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Eur Spine J 2021 Jun 7. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1611 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.

Purpose: Surgical treatment of herniated lumbar intervertebral disks is a common procedure worldwide. However, recurrent herniated nucleus pulposus (re-HNP) may develop, complicating outcomes and patient management. The purpose of this study was to utilize machine-learning (ML) analytics to predict lumbar re-HNP, whereby a personalized risk prediction can be developed as a clinical tool. Read More

Eur Radiol 2021 Jun 2. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

Division of Experimental Imaging, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of dual-energy CT (DECT) virtual noncalcium (VNCa) reconstructions for assessing thoracic disk herniation compared to standard grayscale CT.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 87 patients (1131 intervertebral disks; mean age, 66 years; 47 women) who underwent third-generation dual-source DECT and 3.0-T MRI within 3 weeks between November 2016 and April 2020 were included. Read More

J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2021 May 24. Epub 2021 May 24.

Department of Orthopedics, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan.

Introduction:  This prospective case-control study aimed to establish the normal spectrum of early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients whose symptoms resolve after full endoscopic diskectomy (FED). We examined the changes in postoperative MRI findings and their relation to early clinical symptoms.

Methods:  In total, 33 patients underwent FED under local anesthesia. Read More

JMIR Med Inform 2021 May 21;9(5):e14755. Epub 2021 May 21.

Xi'an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University Xi'an Number 3 Hospital, Xi'an, China.

Background: Disk herniation and disk bulge are two common disorders of lumbar intervertebral disks (IVDs) that often result in numbness, pain in the lower limbs, and lower back pain. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is one of the most efficient techniques for detecting lumbar diseases and is widely used for making clinical diagnoses at hospitals. However, there is a lack of efficient tools for effectively interpreting massive amounts of MR images to meet the requirements of many radiologists. Read More

Asian Spine J 2021 May 20. Epub 2021 May 20.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.

Study Design: Retrospective observational study.

Purpose: We investigated the correlation between T2 relaxation times and clinical symptoms in patients with cervical radiculopathy caused by cervical disk herniation.

Overview Of Literature: There are currently no imaging modalities that can assess the affected cervical nerve roots quantitatively. Read More

J Am Vet Med Assoc 2021 Jun;258(11):1222-1228

Objective: To compare the incidence of MRI lesions between dogs weighing < 15 kg (33 lb) and dogs weighing ≥ 15 kg.

Animals: 494 dogs with clinical signs of thoracolumbar disease.

Procedures: Electronic medical records of affected dogs that underwent MRI of the thoracolumbar vertebral column between January 2016 and July 2018 were reviewed. Read More

Neurochirurgie 2021 Apr 24. Epub 2021 Apr 24.

University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Department of Neurological Surgery, Sacramento, CA, USA.

Introduction: Accounting for an estimated 1.10-1.76% of all lumbar herniations, lumbar intradural disc herniation (IDH) occurs primarily in males during the fourth to fifth decades of life. Read More

Vet Surg 2021 May 22;50(4):823-832. Epub 2021 Mar 22.

Small Animal Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.

Objective: To describe the clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, and outcome of dogs treated surgically for lumbosacral intervertebral disk extrusion (IVDE).

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: Thirteen dogs. Read More

Br J Neurosurg 2021 Mar 19:1-4. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Department of Neurosurgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fujian Institute of Neurosurgery, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China.

Study Design: Report of three patients undergoing lumbar epidural schwannoma tumourectomy. Percutaneous endoscopy has been routinely used in the treatment of disk herniation but has not been reported in the management of intraspinal tumours.

Methods: Three patients diagnosed with schwannoma by imaging and pathological examination underwent percutaneous full endoscopic tumourectomy. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2021 Jan;34(1):86-90

The Third Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, China.

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of lever positioning manipulation for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation and its effect on Cobb angle.

Methods: From December 2017 to November 2018, 67 patients with lumbar disc herniation were included in the study. The patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group by digital table method. Read More

Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2021 02;27(1):225-263

Purpose Of Review: This article reviews the neuroimaging of disorders of the spinal cord and cauda equina, with a focus on MRI. An anatomic approach is used; diseases of the extradural, intradural-extramedullary, and intramedullary (parenchymal) compartments are considered, and both neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions are covered. Differentiating imaging features are highlighted. Read More

J Vet Sci 2021 Jan;22(1):e3

Department of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.

Background: Multifidus muscle stiffness decreases in patients with lumbar intervertebral disk herniation; however, age-related changes in humans have not been reported.

Objectives: The reliability of ultrasound shear wave elastography in dogs, and changes in the shear elastic modulus of the thoracolumbar multifidus muscle with aging in dogs, were investigated.

Methods: Twelve beagle dogs were divided into 2 groups based on the age of onset of intervertebral disk herniation: young (aged not exceeding 2 years; 1. Read More

J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2021 May 6;82(3):197-203. Epub 2021 Jan 6.

Ankara Numune Research and Training Hospital, Neurosurgery Clinic, Ankara, Turkey.

Objective:  To evaluate the clinicoradiologic conditions of patients with a herniated cervical disk who were treated with percutaneous endoscope-assisted cervical diskectomy.

Materials And Methods:  The medical data of 27 patients (16 men and 11 women; mean age: 40.9 years) who were operated on with the posterior endoscope-assisted cervical diskectomy method were reviewed retrospectively. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2021 Jul;46(13):E734-E742

The Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.

Study Design: A prospective study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) derived parameters of compressed nerve roots at subregions and the corresponding clinical symptoms to evaluate the patients with intraspinal lumbar disc herniation (LDH)-related lumbosacral radiculopathy pre- and postoperatively.

Summary Of Background Data: It is crucial to explore whether magnetic resonanve imaging (MRI) can quantitatively evaluate intraspinal LDH-related lumbosacral radiculopathy before and after surgery. Read More

JOR Spine 2020 Dec 15;3(4):e1123. Epub 2020 Sep 15.

Bone and Joint Institute The University of Western Ontario London Ontario Canada.

Intervertebral discs (IVDs) are often referred to as the largest avascular structures of the human body, yet a collective resource characterizing the vascularization of the IVD does not exist. To address this gap, the objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive search of the literature to review and summarize current knowledge of the prevalence and localization of blood supply in human IVDs, with a scoping review. A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed publications on the topic of IVD vascularization in humans was conducted across six electronic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and BIOSIS Previews. Read More

Eur Spine J 2021 Jan 3. Epub 2021 Jan 3.

Department of Radiology, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Road, Beijing, 100191, China.

Purpose: To analyze the clinical and radiographic characteristics of thoracic disk disease associated with myelopathy (TDM).

Methods: This is a retrospective clinical review of prospectively collected imaging data based at a single institute. Based on preoperative CT and MRI, we classified TDM as thoracic disk herniation (TDH), THD with ossification (THDO), TDH with posterior bony avulsions of the vertebrae (TDH with PBA), TDH with posterior vertebral osteophytes (TDH with PVO), giant thoracic osteophyte and calcific discitis with herniation (CDH). Read More

BMC Vet Res 2020 Dec 7;16(1):476. Epub 2020 Dec 7.

Neuro Vets Animal Neurology Clinic, 550-4 Bishamoncho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.

Background: Progressive myelomalacia (PMM) is a fatal complication of progressive ascending and descending necrosis of the spinal cord after acute spinal cord injury. A recent study suggested that extensive hemilaminectomy with durotomy (EHLD) at the intramedullary T2-hyperintense region which performed immediately after magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) improved the survival rate in dogs with presumptive PMM. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effects of EHLD on halting the progression of PMM in dogs presumptively diagnosed with PMM which had the interval between MRI and surgery. Read More

Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2021 01 9;81:105174. Epub 2020 Sep 9.

IFSTTAR, LBA, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France; iLab-Spine International Associated Laboratory, Marseille-Montreal, France-Canada. Electronic address:

Background: Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy results from spine degenerations narrowing the spinal canal and inducing cord compressions. Prognosis is challenging. This study aimed at simulating typical spinal cord compressions observed in patients with a realistic model to better understand pathogenesis for later prediction of patients' evolution. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2020 Nov 1;81:455-461. Epub 2020 Nov 1.

Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No 95, Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100050, China. Electronic address:

Objective: To assess the preoperative and postoperative changes in MRI image and the short-term efficacy of the ISDF with BacFuse covering 3 years.

Methods: 32 patients who underwent ISDF were involved in this retrospective study. The symptoms assessment including VAS, ODI, and SF-12 were evaluated preoperative and postoperative at 1 year and 3 years. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2020 21;11:348. Epub 2020 Oct 21.

Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Palermo, Italy.

Background: Because the neurological presentation of spinal epidural hematomas (SEH) is often not specific, they may be misdiagnosed as acute lumbar disk herniations. Here, we present a case in which a traumatic disc extrusion mimicked an epidural hematoma and reviewed the appropriate literature.

Case Description: A 27-year-old male sustained a high-energy fall. Read More

J Biol Regul Homeost Agents 2020 Jul-Aug;34(4 Suppl. 1):15-19

Neuroradiology Service Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy.

Low Back Pain (LBP) is the most common spine disease and it is the most common cause of absence from work in developed countries. At lumbar level, the natural history of herniated disc is characterized by a disappearance of clinical symptoms in up to 60% with conservative treatment through simple rest for about 6 weeks and reduction of the disk heniation revealed by CT or MR scans within eight to nine months after the onset of back pain. Surgery is considered the treatment of choice for extruded, migrated and free fragment herniated disk associated to clinical symptomatology of cono-cauda syndrome, progressive foot droop and hyperalgic radiculopathy. Read More

Front Vet Sci 2020 7;7:583892. Epub 2020 Oct 7.

MICEN VET, Créteil, France.

Intramedullary disk extrusions has rarely been described in veterinary medicine, more especially in cats, with only two cases are reported in the veterinary literature. Diagnosis may be difficult, even though clinical presentation and imaging studies, such as MRI or CT, can present specific features. Treatment and prognosis are not clearly described. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 10 28;10(1):18479. Epub 2020 Oct 28.

Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Biofotonics, Engineering Institute, Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexicali, Baja California, México.

The goal of this study was to investigate the association of body composition components and to elucidate whether any of these components is a risk factor for Lumbar Disc Herniation (LDH). The group of study consisted of 90 adults involved in a physical activity program due to overweight and obesity. 19 adults with medical diagnostic through Magnetic Resonance Imaging with LDH. Read More

Invest Radiol 2021 Apr;56(4):207-214

From the Division of Experimental Imaging, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigative the diagnostic accuracy of colored dual-energy computed tomography (CT) virtual noncalcium (VNCa) series for analyzing cervical disk herniation compared with standard gray-scale CT images, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) serving as standard of reference.

Materials And Methods: Data from 57 patients who underwent noncontrast dual-source CT and 3.0-Tesla (T) MRI within 2 weeks between January 2017 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Read More

World Neurosurg 2021 Feb 20;146:e76-e85. Epub 2020 Oct 20.

Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Hospital Beneficente São Carlos, Farroupilha-RS, Brazil; Verti Spine Clinic, Caxias do Sul University-RS, Caxias do Sul-RS, Brazil.

Background: The treatment of unilateral CFD in patients without neurologic deficits remains controversial, especially in the choice of the best surgical approach. Our objective is to determine the way spine surgeons from Latin America manage this condition.

Methods: A survey regarding management and surgical strategies was conducted by the AO Spine Latin American Trauma Study Group considering the treatment of unilateral CFD. Read More

J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2021 Jan 21;82(1):100-104. Epub 2020 Oct 21.

Faculty of Medicine and Life Science, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium.

A nontraumatic spontaneous spinal acute subdural hematoma (sSDH) is a rare complication after spinal surgery. Although an sSDH is often associated with anticoagulation therapy, vascular malformations, or lumbar puncture, the pathogenesis of nontraumatic spontaneous sSDH remains unclear. We present the case of an intradural hematoma after an extraforaminal surgery through the Wiltse approach for an extraforaminal disk herniation at L5/S1. Read More

World J Clin Cases 2020 Oct;8(19):4609-4614

College Hospital, Sichuan Agricultural University-Chengdu Campus, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan Province, China.

Background: The spontaneous resorption of lumbar disk herniations (LDHs) has been widely reported. However, the majority of these reports analyze the resorption of LDHs that were displaced backwards or downwards. There have been few reports on the spontaneous resorption of upwardly displaced L4/5 LDH that has caused femoral nerve symptoms. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 10 19;10(1):17652. Epub 2020 Oct 19.

Spinecenter of Southern Denmark, Lillebælt Hospital, Middelfart, DK5750, Denmark.

The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of endplate junction failure in a smaller cohort of Danish patients with lumbar disk herniation and compare this to the previously published data from India. Consecutive patients seen in a large regional hospital spine-care unit, with a clinical presentation suggesting a lumbar disk herniation with concomitant radiculopathy and confirmatory recent MRI were included. Additional imaging by CT was performed as part of the study and these were analyzed with specific attention to endplate junction failures. Read More

J Vet Intern Med 2020 Nov 2;34(6):2536-2544. Epub 2020 Oct 2.

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.

Background: Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (QMRI) techniques of magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) provide microstructural information about the spinal cord.

Objective: Compare neurologic grades using the modified Frankel scale with MTR and DTI measurements in dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH).

Animals: Fifty-one dogs with thoracolumbar IVDH. Read More

Clin Spine Surg 2021 May;34(4):E205-E210

Division of Neurosurgery, Dalhousie University.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To examine the relationship between preoperative Modic change (MC) and postoperative clinical assessment scores for patients receiving lumbar discectomy or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for lumbar disk herniation.

Summary Of Background Data: Lumbar disk herniation is a risk factor for MC development. Read More