Table-mounted Versus Self-retaining Retraction: An Assessment of Postoperative Dysphagia Following Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objective: To determine whether there are significant differences in postoperative dysphagia when using table-mounted versus self-retaining retractor tools.

Summary Of Background Data: Retraction of prevertebral structures during anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS) is commonly associated with postoperative dysphagia or dysphonia.

Preoperative diagnosis of mental health disorder and dysphagia following anterior cervical spine surgery.

Objective: Mental health disorders (MHDs) have been linked to worse postoperative outcomes after various surgical procedures. Past studies have also demonstrated a higher prevalence of dysphagia in both acute and community mental health settings. Dysphagia is among the most common complications following anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS); however, current literature describing the association between an established diagnosis of an MHD and the rate of dysphagia after ACSS is sparse.

Augmented Reality in Spine Surgery: Current State of the Art.

Augmented reality (AR) is the superimposition of a virtual environment on the real world. The use of AR in spine surgery continues to grow, with multiple companies and products becoming available. The proposed benefits of AR include decreased attention shift, decreased line-of-site interruption, opportunity for more minimally invasive approaches, decreased radiation exposure to the operative team, and improved pedicle screw accuracy.

Bariatric Surgery Lowers Rates of Spinal Symptoms and Spinal Surgery in a Morbidly Obese Population.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of New York State Inpatient Database years 2004-2013.

Objective: Assess rates of spinal diagnoses and procedures before and after bariatric surgery (BS).

Summary Of Background Data: BS for morbid obesity helps address common comorbidity burdens and improves quality of life for patients.

Demineralized Bone Matrix in Spine Surgery: A Review of Current Applications and Future Trends.

Background: Graft augmentation for spinal fusion is an area of continued interest, with a wide variety of available products lacking clear recommendations regarding appropriate use. While iliac crest autograft has long been considered the "gold standard", suboptimal fusion rates along with harvest-related concerns continue to drive the need for graft alternatives. There are now multiple options of products with various characteristics that are available.

Assessing the Quality and Credibility of Publicly Available Videos on Cervical Fusion: Is YouTube a Reliable Educational Tool?

Background: YouTube has become a popular source for patient education, though there are concerns regarding the quality and reliability of videos related to orthopaedic and neurosurgical procedures. This study aims to evaluate the credibility and educational content of videos on YouTube related to cervical fusion. Secondarily, the study aims to identify factors predictive of higher or lower quality videos.

Lumbar Endoscopic Spine Surgery A Comprehensive Review.

Endoscopic spine surgery (ESS) is growing in popularity as a minimally invasive approach to a variety of spinal conditions. Similar to other types of minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS), ESS aims to address the underlying pathology while minimizing surrounding tissue disruption. Its use in the lumbar spine has progressed over the past 50 years and is now routinely used in cases of lumbar disc herniations and stenosis.

Machine-Learning Modeling to Predict Hospital Readmission Following Discharge to Post-Acute Care.

Objectives: Primary purpose was to generate a model to identify key factors relevant to acute care hospital readmission within 90 days from 3 types of post-acute care (PAC) sites: home with home care services (HC), skilled nursing facility (SNF), and inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF). Specific aims were to (1) examine demographic characteristics of adults discharged to 3 types of PAC sites and (2) compare 90-day acute hospital readmission rate across PAC sites and risk levels.

Design: Retrospective, secondary analysis design was used to examine hospital readmissions within 90 days for persons discharged from hospital to SNF, IRF, or HC.

Hospital-acquired conditions occur more frequently in elective spine surgery than for other common elective surgical procedures.

Hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) have been the focus of recent initiatives by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in an effort to improve patient safety and outcomes. Spine surgery can be complex and may carry significant comorbidity burden, including so called "never events." The objective was to determine the rates of common HACs that occur within 30-days post-operatively for elective spine surgeries and compare them to other common surgical procedures.

A Practical Approach to Spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in the evaluation of patients with spine disorders, providing excellent evaluation of both normal and pathologic anatomy. Interpreting MRI findings can be difficult as anatomic abnormalities may not correlate with clinical symptoms and MRI may show abnormal findings in asymptomatic individuals. Using a systematic approach to interpreting a spinal MRI can help to achieve an accurate diagnosis and guide therapeutic decision-making, surgical intervention, and treatment monitoring.

Correction to: Prior bariatric surgery lowers complication rates following spine surgery in obese patients.

The AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) has requested the correction of the result Tables 1-3 of this study: All stated numbers below 10 shall be modified to read "<10" instead.

Predictors of Hospital-Acquired Conditions Are Predominately Similar for Spine Surgery and Other Common Elective Surgical Procedures, With Some Key Exceptions.

Study Design: Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database.

Objective: To predict the occurrence of hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) 30-days postoperatively and to compare predictors of HACs for spine surgery with other common elective surgeries.

Methods: Patients ≥18 years undergoing elective spine surgery were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database from 2005 to 2013.

Use of a Novel Computerized Drill for Pedicle Screw Insertion in the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine: A Cadaveric Study.

Background: A variety of techniques have been utilized to improve the accuracy of pedicle screw instrumentation. Recently, a novel handheld computerized drill system, IntelliSense Drill Technology, has been used in orthopedic trauma to improve drilling accuracy and reduce radiation and iatrogenic injury. The specialized drill technology detects changes in cortical density to prevent inadvertent cortical violation.

National Trends in the Prevalence, Treatment, and Associated Spinal Diagnoses Among Pediatric Spondylolysis Patients.

Introduction: Spondylolysis is an increasingly common diagnoses for young individuals and presents with a wide range of pathological and clinical findings. Most patients are treated conservatively, and surgery is reserved for severe cases. This is a populations study defining the incidence of spondylolysis in the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) and assess trends in diagnoses, causes, and treatments.

Biomechanics and Clinical Application of Translaminar Screws Fixation in Spine: A Review of the Literature.

Study Design: Broad narrative review.

Objectives: Translaminar screw (TLS) fixation was first described as a salvage technique for fixation of the axial spine. Better understanding of the spine anatomy allows for advancement in surgical techniques and expansion of TLS indications.

Recurrent Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Review.

Study Design: Narrative review.

Objectives: To identify the risk factors and surgical management for recurrent lumbar disc herniation using a systematic review of available evidence.

Methods: We conducted a review of PubMed, MEDLINE, OVID, and Cochrane Library databases using search terms identifying recurrent lumbar disc herniation and risk factors or surgical management.

Decreased rates of 30-day perioperative complications following ASD-corrective surgery: A modified Clavien analysis of 3300 patients from 2010 to 2014.

The Clavien-Dindo grading allows for broad comparison of perioperative surgical complications, and a temporal analysis of complications following ASD-corrective surgery. NSQIP database was utilized from 2010 to 2014 to isolate patients. Complications were stratified by Clavien complication (Cc) grade, and patients grouped by highest Cc grade: I, II, III, IV, V.

Prior bariatric surgery lowers complication rates following spine surgery in obese patients.

Background: Bariatric surgery (BS) is an increasingly common treatment for morbid obesity that has the potential to effect bone and mineral metabolism. The effect of prior BS on spine surgery outcomes has not been well established. The aim of this study was to assess differences in complication rates following spinal surgery for patients with and without a history of BS.

Fatty Infiltration of Cervical Spine Extensor Musculature: Is there a Relationship With Cervical Sagittal Balance?

Study Design: This is a retrospective review of a single surgeon cervical deformity (CD) database.

Objective: Quantitatively describe the cervical extensor musculature in a CD population, and delineate associations between posterior musculature atrophy and progressive sagittal deformity.

Summary Of Background Data: While fatty infiltration (FI; ie, posterior musculature atrophy) of lumbar extensor musculature has been associated with pain and deformity, little is known of the relationship between FI, CD, cervical sagittal alignment, and functionality.

Chiari malformation clusters describe differing presence of concurrent anomalies based on Chiari type.

Chiari malformations are structural defects in the posterior fossa where the cerebellum displaces caudally into the foramen magnum and upper spinal canal. These malformations are classified by severity as Types 1-4, each presenting with different associated and/or concurrent conditions and anomalies. The aim of this study was to utilize a nationwide database to study patients with Chiari malformations including their concurrent diagnoses and associated anomalies.

Epidemiology and national trends in prevalence and surgical management of metastatic spinal disease.

Surgical treatment for spinal metastasis has benefited from improvements in surgical techniques. However, the trends in treatment and outcomes for spinal metastasis surgery have not been well-established in a pediatric population. Patients <20 years old with metastatic spinal tumors undergoing spinal surgery were identified in the KID database.

The etiology of congenital scoliosis: genetic vs. environmental-a report of three monozygotic twin cases.

Purpose: To describe the presence of congenital scoliosis in a genetically identical population as it relates to the possible genetic vs. environmental etiologic factors.

Methods: The authors describe three cases of congenital scoliosis in monozygotic twins.