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J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY (Dr. Iyer), and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL (Dr. Louie, Dr. Nolte, and Dr. Phillips).

Low back pain resulting from intervertebral disk degeneration is a cause of substantial disability and productivity loss. Over the past few years, growing evidence exists which suggests that low-grade bacterial infection, particularly infection with Cutibacterium acnes, may be associated with degenerative disk disease in the lumbar spine. Positive cultures are obtained in approximately 30% of intervertebral disk specimens removed at the time of surgery. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Nov 24. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, China-INI, Xicheng District, P.R. China. Electronic address:

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) in the treatment of degenerative lumbar disease.

Methods: Twenty-two patients with degenerative lumbar disease who underwent OLIF between October 2016 and January 2017 were included. Radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging were performed preoperatively and postoperatively. Read More

Int J Surg 2018 Dec 22;60:224-230. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Center for Evidence-Based Medicine, Department of Education, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address:

Objectives: Lumbar interbody fusion (LIF) is a treatment option for patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD). However, the effects of the most common LIF procedures-posterior LIF, transforaminal LIF, and anterior LIF-for the treatment of patients with DDD remain controversial. This study evaluated the pain and function caused by the LIF procedures for the treatment of patients with DDD. Read More

Orthopedics 2018 Sep 16;41(5):e655-e662. Epub 2018 Jul 16.

Fusion outcomes and costs of stand-alone anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in association with posterior fusion, and anterior/posterior (A/P) fusion were compared using clinical, radiographic, and billing data. Adult patients with symptomatic 1- or 2-level degenerative disk disease in isolation or in association with a grade 1 or 2 degenerative or lytic spondylolisthesis and canal and/or foraminal stenosis who underwent elective stand-alone ALIF, TLIF, or A/P fusion were compared. The analysis focused primarily on fusion rates and costs and secondarily on radiographic and clinical parameters. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2018 Apr 21;50:102-104. Epub 2018 Feb 21.

Department of Neurology, centre clinical de Soyaux, 2 chemin de Fregeneuil, 16800 Soyaux, France.

Although not as frequent as sciatica, cruralgia remains one of the most frequent reasons why people consult a neurosurgeon. It should be kept in mind, however, that every anterior leg pain is not cruralgia and thus several diagnoses must be discarded, such as of musculoskeletal diseases of hip, pelvis and femur. In the last years of the 19th century, André Léri, a French neurologist, described Leri's sign as it is used widely even today in everyday clinical practice. Read More

Eur Spine J 2018 07 25;27(7):1665-1666. Epub 2018 May 25.

Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, No. 76 Nanguo Road, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China.

J Biomech Eng 2018 Sep;140(9)

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands.

Intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration is commonly described by loss of height and hydration. However, in the first stage of IVD degeneration, this loss has not yet occurred. In the current study, we use an ex vivo degeneration model to analyze the changes in IVDs mechanical behavior in the first phase of degeneration. 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

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2018 Apr;31(4):386-390

Department of Orthopaedics, Hospital of Tradctional Chinese Medicine of Suzhou City, Suzhou 215001, China;

As a self-protective mechanism of cells, autophagy of cells can maintain cell stability by degrading self-aging substances, and it can be highly induced. The ability of autophagy to degraded cells will decrease with age. The resorption phenomenon after lumbar disc herniation is one of the effective mechanisms in conservative treatment of lumbar disc herniation. Read More

Cureus 2018 Mar 8;10(3):e2288. Epub 2018 Mar 8.

Fairview Health Services, Fairview Ridges Hospital.

Background Obesity is an increasing public health concern associated with increased perioperative complications and expense in lumbar spine fusions. While open and mini-open fusions such as transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and minimally invasive TLIF (MIS-TLIF) are more challenging in obese patients, new MIS procedures like oblique lateral lumbar interbody fusion (OLLIF) may improve perioperative outcomes in obese patients relative to TLIF and MIS-TLIF. Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of obesity on perioperative outcomes in OLLIF, MIS-TLIF, and TLIF. Read More

Eur Spine J 2018 06 18;27(Suppl 2):222-228. Epub 2018 Apr 18.

Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, "Sapienza", University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Purpose: The most effective interbody fusion technique for degenerative disk disease (DDD) is still controversial. The purpose of our study is to compare pure lateral (LLIF) and oblique lateral (OLIF) approaches for the treatment of lumbar DDD from L1-L2 to L4-L5, in terms of clinical and radiological outcomes.

Materials And Methods: 45 patients underwent lumbar interbody fusion for pure lumbar DDD from  L1-L2 to L4-L5 through LLIF (n = 31, mean age 62. Read More

J Clin Orthop Trauma 2018 Mar 12;9(Suppl 1):S149-S151. Epub 2017 Oct 12.

Rottal Inn Kliniken, Department of Neurosurgery, Bavaria, Germany.

Background: The incidence of Disc herniation is about 2-3% of population. Each year 300,000 procedures performed in USA. The aim of this paper is to describe the utility of endoscopic procedure in treatment of lumbar disc herniation. Read More

Radiol Res Pract 2018 8;2018:7638505. Epub 2018 Feb 8.

Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Patras, Patras, Greece.

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is common in children and adolescents. There are many factors that cause LBP, including structural disorders, degenerative changes, Scheuermann's disease, fractures, inflammation, and tumors. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is the gold standard for diagnosing spinal abnormalities and is mandatory when neurological symptoms exist. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Jun 10;114:e403-e411. Epub 2018 Mar 10.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Baoding No.1 Central Hospital, Baoding, Hebei, China.

Objective: To compare outcomes between K-rod dynamic stabilization system (KDSS) and posterior lumbar intervertebral fusion (PLIF) for lumbar degenerative disease.

Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed 98 patients who underwent lumbar surgery from March 2012 to June 2014, including 48 in the KDSS group and 50 in the PLIF group. All patients were followed up for at least 2 years. Read More

Int Orthop 2018 05 11;42(5):1091-1097. Epub 2018 Feb 11.

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Implants, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the position of single cage inserted using oblique-oriented technique in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) on digital images of computed tomography (CT).

Methods: From January to August 2015, 44 consecutive patients with degenerative lumbar disease who underwent TLIF in the L4/5 level were retrospectively studied in our department. The single cage was inserted using the oblique-oriented technique; as the main purpose of the study, its position was analyzed using post-operative digital computed tomography images. Read More

Orthop Nurs 2018 Jan/Feb;37(1):70-71

Orthop Nurs 2018 Jan/Feb;37(1):68-69

Patrick Graham, MSN, RN, APN/ANP-BC, Advanced Practice Nurse, Center for Comprehensive Orthopedic and Spine Care, Northwestern Medical Group, Chicago, IL.

Asian Spine J 2017 Oct 11;11(5):715-721. Epub 2017 Oct 11.

Department of Orthopaedics/Spine, Spatial Medicabil Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.

Study Design: Retrospective clinical cohort study.

Purpose: To investigate whether the combined use of dynamic pedicle screws and polyaxial pedicle screws was effective on adjacent segment pathology (ASP).

Overview Of Literature: Various screw and rod models have been recently developed for preventing adjacent segment disease, and hybrid systems have been described along with posterior instrumentation in the fusion segment. 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

World Neurosurg 2018 Jan 4;109:188-196. Epub 2017 Oct 4.

NeuroSpine Surgery Research Group, Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.

Low back pain is the principal cause of long-term disability worldwide. We intend to address one of its main causes, degenerative disk disease, a spinal condition involving degradation of an intervertebral disk. Following unsuccessful conservative treatment, patients may be recommended for surgery. 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

Clin Spine Surg 2018 Mar;31(2):E121-E126

Center for Diagnostic Imaging, Minneapolis, MN.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of prospective data for parallel, consecutive series of patients (Level III).

Objective: Compare clinical results and radiographic outcomes of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) versus open techniques for transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).

Summary Of Background Data: Minimally invasive techniques allow transforaminal exposure with decreased soft tissue disruption, but the question remains whether surgical and functional outcomes are equivalent to open techniques. Read More

PM R 2018 Apr 14;10(4):331-337. Epub 2017 Sep 14.

Emory Spine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.

Background: The intervertebral disk is the largest avascular structure in the body. It relies on passive diffusion from arteries at the periphery of the disk for nutrition. Previous studies have suggested a correlation between vascular disease and lumbar degenerative disk disease (DDD), but the association with facet arthritis and stenosis has not been evaluated. Read More

PLoS One 2017 28;12(8):e0183697. Epub 2017 Aug 28.

Laboratory of Neurosurgery, Irkutsk Scientific Center of Surgery and Traumatology, Irkutsk, Russia.

Purpose: To assess the utility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps for the assessment of patients with advanced degenerative lumbar spine disease and describe characteristic features of ADC maps in various degenerative lumbar spinal conditions.

Methods: T1-weighted, T2-weighted and diffusion weighted (DWI) MR images of 100 consecutive patients admitted to the spinal surgery service were assessed. ADC maps were generated from DWI images using Osyrix software. Read More

Neurocirugia (Astur) 2018 Mar - Apr;29(2):93-102. Epub 2017 Jul 24.

Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Universitario de Burgos, Burgos, España.

Obesity (BMI>30Kg/m) is a pandemic with severe medical and financial implications. There is growing evidence that relates certain metabolic processes within the adipose tissue, preferentially abdominal fat, with a low-intensity chronic inflammatory state mediated by adipokines and other substances that favor disk disease and chronic low back pain. Obesity greatly conditions both the preoperative evaluation and the spinal surgical technique itself. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2017 Jul;96(30):e7222

aDepartment of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital, Beijing bDepartment of Orthopaedics cEducation Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, the People's Republic of China.

The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between high-intensity zone (HIZ) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a lumbar disc and positive pain response assessed by discography for the diagnosis and treatment of discogenic low back pain (LBP). Thirty-seven patients aged 21 to 59 years with chronic LBP but without any neurological symptoms or lumbar disc herniation who underwent MRI and subsequent discography were included in this study. During discography, concordant pain was regarded as positive, whereas discordant pain and no pain were regarded as negative. Read More

J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2018 Jan 3;79(1):1-8. Epub 2017 Jul 3.

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

Background:  Minimally invasive pedicle screw placement may have a higher incidence of violation of the superior cephalad unfused facet joint.

Study Aims:  We investigated the incidence and risk factors of upper facet joint violation in percutaneous robot-assisted instrumentation versus percutaneous fluoroscopy-guided and open transpedicular instrumentation.

Methods:  A retrospective study including all consecutive patients who underwent lumbar instrumentation, fusion, and decompression for spondylolisthetic stenosis and degenerative disk disease was conducted between January 2012 and January 2016. Read More

Asian Spine J 2017 Jun 15;11(3):472-477. Epub 2017 Jun 15.

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

Study Design: Observational study.

Purpose: To assess the correlation among inflammatory cytokine expression levels, degree of intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration, and predominant clinical symptoms observed in degenerative disk disease (DDD).

Overview Of Literature: Low back pain (LBP) is associated with inflammatory cytokine expression levels, including those of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and nerve growth factor (NGF). Read More

Clin Spine Surg 2017 Jul;30(6):259-264

*Department of Neurosurgery, MAZ Hospital, Zaragoza †Department of Neurosurgery, Carlos Haya Hospital, Málaga, Spain.

Study Design: Modic changes [vertebral endplate spinal changes (VESC)] have been related to degenerative disk disease, and in past decades it was thought that their presence justified the surgical treatment, in particular spinal fusion.

Objective: The aim of the present study is to investigate its prevalence and features in a population of young workers suffering from low back pain, and explore the eventual relationship with the treatment applied in each case.

Background Data: We conducted a retrospectively review of 450 magnetic resonance images from our hospital, in patients with low back pain or sciatica and age below 40. Read More

J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2017 Jul;25(7):489-498

From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.

Lumbar disk herniation, degenerative disk disease, and spondylolysis are the most prevalent lumbar conditions that result in missed playing time. Lumbar disk herniation has a good prognosis. After recovery from injury, professional athletes return to play 82% of the time. Read More

World Neurosurg 2017 Sep 25;105:498-502. Epub 2017 May 25.

Department of Neurosurgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Kidney disease in spine surgery can be associated with serious complications.

Objective: To investigate the rate of acute tubular necrosis (ATN) and surgical site infection (SSI) after lumbar fusion in patients with kidney disease.

Methods: A review of the U. Read More

Eur Spine J 2018 03 5;27(3):720-727. Epub 2017 Apr 5.

Orthospine Department Pr Le Huec JC, Bordeaux University Hospital, 6th Floor, CHU Pellegrin, Place A Raba Leon, 33076, Bordeaux, France.

Purpose: The treatment of low back pain associated to Disc Degenerative Disease (DDD) is still controversial. Segmental Fusion is the gold standard, but many studies have reported that motion-preserving devices bring substantial clinical benefits to patients. Concerns on the associated complications and on the long-term clinical effectiveness of such instrumentations are still present and have led recently to a decrease of the number of Lumbar Total Disk Replacements (TDR). Read More

Orthopedics 2017 May 31;40(3):e520-e525. Epub 2017 Mar 31.

Concomitant spine and hip disease in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) presents a management challenge. Degenerative lumbar spine conditions are known to decrease lumbar lordosis and limit lumbar flexion and extension, leading to altered pelvic mechanics and increased demand for hip motion. In this study, the effect of lumbar spine disease on complications after primary THA was assessed. Read More

Osteoporos Int 2017 06 1;28(6):1925-1929. Epub 2017 Mar 1.

Department of Spine Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing, 100035, China.

The main aim of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between vertebral compression fracture and thoracolumbar Cobb angles. Fracture prevalence was found to be significantly higher for patients with moderate [odds ratio (OR) = 4.78 (2. Read More

World Neurosurg 2017 May 9;101:216-226. Epub 2017 Feb 9.

Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address:

Objective: The fusion rate in spinal surgery may vary in relation to the technique, and it remains unknown which surgical technique provides the best fusion rate and surgical outcome. We aimed to compare radiologic and surgical results between 3 surgical techniques used for lumbar interbody fusion.

Methods: Participants included 77 patients diagnosed with degenerative spinal stenosis including spondylolytic spondylolisthesis. Read More

Mol Imaging Biol 2017 Oct;19(5):703-713

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Virginia, Rm B051, Cobb Hall, 135 Hospital Dr., Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA.

Purpose: Inflammation plays a key role in the progression of intervertebral disk (IVD) herniation and associated low back pain. However, real-time spatial diagnosis of inflammation associated with acute disk herniation has not been investigated. We sought to detect local neutrophil and macrophage infiltration near disk herniation via the formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1)-mediated molecular imaging in a disk puncture mouse model to elucidate pathophysiological process of disk herniation. Read More

Clin Spine Surg 2018 Feb;31(1):37-42

Texas Back Institute, Plano, TX.

Study Design: Long-term analysis of prospective randomized clinical trial data.

Summary Of Background Data: Lumbar total disk replacement (TDR) has been found to have equivalent or superior clinical outcomes compared with fusion and decreased radiographic incidence of adjacent level degeneration in single-level cases.

Objective: The purpose of this particular analysis was to determine the incidence and risk factors for secondary surgery in patients treated with TDR or circumferential fusion at 2 contiguous levels of the lumbar spine. Read More

Asian Spine J 2016 Dec 8;10(6):1100-1105. Epub 2016 Dec 8.

Spine Unit, Valladolid University Hospital, Royal Academy of Medicine and Surgery, Valladolid, Spain.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Purpose: To analyze outcomes of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) stand-alone cages.

Overview Of Literature: PLIF for degenerative disk disease using stand-alone cages has lost its popularity owing to implant-related complications and pseudoarthrosis. Read More

Spine J 2017 08 6;17(8):1061-1065. Epub 2016 Dec 6.

Department of Orthopaedics, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1100 Tunnel Rd, Asheville, NC 28805, USA.

Background Context: Determining pain intensity is largely dependent on the patient's report.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that patients initially reporting a pain score of 10 out of 10 on the visual analog scale (VAS) would experience symptom improvement to a degree similar to patients reporting milder pain.

Study Design: This study is a retrospective chart review. Read More

World Neurosurg 2017 Mar 29;99:26-30. Epub 2016 Nov 29.

Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.

Background: The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, as a measure of objective functional impairment in lumbar degenerative disk disease (DDD), complements patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) of subjective functional impairment.

Methods: Prospective 2-center study on consecutive patients scheduled for surgical treatment for lumbar DDD who underwent an objective (TUG test) and subjective (PROMs) functional assessment before and 1 and 3 days after surgery. PROMs included the visual analog scale (VAS), Roland-Morris Disability Index (RMDI), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Euro-Qol (EQ-5D), and Short Form 12 (SF-12) questionnaires. Read More

World Neurosurg 2017 Mar 22;99:6-13. Epub 2016 Nov 22.

Department of Neurosurgery and Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.

Background: Numerous studies assessed the effects of smoking on lumbar degenerative disk disease (DDD); they focused on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and yielded conflicting results.

Methods: In this 2-center study on consecutive patients receiving surgical treatment for lumbar DDD, subjective functional impairment (SFI) in terms of PROMs including visual analog scale back and leg pain, Roland-Morris, Oswestry Disability Index, Euro-Qol-5D, and a Short-Form 12 physical component summary was determined at baseline, 3 days, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively. Age- and sex-adjusted T-scores of objective functional impairment (OFI) were determined using the Timed Up and Go test up to 6 weeks postoperatively. Read More

Global Spine J 2016 Dec 2;6(8):744-748. Epub 2016 Mar 2.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York, United States.

 Observational study.  Studies have shown a correlation between obesity and lumbar spine pathology, but also that obese patients have higher rates of complication following lumbar spine surgery. It is unknown if obese patients have clinical gains following lumbar spine surgery comparable to the gain of normal-weight patients. Read More

J Clin Lab Anal 2017 Sep 3;31(5). Epub 2016 Nov 3.

People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, China.

Background: Proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 are expressed in herniated intervertebral disks of Kazakhs, but their significance is not yet understood.

Methods: Specimens of herniated lumbar disk were collected from 30 patients with single disk herniation during lumbar discectomy. As a control, 10 specimens were collected postmortem from the cadavers of individuals who did not die from spinal disease. Read More

Expert Rev Med Devices 2016 Dec 11;13(12):1127-1136. Epub 2016 Nov 11.

a Department of Neurosurgery , Rush University Medical Center , Chicago , IL , USA.

Introduction: Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) is a well-established technique to achieve lumbar spine fusion with various indications including degenerative disk disease, spondylolisthesis, recurrent disk herniation, adjacent level disease, pseudoarthrosis, as well as being used as part of the overall strategy to restore sagittal balance. ALIF can be an extremely useful tool in any spine surgeon's armamentarium. However, like any surgical procedure, proper patient selection is key to success. Read More

Neurosurg Rev 2017 Jan;40(1):177

Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria.

Orthopedics 2017 Jan 30;40(1):e59-e64. Epub 2016 Sep 30.

This study examined the effect of bilateral and unilateral L5 pars defects on the degree of disk degeneration at the L5-S1 level in cadaveric specimens. An observational study was performed of 690 cadaveric specimens selected at random. These specimens represent individuals who died between 1893 and 1938. Read More

Transplantation 2017 08;101(8):1945-1951

1 Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Orthopedic Surgery Department, Spine Unit, Valladolid, Spain. 2 Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Radiology Department, Valladolid, Spain. 3 Citospin S.L., Parque Científico de la Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain. 4 Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Department of Hematology and Cell Therapy, Murcia, Spain. 5 Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular (IBGM), Universidad de Valladolid and CSIC, Valladolid, Spain.

Background: Degenerative disc disease often causes severe low-back pain, a public health problem with huge economic and life quality impact. Chronic cases often require surgery, which may lead to biomechanical problems and accelerated degeneration of the adjacent segments. Autologous mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) treatments have shown feasibility, safety and strong indications of clinical efficacy. Read More

World Neurosurg 2016 Dec 15;96:530-536. Epub 2016 Sep 15.

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

Objective: The purpose of this report is to describe the surgical methodology and effectiveness of minimally invasive oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) assisted by spinal endoscopy, which can treat disk herniation from the central to contralateral foramen. OLIF showed indirect decompression effects on reduction of spondylolisthesis and a foraminal widening effect on disk height restoration.

Methods: In this study, the indirect decompression effect of OLIF was augmented by direct endoscopic decompression and spinal endoscopy for removal of herniated disk materials. Read More

Cureus 2016 Aug 8;8(8):e729. Epub 2016 Aug 8.

Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego.

Background: The natural, inflammatory repair processes of an injured intervertebral degenerative disc can propagate further injury and destruction. While there are many different treatment modalities of the pain related to degenerative disc disease, none are actually reparative in nature. Treatment strategies to repair a degenerative disc without inducing a destructive inflammatory milieu have been elusive. Read More