Transforming Growth Factor-β Promotes Axonal Regeneration After Chronic Nerve Injury.

When spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs, injured cells must survive and regenerate to close gaps caused by the injury and to create functional motor units. After peripheral nerve injury, Wallerian degeneration in the distal nerve stump creates a neurotrophic and growth-supportive environment for injured neurons and axons via Schwann cells and secreted cytokines/neurotrophins. In both SCI and peripheral nerve injury, injured motor and sensory neurons must regenerate axons, eventually reaching and reinnervating target tissue (SDC Figure 1, http://links.

One-stage resection of giant invasive thoracic schwannoma: case report and review of literature.

Background: Schwannomas comprise approximately 25% of all spinal tumors, being the third most frequent soft-tissue tumor after hemangiomas and lipomas. Grade 5 invasive giant schwannomas erode the vertebral bodies, involve 2 or more levels, and invade the myofascial planes. Because 3 compartments are involved, these tumors represent a surgical challenge and frequently require staged surgeries with a multidisciplinary surgical team.

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring for minimally invasive 1- and 2-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: does it improve patient outcome?

Background: Despite the widespread use of intraoperative monitoring (IOM) in many types of spinal surgeries, an absence of data comparing monitored a nd unmonitored postoperative outcomes places IOM's efficacy into question. A lack of consensus among surgeons about when to use monitoring also raises concerns about its overuse in routine and low-risk procedures.

Methods: We performed a retrospective database review of 112 patients undergoing a 1- or 2-level minimally invasive surgery transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF).

Midline minimally invasive placement of spinal cord stimulators: a technical note.

Background: Spinal cord stimulators (SCSs) have conventionally been implanted through open approaches requiring extensive muscle dissection to perform laminectomies and permanently place the paddle lead. This approach could contribute to worsening the pain syndrome in patients who experience chronic pain. In an attempt to reduce operative times, minimize blood loss and postoperative pain, and ease the technical challenges of placing the paddle lead in the midline via a paramedian and off-midline incision, we designed a new minimally invasive surgery (MIS) technique to place the paddle lead using a tubular retractor system through a true midline approach.

Minimally invasive versus open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis grades 1-2: patient-reported clinical outcomes and cost-utility analysis.

Background: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is the standard surgical treatment for patients with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis who do not respond to a 6-week course of conservative therapy. A number of morbidities are associated with the conventional open-TLIF method, so minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques for TLIF (MIS-TLIF) have been introduced to reduce the trauma to paraspinal muscles and hasten postoperative recovery. Because providing cost-effective medical treatment is a core initiative of healthcare reforms, a comparison of open-TLIF and MIS-TLIF must include a cost-utility analysis in addition to an analysis of clinical effectiveness.

Resection and nerve grafting of a lipofibrohamartoma of the median nerve: case report.

Objective And Importance: Our patient's symptomatology, history, physical examination, diagnosis, management, and functional outcome 1 year after surgical repair is presented and discussed in light of the current literature on lipofibrohamartomas.

Clinical Presentation: A 3-year-old boy presented to the Louisiana State University Nerve Clinic for evaluation and management because he was experiencing progressive symptoms of left hand swelling, dysesthesia, and impaired motor function. Physical examination demonstrated median nerve distribution motor impairment.