoidable Emergency Department Utilization Within 6 Months Following Elective Thoracolumbar Spine Surgery for Degenerative Pathologies.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objective: To identify prevalence of, reasons for, and predictors of emergency department (ED) utilization 6 months following elective thoracolumbar spine surgery.

Methods: A retrospective review of a patient database was conducted (N = 577).

Elevated Patient Body Mass Index Does Not Negatively Affect Self-Reported Outcomes of Thoracolumbar Surgery: Results of a Comparative Observational Study with Minimum 1-Year Follow-Up.

Study Design Retrospective study. Objective Quantify the effect of obesity on elective thoracolumbar spine surgery patients. Methods Five hundred consecutive adult patients undergoing thoracolumbar spine surgery to treat degenerative pathologies with minimum follow-up of at least 1 year were included.

The Incidence of Adjacent Segment Breakdown in Polysegmental Thoracolumbar Fusions of Three or More Levels with Minimum 5-Year Follow-up.

Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Objective To identify the incidence of adjacent segment pathology (ASP) after thoracolumbar fusion of three or more levels, the risk factors for the development of ASP, and the need for further surgical intervention in this particular patient population. Methods A retrospective analysis of a prospective surgical database identified 217 patients receiving polysegmental (≥ 3 levels) spinal fusion with minimum 5-year follow-up.

Transforaminal epidural steroid injections prevent the need for surgery in patients with sciatica secondary to lumbar disc herniation: a retrospective case series.

Background: The median orthopedic surgery wait time in Canada is 33.7 weeks, thus alternative treatments for pathologies such as lumbar disc herniations (LDH) are needed. We sought to determine whether transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESIs) alleviate or merely delay the need for surgery.

Minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures are a leading cause of disability and morbidity in the elderly. The consequences of these fractures include pain, progressive vertebral collapse with resultant spinal kyphosis, and systemic manifestations. Nonsurgical measures have proved unsuccessful in a portion of this population and for this group, minimally invasive vertebral augmentation can be beneficial.

Sexual dimorphism in degenerative disorders of the spine.

Sexual dimorphism is evident during formation, growth, and development of the spine. Pregnancy alters spine physiology and is a risk factor for back pain. The processes of aging and spinal degeneration adversely affect men and women slightly differently.

Comparison of in-shoe foot loading patterns on natural grass and synthetic turf.

Synthetic playing surfaces with rubber or sand infill are now used on many athletic fields such as soccer, football and rugby. Although these surfaces may come closer to the mechanical characteristics of a true grass playing surface than the older turf designs, their potential effects on lower extremity biomechanics and related injury rates necessitate further study. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two surfaces (natural grass versus turf) on in-shoe foot loading patterns during cutting.

Musculoskeletal injury in the masters runners.

Objective: To determine if injury patterns and risk factors for injury differ between masters and younger runners.

Design: Retrospective survey.

Setting: Hood to Coast running relay, Oregon, USA.