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World Neurosurg 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Background: Occipitocervical congential pathologies involving instability of the atlantoaxial joint and basilar invagination are challenging to treat due to the complex anatomy involving the neurovascular structures at the skull base and high-risk nature of operating close to the brainstem.

Case Presentation: We present a patient with Alagille syndrome with multiple segmentation/fusion anomalies of the cervical spine and craniocervical junction, including fusion of the skull base and occipital condyles and partial assimilation of the C1 anterior ring and C2 dens. The head was anteriorly displaced, with C2 located immediately below the foramen magnum. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Mar;98(10):e14745

Treatment of back pain due to facet joint syndrome has been a challenge for physicians since its recognition ∼80 years ago. Intra-articular injections of steroids, local anesthetics, and phenol have been widely adopted despite their known shortcomings. Recently, intra-articular injection of amniotic membrane-umbilical cord (AMUC) has been utilized in various orthopedic indications, including those involving synovial joints, due to its reported anti-inflammatory properties. Read More

J Neurosurg Spine 2018 Nov;30(2):175-181

Departments of1Neurosurgery and.

OBJECTIVEAtlantoaxial instability is an important cause of pain and neurological dysfunction in patients with Down syndrome (DS), frequently requiring instrumented fusion of the upper cervical spine. This study provides a quantitative analysis of C2 morphology in DS patients compared with their peers without DS to identify differences that must be considered for the safe placement of instrumentation.METHODSA retrospective chart review identified age-matched patients with and without DS with a CT scan of the cervical spine. Read More

Case Rep Orthop 2018 22;2018:1945149. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Department of Spine Surgery, 313 Mettupalayam Road, Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore, India.

Introduction: Osteolipomas are uncommon variants of lipoma. These lesions have been usually reported to arise from the oral cavity, brain, and neck and scarcely from the knee and thigh. Intraspinal osteolipomas are rare. Read More

Med Gas Res 2018 Jul-Sep;8(3):103-110. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, USA.

Oxygen-ozone (O) therapy serves as an alternative medical technique that increases the oxygen in the body along with the introduction of O. O therapy has finally reached a level where the biological mechanisms of action have been understood, showing that they are in the domain of physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology. Few clinical applications have been reviewed here as well as exemplifying that O therapy is particularly useful in musculoskeletal disorders. Read More

J Pain Res 2018 19;11:1165-1169. Epub 2018 Jun 19.

Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Objective: Neck pain has an annual prevalence of 30%. A frequent cause of neck pain is cervical facet joint pain. In cases of refractory cervical facet joint pain, radiofrequency can be employed, but the grade of evidence attested in systematic reviews is fair. Read More

Scand J Pain 2012 Oct 1;3(4):228-240. Epub 2012 Oct 1.

Section for Specialized Pain Rehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Skåne University Hospital and Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Skåne, Sweden.

Introduction Patients exposed to whiplash trauma are at risk of developing pain and dysfunction of the neck and shoulder. Although rarely discussed in the literature, some patients also develop autonomic dysfunction. Case presentation A previously healthy 41-year-old woman was involved in a "head-on" car crash. Read More

Asian J Neurosurg 2018 Jan-Mar;13(1):133-135

Department of Orthopedics, Delaware Orthopedic Associates, Newark, Delaware, USA.

This is a case report of a 48-year-old man with multiple transient ischemic attacks and a known hypoplastic right vertebral artery (VA) who presented after a syncopal event while turning his head to the left. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the necessity of proper diagnosis and management of cerebrovascular pathology including imaging and surgical intervention in patients with known anatomical anomalies. This study was conducted at Massachusetts, United States of America. Read More

Minerva Anestesiol 2018 Apr 17;84(4):526-528. Epub 2018 Jan 17.

Unit of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Department of Surgery, "G.B. Morgagni-Pierantoni" Hospital, Forlì, Italy.

Minerva Anestesiol 2018 Apr 13;84(4):523-524. Epub 2017 Dec 13.

Second Orthopedic Clinic, Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Bologna, Italy.

BMC Vet Res 2017 Mar 24;13(1):77. Epub 2017 Mar 24.

Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 601 Vernon Tharp St., Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.

Background: Cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM), also known as wobbler syndrome, affects mainly large and giant-breed dogs, causing compression of the cervical spinal cord and/or nerve roots. Structural and dynamic components seem to play a role in the development of CSM; however, pathogenesis is not yet fully understood. Physiologic and pathologic movements of the cervical spine depend on the morphology and morphometry of articular processes, as well as on intervertebral discs and vertebral column ligaments. Read More

J Pain Res 2017 17;10:435-438. Epub 2017 Feb 17.

Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Clinic, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Centre de Recherche de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada.

Background: The great auricular nerve is a cutaneous branch of the cervical plexus originating from the C2 and C3 spinal nerves. It innervates the skin over the external ear, the angle of the mandible and the parotid gland. It communicates with the ansa cervicalis. Read More

Spinal Cord Ser Cases 2016 7;2:15029. Epub 2016 Jan 7.

Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin , Milwaukee, WI, USA.

Systemic sclerosis, or scleroderma, rarely involves the cervical spine. The disorder can induce dystrophic calcinosis that can cause spinal canal stenosis and spinal instability. An association between this pathology with acute traumatic central cord syndrome and dural erosion is rare. Read More

Mil Med Res 2016 15;3:34. Epub 2016 Nov 15.

Department of Radiology, Imam Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Upper limb amputations are one of the unpleasant war injuries that armed forces are exposed to frequently. The present study aimed to assess the musculoskeletal and peripheral nervous systems in Iraq-Iran war veterans with bilateral upper extremity amputation.

Methods: The study consisted of taking a history and clinical examinations including demographic data, presence and location of pain, level of amputation, passive and active ranges of movement of the joints across the upper and lower extremities and spine, manual palpation, neurological examination, blood circulation pulses and issues related to a prosthetic limb. Read More

J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol 2017 Jun 25;61(3):327-333. Epub 2016 Nov 25.

Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty, University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging ( F-FDG PET/MRI) to detect PET-positive cervical facet arthropathy and identify patients who benefit from facet block therapy.

Methods: Ten patients with cervical facet syndrome (mean age: 65 ± 12 years) underwent F-FDG PET/MRI of the neck. Focal F-FDG uptake in PET-positive facet joints served as target for computed tomography (CT)-guided facet blocks. Read More

Minerva Anestesiol 2017 03 5;83(3):336. Epub 2016 Oct 5.

Department of Surgery, Anesthesia and Intensive Care Section "G.B. Morgagni-Pierantoni" Hospital, Forlì, Italy -

World Neurosurg 2016 Nov 25;95:46-52. Epub 2016 Jul 25.

Department of Neurosurgery, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Objective: To introduce and assess a surgical treatment of occipitocervical (OC) dislocation with atlas assimilation and Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS) using occipitalized C1 lateral mass and C2 fixation and reduction technique.

Methods: From January 2007 to August 2013, 58 symptomatic patients with OC dislocation and KFS of C2-3 congenital fusion and atlas assimilation were surgically treated in our institution via this technique. After opening the C1-2 facet joints via a posterior approach, OC reduction was conducted by intraoperative manipulation and C1 lateral mass and C2 pedicle screw and rod fixation. Read More

Clin Spine Surg 2016 07;29(6):261-5

Department of Neurological Sciences, Neurosurgery, University of Rome "Sapienza," Rome, Italy.

Study Design: Radiographic and clinical analysis.

Objective: Review author's experience with anterior discectomy, interbody fusion, and anterior cervical plating in 33 patients with posttraumatic unilateral cervical locked facets.

Summary Of Background Data: Unilateral cervical locked facet syndrome is a relatively uncommon injury that often is misdiagnosed and therefore subject to a dangerous delay in surgery. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2016 Dec;41(23):1790-1794

*Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR †Section of Neurological Surgery, Operative Care Division, Portland Veterans Administration Medical Center, Portland, OR ‡New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, NY.

Study Design: Clinical case series.

Objective: This study sought to clarify symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and treatment of C4 radiculopathy, and the role of diagnostic C4 root block in this entity.

Summary Of Background Data: Although well understood cervical dermatomal/myotomal syndromes have been described for symptoms originating from impingement on the C2, C3, C5, C6, C7, and C8 roots, less has been written about the syndrome(s) associated with the C4 root. Read More

Curr Pain Headache Rep 2016 Apr;20(4):27

Department of Neurology, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Road NW, 7-PHC, Washington, DC, 20007, USA.

Neck-tongue syndrome (NTS) is a headache disorder often initiated by rapid axial rotation of the neck resulting in unilateral neck and/or occipital pain and transient ipsilateral tongue sensory disturbance. In this review, we examine reported cases of NTS since its initial description in 1980 to highlight the significance of this condition in the differential diagnosis of headache in patients presenting with neck pain and altered tongue sensation. The anatomical basis of NTS centers on the C1-C2 facet joint, C2 ventral ramus, and inferior oblique muscle in the atlanto-axial space. Read More

J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2016 May 25;77(3):181-94. Epub 2016 Jan 25.

Department of Neurosurgery, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Background And Study Aims: Infiltration therapy (IT) for degenerative spine disease is considered a valuable nonsurgical treatment option in the absence of severe neurologic deficits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 10-day response to computed tomography (CT)-guided IT and to identify parameters that are positively or negatively associated with short-term outcome.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a prospective study on 1327 consecutive patients that received CT-guided IT for various spinal disorders between February 2007 and June 2013. Read More

Pain Physician 2015 Nov;18(6):E939-1004

Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Background: Epidural injections have been used since 1901 in managing low back pain and sciatica. Spinal pain, disability, health, and economic impact continue to increase, despite numerous modalities of interventions available in managing chronic spinal pain. Thus far, systematic reviews performed to assess the efficacy of epidural injections in managing chronic spinal pain have yielded conflicting results. Read More

Pain Pract 2016 Feb 25;16(2):E42-5. Epub 2015 Nov 25.

Department of Anesthesiology and Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium.

Radiofrequency denervation of the cervical medial branches is a possible treatment for chronic cervical facet pain syndrome when conservative management has failed. According to the literature, complications after radiofrequency denervation of the cervical medial branches are rare. We report a case of possible phrenic nerve injury after ipsilateral radiofrequency denervation of the cervical medial branches following a posterolateral approach. Read More

J Neurosurg Sci 2017 Oct 2;61(5):464-472. Epub 2015 Sep 2.

Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre, Mainz, Germany.

Background: Image-guided pedicle screw placement in the cervico-thoracic region is a commonly applied technique. In some patients with deformed cervico-thoracic segments, conventional or 3D fluoroscopy based registration of image-guidance might be difficult or impossible because of the anatomic/pathological conditions. Landmark based registration has been used as an alternative, mostly using separate registration of each vertebra. Read More

Korean J Pain 2015 Apr 1;28(2):105-8. Epub 2015 Apr 1.

School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Daegu, Korea.

Background: The most definitive diagnosis of neck pain caused by facet joints can be obtained through cervical medial branch blocks (CMBBs). However, intravascular injections need to be carefully monitored, as they can increase the risk of false-negative blocks when diagnosing cervical facet joint syndrome. In addition, intravascular injections can cause neurologic deficits such as spinal infarction or cerebral infarction. Read More

Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim 2015 Nov 14;62(9):536-9. Epub 2015 Feb 14.

Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España.

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is a childhood epileptic encephalopathy, and is characterized by frequent and difficult to treat seizures associated with mental retardation. The case is presented of a 21 year-old male with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, with bilateral cervical facet joint dislocation fracture at C6-C7 and spinal canal compression as a result of a fall during a seizure. In this case the management of the difficult airway expected in an awake and uncooperative patient, with cervical spinal cord injury is described. Read More

Pain Physician 2015 Jan-Feb;18(1):39-60

Pain Management Center of Paducah, Paducah, KY, and University of Louisville, Louisville, KY; New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY.

Background: The high prevalence of chronic persistent neck pain not only leads to disability but also has a significant economic, societal, and health impact. Among multiple modalities of treatments prescribed in the management of neck and upper extremity pain, surgical, interventional and conservative modalities have been described. Cervical epidural injections are also common modalities of treatments provided in managing neck and upper extremity pain. Read More

Lijec Vjesn 2014 Sep-Oct;136(9-10):245-52

Pain syndromes originating from cervical and thoracic spine remain to be a major public health problem. Medical expenses in general and surgical procedures associated with overall care for the neck and thoracic pain are high and growing. Furthermore, these two chronic pain conditions are also leading causes for missed workdays. Read More

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2015;115(10 Pt 2):78-82

FGAOU VPO 'Kazanskij federal'nyj universitet', Kazan'.

The article considers a question of the differential diagnosis and treatment of back pain. The authors recommend the use of generally accepted term «spinal osteoarthritis» to describe changes in the spine, which in the Russian medical literature referred to as «osteochondrosis». The article describes the diagnosis and treatment of myogenic pain, pain due to facet syndrome, herniated disc, cervical and lumbar radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, interspinous bursitis. Read More

J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care 2014 Nov-Dec;13(6):511-4

Triamcinolone is a long-acting glucocorticoid medication that can be responsible for transient suppression of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. This physiologic alteration may persist for weeks after repeated or even single localized injection of this agent. However, when this glucocorticoid agent is given to patients receiving the HIV protease inhibitor (PI) ritonavir (RTV),inhibition of their shared cytochrome P450 3A4 degradation pathway leads to an increased bioavailability of triamcinolone, with subsequent heightening and prolongation of the glucocorticoid serum levels. Read More

Open Orthop J 2014 1;8:326-45. Epub 2014 Oct 1.

Caring Medical and Rehabilitation Services, S.C., 715 Lake St., Ste. 600, Oak Park, IL 60301, USA.

The use of conventional modalities for chronic neck pain remains debatable, primarily because most treatments have had limited success. We conducted a review of the literature published up to December 2013 on the diagnostic and treatment modalities of disorders related to chronic neck pain and concluded that, despite providing temporary relief of symptoms, these treatments do not address the specific problems of healing and are not likely to offer long-term cures. The objectives of this narrative review are to provide an overview of chronic neck pain as it relates to cervical instability, to describe the anatomical features of the cervical spine and the impact of capsular ligament laxity, to discuss the disorders causing chronic neck pain and their current treatments, and lastly, to present prolotherapy as a viable treatment option that heals injured ligaments, restores stability to the spine, and resolves chronic neck pain. Read More

J Craniovertebr Junction Spine 2014 Apr;5(2):65-70

Department of Orthopaedics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Introduction: The Subaxial Injury Classification (SLIC) system and severity score has been developed to help surgeons in the decision-making process of treatment of subaxial cervical spine injuries. A detailed description of all potential scored injures of the SLIC is lacking.

Materials And Methods: We performed a systematic review in the PubMed database from 2007 to 2014 to describe the relationship between the scored injuries in the SLIC and their eventual treatment according to the system score. Read More

Pain 2014 Sep 28;155(9):1878-87. Epub 2014 Jun 28.

Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address:

Cervical facet joint injury induces persistent pain and central sensitization. Preventing the peripheral neuronal signals that initiate sensitization attenuates neuropathic pain. Yet, there is no clear relationship among facet joint afferent activity, development of central sensitization, and pain, which may be hindering effective treatments for this pain syndrome. Read More

Turk Neurosurg 2014 ;24(3):430-3

Rheinische Friedrich Wilhelm University, Medical Faculty, Germany.

Aim: Neck pain is a common problem that may result from abnormalities in the soft tissues, bones and joints of the spine. However, upper neck and occipital pain syndrome due to unilateral idiopathic arthrosis of a C1-2 lateral articulation is a very rare condition.

Material And Methods: We describe two patients with unilateral arthrosis of a C1-2 lateral articulation who were successfully treated with C1-2 fusion. Read More

Pain Pract 2014 Jul 2;14(6):e154-8. Epub 2014 May 2.

Department of Anesthesiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

Radiofrequency ablation of medial branch nerves is considered a safe and effective treatment for chronic facet joint pain in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spine. Cooled radiofrequency ablation (C-RFA) is gaining popularity over conventional thermal radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in pain management. However, complications of C-RFA have not been reported in the literature. Read More

Expert Rev Neurother 2014 Jan 2;14(1):39-49. Epub 2013 Dec 2.

Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.

The term cervicogenic headache (CeH) describes a syndrome originating from the cervical spine. There are a variety of therapeutic approaches used for the management of CeH, but scientific evidence of their effectiveness is scarce. No medication drug has proven to be effective. Read More

Orthopade 2013 Sep;42(9):785-92; quiz 793-4

Abteilung für Orthopädie und Orthopädische Chirurgie, Allgemeines und Orthopädisches LKH Stolzalpe, Stolzalpe 38, 8852, Stolzalpe, Österreich.

Chronic neck pain is often associated with spondylarthrosis, whereby segments C4/C5 (C: cervical) are most frequently affected. Spondylarthrosis can be the sole complaint, but it is associated with a degenerative cascade of the spine. The umbrella term for neck pain is the so-called cervical syndrome, which can be differentiated into segmental dysfunction and/or morphological changes of the intervertebral discs and small joints of the vertebral column. Read More

J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care 2014 Nov-Dec;13(6):511-4

Triamcinolone is a long-acting glucocorticoid medication that can be responsible for transient suppression of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. This physiologic alteration may persist for weeks after repeated or even single localized injection of this agent. However, when this glucocorticoid agent is given to patients receiving the HIV protease inhibitor (PI) ritonavir (RTV),inhibition of their shared cytochrome P450 3A4 degradation pathway leads to an increased bioavailability of triamcinolone, with subsequent heightening and prolongation of the glucocorticoid serum levels. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2013 28;4:68. Epub 2013 May 28.

Deuk Spine Foundation, Melbourne, Florida, USA.

Background: Deuk Laser Disc Repair(®) is a new full-endoscopic surgical procedure to repair symptomatic cervical disc disease.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 66 consecutive patients underwent cervical Deuk Laser Disc Repair(®) for one (n = 21) or two adjacent (n = 45) symptomatic levels of cervical disc disease and were evaluated postoperatively for resolution of headache, neck pain, arm pain, and radicular symptoms. All patients were candidates for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or arthroplasty. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2013 Jul 5;155(7):1157-67. Epub 2013 May 5.

Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, 226014, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Background: This prospective study attempts to study the clinico-radiological differences between patients with syndromic AAD (SAAD), non-syndromic AAD (NSAAD), and AAD with Klippel-Feil anomaly (AADKFA) that may impact management.

Methods: In 46 patients with AAD [SAAD (including Morquio, Down, Larson and Marshall syndrome and achondroplasia; n = 6); NSAAD(n = 20); and, AADKFS (n = 20)], myelopathy was graded as mild (n = 17, 37 %), moderate (15, 32.5 %) or severe (14, 30. Read More

Pain Physician 2013 Apr;16(2 Suppl):S49-283

American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians.

Objective: To develop evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for interventional techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic spinal pain.

Methodology: Systematic assessment of the literature.

Evidence: I. Read More

Joint Bone Spine 2013 Oct 6;80(5):466-70. Epub 2013 Apr 6.

Université Paul-Sabatier, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France. Electronic address:

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), also known as Forestier-Rotes-Querol disease, is characterized by the ossification of the entheses (i.e., enthesopathy). Read More

HSS J 2011 Oct 9;7(3):265-72. Epub 2011 Sep 9.

Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021 USA.

Background: Cervical radiculopathy is defined as a syndrome of pain and/or sensorimotor deficits due to compression of a cervical nerve root. Understanding of this disease is vital for rapid diagnosis and treatment of patients with this condition, facilitating their recovery and return to regular activity.

Purpose: This review is designed to clarify (1) the pathophysiology that leads to nerve root compression; (2) the diagnosis of the disease guided by history, physical exam, imaging, and electrophysiology; and (3) operative and non-operative options for treatment and how these should be applied. Read More

Case Rep Surg 2012 24;2012:970642. Epub 2012 Jul 24.

Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University-Hospital S. Anna, 8 Via Aldo Moro, 44124 Ferrara, Italy.

We present here a rare case of heterotopic ossification in interspinous/interlaminar Coflex device. The classical surgical indications for these implants are degenerative canal stenosis, discogenic low back pain, disk herniations, facet syndrome, and instability. However, fractures of spinous processes are a potential risk after interspinous/interlaminar devices' implantation. Read More

J Anesth 2012 Oct 31;26(5):738-45. Epub 2012 May 31.

Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Bumeuri, Mulgeumup, Yangsan, Kyungsangnamdo, 626-770, Korea.

Purpose: Cervical facet joint (CFJ) syndrome is a common disorder observed in chronic pain of the cervical region, especially in long-standing myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). This study aimed to investigate the effects of therapeutic CFJ injections on patients with long-standing cervical MPS with referral pain patterns of CFJ syndrome.

Methods: Four hundred patients presented with long-standing cervical MPS with referral pain patterns of CFJ syndrome over a period of 6 months. Read More

J Spinal Disord Tech 2013 Dec;26(8):444-8

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO.

Study Design: Case report.

Objective: To describe a serious complication of multilevel radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the cervical spine.

Summary Of Background Data: Percutaneous RFA is an accepted nonoperative modality for the treatment of neck pain. Read More

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2012 26;25(4):337-41. Epub 2012 Mar 26.

Vets Now Referrals, Unit 10-Berkshire House, County Park Business Park, Shrivenham Rd., Swindon, United Kingdom.

This report describes the management of clinically significant, single level cervical spinal canal stenosis associated with articular facet hypertrophy in a three-year-old Great Dane dog, by combined surgical decompression and spinal stabilization. Spinal column stabilization was achieved by ventral application of two String of Pearls locking plates and subsequent decompression was accomplished by unilateral facetectomy. The six-month postoperative reassessment examination confirmed satisfactory clinical outcome with a complete return to normal activity, resolution of neurological deficits and maintenance of implant positioning. Read More

Pain Physician 2012 Jan-Feb;15(1):13-25

Pain Management Center of Paducah, Paducah, KY, USA.

Background: Cervical postsurgery syndrome is common with increasing cervical surgical interventions. Cervical spine surgery may fail in a certain proportion of patients with continued pain secondary to pseudoarthrosis, adjacent segment degeneration, inadequate decompression, iatrogenic instability, facet joint arthritis, deformity, and spinal stenosis. Among the various treatments available for managing cervical postsurgery syndrome, epidural steroid injections are one of the most common nonsurgical interventions. Read More

Vet Surg 2011 Jul 3;40(5):544-54. Epub 2011 May 3.

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Objective: To evaluate a distractable titanium cage for the treatment of disk-associated wobbler syndrome (DAWS).

Study Design: Prospective study.

Animals: Dogs (n = 7) with DAWS. Read More