Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois. Electronic address:

Fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE) is an uncommon cause of spinal cord infarction often misdiagnosed as transverse myelitis. The mechanism of ischemia is suspected to be due to retrograde embolization of nucleus pulposus material originating from Schmorl's nodes to the spinal vessels following acute disk herniation. We describe the clinical and imaging findings of FCE in 3 healthy young women with history of trivial spinal cord trauma, and recommend that FCE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute myelopathy. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2019 Mar;32(3):239-243

Suzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou 215009, Jiangsu, China.

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of conservative treatment for giant lumbar intervertebral disc herniation and analyze the factors affecting its resorption.

Methods: From January 2013 to December 2016, the clinical data of 130 patients with giant lumbar intervertebral disc herniation were collected. The patients were classified according to the characteristics of Iwabuchi displacement and "bull eye sign", Xiaosui Huahe decoction of traditional Chinese medicine conservative treatment was used in the patients. Read More

Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown) 2019 Mar 19. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Department of Neurosurgery, Nanoori Incheon Hospital, Incheon, Republic of Korea.

The conventional surgical approach to far lateral lumbar disk herniations is a paraspinal Wiltse approach. During the Wiltse approach, it is sometimes necessary to resect some of the facet or pars interarticularis to achieve an adequate exposure. The endoscopic transforaminal route can be of benefit in far lateral disk herniations due to direct access to the epidural space through Kambin's triangle, without the need for any bony removal or nerve retraction. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Jan 29. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

The Atkinson Morley Neurosurgical Department, St. George's Hospital, Tooting, England.

Background: Symptomatic spinal epidural lipomatosis (SSEL) is characterized by hypertrophy of adipose tissue within the spinal canal and consequent neural compromise. The exact pathogenesis remains enigmatic. The authors describe a retrospective case series, define the full clinical spectrum, and discuss possible pathogenetic mechanisms. Read More

PM R 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA.

Background: Cervical radiculopathy (CR) is a clinical diagnosis defined as a combination of neck, shoulder, and arm pain, often accompanied by sensory and motor symptoms. CR is often caused by degenerative spine pathology associated with impingement of a cervical nerve root, and this pathology can be visualized using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computer tomography (CT). Factors that are associated with the onset of CR have not been explored. Read More

Eur Spine J 2019 Apr 17;28(4):849-854. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Department of Orthopedics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan.

Introduction: Abnormalities of the lumbar nerve tract caused by congenital variations or high nerve root take-off angles are difficult to visualize. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance neurography (DW-MRN) has recently been introduced for imaging of the lumbosacral region. The aims of this study were to identify lumbar nerve tract abnormalities caused by congenital variation or a high nerve root take-off angle using DW-MRN and to assess the diagnostic value of this imaging modality. Read More

Radiology 2019 Feb 4;290(2):446-455. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

From the Division of Experimental and Translational Imaging (C.B., J.N., S.S.M., M.H.A., I.Y., L.L., T.D., J.L.W.) and Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (T.G.R., K.E., T.J.V.), University Hospital Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; and Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy (T.D.).

Purpose To assess the diagnostic performance of dual-energy CT with reconstruction of virtual noncalcium (VNCa) images for the detection of lumbar disk herniation compared with standard CT image reconstruction. Materials and Methods For this retrospective study, 41 patients (243 intervertebral disks; overall mean age, 68 years; 24 women [mean age, 68 years] and 17 men [mean age, 68 years]) underwent clinically indicated third-generation, dual-source, dual-energy CT and 3.0-T MRI within 2 weeks between March 2017 and January 2018. Read More

J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2019 Mar 24;80(2):88-95. Epub 2018 Dec 24.

Department of Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery, Seikei-kai Chiba Medical Center, Chiba, Japan.

Background:  With effective preoperative planning, percutaneous endoscopic diskectomy (PED) via an interlaminar approach (PED-IL) can reduce the need for partial laminectomy. Our aim was to assess the clinical outcomes of PED-IL, planned using three-dimensional fusion of computed tomography and magnetic resonance (3D CT/MR) images.

Material And Methods:  Our retrospective analysis was based on data from 102 patients (66 were men) treated by PED-IL. Read More

Eurasian J Med 2018 Oct;50(3):178-181

Department of Neurosurgery, Atatürk University School of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients with lumbar disk hernia operated between 2012 January and 2017 August and to compare the differences between open discectomy (OD) and microdiscectomy (MD).

Materials And Methods: Files of 519 patients who presented at our neurosurgical department with lumbar disk herniation were retrospectively reviewed and recorded. Preoperatively, all patients routinely underwent spinal lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and anteroposterior as well as lateral lumbar vertebrae X-rays. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 23;122:505-507. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Department of Neurosurgery, Nanoori Hospital, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Background: Double crush of a nerve at the root level is not common. We describe here a double crush of the right L4 nerve with foramina to far lateral disk (ventral) and extraforaminal (dorsal) compression. The double crush was managed by endoscopy with a contralateral uniportal approach from the left interlaminar space. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 15;122:e1345-e1353. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, District Yuzhong, Chongqing, China. Electronic address:

Objective: To examine the effects of anterior transcorporeal percutaneous endoscopic cervical diskectomy (ATPECD) for the treatment of single-level cervical intervertebral disk herniation (CIDH) with a focus on its safety, feasibility, clinical efficacy, and specific possible complications.

Methods: A series of 35 patients with symptomatic single-level CIDH were enrolled to be treated with ATPECD. Neck and arm pain was measured using the visual analog scale. Read More

J Ultrasound Med 2018 Nov 13. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Department of Radiology, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.

Objectives: To assess lumbar multifidus muscle stiffness in patients with unilateral lumbar disk herniation (LDH) causing nerve root compression using shear wave elastography (SWE).

Methods: Thirty-three patients with unilateral subarticular LDH (L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1) causing nerve root compression, diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging, were enrolled in the study. Exclusion criteria were bilateral or multilevel LDH confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging, bilateral leg symptoms, and patients with a history of any spinal operation, malignancy, trauma, infection, spondylolisthesis, severe lateral recess stenosis, spinal canal stenosis, and substantial comorbidities. Read More

Invest Radiol 2019 Mar;54(3):183-189

High-Field MR Centre, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, and.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of T2 mapping at baseline with regard to the development of disk herniation and clinical outcome at a 5-year follow-up in patients with low back pain.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-five symptomatic patients (13 male; mean age, 44.0 years; range, 24-64 years at baseline) were examined at 3 T magnetic resonance imaging, with a 5-year follow-up. Read More

Int Orthop 2019 Apr 23;43(4):899-907. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Beijing University of Chinese Medicine China-Japan Friendship School of Clinical Medicine, 2 Yinghuadong Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China.

Introduction: To investigate the short- and medium-term efficacy of inter-spinal distraction fusion (ISDF) for lumbar disc herniation with a spinal internal fixation device, the BacFuse Spinous Process Fusion Plate.

Methods: Ninety-five patients who received ISDF between January 2014 and January 2015 were included for the current retrospective study. The symptoms and imaging results before surgery, immediately after surgery, at six months, and at the last follow-up were assessed using the leg visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and 12-item short-form survey (SF-12). Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 26;122:518-521. Epub 2018 Sep 26.

Department of Neurosurgery, Mycure Hospitals, Maharani Peta, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Background: Foot drop is defined as inability to dorsiflex the foot at the ankle joint. Although a well-documented entity with a myriad of causes along the neuraxis, starting from parasagittal intracranial pathologies to peripheral nerve lesions, treatment has always remained uniform (i.e. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Jan 25;121:1-3. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Department of Neurosurgery, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, South Korea; Department of Neurosurgery, Eun Pyeong St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address:

Bow hunter syndrome (BHS) is a rare vascular phenomenon of vertebrobasilar insufficiency caused by dynamic stenosis of the vertebral artery (VA) by osteophytes, fibrous bands, or disk herniation with neck rotation. We present a rare case of a patient with bilaterally patent VAs on neutral imaging and bilateral dynamic compression of VA with left head rotation. Provocation tests are critical toward understanding dynamic pathophysiology of BHS because normal neutral vascular imaging does not preclude diagnosis of BHS. Read More

J Chiropr Med 2018 Sep 26;17(3):198-200. Epub 2018 Aug 26.

Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.

Objective: The purpose of this case series was to describe the outcomes of diagnostic ultrasound-assisted dry needling in the management of piriformis syndrome.

Clinical Features: Case 1: a 45-year-old woman reported gluteal pain occasionally radiating in the sciatic region. Her magnetic resonance imaging showing sciatic nerve edema in the underlying portion of the piriformis muscle. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Nov 23;119:315-320. Epub 2018 Aug 23.

Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Spine Center, Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address:

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar diskectomy (PELD) has evolved over the last decades and has become an effective treatment for soft disk herniations. However, while its use increases, newer complications have been discovered.

Case Description: We present the unique case of a woman who underwent PELD/foraminotomy to treat right-side foraminal disk herniations on L4-5 and L5-S1 in the same procedure. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 11 21;119:304-305. Epub 2018 Aug 21.

Department of Neurosurgery, Avicenne Military Hospital, Marrakech, Morocco; Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco.

The pathogenesis of spinal posterior ring apophysis separation (PRAS) remains controversial, and spontaneous regression of PRAS has not been established previously. This is a case report about a 33-year-old man with a PRAS of the posterior superior end plate of S1 who presented with spontaneous low back pain followed by right leg pain. The patient was managed conservatively. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Nov 6;119:e671-e678. Epub 2018 Aug 6.

Department of Spinal Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

Objective: To introduce a modified percutaneous endoscopic lumbar diskectomy (PELD) technique to remove extraforaminal disk herniation at the L5-S1 segment, including the technical essentials and preliminary results.

Methods: The geometric parameters of the transverse process, facet joint, and sacrum (TFS) space based on imaging examination were measured in 100 common patients. The technical essentials, including working cannula placement and disk removal involved in the technique, were described. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Nov 6;119:163-167. Epub 2018 Aug 6.

Department of Neurosurgery, Nanoori Incheon Hospital, Incheon, Republic of Korea.

Background: Intradural disk herniation is a rare entity with <0.3%-1% of all disk herniations and at an L2-L3 level even rarer. The dural defects repairs on ventral aspect are technically challenging and may not be possible after durotomy, so many authors have placed fascia, muscle, or plugging by the hemostatic material. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 08;116:475

Department of Radiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

World Neurosurg 2018 Nov 23;119:40-44. Epub 2018 Jul 23.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system is a rare neurologic disorder characterized by the superficial deposition of hemosiderin in the subpial layer resulting in iron-related progressive neurodegeneration.

Case Description: In this report, we present a case of superficial siderosis of the central nervous system secondary to an intradural thoracic disk herniation causing a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak.

Conclusions: The patient was successfully treated with T6-T8 transpedicular partial corpectomy, as well as diskectomy with decompression followed by watertight closure of the CSF leak. Read More

J Am Vet Med Assoc 2018 Jul;253(2):215-218

CASE DESCRIPTION A 9-year-old 7.5-kg (16.5-lb) castrated male Dachshund was referred for emergency evaluation of pelvic limb paraplegia of < 24 hours' duration. Read More

J Am Vet Med Assoc 2018 Jul;253(2):196-200

OBJECTIVE To estimate the times required for dogs to regain micturition and ambulation following surgical treatment for thoracolumbar Hansen type I intervertebral disk extrusion (IVDE) and determine whether these variables were associated with preoperative modified Frankel score (MFS). DESIGN Retrospective case series with nested cohort study. ANIMALS 54 dogs weighing < 20 kg (44 lb) that were surgically treated for Hansen type I IVDE at a referral hospital between January and December 2015. Read More

J Int Med Res 2018 Sep 14;46(9):3910-3917. Epub 2018 Jun 14.

1 Department of Spine Surgery, Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.

Objective This study was performed to compare the effectiveness and safety of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) versus micro-endoscopic discectomy (MED) in the treatment of patients with lumbar disk herniation. Methods In total, 216 patients treated for lumbar disk herniation in our center from January 2016 to July 2017 were prospectively divided into two groups according to the treatment received. One group was treated with PELD and the other group was treated with MED. Read More

Asian Spine J 2018 Jun 4;12(3):423-427. Epub 2018 Jun 4.

Department of Neurosurgery, Spine Center, Spine Research Institute, The Leon Wiltse Memorial Hospital, Suwon, Korea.

Study Design: A retrospective review of prospectively evaluated magnetic resonance (MR) images.

Purpose: Routine lumbar axial and sagittal MR images may not clearly demonstrate nerve root anomalies and entrapments in the extraforaminal region. Thus, lumbar extraforaminal lesions or nerve root anomalies may be underdiagnosed because of unfamiliar radiological anatomy. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2018;29:59. Epub 2018 Jan 22.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Sahloul Hospital Sousse, Tunisia.

Case Rep Orthop 2018 29;2018:9810762. Epub 2018 Apr 29.

Spine and Spinal Cord Center, Osaka Police Hospital, 10-31 Kitayama-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka 543-0035, Japan.

Intradural disk herniation (IDH) is a rare condition, occurring more often at the L4-5 level. We examined a case of an IDH at the L1-2 level mimicking an intradural spinal tumor. A 71-year-old woman with a long history of backache and pain radiating down the left leg was admitted to our hospital with the worsening of these symptoms. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Aug 19;116:136-139. Epub 2018 May 19.

Department of Neurosurgery, Rhode Island Hospital, and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.

Lumbar total disk replacement is considered for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disk disease with the hope that by preserving motion, the long-term fusion complication of adjacent segment disease can be avoided. The complications of lumbar total disk replacement can be divided into approach-related and long-term complications. Little has been described about the complications and treatment for complications >10 years after the device has been implanted. Read More

Asian Spine J 2018 Apr 16;12(2):294-299. Epub 2018 Apr 16.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Aichi Spine Institute, Niwa-gun, Aichi, Japan.

Study Design: Retrospective clinical study.

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between surgical approaches and surgical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD), including the reduction in intervertebral disc height and the incidence of Modic changes.

Overview Of Literature: The anterior approach involves partial invasion of the intervertebral disc, with a reported reduction in intervertebral disc height after PECD. Read More

J Am Vet Med Assoc 2018 Apr;252(7):846-851

OBJECTIVE To characterize and identify risk factors for intervertebral disk extrusion (IVDE) in Pekingese. DESIGN Retrospective case-control study. ANIMALS 426 Pekingese (81 with confirmed IVDE and 345 without IVDE) admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital from 2005 through 2015. Read More

Front Vet Sci 2018 15;5:16. Epub 2018 Feb 15.

Division of Clinical Radiology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Muscle signal alteration detected on MRI is seen in diverse pathologic conditions. We observed signal alterations within the paraspinal muscles in dogs with acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe MRI features of paraspinal muscle signal alteration in dogs with acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion and to investigate an association of the signal alterations with neurological grade, type and location of intervertebral disk extrusion, degree of spinal cord compression, and presence of epidural hemorrhage. Read More

Skeletal Radiol 2018 Aug 13;47(8):1177-1182. Epub 2018 Feb 13.

Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.

Although spontaneous regression of herniated disk material has been reported in the lumbar and cervical spine, reports of complete spontaneous regression of calcified thoracic disk herniations are exceedingly rare. In symptomatic patients, surgery is typically the treatment of choice; however, conservative therapy with surveillance may allow time for spontaneous resolution and potentially avoid high-risk surgery. We report a 40-year-old woman with complete spontaneous resolution of a large calcified thoracic disk extrusion with conservative management over an 8-month period. Read More

Int Orthop 2018 03 2;42(3):567-573. Epub 2018 Feb 2.

Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, No. 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China.

Purpose: This study aims to find a safe and easy-to-perform strategy for lumbar pedicle screw insertion based on anatomical landmarks.

Methods: From March 2011 to January 2012, 74 patients underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion using the new-designed screw insertion technique. During the operation, the entry site for screw insertion was on the outer edge of the superior facet joint, 4 mm downward from upper border of processus transversus. Read More

J Am Vet Med Assoc 2018 Feb;252(4):464-472

CASE DESCRIPTION A 17-year-old sexually intact male aardvark (Orycteropus afer) was evaluated because of hind limb proprioception deficits and ataxia. CLINICAL FINDINGS Results of examination and CT suggested a diagnosis of intervertebral disk disease and diskospondylitis at the L2-3 intervertebral space. Magnetic resonance imaging of the vertebral column also indicated intervertebral disk rupture with spinal cord compression and inflammation of the adjacent epaxial musculature TREATMENT AND OUTCOME Hemilaminectomy was performed according to the technique described for dogs. Read More

Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2018 04 15;99(4):726-735. Epub 2017 Dec 15.

Department of Orthopaedics, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

Objectives: To investigate the accuracy of 3 commonly used neurodynamic tests (slump test, straight-leg raise [SLR] test, femoral neurodynamic test) and 2 clinical assessments to determine radiculopathy (radiculopathy I, 1 neurologic sign; radiculopathy II, 2 neurologic signs corresponding to 1 specific nerve root) in detecting magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings (extrusion, subarticular nerve root compression, and foraminal nerve root compression).

Design: Validity study.

Setting: Secondary care. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Feb 2;110:354-358. Epub 2017 Dec 2.

Department of Neurosurgery, Nanoori Incheon Hospital, Incheon, Korea.

Background: The causes of chronic diskogenic back pain have not yet been clearly identified. Neural ingrowth around the annulus is widely considered to be one of the possible cause. However, neuropathy around the annulus has yet to be observed visually. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Feb 28;110:319-322. Epub 2017 Nov 28.

Department of Neurosurgery, Nanoori Incheon Hospital, Incheon, Korea.

Background: Acute bilateral isolated foot drop due to lumbar disk prolapse with canal stenosis is rare with only 3 cases reported in literature. Our patient was managed using the percutaneous full endoscopic technique. This is mainly to highlight the ease of access and patient outcome with preoperative and postoperative images to support our minimally invasive treatment for this rare condition. Read More

J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2017 10;40(8):580-586

School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate stress distribution and disk displacement in healthy and degenerated intervertebral disks during simulated lumbar rotation manipulation (LRM) in the sitting and side-lying positions.

Methods: Three-dimensional (3D) finite element models of healthy, mildly degenerated and moderately degenerated L4/5 spinal units were reconstructed. Lumbar rotation manipulation in the sitting and side-lying positions were simulated, and alterations in stress distribution and disk displacement in the lumbar disks were observed. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 02 31;110:64. Epub 2017 Oct 31.

Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

The authors present a case report of a patient with a giant thoracic calcified disc. The patient underwent a posterior thoracic laminectomy and fusion without resection of the disc. The calcified disc regressed in size and lost its calcified component postoperatively. Read More

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2018 Jan 23;48(1):187-200. Epub 2017 Oct 23.

Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.

Fenestration offers the advantages of prophylaxis without the need for specialized instrumentation and imaging. Currently there is a lack of equipoise regarding the efficacy of fenestration relative to decompression for treatment of acute canine intervertebral disk herniation; most veterinary spinal surgeons do not consider the 2 procedures equivalently efficacious. Therapeutic fenestration should perhaps be given greater consideration, especially if advanced imaging shows only mild to moderate spinal cord compression or there are restrictions on the duration of surgery, when it might be better to spend the time on fenestration rather than decompression. Read More

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2018 Jan 23;48(1):169-186. Epub 2017 Oct 23.

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4474 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA.

Once decompressive surgery has been elected, the approach that maximizes the likelihood of gaining access to the herniated material for complete removal should be chosen. In most cases, a procedure that optimizes access to the ventrolateral aspect of the spinal cord will be advantageous but it is important to tailor the details of the surgical procedure to suit individual patients. Decompressive surgery for chronic (type II) herniations will frequently demand a ventral approach with partial corpectomy. Read More

Spinal Cord 2018 02 23;56(2):133-141. Epub 2017 Oct 23.

Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Objectives: Describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of dogs chronically impaired after severe spinal cord injury (SCI) and investigate associations between imaging variables and residual motor function.

Setting: United States of America. Read More

J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2018 Jul 17;79(4):296-301. Epub 2017 Oct 17.

Department of Neurosurgery, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.

Purpose:  We report our experience with a novel surgical device for the treatment of lumbar degenerative microinstability. Facet Wedge (DePuy Synthes, Raynham, Massachusetts, United States) is a novel technique of intra-articular lumbar facet fixation that provides a minimally invasive alternative to standard posterior fixation.

Materials And Methods:  From November 2014 to July 2015, 38 patients underwent single-level Facet Wedge implantation. Read More

FP Essent 2017 Oct;461:11-14

Virginia Commonwealth University Fairfax Family Medicine Residency Program, 3650 Joseph Siewick Drive Suite 400, Fairfax, VA 22033.

There are a variety of causes of neck pain, including trauma and degenerative changes. The history of onset helps to direct evaluation, including the need for imaging or ancillary testing. Patterns of pain, weakness, and other specific physical examination findings also aid in diagnosis. Read More

Korean J Spine 2017 Sep 30;14(3):115-117. Epub 2017 Sep 30.

Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, Wonkwang University School of Medicine & Hospital, Iksan, Korea.

Lumbar disk herniation is common. Because of the posterior longitudinal ligament, migration usually occurs into the ventral epidural space. Rarely, fragments migrate into the dorsal epidural space. Read More

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2018 Jan 28;48(1):95-109. Epub 2017 Sep 28.

Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK.

Acute herniation of nondegenerate nucleus pulposus material is an important and relative common cause of acute spinal cord dysfunction in dogs. Two types of herniation of nondegenerate or hydrated nucleus pulposus have been recognized: acute noncompressive nucleus pulposus extrusion (ANNPE) and acute compressive hydrated nucleus pulposus extrusion (HNPE). Spinal cord contusion plays an important role in the pathophysiology of both conditions. Read More

Cureus 2017 Jul 21;9(7):e1502. Epub 2017 Jul 21.

Department of Family Medicine, University of Arizona.

Physicians are often faced with managing difficult conditions such as chronic lower back pain. Intervertebral disk herniation typically occurs horizontally, leading to impingement of the spinal cord which can potentially cause radicular symptoms or other spinal cord pathologies; however, disk herniations can also occur vertically and extend through the endplate of an adjacent cranial or caudal vertebra: a phenomenon known as a Schmorl's node. Although Schmorl's nodes can be seen in many asymptomatic individuals, they can be a cause of degenerative disk disease and low back pain. Read More

World Neurosurg 2017 Nov 24;107:1050.e13-1050.e15. Epub 2017 Aug 24.

Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital CUF Infante Santo, Lisbon, Portugal.

Background: The incidence of thoracic disk herniation is estimated to be 1000 to 1,000,000. Upper thoracic disk herniation is an exceedingly rare pathology with unique neurologic features. We report a case of a young patient who presented with Horner syndrome caused by a T1-T2 disk herniation. Read More