Predictors of Clinical Failure after Endoscopic Lumbar Spine Surgery During the Initial Learning Curve.

Objective: This study aims to identify clinical factors that may predict failed endoscopic lumbar spine surgery to guide surgeons with patient selection during the initial learning curve.

Methods: This is an Australasian prospective analysis of the first 105 patients to undergo lumbar endoscopic spine decompression by 3 surgeons. Modified MacNab outcomes, visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were utilized to evaluate clinical outcomes at 6 months postoperatively.

Biplanar Expandable Cages for Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Are Safe and Achieve Good 1-Year Clinical and Radiological Outcomes in an Asian Population.

Background: This study investigated 1-year clinical and radiological outcomes of biplanar expandable (BE) cages following transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in an Asian population.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all consecutive patients who underwent TLIF with BE cages performed by 2 fellowship-trained spine surgeons from 2020 to 2021. Inclusion criteria included open or minimally invasive (MIS) TLIF, of up to 3 spinal segments, performed for treatment of degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, or spinal stenosis.

Poorer Preoperative Function Leads to Delayed Return to Work After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

Background: The factors that affect return to work (RTW) after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) remain unclear, especially in a non-Workers' Compensation setting. We aimed to (1) identify factors that influence RTW in patients undergoing ACDF (2) determine if early RTW plays a role in functional outcomes, quality of life, and satisfaction.

Methods: Prospectively collected data of 103 working adults who underwent primary ACDF for DCM were retrospectively reviewed.

Cruciate retaining and posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty in severe varus osteoarthritis knee: A match-pair comparative study in an Asian population.

BackgroundPosterior stabilized (PS) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is advocated in severe varus osteoarthritic (OA) knees as the posterior cruciate ligament posed challenges in gap balancing. However, there is scarcity in the literature to illustrate the superiority of PS TKA over cruciate retaining (CR) TKA. Our study aims to compare the outcomes between CR and PS TKAs in patients with severe varus OA knees.

Smoking Is Associated With Lower Satisfaction in Nondiabetic Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Single-level Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

Study Design: This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected registry data.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of smoking on 2 years postoperative functional outcomes, satisfaction, and radiologic fusion in nondiabetic patients undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for degenerative spine conditions.

Summary Of Background Data: There is conflicting data on the effect of smoking on long-term functional outcomes following lumbar fusion.

Women Do Not Have Poorer Outcomes After Minimally Invasive Lumbar Fusion Surgery: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study.

Background: Women undergoing lumbar spine surgery report greater preoperative pain and disability and have less improvement after surgery. There is a paucity of literature on sex-related differences after minimally invasive surgery transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF) surgery. We aim to determine whether sex influences outcome after MIS TLIF at 5-year midterm follow-up.

Predictors of Outcomes After Single-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Multivariate Analysis.

Study Design: This was a retrospective study that was carried out using prospectively collected registry data.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify preoperative predictors of outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Summary Of Background Data: Proper patient selection is paramount to achieving good surgical results.

Elderly Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion May Have Similar Clinical Outcomes, Perioperative Complications, and Fusion Rates As Their Younger Counterparts.

Background: Although several studies have suggested that minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) may be especially beneficial in the elderly population due to lower operative morbidity and faster postoperative recovery, there are limited studies investigating the functional outcomes, quality of life, and satisfaction in elderly patients after MIS-TLIF. Furthermore, existing studies had substantial clinical, diagnostic, and surgical heterogeneity.

Questions/purposes: We asked if elderly patients could experience comparable (1) patient-reported pain, disability and quality of life, (2) perioperative complications, and (3) radiological fusion rates as their younger counterparts after MIS-TLIF.

Sagittally Balanced Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Patients With Increased Sacral Slope and Greater Lumbar Lordosis Experience Less Back Pain After Short-Segment Lumbar Fusion Surgery.

Study Design: A retrospective review of prospectively collected registry data.

Objectives: (1) Examine functional outcomes of patients with postoperative sacral slope (SS)<30 degrees versus SS≥30 degrees after single-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS); (2) determine the factors associated with SS at the last follow-up.

Summary Of Background Data: Few studies have examined the relationship between spinopelvic parameters and functional outcomes in patients with DS undergoing short-segment TLIF.

Severity of Preoperative Myelopathy Symptoms Affects Patient-reported Outcomes, Satisfaction, and Return to Work After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

Study Design: Retrospective review of prospectively-collected registry data.

Objective: To compare the patient-reported outcomes, satisfaction, and return to work among a large cohort of patients stratified by preoperative myelopathy severity undergoing Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

Summary Of Background Data: Recent clinical practice guidelines noted a lack of studies stratifying their sample based on preoperative disease severity.

Perioperative Factors Influencing Postoperative Satisfaction After Lateral Access Surgery for Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis.

Background: Lateral access surgery (LAS) for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis is a minimally invasive lumbar fusion technique which has been gaining increasing popularity in the recent years. This study aims to identify perioperative factors that influence postoperative satisfaction after LAS for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Methods: From August 2010 to November 2014, 52 patients with lumbar degenerative conditions (16 male: 36 female, mean age 64.

Patients With Poor Baseline Mental Health May Experience Significant Improvements in Pain and Disability After Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A 5-Year Follow-up Study.

Study Design: A retrospective study using prospectively collected registry data.

Objective: Examine the influence of preoperative mental health on outcomes after Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (MIS-TLIF).

Summary Of Background Data: Prior studies investigating the relationship between mental health and outcomes after lumbar spine surgery included small cohorts with short follow-up and heterogenous fusion techniques.

Reduction in foraminal height after lateral access surgery does not affect quality of life: A 2-year outcome study on lateral lumbar interbody fusion.

Introduction: Reduction in neuroforaminal height (FH) may diminish the indirect decompression benefit that lateral access surgery (LAS) provides. However, the relationship between postoperative FH reduction in LAS and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) outcomes remains unclear.

Objectives: To determine whether FH reduction affects HRQoL outcomes at 2-year follow-up.

Poor Baseline Mental Health Does Not Influence Improvement in Patient-reported Outcomes, Satisfaction, and Return to Work Two Years After Single-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Study Design: Retrospective study using prospectively collected registry data.

Objective: The authors examine the influence of preoperative mental health on outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and determine the impact of ACDF on postoperative mental health.

Summary Of Background Data: While studies have reported a negative correlation between preoperative mental health and outcomes following lumbar spine surgery, the influence on outcomes following cervical spine surgery remains relatively understudied.

The Influence of Body Mass Index on Functional Outcomes, Satisfaction, and Return to Work After Single-level Minimally-invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Five-year Follow-up Study.

Study Design: Retrospective study using prospectively collected registry data.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of obesity on patient-reported outcome measures of pain, disability, quality of life, satisfaction, and return to work after single-level minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF).

Summary Of Background Data: MIS-TLIF is an appealing alternative for obese patients with potentially lower complication risk.

Time Taken to Return to Work Does Not Influence Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected registry data.

Objective: To determine factors which influence return-to-work (RTW) in patients undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) and to determine if early RTW affects functional outcomes.

Summary Of Background Data: MIS-TLIF has been associated with accelerated return to work.

Direct medial approach in surgical fixation of fractures in the posterior aspect of the medial malleolus.

Fractures in the posterior aspect of the medial malleolus form an important subset of ankle fractures and the indications for fixation include involvement of > 25% of the articular surface or an articular step off by > 2 mm. Several approaches have been described but there has been no recent study on the direct medial approach. Five fresh frozen cadaveric ankles were dissected using the direct medial approach.

Low Infection Rates in Total Knee Arthroplasty in End Stage Renal Failure Patients.

End stage renal failure is considered a risk factor for postoperative infection and many surgeons are cautious in offering this group of patients total knee arthroplasty for symptomatic osteoarthritis. In this retrospective study, 16 total knee arthroplasties were performed in 13 patients and each case was followed up for an average of 5.1 years.