Vascularized Iliac Crest Bone Graft for the Reconstruction of Anterior Vertebral Corpus Defects: A Literature Review and Cadaveric Feasibility Study.

Background: Vertebral body defects pose a significant challenge in spinal reconstructive surgery. Compression fractures of the vertebral corpus are typically treated with vertebral augmentation procedures. There are significant risks associated with the introduction of foreign material in the spine, including infection and pseudarthrosis.

Spino-Plastic Surgery: Addressing Spinal Tumors with New Techniques.

Spino-plastic surgery describes a specialized, multidisciplinary approach to addressing various spinal pathologies. The field is the innovative product of a multidisciplinary collaboration between plastic and reconstructive, orthopedic, and neurosurgery. Over the last few decades, this collaboration has borne promising surgical techniques and treatment plans geared toward restoring form, function, and aesthetics in patients with a variety of spinal conditions, including failed fusions, pseudoarthrosis, and the need for oncologic reconstruction.

Spinoplastic Reconstruction Using Iliac Crest Vascularized Bone Graft following Sacral Ependymoma Resection.

Sacral reconstruction post tumor resection has historically been executed with the placement of hardware or free tissue transfer. Reconstruction using a vascularized bone graft is an alternative that avoids the complications associated with hardware placement or free tissue transfer. This article describes the first documented case of spinoplastic reconstruction using an iliac crest vascularized bone graft (IC-VBG) after the resection of a sacral ependymoma.

Concurrent Oncolysis and Neurolesion Repair by Dual Gene-Engineered hNSCs in an Experimental Model of Intraspinal Cord Glioblastoma.

Intramedullary spinal cord glioblastoma (ISCG) is lethal due to lack of effective treatment. We previously established a rat C6-ISCG model and the antitumor effect of F3.CD-TK, an hNSC line expressing CD and TK, via producing cytocidal 5FU and GCV-TP.

Computer Vision in Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture Risk Prediction: A Systematic Review.

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) are a significant health concern linked to increased morbidity, mortality, and diminished quality of life. Traditional OVF risk assessment tools like bone mineral density (BMD) only capture a fraction of the risk profile. Artificial intelligence, specifically computer vision, has revolutionized other fields of medicine through analysis of videos, histopathology slides and radiological scans.

A computer vision approach to identifying the manufacturer of posterior thoracolumbar instrumentation systems.

Objective: Knowledge of the manufacturer of the previously implanted pedicle screw systems prior to revision spinal surgery may facilitate faster and safer surgery. Often, this information is unavailable because patients are referred by other centers or because of missing information in the patients' records. Recently, machine learning and computer vision have gained wider use in clinical applications.

Neck Pain: Differential Diagnosis and Management.

Axial neck pain is a common and important problem in the outpatient setting. In isolation, neck pain tends to have a musculoskeletal etiology and responds best to medication and targeted physical therapy. Careful history and physical examination are required to ascertain if there is a neurologic component in addition to the patient's neck pain.

Back Pain: Differential Diagnosis and Management.

Back pain is a common condition affecting millions of individuals each year. A biopsychosocial approach to back pain provides the best clinical framework. A detailed history and physical examination with a thorough workup are required to exclude emergent or nonoperative etiologies of back pain.

The impact of a night float system on operative experience in neurosurgery residency.

Objective: Since the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) implemented duty-hour restrictions in 2003, many residency programs have adopted a night float system to comply with time constraints. However, some surgical subspecialities have been concerned that use of a night float system deprives residents of operative experience. In this study, the authors describe their training program's transition to a night float system and its impact on resident operative experience.

Established and Emerging Therapies in Acute Spinal Cord Injury.

Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is devastating for patients and their caretakers and has an annual incidence of 20-50 per million people. Following initial assessment with appropriate physical examination and imaging, patients who are deemed surgical candidates should undergo decompression with stabilization. Earlier intervention can improve neurological recovery in the post-operative period while allowing earlier mobilization.

Complex Wound Closure in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery Reduces Complications in High-Risk Patients.

Background: Adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery is becoming increasingly prevalent. Soft tissue defects arising from revision closure and impaired healing can predispose to wound complications including dehiscence and infection. Soft tissue coverage with local muscle flaps has been shown to minimize wound complications in high-risk patients.

S-100-negative, GNA11 mutation-positive intramedullary meningeal melanocytoma of the thoracic spine: A radiographic challenge and histologic anomaly.

Background: Intramedullary melanocytomas are exceedingly rare and their management is largely based on case reports and small clinical series. They have characteristic imaging and histologic findings that can aid in their diagnosis. Genetic testing may be required for definitive diagnosis and management guidance in ambiguous cases.

Surgical Management of Postradiation, Dropped Head Spinal Deformity in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer.

Background: Dropped head syndrome is a morbid condition that affects daily functionality, causing pain and dysphagia and respiratory compromise. Reported causes of dropped head syndrome include neuromuscular disorders, iatrogenic from cervical spine surgery, and idiopathic and postradiation for head and neck cancers. Management of this spinal disorder remains challenging, as the complication rates are high.

Failure in Lumbar Spinal Fusion and Current Management Modalities.

Lumbar spinal fusion is a commonly performed procedure to stabilize the spine, and the frequency with which this operation is performed is increasing. Multiple factors are involved in achieving successful arthrodesis. Systemic factors include patient medical comorbidities-such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis-and smoking status.

Vascularized Bone Grafts in Spinal Reconstruction: An Overview of Nomenclature and Indications.

Several vascularized bone grafts (VBGs) have been introduced for reconstruction and augmenting fusion of the spine. The expanding use of VBGs in the field of spinoplastic reconstruction, however, has highlighted the need to clarify the nomenclature for bony reconstruction as well as establish the position of VBGs on the bony reconstructive algorithm. In the current literature, the terms "flap" and "graft" are often applied inconsistently when describing vascularized bone transfer.