New Axially Expandable Oblique Cage Designed for Anterior to Psoas (ATP) Approach: Indications-Surgical Technique and Clinical-Radiological Outcomes in Patients with Symptomatic Degenerative Disc Disease.

: Standard oblique cages cannot cover endplates side-to-side, which is an important biomechanical factor for reducing the risk of cage subsidence and for restoring correct segmental lordosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the radiological and clinical results of a new oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) axially expandable cage. : This is a prospective observational case-control study.

Gait analysis, trunk movements, and electromyographic patterns after minimally invasive spine surgery for lumbar instability: An observational prospective study.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate trunk kinematics and spine muscle activation during walking after minimally invasive surgery in patients with L4-L5 degenerative spondylolisthesis suffering from lumbar instability (LI).

Methods: Eleven patients suffering from LI and 13 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. Trunk kinematics and spine muscle activation patterns during walking were collected.

Atlantoaxial Anterior Transarticular Screw Fixation: Indications and Surgical Technique.

Posterior atlantoaxial screw fixation is a widely adopted therapeutic option for C1-C2 instability secondary to fractures or dislocation, degenerative diseases, or tumors at this level. Anterior transarticular screw fixation (ATSF) is an effective alternative to the posterior approaches, presenting several advantages despite being scarcely known and rarely chosen.In this chapter, we describe the ATSF step by step, illustrating its variations reported in literature, and we critically analyze the several advantages and contraindications of this technique.

Stand-Alone Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion (OLIF) for the Treatment of Adjacent Segment Disease (ASD) after Previous Posterior Lumbar Fusion: Clinical and Radiological Outcomes and Comparison with Posterior Revision Surgery.

: Radiological evidence of adjacent segment disease (ASD) has been reported to have a prevalence of more than 30% and several risk factors have been reported. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients with symptomatic ASD treated with stand-alone OLIF and compare results with a posterior revision surgery cohort. : This is a retrospective case-control study.

Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation without arthrodesis of 368 thoracolumbar fractures: long-term clinical and radiological outcomes in a single institution.

Purpose: Traumatic thoracolumbar (TL) fractures are the most common vertebral fractures. Although a consensus on the preferred treatment is missing, percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) has been progressively accepted as treatment option, since it is related to lower soft tissues surgical-injury and perioperative complications rate. This study aims to evaluate the long-term clinical-radiological outcomes after PPSF for TL fractures at a single tertiary academic hospital.

Clinical Outcomes of Shunting in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is characterized by the triad of dementia, gait disturbance and urinary incontinence, all potentially reversible following a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of shunting in normal pressure hydrocephalus following a new standardized protocol. Methods: This study is designed according to the STROBE guidelines.

Anterior Corpectomy and Plating with Carbon-PEEK Instrumentation for Cervical Spinal Metastases: Clinical and Radiological Outcomes.

: Anterior cervical corpectomy and plating has been recognized as a valuable approach for the surgical treatment of cervical spinal metastases. This study aimed to report the surgical, clinical and radiological outcomes of anterior carbon-PEEK instrumentations for cervical spinal metastases. : Demographical, clinical, surgical and radiological data were collected from 2017 to 2020.

Percutaneous instrumentation with cement augmentation for traumatic hyperextension thoracic and lumbar fractures in ankylosing spondylitis: a single-institution experience.

Objective: The typical traumatic thoracolumbar (TL) fracture in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a hyperextension injury involving all three spinal columns, which is associated with unfavorable outcomes. Although a consensus on the management of these highly unstable injuries is missing, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has been progressively accepted as a treatment option, since it is related to lower morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to evaluate clinical and radiological outcomes after percutaneous instrumentation with cement augmentation for hyperextension TL fractures in patients with AS at a single institution.

The Lone Star Retractor System in Neurosurgery.

Background: We investigated the role of a self-retaining retractor system, commonly used in ear, abdominal, vascular, urologic and gynecologic surgeries: the Lone Star retractor system. We report our experience in using the Lone Star retractor in different brain surgeries, at a single neurosurgical department.

Methods: In 2019, patients who underwent brain surgery and in which the Lone Star Retractor System was used were considered for inclusion.

Percutaneous carbon-PEEK instrumentation for spine tumors: a prospective observational study.

Background: Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) has been progressively accepted as a useful approach for spine tumors. Recently released carbon-PEEK implants have been already reported as effective in open surgeries for spine tumors. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, surgical, clinical and radiological outcomes of a new percutaneous carbon-PEEK instrumentations for spine tumors.

Fenestration of Peritoneal Catheter to Avoid Abdominal Pseudocyst Formation after Ventriculoperitoneal Shunts: A Technical Note.

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is a well-known procedure in the neurosurgical field. However, it has high complication and reoperation rates. Abdominal pseudocyst (APC) formation is a rare complication of VPS with reports in the literature varying from 4 to 10%.

The anterior-to-psoas approach for interbody fusion at the L5-S1 segment: clinical and radiological outcomes.

Objective: Over the last few decades, many surgical techniques for lumbar interbody fusion have been reported. The anterior-to-psoas (ATP) approach is theoretically supposed to benefit from the advantages of both anterior and lateral approaches with similar complication rates, even in L5-S1. At this segment, the anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) requires retroperitoneal dissection and retraction of major vessels, whereas the iliac crest does not allow the lateral transpsoas approach.

Spatial and temporal characteristics of the spine muscles activation during walking in patients with lumbar instability due to degenerative lumbar disk disease: Evaluation in pre-surgical setting.

Our purpose was to investigate the spatial and temporal profile of the paraspinal muscle activation during gait in a group of 13 patients with lumbar instability (LI) in a pre-surgical setting compared to the results with those from both 13 healthy controls (HC) and a sample of 7 patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), which represents a chronic untreatable condition, in which the spine muscles function is expected to be widely impaired. Spatiotemporal gait parameters, trunk kinematics, and muscle activation were measured through a motion analysis system integrated with a surface EMG device. The bilateral paraspinal muscles (longissimus) at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 levels and lumbar iliocostalis muscles were evaluated.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for the Treatment of Traumatic Monosegmental Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures: Clinical and Radiologic Outcomes of 144 Patients With a 6-year Follow-Up Comparing Two Groups With or Without Intermediate Screw.

Study Design: This was a retrospective study of the clinical and radiologic outcomes of traumatic thoracolumbar (TL) burst fractures.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiologic outcomes after 6 years of follow-up of 144 patients with monosegmental TL burst fractures treated with percutaneous short-segment pedicle screw fixation, comparing two groups with versus without placement of an intermediate screw at the fractured vertebra.

Summary Of Background Data: Traumatic TL fractures are the most common vertebral fractures, especially at the TL junction (T10-L2).

Long-term clinical outcomes after bilateral laminotomy or total laminectomy for lumbar spinal stenosis: a single-institution experience.

OBJECTIVELumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is the most common spinal disease in the geriatric population, and is characterized by a compression of the lumbosacral neural roots from a narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal. LSS can result in symptomatic compression of the neural elements, requiring surgical treatment if conservative management fails. Different surgical techniques with or without fusion are currently treatment options.

Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis: Weight Loss Cure.

A 47-year-old male patient presented at our neurosurgery unit with neurogenic claudication symptoms. The patient had a history of low back pain and lower extremity pain for 2 years. He had a body mass index of 38.

Patient-Oriented Aesthetic Outcome After Lumbar Spine Surgery: A 1-Year Follow-Up Prospective Observational Study Comparing Minimally Invasive and Standard Open Procedures.

Background: Despite recent treatment developments, back pain and related disabilities still represent a challenge for practitioners. Among the available surgical techniques, many different features and outcomes have been investigated; however, aesthetic result was missing among them. The present investigation was designed to prospectively compare patient-oriented aesthetic results after minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and standard open surgery (SOS) for the lumbar spine.

Transfacet Screw Fixation for the Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis with Mild Instability: A Preliminary Study.

Background:  Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and low-grade degenerative spondylolisthesis are frequently associated with facet joint degeneration, considered the main cause of low back pain. Surgery is the treatment of choice in patients affected by LSS unresponsive to conservative treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiologic outcome of patients treated with posterior decompression and transfacet fixation for single-level LSS and facet joint degeneration.

Comparison of pure lateral and oblique lateral inter-body fusion for treatment of lumbar degenerative disk disease: a multicentric cohort study.

Purpose: The most effective interbody fusion technique for degenerative disk disease (DDD) is still controversial. The purpose of our study is to compare pure lateral (LLIF) and oblique lateral (OLIF) approaches for the treatment of lumbar DDD from L1-L2 to L4-L5, in terms of clinical and radiological outcomes.

Materials And Methods: 45 patients underwent lumbar interbody fusion for pure lumbar DDD from  L1-L2 to L4-L5 through LLIF (n = 31, mean age 62.

Long-term Clinical Outcomes and Quality of Life in Elderly Patients Treated with Interspinous Devices for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

Background And Objective:  Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common degenerative condition that occurs in the spine with increasing age. Clinically, LSS causes a progressive reduction in walking autonomy, resulting in a poor quality of life and impaired functional capacity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome and quality of life of elderly patients presenting with LSS and associated comorbidities after a 5-year follow-up who were treated with an interspinous process device (IPD).

Completely Thrombosed Distal Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm Mimicking a Cavernous Angioma: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background: Distal middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms originate from branches of MCA distal to its main bifurcation or the peripheral branches. Distal MCA aneurysms are uncommon compared with saccular aneurysms, which develop along the proximal trunks of MCA. However, thrombotic aneurysms, characterized by organized intraluminal thrombus and solid mass, are frequently in the large and giant size range, whereas complete thrombosis of non-giant MCA aneurysms is very rare.

The Rehabilitation of Spinal Cord Injury Patients in Europe.

In Western European countries there is an incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) of 16 to 19.4 new cases per million inhabitants per year. Since World War II, European physicians have been fundamental in the development of SCI medicine, starting from Sir Ludwig Guttman, who developed the idea of the integrated treatment of these patients.

Atlantoaxial Joint Distraction with a New Expandable Device for the Treatment of Basilar Invagination with Preservation of the C2 Nerve Root: A Cadaveric Anatomical Study.

Background: Atlantoaxial joint distraction has been advocated for the decompression of the brain stem in patients affected by basilar invagination, avoiding direct transoral decompression. This technique requires C2 ganglion resection and it is often impossible to perform due to the peculiar bony anatomy. We describe a cadaveric anatomical study supporting the feasibility of C1-C2 distraction performed with an expandable device, allowing easier insertion of the tool and preservation of the C2 nerve root.

Comparison of minimally invasive surgery with standard open surgery for vertebral thoracic metastases causing acute myelopathy in patients with short- or mid-term life expectancy: surgical technique and early clinical results.

OBJECT Spinal metastasis is common in patients with cancer. About 70% of symptomatic lesions are found in the thoracic region of the spine, and cord compression presents as the initial symptom in 5%-10% of patients. Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) has recently been advocated as a useful approach for spinal metastases, with the aim of decreasing the morbidity associated with more traditional open spine surgery; furthermore, the recovery time is reduced after MISS, such that postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy can begin sooner.