Lumbar spinal stenosis and surgical decompression affect sleep quality and position in patients. A prospective cross-sectional cohort study.

Introduction: It is reasonable to assume that lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) affects the cauda nerve roots also at night.

Research Question: Does microsurgical decompression influence sleep quality and position?

Materials And Methods: A study nurse interviewed 140 patients scheduled for LSS decompression using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Spinal Stenosis Measure (SSM), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for back and leg pain, Douleur Neuropathique (DN4), and Charlson Comorbidity Index. Epidemiologic and MRI data were collected along with self-reported rankings of preferred sleep positions (prone, supine, side, and fetal).

Do TLIF and PLIF Techniques Differ in Perioperative Complications? - Comparison of Complications Rates of Two High Volume Centers.

Study Design: Retrospective bicentric Cohort Study.

Objective: Posterior (PLIF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) have been clinically proven for the surgical treatment of degenerative spinal disorders. Despite many retrospective studies, the superiority of either technique has not been proven to date.

Could the different surgical goals of fusion and non-fusion also be achieved in combination within the same patient? Clinical and radiological outcome of hybrid cervical spine surgery.

Purpose: Hybrid cervical spine surgery (HS) is a novel surgical strategy wherein an artificial disc replacement is done with a cervical fusion nearby with a stand-alone titanium cage to combine the advantages in both procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate interactions of these devices within the same patient, and to analyze, if the different goal of each implant is accomplished.

Methods: Thirty-six patients were treated surgically within a non-randomized retrospective study framework with HS.

AO Spine Guideline for the Use of Osteobiologics (AOGO) in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Spinal Degenerative Cases.

Study Design: Guideline.

Objectives: To develop an international guideline (AOGO) about the use of osteobiologics in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for treating degenerative spine conditions.

Methods: The guideline development process was guided by AO Spine Knowledge Forum Degenerative (KF Degen) and followed the Guideline International Network McMaster Guideline Development Checklist.

Influence of cervical total disc replacement on motion in the target and adjacent segments.

Background Context: The motion limitation after cervical discectomy and fusion alters the spine´s kinematics. Unphysiological strains may be the result and possible explanation for adjacent segment degeneration. Alterations to cervical kinematics due to cervical total disc replacement (TDR), especially two-level, are still under investigated.

Correlation of radiographic parameters and patient satisfaction in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated with posterior screw-dual-rod instrumentation.

Purpose: In surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), only a few studies measure both, radiological parameters and PROMs and correlate them.

Methods: Prospectively collected AIS-data of one scoliosis-center within a multicenter German-Spine-Society-Study. All patients underwent instrumented posterior spinal correction and fusion with pedicle-screw-dual-rod-systems from 05/2019 to 01/2021.

Examining later-in-life health risks associated with sport-related concussion and repetitive head impacts: a systematic review of case-control and cohort studies.

Objective: Concern exists about possible problems with later-in-life brain health, such as cognitive impairment, mental health problems and neurological diseases, in former athletes. We examined the future risk for adverse health effects associated with sport-related concussion, or exposure to repetitive head impacts, in former athletes.

Design: Systematic review.

Clinical Evaluation of the Osteoporotic Fracture Treatment Score (OF-Score): Results of the Evaluation of the Osteoporotic Fracture Classification, Treatment Score and Therapy Recommendations (EOFTT) Study.

Study Design: Multicenter prospective cohort study.

Objective: The study aims to validate the recently developed OF score for treatment decisions in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF).

Methods: This is a prospective multicenter cohort study (EOFTT) in 17 spine centers.

Moonlighting chromatin: when DNA escapes nuclear control.

Extracellular chromatin, for example in the form of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), is an important element that propels the pathological progression of a plethora of diseases. DNA drives the interferon system, serves as autoantigen, and forms the extracellular scaffold for proteins of the innate immune system. An insufficient clearance of extruded chromatin after the release of DNA from the nucleus into the extracellular milieu can perform a secret task of moonlighting in immune-inflammatory and occlusive disorders.

Georg Schmorl prize of the German spine society (DWG) 2022: current treatment for inpatients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures-results of the EOFTT study.

Aim: Osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures are of increasing importance. To identify the optimal treatment strategy this multicentre prospective cohort study was performed.

Purpose: Patients suffering from osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures were included.

Assessment of atlantoaxial rotation: how accurate is clinical measurement? a comparative study of cervical range of motion using MRI and standard orthopedic techniques.

Purpose: Measurement of neck rotation is currently reliant on radiologic imaging. Given the radiation exposure for CT imaging and the additional inconvenience for the patients, an alternative assessment is needed. Goniometers are comfortably to use and easy to access, also for private consulting.

Subcortical motor ischemia can be detected by intraoperative MRI within 1 ​h - A feasibility study.

Introduction: To achieve a maximum extent of resection, intraoperative MRI (ioMRI) scan is frequently performed. Intraoperative diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is not standardly performed and has been described to be inferior to early postoperative MRI regarding the detection of ischemia.

Research Question: This feasibility study evaluates the detection of ischemia by ioMRI and its clinical relevance in patients with motor-eloquent gliomas.

The prevalence of redundant nerve roots in standing positional MRI decreases by half in supine and almost to zero in flexed seated position: a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study.

Purpose: This retrospective cross-sectional cohort study investigated the influence of posture on lordosis (LL), length of the spinal canal (LSC), anteroposterior diameter (APD L1-L5), dural cross-sectional area (DCSA) of the lumbar spinal canal, and the prevalence of redundant nerve roots (RNR) using positional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (0.6 T).

Methods: Sixty-eight patients with single-level degenerative central lumbar spinal stenosis (cLSS) presenting with RNR in the standing position (STA) were also investigated in supine (SUP) or neutral seated (SIT) and flexed seated (FLEX) positions.

Surgical Realignment After Anterior Multilevel Decompression Using Cages and Plate for 3-level to 5-level Degenerative Fusions: Lessons Learned From the Analysis of Geometric Changes, Reciprocal Coupling, and Prediction of Sagittal Cervical Balance.

Study Design: Retrospective, single-center case study.

Objective: Postoperative cervical imbalance with cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA) >4 cm can be predicted in 3-level to 5-level anterior-only cervical multilevel fusion surgery (ACMS).

Summary Of Background Data: Previous studies established correlations between cervical kyphosis (CK) correction and postoperative balance (cSVA ≤4 cm) with improved clinical outcomes.

Cervical epidural abscess due to implantation of a spinal cord stimulation lead.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for intractable pain syndromes has become a pillar of modern pain management. Common complications include lead migration, implant infection, cerebral spinal fluid leak, and lead fracture. Spinal epidural abscess due to spinal cord stimulator implantation is a very rare occurrence with only two cases reported in the literature so far.

Resolution of the lumbosacral fractional curve and evaluation of the risk for adding on in 101 patients with posterior correction of Lenke 3, 4, and 6 curves.

Objective: In double and triple major adolescent idiopathic scoliosis curves it is still controversial whether the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) should be L3 or L4. Too short a fusion can impede postoperative distal curve compensation and promote adding on (AON). Longer fusions lower the chance of compensation by alignment changes of the lumbosacral curve (LSC).

Radiological and Clinical Outcomes after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) with an Innovative 3D Printed Cellular Titanium Cage Filled with Vertebral Bone Marrow.

Objectives: To assess the clinical and radiological outcomes after ACDF with 3D printed cellular titanium cages filled with bone marrow and to compare the clinical and radiological results with the current scientific literature.

Methods: ACDF was performed monosegmentally under standardized conditions. X-rays were analyzed to determine the range of motion, fusion rates, and subsidence preoperatively and 3 and 12 months postoperatively.

Endoscopic Lateral Approach for Dorsal Root Ganglion Burst Stimulation: Technical Note and Illustrative Case Series.

Introduction: Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation demonstrated superiority over traditional spinal cord stimulation with better pain relief and greater improvement of quality of life. However, leads specifically designed for DRG stimulation are difficult to implant in patients who previously underwent spinal surgery and show epidural scarring at the desired site of implantation because of the reduced stiffness of the lead. Nevertheless, recurrent leg or arm pain after spinal surgery usually manifests as a single level radiculopathy, which should theoretically be amenable to DRG stimulation.

Sulfated Hydrogels in Intervertebral Disc and Cartilage Research.

Hydrogels are commonly used for the 3D culture of musculoskeletal cells. Sulfated hydrogels, which have seen a growing interest over the past years, provide a microenvironment that help maintain the phenotype of chondrocytes and chondrocyte-like cells and can be used for sustained delivery of growth factors and other drugs. Sulfated hydrogels are hence valuable tools to improve cartilage and intervertebral disc tissue engineering.

Surgical Treatment of Multilevel Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Open-Door Laminoplasty and Fixation via Unilateral Approach. A Feasibility Study.

Objective:  We compared open-door laminoplasty via a unilateral approach and additional unilateral lateral mass screw fixation (uLP) with laminectomy and bilateral lateral mass screw fixation (LC) in the surgical treatment of multilevel degenerative cervical myelopathy (mDCM).

Methods:  A retrospective cohort analysis of 46 prospectively enrolled patients (23 uLP and 23 LC). The minimum follow-up was 1 year.