Association between degenerative spondylolisthesis and spinous process fracture after interspinous process spacer surgery.

Background Context: Spinous process fracture is a recognized complication associated with interspinous process spacer (IPS) surgery. Although occasionally identified by plain radiographs, computed tomography (CT) appears to identify a higher rate of such fractures. Although osteoporotic insufficiency fracture is considered a contraindication for IPS surgery, a formal risk factor analysis for this complication has not previously been reported.

Institutional prescreening for detection and eradication of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery.

Background: Surgical site infection has been identified as one of the most important preventable sources of morbidity and mortality associated with medical treatment. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of an institutional prescreening program for the preoperative detection and eradication of both methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus in patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery.

Methods: Data were collected prospectively during a single-center study.

The effect of osteogenic protein-1 in instrumented and noninstrumented posterolateral fusion in rabbits.

Background Context: The use of rigid instrumentation combined with bone graft makes intuitive sense given the requirements for vascular ingrowth, bone formation and a stable environment for the cellular events of healing to develop. However, with the advances of potent osteoinductive growth factors, the role of internal fixation may come into question. Whether bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) would benefit from a more "stable" spinal segment for bone production and modeling remains unknown.