Publications by authors named "P Flanigan"
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the effectiveness of synthetic interbody spacers compared to structural bone grafts in lumbar arthrodesis for spine diseases, highlighting gaps in current clinical evidence.
- It includes a systematic review of 20 studies with over 1500 patients, showing that using interbody cages led to a greater increase in disc height and a more significant reduction in back pain.
- The findings indicate that interbody cages enhance fusion rates and suggest their importance in clinical practice for treating degenerative spine conditions.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the effects of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) on clinical and radiological outcomes in cervical arthrodesis, specifically comparing cases with and without BMP use in both anterior and posterior fusions.
- A total of 20 studies with nearly 5,800 patients showed that BMP use in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) was linked to higher fusion rates and lower reoperation rates, but also a higher risk of dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).
- In contrast, for posterior cervical fusion (PCF), BMP did not significantly affect fusion or reoperation rates, but was associated with higher blood loss during surgery.
Objective: The authors sought to determine how the temporal proximity of lumbar epidural spinal injection prior to surgery impacts clinical outcomes (e.g., 30-day readmission, postoperative complications, CSF leak) in patients undergoing lumbar decompression without fusion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) is a complication of surgical management for adult spinal deformity (ASD) with a multifactorial etiology. Many risk factors are controversial, and their relative importance is not fully understood. The authors aimed to elucidate the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and PJK.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMalignant melanotic nerve sheath tumors are uncommon pigmented tumors of Schwann cell origin, most often found along the spinal nerves. Although well-described in the literature, the tumors are quite rare, making up <1% of nerve sheath tumors. Physicians are, therefore, often unfamiliar with both the appearance and the optimal treatment of such tumors.
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