Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Spine J 2021 May 30. Epub 2021 May 30.

Department of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, the People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Mechanism for Repair and Remodeling of Orthopaedic Diseases, Liaoning Province, the People's Republic of China. Electronic address:

Background Context: Facet joints have been discussed as influential factors in the development of lumbar degeneration, which includes disc herniation and degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Facet orientation (FO) and facet tropism (FT) are two important structural parameters of the lumbar facet joints. Many previous studies have focused on single parameter analysis of the lumbar spine. Read More

World J Orthop 2021 May 18;12(5):310-319. Epub 2021 May 18.

Department of Oncology and Neurosurgery, Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "Privolzhsky Research Medical University" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Nizhniy Novgorod 603000, Russia.

Background: The majority of published data report the results of biomechanical tests of various design pedicle screw performance. The clinical relevance and relative contribution of screw design to instrumentation stability have been insufficiently studied.

Aim: To estimate the contribution of screw design to rate of pedicle screw loosening in patients with degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 May 28;11(1):11299. Epub 2021 May 28.

School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No.155, Sec.2, Linong Street, Beitou District, Taipei, 112, Taiwan, ROC.

To evaluate the impact of the preoperative severity of facet joint arthropathy on long-term functional outcomes and spinopelvic parameters in patients undergoing lumbar-stability-preserving decompression and Dynesys fixation. In this retrospective study, 88 patients undergoing combined surgery at our hospital from 2008 to 2015 were included. The patients were divided into two groups, the less and more than mean degeneration groups, based on preoperative facet joint arthropathy of the index level(s). Read More

Eur Radiol 2021 May 15. Epub 2021 May 15.

Department of Radiology B, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 27 rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques, 75014, Paris, France.

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol that only includes sagittal T2-weighted Dixon fat and water images as an alternative to a standard protocol that includes both sagittal T1-weighted sequence and T2-weighted Dixon water images as reference standard in lumbar degenerative disc disease with Modic changes.

Methods: From February 2017 to March 2019, 114 patients who underwent lumbar spine MRI for low back pain were included in this retrospective study. All MRI showed Modic changes at least at one vertebral level. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2021 Apr 23. Epub 2021 Apr 23.

Department of Orthopedics & Spine Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 210 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Objective: To compare the accuracy of pedicle screw placement and proximal facet joint violation (FJV) in single-level degenerative lumbar diseases using Cortical bone trajectory (CBT) and traditional trajectory (TT) techniques, and analyzed their possible risk factors.

Summary Of Background Data: CBT screws have been utilized increasingly to improve cortical bone contact to prevent screw pullout and reduce approach-related morbidity. Read More

Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2021 Apr 26;84:105339. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100086, China; Biomechanics and Biotechnology Lab, Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518057, China. Electronic address:

Background: Anterior lumbar interbody fusion combined with supplementary fixation has been widely used to treat lumbar diseases. However, few studies have investigated the influence of fixation options on facet joint force and cage subsidence. The aim of this study was to explore the biomechanical performance of anterior lumbar interbody fusion with various fixation options under both static and vertical vibration loading conditions. Read More

J Bone Joint Surg Am 2021 May;103(10):887-899

Center for Advanced Orthopedic Studies, Department of Orthopedic Surgery (R.N.A. and R.A.), Division of General Medicine (R.B.D.), and Department of Radiology (D.B.H.), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Background: In patients with spinal metastases, kinematic instability is postulated to be a predictor of pathologic vertebral fractures. However, the relationship between this kinematic instability and the loss of spinal strength remains unknown.

Methods: Twenty-four 3-level thoracic and lumbar segments from 8 cadaver spines from female donors aged 47 to 69 years were kinematically assessed in axial compression (180 N) and axial compression with a flexion or extension moment (7. Read More

Pain Med 2021 Mar 13. Epub 2021 Mar 13.

Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.

Objective: 1) To describe a simplified multidisciplinary grading system for the most clinically relevant lumbar spine degenerative changes. 2) To measure the inter-reader variability of non-radiologist spine experts in interpreting a consecutive series of lumbar spine MRI utilizing the classification.

Methods: A multidisciplinary and collaborative standardized grading of spinal stenosis, foraminal stenosis, lateral recess stenosis, and facet arthropathy was developed. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2021 03 6;163(3):863-871. Epub 2021 Jan 6.

Department of Surgery, Section of Neurosurgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Stadium Road, Karachi, Sindh, 74800, Pakistan.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is important in the assessment of degenerative spine disease. However, its role is limited in the identification of spinal instability; therefore, weight-bearing and dynamic studies like X-rays are required. The supine position eliminates the gravitational pull, corrects the vertebral slippage, and opens the facet joints leading to the collection of the synovial fluid into the joint space, which is detected on the MRI and can serve as a marker for instability. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2021 Jan;46(2):122-128

Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the actual prevalence of degenerative spinal changes and their association with age in a cohort of professional soccer players.

Summary Of Background Data: Presently, there are data that athletes have more degenerative changes than nonathletes; however, the research examining the prevalence of degenerative spinal conditions among professional elite soccer players is scarce. Read More

World Neurosurg 2021 Mar 9;147:47-65. Epub 2020 Dec 9.

Department of Radiodiagnosis, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Background: Facet tropism (FT) refers to the difference in the orientation of facet joints with respect to each other in the sagittal plane. FT leads to unequal biomechanical forces on facet joint and intervertebral disc during rotation and other physiologic movements. Most of the studies have reported the incidence of FT in the lumbar spine to vary between 40% and 70%, with L4-5 level being the most commonly afflicted level. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Dec;99(49):e23480

Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.

Background: Thoracic facet joint disorder is a common thoracic disorder in clinic, inducing pain and discomfort at the dislocated thoracic vertebrae, radiating to pain of the neck and back. The incidence of thoracic facet joint disorder is higher than the facet disorder of the cervical and lumbar vertebrae. Therefore, an ideal strategy to relieve thoracic facet joint disorder is urgently needed. Read More

J Orthop Surg Res 2020 Dec 3;15(1):582. Epub 2020 Dec 3.

Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 139 Ziqiang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050051, China.

Study Design: A meta-analysis.

Objective: We performed a meta-analysis to explore the incidence and risk factors of adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) after posterior lumbar fusion surgery.

Methods: An extensive search of the literature was performed in English database of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, and Chinese database of CNKI and WANFANG (up to May 2020). Read More

Biomed Res Int 2020 9;2020:8861347. Epub 2020 Nov 9.

Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008 Changsha, China.

Background: The subchondral bone parallels with the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). However, the biomechanical properties and histopathological changes of subchondral bone changes in the lumbar facet joint (LFJ) after long-term axial loading on the spine have not been explored. In this study, we aimed to investigate the subchondral bone histopathological changes that occur in the LFJ and pain behaviors in a novel bipedal standing mouse model. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2020 Nov 19;81:290-294. Epub 2020 Oct 19.

Department of Cancer Imaging, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.

The diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastatic disease (LMD) is frequently challenging and MRI of the spine is an important part of the diagnostic paradigm. We sought to examine the value of adding 3-dimensional, heavily T2-weighted, Sampling Perfection with Application optimised Contrasts using different flip angle Evolution (T2-SPACE) imaging of the lumbar spine to the MRI protocol for patients with suspected LMD. MRI spine examinations including T2-SPACE imaging of the lumbar spine performed for suspected or known LMD were retrospectively reviewed by a neuroradiologist to determine the additional benefit of the T2-SPACE sequence. Read More

Ugeskr Laeger 2020 10;182(42)

This review gives a summary of osteoarthritis (OA) of the spine involving the facet and the sacroiliac joints. Facet joint OA is widely prevalent in adults, and is thought to be a common cause of back and neck pain. The prevalence of facet and SI-joint mediated pain increases with age, suggesting that OA might have a particularly important role in older adults with spinal pain. Read More

Pain Physician 2020 09;23(5):519-530

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

Background: Lumbar facet joints are a clinically important source of chronic low back pain. There have been extensive diagnostic accuracy studies, along with studies of influence on the diagnostic process, but most of them have utilized the acute pain model. One group of investigators have emphasized the importance of the chronic pain model and longer lasting relief with diagnostic blocks. Read More

Ann Palliat Med 2020 Sep 7;9(5):3528-3536. Epub 2020 Sep 7.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.

Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) stimulation has been safely and effectively applied for controlling various types of pain. Here, we aimed to systematically review the literature pertaining to the efficacy of PRF stimulation for managing pain associated with spinal disorders. We conducted a PubMed search for papers published until August 20, 2019, that used PRF to treat pain resulting from spinal disorders. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2020 Nov;45(21):1467-1475

Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

Study Design: A prospective study of patients originally randomized to total disc replacement (TDR) or multidisciplinary rehabilitation.

Objective: To assess the long-term development of facet arthropathy (FA) after TDR versus nonoperative treatment, and to analyze the association between FA and clinical outcome.

Summary Of Background Data: FA may appear or increase following TDR, but the natural course of FA is unclear, and no previous study has evaluated the long-term development of FA following TDR compared with nonoperative treatment. Read More

Global Spine J 2020 Aug 9;10(5):657-666. Epub 2019 Oct 9.

Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Study Design: Literature review.

Objectives: Paraspinal muscle integrity is believed to play a critical role in low back pain (LBP) and numerous spinal deformity diseases and other pain pathologies. The influence of paraspinal muscle atrophy (PMA) on the clinical and radiographic success of spinal surgery has not been established. Read More

Pain Pract 2021 Feb 7;21(2):152-159. Epub 2020 Aug 7.

The Spine and Nerve Center of the Virginias, Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.A.

Background: Low back pain is the leading cause of years lost to disability worldwide. Approximately 15% to 45% of chronic low back pain is due to facet joint arthropathy. Currently, no large-scale retrospective studies have investigated long-term clinical predictors of success in individuals receiving radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the medial branches for facet joint arthropathy. Read More

J Mol Histol 2020 Aug 6;51(4):401-410. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Department of Spine Surgery, Nantong City No.1 People's Hospital and Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China.

The pathophysiological changes in cartilage are a crucial feature of lumbar facet joint (LFJ) degeneration and arthritis. However, the molecular mechanism of human LFJ degeneration remains largely defined. This study aimed to examine the changes in chondrocytes at different stages of degenerative LFJ using hematoxylin and eosin and Safranin O staining. Read More

Proc Inst Mech Eng H 2020 Sep 29;234(9):931-941. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Laboratoire des Énergies Renouvelables et Matériaux Avancés, Université Internationale de Rabat (UIR), Rocade de Rabat-Salé, Morocco.

Hybrid stabilization is widely performed for the surgical treatment of degenerative disk diseases. Pedicle-based hybrid stabilization intends to reduce fusion-associated drawbacks of adjacent segment degeneration, construct failure, and pseudoarthrosis. Recently, many types of pedicle-based hybrid stabilization systems have been developed and optimized, using polymeric devices as an adjunct for lumbar fusion procedures. Read More

Med Hypotheses 2020 Nov 4;144:109900. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

Department of Orthopedics, Peking University 3rd Hospital, Beijing Key Laboratory of Spinal Disease Research, No. 49 North Garden Rd., Haidian District, Beijing 100191, PR China. Electronic address:

Spinal instability related low back pain is a common condition resulting from degeneration and loss of stiffness of the intervertebral joint. In order to restore stability, highly invasive surgical fusion is needed for patients who are not responding to conservative treatment. Given the risk and complications of surgery, there has been the urge for improvement with a less invasive solution. Read More

HSS J 2020 Jul 20;16(2):143-154. Epub 2020 Mar 20.

Clinica Ortopedica, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, GE Italy.

Background: In the past decade, lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) has gained in popularity. A proposed advantage is the achievement of indirect neural decompression. However, evidence of the effectiveness of LLIF in neural decompression in lumbar degenerative conditions remains unclear. Read More

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2020 Jun;50(6):345

A 33-year-old man was referred to physical therapy by his primary care physician for low back pain that had been present for 7 months. The neurologic screen with mixed upper and lower motor neuron signs was of concern for spinal cord involvement. The primary care physician was contacted and magnetic resonance imaging ordered. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 09 24;141:e414-e422. Epub 2020 May 24.

Neurosurgical Department, Aulss2 Marca Trevigiana, Treviso, Italy. Electronic address:

Background: Lumbar juxtafacet cysts are benign lesions that grow at the level of facet joints or within neighboring structures. Recently, there is an ongoing trend toward less invasive procedures for treating degenerative spine diseases. Here we report a multicenter study of full-endoscopic surgery for juxtafacet cyst removal. Read More

J Orthop Surg Res 2020 May 24;15(1):185. Epub 2020 May 24.

Department of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, No. 5, Longbin Road, Dalian, 116600, People's Republic of China.

Background: Facet orientation (FO) and facet tropism (FT) are two important structural parameters of lumbar facet joint. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between facet joint parameters and chronic low back pain (LBP).

Methods: From June 2017 to January 2019, a total of 542 cases were enrolled in this study. Read More

Eur J Radiol 2020 Aug 12;129:109048. Epub 2020 May 12.

Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Hanyang UniversityMedical Center, 222-1 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04764, South Korea. Electronic address:

Purpose: We aimed to investigate whether the lesion-to-background ratio (LBR) of the whole spinal column in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients based on baseline F-18-fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is associated with treatment response.

Methods: Twenty-eight male patients with a wide range of disease activity were included in this study. Abnormal bone metabolic lesions on baseline F-18-fluoride PET/CT were visually assessed in three areas: anterior discovertebral units (DVUs) and posterior joints (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar facet joints, costovertebral joints, and costotransverse joints) of vertebrae and sacroiliac joints of the sacrum. Read More

Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown) 2020 Oct;19(5):E473-E479

Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.

Background: Advances in operative techniques and minimally invasive technologies have evolved to maximize patient outcomes and radiographic results, while reducing morbidity and recovery time.

Objective: To describe the operative technique for a transfacet minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) as a proposed modification to the standard approach MIS-TLIF.

Methods: We present the case of a 72-yr-old man with left-sided lumbar radiculopathy. Read More