[Conservative treatment of injuries to the cervical spine : Mobilization or immobilization].

Many injuries to the cervical spine can be treated conservatively. Treatment options include early functional, mobilizing and immobilizing procedures. If a structural injury can be ruled out by morphological imaging, early functional mobilization should be performed in combination with adequate analgesia according to the World Health Organization (WHO) step by step scheme to avoid chronification.

Cavernous Malformations and Hemangioblastomas of the Spinal Cord Show Distinct Differences in Clinical Course - A Retrospective Single-Center Analysis of 112 Patients.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Cavernous malformations (CMs) and hemangioblastomas (HBs) of the spinal cord exhibit distinct differences in histopathology but similarities in the neurological course. The aim of our study was to analyze the clinical differences between the vascular pathologies and a benign tumor of the spinal cord in a perioperative situation.

[Perioperative management after traumatic paraplegia : Avoiding complications].

This article describes the current status of modern treatment options for traumatic spinal cord injuries with a particular focus on the perioperative phase. Along with a recognition of age-related specific features that can impact successful treatment of spinal injuries, prompt interdisciplinary treatment while adhering to the "time is spine" principle is of high importance. By considering this approach and using modern diagnostic and surgical techniques, successful surgical treatment can be achieved while taking into account individual characteristics, such as reduced bone quality, accompanying injuries as well as oncological and inflammatory rheumatic comorbidities.

The added value of a commercial 16S/18S-PCR assay (UMD-SelectNA, Molzym) for microbiological diagnosis of spondylodiscitis: an observational study.

In spondylodiscitis, pathogen identification is important to guide therapy strategies. Here the use of an rDNA PCR assay (Molzym UMDSelectNA) for pathogen detection in spondylodiscitis was evaluated in 182 specimens from 124 spondylodiscitis patients. In 81% of specimens rDNA PCR and conventional culture produced concordant results.

Analysis of Three-Dimensional Bone Microarchitecture of the Axis Exposes Pronounced Regional Heterogeneity Associated with Clinical Fracture Patterns.

The odontoid process (dens) of the second cervical vertebra (axis) is prone to fracture. While the importance of its skeletal integrity has been previously noted, representative three-dimensional microarchitecture analyses in humans are not available. This study aimed to determine the bone microarchitecture of the axis using high-resolution quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) and to derive clinical implications for the occurrence and treatment of axis fractures.

Can You Feel it? - Correlation Between Intraoperatively Perceived Bone Quality and Objectively Measured Bone Mineral Density.

Study Design: clinical study.

Objectives: Loosening of pedicle screws is a frequent complication in patients with osteoporosis. The indication for additional stabilization, such as cement augmentation, is more often based on the subjective intraoperative feeling of the surgeon than on a preoperative bone mineral density (BMD) measurement.

[Does navigation still have a value in trauma surgery?].

Background: Navigation systems are supposed to increase precision and support surgeons while they perform certain interventions. 2D, or nowadays 3D, systems are used in image-based approaches. Image-free navigation uses 3D printing.

The limitations of fully threaded screws in isolated percutaneous transarticular screw fixation of C1/C2.

Demographic aging accompanied by increased falls inevitably leads to an increased incidence of atlantoaxial instabilities (AAI). Minimally invasive surgical procedures decrease the perioperative risk and regarding the treatment of AAI, percutaneous transarticular screw fixation of C1/C2 was more frequently considered in the past. This study aims to investigate the outcome of patients treated for AAI by isolated percutaneous transarticular screw fixation of C1/C2 (IPTSFC1/C2) using 3.

Outcome after Posterior Vertebral Column Resection in Patients with Severe Osteoporotic Fractures-A Retrospective Analysis from Two Centers.

In osteoporotic fractures of the spine with resulting kyphosis and threatening compression of neural structures, therapeutic decisions are difficult. The posterior vertebral column resection (pVCR) has been described by different authors as a surgical treatment in a single-stage posterior procedure. The aim of this study is to evaluate midterm outcomes of patients treated by pVCR due to severe osteoporotic fractures.

Surgical Site Cytology to Diagnose Spinal Lesions.

Patients with new-onset malignant spinal lesions often have an urgent need for local spine intervention and systemic therapy. For optimal management, it is crucial to diagnose the underlying disease as quickly and reliably as possible. The aim of our current study was to determine the feasibility, sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic certainty of complementary cytological evaluation of spinal lesions suspected of malignancy.

The Hamburg Spondylodiscitis Assessment Score (HSAS) for Immediate Evaluation of Mortality Risk on Hospital Admission.

(1) Background: Patients with spondylodiscitis often present with unspecific and heterogeneous symptoms that delay diagnosis and inevitable therapeutic steps leading to increased mortality rates of up to 27%. A rapid initial triage is essential to identify patients at risk for a complicative disease course. We therefore aimed to develop a risk assessment score using fast available parameters to predict in-hospital mortality of patients admitted with spondylodiscitis.

Spontaneous spondylodiscitis and endocarditis: interdisciplinary experience from a tertiary institutional case series and proposal of a treatment algorithm.

Previously, the simultaneous presence of endocarditis (IE) has been reported in 3-30% of spondylodiscitis cases. The specific implications on therapy and outcome of a simultaneous presence of both diseases are not yet fully evaluated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a simultaneously present endocarditis on the course of therapy and outcome of spondylodiscitis.

[Odontoid fracture after high impact trauma : Assess instability correctly].

Odontoid process fractures are frequent injuries of the cervical spine and usually occur at an advanced age and often due to minor trauma. In younger patients they are mainly observed in the context of high impact trauma. Odontoid fractures are classified according to Anderson and D'Alonzo.

Impact of Screw Diameter on Pedicle Screw Fatigue Strength-A Biomechanical Evaluation.

Objective: Loosening of pedicle screws is a frequently observed complication in spinal surgery. Because additional stabilization procedures such as cement augmentation or lengthening of the instrumentation involve relevant risks, optimal stability of the primarily implanted pedicle screw is of essential importance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of increasing the screw diameter on pedicle screw stability.

Intraoperative blood loss in oncological spine surgery.

Objective: Intraoperative blood loss in patients undergoing oncological spine surgery poses a major challenge for vulnerable patients. The goal of this study was to assess how the surgical procedure, tumor type, and tumor anatomy, as well as anesthesiological parameters, affect intraoperative blood loss in oncological spine surgery and to use this information to generate a short preoperative checklist for spine surgeons and anesthesiologists to identify patients at risk for increased intraoperative blood loss.

Methods: The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 430 oncological patients who underwent spine surgery between 2013 and 2018 at the university medical spine center.

Implementation of a multidisciplinary infections conference improves the treatment of spondylodiscitis.

Establishing a multidisciplinary approach regarding the treatment of spondylodiscitis and analyzing its effect compared to a single discipline approach. 361 patients diagnosed with spondylodiscitis were included in this retrospective pre-post intervention study. The treatment strategy was either established by a single discipline approach (n = 149, year 2003-2011) or by a weekly multidisciplinary infections conference (n = 212, year 2013-2018) consisting of at least an orthopedic surgeon, medical microbiologist, infectious disease specialist and pathologist.

Posterior vertebral column resection as a safe procedure leading to solid bone fusion in metastatic epidural spinal cord compression.

Objective: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death and greatly decreases a patient's quality of life. Vertebral metastases often lead to epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) requiring surgical therapy. It has previously been shown that in patients with metastatic ESCC (MESCC), a surgical intervention leads to an improved outcome.

Preclinical Quantification of Prostate Cancer-Associated Vascular Alterations in the Bone Microenvironment in vivo.

Introduction: Prostate cancer has a special predilection to form bone metastases. Despite the known impact of the microvascular network on tumour growth and its dependence on the organ-specific microenvironment, the characteristics of the tumour vasculature in bone remain unknown.

Methods: The cell lines LNCaP, DU145, and PC3 were implanted into the femurs of NSG mice to examine the microvascular properties of prostate cancer in bone.

Cortical threaded pedicle screw improves fatigue strength in decreased bone quality.

Purpose: Inadequate anchoring of pedicle screws in vertebrae with poor bone quality is a major problem in spine surgery. The aim was to evaluate whether a modified thread in the area of the pedicle could significantly improve the pedicle screw fatigue strength.

Methods: Fourteen human cadaveric vertebral bodies (L2 and L3) were used for in vitro testing.

[Minimally invasive posterior and anterior stabilization of the thoracolumbar spine after traumatic injuries].

Injuries of the thoracolumbar junction are the most common fractures of the spine due to their anatomical position and load. Common classification systems differentiate between stable and unstable injuries and thus also between operative and conservative therapy. The majority of injuries can be treated conservatively; however, unstable injuries require surgical treatment for a variety of reasons.

Rescue Augmentation: Increased Stability in Augmentation After Initial Loosening of Pedicle Screws.

Study Design: Biomechanical study.

Objectives: Failure of pedicle screws is a major problem in spinal surgery not only postoperatively, but also intraoperatively. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether cement augmentation may restore mounting of initially loosened pedicle screws.