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Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Feb;98(7):e14415

Orthopaedics Surgery Department, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.

Rationale: Gout occurs mainly in joints, but rarely in the spine. In the spine, urate crystals can cause intervertebral space instability but rarely lead to retrolisthesis. Here, we present an extremely rare disease with gout invaded the intervertebral disc with lumbar retrolisthesis. Read More

Front Vet Sci 2018 29;5:349. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Office of Research and Economic Development, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, United States.

Laser therapy is becoming common place in veterinary medicine with little evidence proving efficacy or dosages. This study evaluated surgical wound healing in canines. Twelve Dachshunds underwent thoraco-lumbar hemilaminectomies for intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Read More

Materials (Basel) 2019 Jan 14;12(2). Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Macromolecules Innovation Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.

Disc degeneration affects 12% to 35% of a given population, based on genetics, age, gender, and other environmental factors, and usually occurs in the lumbar spine due to heavier loads and more strenuous motions. Degeneration of the extracellular matrix (ECM) within reduces mechanical integrity, shock absorption, and swelling capabilities of the intervertebral disc. When severe enough, the disc can bulge and eventually herniate, leading to pressure build up on the spinal cord. Read More

Front Vet Sci 2018 12;5:311. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Laboratory for Equine and Comparative Orthopedic Research, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States.

Pain from coxofemoral joint (CFJ) osteoarthritis (OA) characteristic of canine hip dysplasia (CHD) afflicts many dogs. Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a common CFJ OA comorbidity. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) administration is standard for treatment of pain from degenerative joint disease. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(1):e13970

Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka.

Prospective case-control study.This study used a prospective multicenter database to investigate whether dural tear (DT) is associated with an increased rate of other perioperative complications.Few studies have had sufficient data accuracy and statistical power to evaluate the association between DT and other complications owing to a low incidence of occurrence. Read More

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

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(50):e13684

Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul.

Background: A lumbar herniated intervertebral disc (LHIVD) is a common problem that usually causes low back pain and radiating pain. The effectiveness of Bosinji, one of the herbal medicines used for low back pain and radiating pain in patient with LHIVD, has been reported in several studies; however, little clinical evidence is available owing to the methodological limitations in previous studies. Hence, the present study aims to establish the clinical evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of Bosinji in improving pain, function, and quality of life in LHIVD patients. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13541

Department of Spine Surgery.

Rationale: Nocardial spinal epidural abscess is rare. The diagnosis is often difficult to make and, if delayed, poses a high risk of long-term disability. Nocardial spinal epidural abscess with severe lumbar disc herniation has not previously been reported. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Neurosurgery, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

Study Design: Reliability Study.

Objective: To evaluate the applicability and reliability of 9.4T MRI in the assessment of degenerative disc disease compared to 3T MRI. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2018 Dec 1;24:8693-8698. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China (mainland).

BACKGROUND This cohort study compared the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive versus open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Mis-TLIF versus Open-TLIF) for lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy. MATERIAL AND METHODS From July 2016 to September 2017, we recruited 37 patients suffering from lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy. Seventeen patients underwent Mis-TLIF (Mis group) and 20 patients underwent Open-TLIF (Open group). Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2018 Nov;31(11):1065-1068

Department of Spinal Surgery, Mingzhou Hospital of Zhejiang University, Ningbo 315100, Zhejiang, China;

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy via lateral position assisted with local anesthesia for lumbar disc herniation in elder with systemic diseases.

Methods: The clinical data of 44 elder patients with lumbar disc herniation and systemic diseases treated from June 2013 to June 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Including 26 males and 18 females, aged 70 to 86 years old with an average of(77. Read More

Pain Physician 2018 11;21(6):E643-E650

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

Background: The non-operative treatment of herniated intervertebral discs has long been a fundamental challenge. A novel technique of laser ablation to ablate the nucleus pulposus under a transforaminal epiduroscope (TELA system, Lutronics, Seoul, Republic of Korea) was recently developed.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transforaminal epiduroscopic laser ablation (TELA) for selective ablation of the nucleus pulposus in single-level disc disease. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Nov;97(48):e13417

Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China.

The aim of this study is to observe the therapeutic effect of percutaneous endoscopic discectomy and its influencing factors for lumbar disc herniation and compare the advantages and disadvantages of transforaminal and interlaminar of percutaneous endoscopy.Data from 143 patients with lumbar disc herniation were respectively collected, including demographic and clinical data. Study population were divided into curative effect group and poor curative effect group, and logistic regression was used to explore the influencing factors of curative effect. Read More

Orthop Surg 2018 Nov;10(4):328-336

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells induced by microencapsulated chondrocytes on repairing of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Methods: Rabbit chondrocytes and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were derived. Chondrocytes were microencapsulated by a microcapsule generator to produce microencapsulated chondrocytes (MEC). Read More

J Neurosurg Pediatr 2018 Oct 1:1-8. Epub 2018 Oct 1.

OBJECTIVEThe authors sought to investigate the efficiency of percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PED) in adolescent patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH), compare PED outcomes in adolescent patients with those in young adult LDH patients as controls, and discuss relevant technical notes.METHODSThis was a retrospective study involving 19 adolescent LDH patients (age > 13 and < 18 years, 20 discectomies) and 38 young adults (age < 40 years, 38 discectomies) who also had LDH and were matched to the adolescent group for sex and body mass index. The combined cohort included 51 male patients (89. 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

Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2019 Jan 29;176:19-24. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Affiliated Xinqiao Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, No.183, Xinqiao Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400037, People's Republic of China. Electronic address:

Objectives: To compare the clinical outcomes of patients with massive lumbar disc disease undergoing percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion at a single clinic.

Patients And Methods: From January 2008 to January 2014, 360 consecutive patients with massive lumbar disc herniation were treated with PELD(184 patients) or MIS-TLIF(176 patients). Data collected prospectively for analysis included clinical and radiographic results after revision surgery and complications. Read More

Orthop Surg 2018 Nov 25;10(4):306-311. Epub 2018 Nov 25.

Department of Orthopaedics, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Objective: Turnover of cartilage endplate extracellular matrix (ECM) may play an important role in disc degeneration and low back pain (LBP). However, the expression pattern of pro-inflammatory factors, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) in the cartilage endplates (CEP) of intervertebral discs (IVD) is not understood. We aimed to examine the transcriptional levels of MMP, TIMP, and interleukins (IL), and the correlations between them. 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

J Pediatr 2018 Nov 19. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Division of Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Objective: To review pediatric idiopathic intervertebral disc calcification (PIIVDC) within a single center and within the literature to outline the disease course, management, and outcome.

Study Design: A retrospective chart review was performed spanning the period between January 2001 and February 2016 for diagnoses of PIIVDC. Patient age, sex, symptoms, and history and physical and neurologic findings were reviewed. Read More

Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2019 Jan 18;61:38-45. Epub 2018 Jun 18.

Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America.

Background: Understanding the association between MR parameters and age related deterioration in human intervertebral disks forms an important step in the development of clinical diagnostic protocols for disk disease.

Methods: Ten unfixed thoracic and lumbar cadaver disk joints, age 37-81 years were imaged at 9.4 T using T2 relaxation (CPMG) and ADC (DWI spin echo) MR protocols. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2019 Mar 13;61:281-284. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.

Charcot spinal arthropathy (CSA) is a rare spinal disorder presenting neuropathic osteoarthropathy of facet joints leading to progressive destruction. After L4-5 PLIF, a 63-year-old woman with Parkinson's disease (PD) underwent L3-4 and L5-S1 PLIF for primary adjacent segment disease caused by degenerative change, which was found as facet joint osteophytes and a vacuum disc phenomenon with endplate sclerosis. However, her postural disorder from PD deteriorated, and strong opioid analgesics were administered for severe recurring low back pain. Read More

Eur Radiol Exp 2018 Nov 7;2(1):32. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Philips Research Laboratories, Hamburg, Germany.

Proton-density fat fraction (PDFF) of the paraspinal muscles, derived from chemical shift encoding-based water-fat magnetic resonance imaging, has emerged as an important surrogate biomarker in individuals with intervertebral disc disease, osteoporosis, sarcopenia and neuromuscular disorders. However, quantification of paraspinal muscle PDFF is currently limited in clinical routine due to the required time-consuming manual segmentation procedure. The present study aimed to develop an automatic segmentation algorithm of the lumbar paraspinal muscles based on water-fat sequences and compare the performance of this algorithm to ground truth data based on manual segmentation. Read More

Z Orthop Unfall 2018 Nov 6. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Rehabilitation, Reha Klinik Wien Baumgarten, Wien, Austria.

Background: With a life-time prevalence of 39%, low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders. Correct diagnosis of underlying causes is commonly seen as a prerequisite for successful therapy of LBP. Currently, there is no useful, non-invasive clinical test to diagnose painful lumbar zygapophyseal joints. Read More

EBioMedicine 2018 Nov 30;37:521-534. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Faculty of Medicine and Graduate of Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hokkaido University, N15W7, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8638, Japan.

Background: The current surgical procedure of choice for lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation is discectomy. However, defects within IVD produced upon discectomy may impair tissue healing and predispose patients to subsequent IVD degeneration. This study aimed to investigate whether the use of an acellular bioresorbable ultra-purified alginate (UPAL) gel implantation system is safe and effective as a reparative therapeutic strategy after lumbar discectomy. Read More

Asian Spine J 2018 Dec 16;12(6):1060-1068. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Purpose: Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration is an important cause of low back pain.

Overview Of Literature: Spinal fusion is often reported to have a good course for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 12;122:469-473. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

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

Objective: We sought to describe a novel technique in managing a patient with adjacent segment disease at the L5/S1 level.

Methods: We performed an endoscope-assisted anterior lumbar interbody fusion with computed tomography-guided, image-navigated unilateral cortical bone trajectory screw fixation to treat L5/S1 intervertebral disk pathology.

Results: Patient was successfully treated by a direct endoscopic decompression through the anterior access, interbody fusion using an anterior lumbar interbody fusion cage, unilateral cortical bone trajectory instrumentation under computed tomography-guided image navigation. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Jan 9;121:e786-e791. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Background: Prescription opioid medications negatively affect postoperative outcomes after lumbar spine surgery. Furthermore, opioid-related overdose death rates in the United States increased by 200% between 2000 and 2014. Thus, alternatives are imperative. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Oct;97(40):e12680

Department of SICU, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.

Spinal fusion has become a standard treatment for symptomatic intervertebral degenerative disc disease. The present study aimed to compare perioperative parameters, clinical outcomes, and radiographic results of stand-alone oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) with posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) for the revision of rostral adjacent segment disease (ASD) following prior posterior lumbar fusion.Thirty-six patients who underwent revision surgeries for rostral ASD were retrospectively reviewed. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Oct;97(40):e12624

Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou.

Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a clinically common degenerative spinal disease that adversely affects patients' quality of life and work ability. Although several articles have reported that acupotomy can improve the clinical symptoms of LDH, the efficiency of acupotomy has not been scientifically or methodically evaluated. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate and synthesize evidence on the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy therapy in patients with LDH. Read More

Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2018 Oct 5;22(10):622-629. Epub 2018 Oct 5.

3 Department of Joint Surgery, Yan'an People's Hospital , Yan'an, China .

Objective: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common and frequent orthopedic disease with strong genetic determinants. The disruption of the intervertebral disc extracellular matrix has been found to play a key role in the development of LDH, suggesting that abnormal matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may promote the degradation of the disc matrix. MMP-9, an important member of the MMP family, is a good candidate for the LDH susceptibility gene. Read More

JBMR Plus 2018 May 8;2(3):154-163. Epub 2018 Mar 8.

Academic Endocrine Unit Radcliffe Department of Medicine University of Oxford Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism Churchill Hospital Headington UK.

Kyphosis and scoliosis are common spinal disorders that occur as part of complex syndromes or as nonsyndromic, idiopathic diseases. Familial and twin studies implicate genetic involvement, although the causative genes for idiopathic kyphoscoliosis remain to be identified. To facilitate these studies, we investigated progeny of mice treated with the chemical mutagen -ethyl--nitrosourea (ENU) and assessed them for morphological and radiographic abnormalities. Read More

Asian J Neurosurg 2018 Jul-Sep;13(3):585-589

Department of Neurosurgery, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Background: The role of the electrophysiologic studies in peripheral nerves and muscles of lower limbs (including paraspinal muscles) in prolapsed lumbar intervertebral discs has been studied with equivocal results. Pre- and post-operative electrodiagnostic studies have not been compared much.

Aims And Objectives: To study the role of the electrophysiologic studies in prolapsed lumbar/lumbosacral intervertebral discs for finding the association between clinical findings and electrophysiological changes and to compare the electrophysiologic studies pre- and post-operatively. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Nov 3;119:479-487. Epub 2018 Jul 3.

Department of Neurosurgery, Saarland University Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Homburg-Saar, Germany. Electronic address:

Background: Among spinal surgeons, the safety of endoscopic spinal techniques has been criticized as the result of a prolonged learning curve and divergent surgical technique from traditional microsurgery. In this manuscript, the authors assessed the learning curve of 4 experienced microsurgical neurosurgeons in endoscopic spinal surgery.

Methods: Retrospectively, the surgical reports, the endoscopic video recording, and the files of all patients who underwent an endoscopic procedure for the treatment of cervical and lumbar disc herniation from January 2011 to December 2017 were reviewed. Read More

Int J Spine Surg 2018 Jan 30;12(1):49-57. Epub 2018 Mar 30.

Instituto de Patologia da Coluna, São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Total lumbar disc replacement (TDR) devices have been designed to maintain motion, but both biomechanical and clinical data have indicated that a more controlled motion and additional load absorption in TDR would be beneficial. This work analyzed long-term results of an elastomeric disc (Physio-L) for degenerative lumbar conditions.

Material And Methods: This was a prospective, noncomparative, single-center clinical and radiological study. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Jan 29;121:e554-e565. Epub 2018 Sep 29.

Department of Pharmacology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovakia.

Objective: In lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (DSL), the criteria and extent of surgical treatment have not been strictly defined owing to the adjacent segment disease theory and unclear molecular pathogenesis. The present study analyzed the clinical and radiographic findings of patients after lower lumbar fusion surgery with single and 2-level DSL and explored the inflammatory mediator's role in DSL evolution and symptoms.

Methods: The prospective follow-up of patients with DSL, stratified by the stabilization extent (L4-L5, L5-S1, and L4-S1), included the Back Illness Pain and Disability 9-item questionnaire and native and dynamic radiographs to evaluate the intervertebral disc height and adjacent segments' angular motion. Read More

Int J Spine Surg 2018 Apr 3;12(2):201-240. Epub 2018 Aug 3.

Institute of Health Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Republic of Ireland.

Background: Replacement of a diseased lumbar intervertebral disc with an artificial device, a procedure known as lumbar total disc replacement (LTDR), has been practiced since the 1980s.

Methods: Comprehensive review of published literature germane to LTDR, but comment is restricted to high-quality evidence reporting implantation of lumbar artificial discs that have been commercially available for at least 15 years at the time of writing and which continue to be commercially available.

Results: LTDR is shown to be a noninferior (and sometimes superior) alternative to lumbar fusion in patients with discogenic low back pain and/or radicular pain attributable to lumbar disc degenerative disease (LDDD). Read More

Drug Des Devel Ther 2018 18;12:3033-3041. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan,

Background: Estrogen deficiency is associated with musculoskeletal disorders. Sintered dicalcium pyrophosphate (SDCP) is a novel antiosteoporotic agent. In this study, we examined its use for restoration of bone quality and attenuation of disc degeneration in ovariectomy rats. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2018 Sep 27;19(1):351. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Faculty of Kinesiology, University of New Brunswick, 3 Bailey Drive, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 5A3, Canada.

Background: Individual study results have demonstrated unclear relationships between neurocompressive disorders and paraspinal muscle morphology. This systematic review aimed to synthesize current evidence regarding the relationship lumbar neurocompressive disorders may have with lumbar paraspinal muscle morphology.

Methods: Searches were conducted in seven databases from inception through October 2017. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2018 09 25;15(10). Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan Hopspital, Yangsan, Mulgeum-eup, Bumeo-ri, Yangsan, Gyongnam 626-770, Korea.

The aim of this research was to identify the differences in the incidence of symptomatic cervical and lumbar disc herniation according to age, sex, and national health insurance eligibility. We evaluated the hospital documents of patients who received medical treatment for symptomatic cervical and lumbar disc herniation between 2004 and 2010 and excluded those who claimed to have expenses at oriental medical clinics or pharmacies. Furthermore, any duplicate documents from the labor force population aged 20⁻69 years were excluded from the analysis. Read More

J Inflamm (Lond) 2018 18;15:19. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

7Department of Orthopedics, Tainan Municipal An-Nan Hospital-China Medical University, Tainan, Taiwan.

Background: Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) is a major cause of spinal canal stenosis and is often related to lower back pain. IL-20 is emerging as a potent angiogenic, chemotactic, and proinflammatory cytokine related to several chronic inflammatory bone disorders likes intervertebral disc herniation, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoporosis, and bone fracture. IL-19 also acts as a proinflammatory cytokine in RA. Read More

Brain Behav Immun 2019 Jan 22;75:60-71. Epub 2018 Sep 22.

Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neuroradiology, Karolinska University Hospital, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address:

The aim of the study was to identify inflammatory cytokines/chemokines associated with neuroinflammation and periphery-to-CNS inflammatory cross-talk in degenerative disc disease (DDD) and lumbar disc herniation (LDH), common causes of low back pain (LBP). A secondary aim was to investigate the associations between cytokines and symptom severity.

Methods: In total, 40 DDD and 40 LDH patients were recruited from a surgical waiting list, as well as 39 healthy controls (HC) and 40 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) controls. Read More

J Orthop Surg Res 2018 Sep 20;13(1):241. Epub 2018 Sep 20.

Department of Orthopedics, The 5th Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin, 30000, People's Republic of China.

Background: In recent years, the minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) is increasingly used to manage the lumbar degenerative disease. However, whether MI-TLIF was superior than open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (O-TLIF) was controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the clinical outcomes between the MI-TLIF and O-TLIF in single-level degenerative lumbar diseases. Read More

Turk Neurosurg 2018 ;28(5):756-762

Koc University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey.

Aim: To investigate the postoperative complications, such as screw loosening, screw breakage and adjacent segment disease (ASD), in patients who underwent surgery with 2-level dynamic stabilization systems.

Material And Methods: Postoperative complications, clinical improvements and radiological parameters in patients who underwent surgery using a dynamic system for 2-level lumbar stabilization were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 103 patients with lumbar degenerative spinal instability underwent 2-level dynamic stabilization. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 17;9:1706. Epub 2018 Aug 17.

Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Degenerative disc disease is associated with increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the intervertebral disc (IVD). However, it is not completely clear how inflammation arises in the IVD and which cellular compartments are involved in this process. Recently, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has emerged as a possible modulator of inflammation in age-related disorders. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Dec 28;120:e42-e52. Epub 2018 Aug 28.

Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

Background: Little is known about the effectiveness of recombinant human bone morphogenetic proteins (rhBMPs) in reducing the demand for opioids after surgery. We investigated the association between rhBMP use and the likelihood of achieving opioid independence and changes in opioid demand in the first postoperative year.

Methods: Using the Multi-Payer Claims Database from 2007 to 2010, patients aged >20 years who had undergone a degenerative disc disease-indicated lumbar fusion procedure and had had ≥1 opioid prescription in the 3 months before surgery were identified. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Dec 27;120:e710-e718. Epub 2018 Aug 27.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan.

Background: The effect of indirect decompression after lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) is widely acknowledged; however, its details remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effects of indirect decompression just after LLIF cage placement but just before posterior instrumentation, using intraoperative computed tomography myelogram (iCTM).

Methods: Fifty-three levels from 28 patients undergoing LLIF with iCTM, were included in this retrospective study. Read More

PLoS One 2018 30;13(8):e0200899. Epub 2018 Aug 30.

Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

Spinal fusion is a standard surgical treatment for patients suffering from low back pain attributed to disc degeneration. However, results are somewhat variable and unpredictable. With fusion the kinematic behaviour of the spine is altered. Read More

Ortop Traumatol Rehabil 2018 Apr;20(2):149-156

Fairfield General Hospital, Bury, UK.

Background: Aim of this prospective study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of second generation Wallis system for degenerative lumbar disc disease.

Material And Methods: 25 patients underwent discectomy and insertion of Wallis system. Outcome assessment was done using Modified Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) for backache and leg pain. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Dec 24;120:e517-e524. Epub 2018 Aug 24.

Department of Neurosurgery, Nanoori Gangnam Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address:

Objective: This study is aimed to comprehensively assess the prevalence and distribution of thoracic disc herniation (TDH) or thoracic hypertrophied ligamentum flavum causing stenosis (HLFS) by magnetic resonance image (MRI) in patients with back or leg pain.

Methods: The study participants included 2212 patients who underwent MRI evaluation for back or leg pain. The prevalence and distribution of TDH or thoracic HLFS were assessed using lumbar MRI with cervicothoracic sagittal images. Read More