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Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 Jul 4;17(13). Epub 2020 Jul 4.

Department of Occupational Medicine, Public health and Hazardous Substances, Institution for Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Services, 22089 Hamburg, Germany.

Lifting or carrying loads or working while the trunk is in a bent position are well established risk factors for the development of disc disease of the lumbar spine (LDD). Patient handling is associated with certain hazardous activities, which can result in exposure to heavy loads and high pressure for the discs of the lumbar spine of the nurses performing these tasks. The purpose of this review was to examine the occurrence of work-related LDD among health personnel (HP) with occupational exposure to patient handling activities in comparison to un-exposed workers. Read More

Pol J Vet Sci 2020 Jun;23(2):301-308

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Morphological Science, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.

The lumbosacral region of the spine is the most susceptible to pathology in large breed dogs. The most common pathologies of this segment include intervertebral disc disease, distortion of vertebrae, narrowing of the lumbosacral canal and congenital defects of the spine. The aim of this study is to develop a mathematical model describing the height of each lumbosacral vertebra in the dog in relation to the position of the vertebra. Read More

Pol J Vet Sci 2020 Jun;23(2):261-265

Department of Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Clinic, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, Building 20, 14163 Berlin, Germany.

Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LTV) are abnormally formed vertebrae of congenital origin. Dogs with LTV are predisposed to premature degeneration of the lumbosacral spine and hip dysplasia due to a weakened sacroiliac attachment. Moreover, LTV has been discussed as a cause of cauda equina syndrome. Read More

Rev Bras Ortop (Sao Paulo) 2020 Jun 19;55(3):298-303. Epub 2019 Dec 19.

Departamento de Ortopedia, P. D. Hinduja National Hospital e Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India.

 To assess the long-term outcome and perioperative morbidity in spine surgeries for lumbar degenerative disorders and, thereby, to evaluate the safety of surgery in the aging population.  Retrospective study of patients aged > 70 years, operated for degenerative lumbar disorders between 2011 and 2015. We evaluated patient demographic, clinical and surgical data; comorbidities, perioperative complications, pre & postoperative pain scores and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores, patient satisfaction and overall mortality. Read More

Neurospine 2020 Jun 30;17(2):426-442. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Aravind Medical Research Foundation, Madurai, India.

Objective: To catalog and characterize the proteome of normal human intervertebral disc (IVD).

Methods: Nine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) normal IVDs were harvested from 9 different brain dead yet alive voluntary organ donors and were subjected to electrospray ionization-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-LC-MS/MS) acquisition.

Results: A total of 1,116 proteins were identified. Read More

Orthop Surg 2020 Jun 24. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Department of Radiology, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China.

Objective: The T2 value of lumbar cartilage endplates was measured using the T2 mapping imaging technique, aiming to explore the correlation between the T2 value and Pfirrmann grading of intervertebral discs.

Methods: A total of 130 patients with lumbar spine MR examination due to persistent low back pain were enrolled, including 71 men and 59 women (age: 21-63 years). Lumbar Modic changes and Schmorl nodules were recognized by conventional T1WI and T2WI images in 49 patients, and these patients were excluded from the study. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2020 Jun;33(6):514-8

Gansu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730050, Gansu, China.

Objective: To investigate the clinical effects of percutaneous spinal endoscopy (percutaneous endoscopy) in the treatment of high prolapse free lumbar disc herniation.

Methods: From May 2016 to June 2018, 24 patients with highly prolapse free lumbar disc herniation were enrolled in this study, including 11 males and 13 females, ranging in age from 48 to 72 years old, with an average of (59.5±7. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2020 Jun;33(6):508-13

Department of Spine Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China.

Objective: To study the clinical characteristics of the patients with tiny lumbar disc herniation and severe symptoms(tLDHSS) and the therapeutic effects of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy(PELD).

Methods: From January 2014 to February 2019, 34 patients with tLDHSS were reviewed retrospectively, including 20 males and 14 females, aged from 31 to 73 (48.8±10. Read More

Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2020 Jun 9;196:106002. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

Center For Advanced Spine Care of Southern Arizona, Surgical Institute of Tucson, United States. Electronic address:

Objective: The authors investigated the feasibility of a transforaminal endoscopic decompression and un-instrumented lumbar interbody fusion procedures with cancellous bone allograft in patients painful with end-stage degenerative vacuum disc disease.

Patients & Methods: Twenty-nine patients who underwent endoscopic transforaminal foraminal and lateral recess decompression and direct intraoperative endoscopic visualization of a painful, hollow collapsed, rigid intervertebral disc space were grafted with cancellous allograft chips. In addition to the radiographic assessment of fusion, patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years postoperatively, and clinical outcomes were evaluated with VAS, ODI, and modified MacNab criteria. Read More

Lab Anim 2020 Jun 15:23677220930043. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Beaumont Health, USA.

Rat models of lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration are widely employed to characterize biologic-based therapeutics, but their anatomy and small size preclude consistent delivery of injectable therapeutics to the lumbar spine via the traditional posterolateral approach. Here, we describe our experience with a repeat ventral transperitoneal approach in female Lewis rats, enabling induction of IVD degeneration and later intervention via an injectable therapeutic. In the initial surgery, the ventral aspect of the L5/L6 IVD was accessed, and an annular defect was created using a #11 scalpel blade. Read More

J Man Manip Ther 2020 Jun 12:1-8. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago, IL, USA.

Background: There is a lack of consensus for optimal management of patients with foot drop due to acute lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with lumbar radiculopathy (LR), which is a clinical scenario that may be encountered by physical therapists. Consequently, it is important to explore physical therapists' referral practice patterns for surgical consult. Currently, physical therapist referral patterns for surgical consult in this patient population are unknown. Read More

World J Clin Cases 2020 May;8(10):1958-1965

Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China.

Background: In recent years, the mechanical concept of intervertebral disc regeneration has become more and more popular due to the increasing awareness of the importance of preservation of spine movement. Interestingly, there is increasing evidence, however, that dynamic stabilization systems may compensate non-physiological loads, limit pathological movement, normalize disc height and intradiscal pressure, and provide an adaptive environment for disc regeneration.

Case Summary: The patient was a 54-year-old man, who presented with a 10-year history of mechanical back pain, which had become progressively serious and radiated into the left lower limb with numbness 3 mo prior. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2019 Oct;32(10):914-918

Department of Orthopaedics, Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China;

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Isobar TTL dynamic internal fixation system on lumbar degenerative disease and to explore the postoperative fusion rate.

Methods: The clinical data of 80 patients with lumbar degenerative disease underwent Isobar TTL dynamic internal fixation system from April 2013 to January 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 39 males and 41 females, aged from 28 to 69 years old with an average of 46. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2019 Oct;32(10):904-909

The First Department of Spinal Surgery, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100102, China.

Objective: To analyze the clinical efficacy, indications and operative points of transforaminal approach and interlaminar approach in the treatment of L₄,₅ lumbar disc herniation.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 48 patients with L₄,₅ lumbar disc herniation treated by percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy from November 2016 to June 2018. Among them, 32 patients underwent percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy(PETD), including 17 males and 15 females, with an average age of (60. Read More

Int Immunopharmacol 2020 May 12;85:106592. Epub 2020 May 12.

Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China. Electronic address:

Previous studies have suggested that the inflammatory response contributes to the onset of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Interleukin (IL)-38, a newly discovered cytokine of the IL-1 family, has been demonstrated to play an anti-inflammatory role in autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. However, whether IL-38 participates in the pathogenesis of IVDD remains unknown. Read More

Orthopedics 2020 Jun 4:1-8. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

Indirect decompression using oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) improves spinal canal dimensions by reducing spondylolisthesis and restoring intervertebral disk height in patients with degenerative lumbar diseases. However, the clinical significance of these radiological improvements has not been fully evaluated in the literature. To examine the relationship between the clinical and radiological outcomes following OLIF, the authors prospectively studied 41 patients who underwent single-level OLIF with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for lumbar degenerative disease, including degenerative and spondylolytic spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis with disk height loss. Read More

Oper Orthop Traumatol 2020 Jun 28;32(3):192-199. Epub 2020 May 28.

Wirbelsäulenzentrum, Schön Klinik München Harlaching, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus und Institut für Wirbelsäulenforschung der PMU Salzburg, Harlachinger Str. 51, 81547, München, Deutschland.

Objective: Stable interbody fusion of the lumbosacral segment via an anterior retroperitoneal approach using an interbody spacer as an anterior stand-alone device which is fixed with four locking screws.

Indications: Degenerative disc disease without instability or deformity; adjacent segment degeneration; pseudarthrosis.

Contraindications: Translational instabilities as in spondylolisthesis at the index segment; deformities; steep sacral slope. Read More

Diagnostics (Basel) 2020 May 26;10(6). Epub 2020 May 26.

Institute of Health Sciences, Pomeranian University in Slupsk, Westerplatte 64, 76200 Slupsk, Poland.

Background: the goal of the study is to ascertain the influence of discopathy in the lumbosacral (L-S) segment on the gait parameters. The inertial sensors are used to determine the pathologic parameters of gait.

Methods: the study involved four patients (44, 46, 42, and 38 years). Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 May 24. Epub 2020 May 24.

Department of Spine Surgery, Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China. Electronic address:

Background: Endplate defects are commonly seen in patients with lumbar degenerative disease. However, little is known about the presence of endplate defects in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS). In the present study, we have introduced a classification system for endplate defects in patients with DS using routine magnetic resonance imaging findings and explored the correlative factors. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 May 23. Epub 2020 May 23.

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

Background: Clinical outcome of indirect decompression for a revision surgery, at the same level of a previous lumbar decompression, has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) in revision surgery after decompression for degenerative lumbar spinal disease.

Methods: We included 34 patients who were preoperatively diagnosed with a recurrence of canal stenosis, foraminal stenosis, or intervertebral instability at the same level of a prior lumbar decompression. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2020 May;33(5):484-8

Shenzhen Hospital of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen 518000, Guangdong, China.

Objective: By observing the effect of inner-heating acupuncture on the expression of Wnt1, Axin and β-catenin in the intervertebral disc of rats with lumbar degenerative disease and to explore the regulatory mechanism of inner-heating acupuncture on the apoptosis of annulus fibrosus cells in rats with lumbar degenerative disease.

Methods: Forty SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, inner heating acupuncture group and acupuncture group with 10 rats in each group. Except for normal group, all rats were modeled. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2020 May;33(5):449-53

Shi's Traumatology Medical Center of Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 201203, China.

Objective: To compare the degeneration of lumbosacral multifidus muscle in patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Methods: Thirty-five healthy volunteers and 35 patients with unilateral L lumbar disc herniation from December 2015 to September 2017 were recruited. There were 20 males and 15 females in each group, aged from 25 to 55 years old. Read More

Spine Deform 2020 May 24. Epub 2020 May 24.

Division of Rehabilitation Science, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Study Design: Ex vivo porcine imaging study.

Objectives: Quantitatively evaluate change in MRI signal at the discs caudal to spinal fusion instrumentation. Individuals who receive posterior spinal instrumentation are at risk of developing accelerated disc degeneration at adjacent levels. Read More

Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2020 May 19;195:105916. Epub 2020 May 19.

Mayo Clinic Neuro-Informatics Laboratory, Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. Electronic address:

Low back pain due to lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is one of the most common causes of disability and morbidity, particularly among older adults. Current research efforts in lumbar DDD management are shifting towards identifying and correcting the pathology in intervertebral discs without any external manipulation. Herein, we present a systematic review of current literature regarding regenerative treatments for lumbar DDD. Read More

Eur Spine J 2020 Jul 14;29(7):1621-1640. Epub 2020 May 14.

Aravind Medical Research Foundation, Madurai, 625020, India.

Background: To document the role of sub-clinical infections in disc disorders and investigate the existence of microbiome in intervertebral discs (IVD).

Methods: Genomic DNA from 24 lumbar IVDs [8-MRI normal discs (ND) from brain dead yet alive organ donors, 8-disc herniation (DH), 8-disc degeneration (DD)] was subjected to 16SrRNA sequencing for profiling the diversity of human disc microbiome in health and disease. The disc microbiome was further compared to established human gut and skin microbiomes. Read More

Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech 2020 ;87(2):95-100

Neurochirurgické oddělení Krajské nemocnice Tomáše Bati, Zlín.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Minimally invasive posterior lumbar interbody fusion and percutaneous instrumentation were introduced in the clinical practice with the aim to reduce the damage to musculoligamentous structures associated with open surgeries. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes, radiological results and complications of the group of patients operated with the use of the minimally invasive posterior lumbar interbody fusion technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS The group of 31 patients operated for lumbar degenerative disc disease was followed-up prospectively. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 May 1. Epub 2020 May 1.

Department of Orthopaedic, The Chinese PLA General Hospital (301 Hospital), Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Background: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) via a fusion cage is widely carried out to treat degenerative lumbar spinal disease, and cage implantation plays a pivotal role in buttressing the vertebrae and promoting fusion. Clinically, the cage implantation is commonly placed in 2 different orientations: oblique and traverse. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effects of different orientations of cage implantation on lumbar interbody fusion. Read More

Spine J 2020 Apr 30. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Department for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.

Background Context: The correlation between physical inactivity, thoracolumbar disc degeneration, and back pain remains unclear.

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between short- and long-term physical inactivity and degenerative changes of the thoracic and lumbar spine in a southern German cohort from the general population over a time period of 14 years.

Study Design/setting: This study was designed as a cross-sectional case-control study, nested in a prospective cohort from the "Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg/Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg" (KORA) study. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2020 Apr;33(4):337-47

The Second Department of Orthopaedics, Hospital of Coast Guard Corps of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Jiaxing 314000, Zhejiang, China.

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of combined fixation and interbody bone grafting through intermuscular approach with different fusion cages in the treatment of single segment lumbar diseases.

Methods: From June 2014 to December 2016, the clinical data of 123 cases of single segment lumbar diseases were analyzed retrospectively, including 44 males and 79 females, aged 22 to 60 years old, with the diseases course of 6 to 84 months. The disease types involved lumbar disc degeneration in 65 cases, lumbar spinal stenosis in 30 cases, MeyerdingⅠslip in 21 cases, giant lumbar disc herniation in 7 cases. Read More

Spine J 2020 Apr 25. Epub 2020 Apr 25.

Aravind Medical Research Foundation, Madurai 625020, India.

Background Context: Small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) play an essential role in extracellular matrix (ECM) organization and function. Recently, dysregulation of SLRPs has been implicated in degenerative disc disease (DDD). An in-depth analysis using high-throughput proteomic sequencing might provide valuable information on their implications in health and disease. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Apr;99(17):e19867

Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

Background: This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of electroacupuncture in treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Methods: Electronic databases of all electroacupuncture for LDH will be searched at PubMed, Cochrane Library, Springer, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan-Fang, and Chinese Biological Medical disc, (CBM) from inception to February 29, 2020, with language restricted in Chinese and English. The primary outcome is Japanese Orthopedic Association Scores, a quantification scale for a comprehensive assessment according to patients' subjects feeling and objective function. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 Apr 12. Epub 2020 Apr 12.

Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China. Electronic address:

Objective: To investigate the effect of partial facetectomy on lumbar stability using percutaneous endoscopy.

Methods: Five male adult volunteers with no history of lumbar disease participated in the study. Based on computed tomography data, a three-dimensional model of the L3-S1 segment was created using the Mimics l5. Read More

J Orthop Res 2020 Apr 15. Epub 2020 Apr 15.

Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

The aim of this study was to assess T values of the lumbar intervertebral discs in the axial and sagittal plane views and assess their respective interobserver reliability. The lumbar intervertebral discs of 23 symptomatic patients (11 female; 12 male; mean age, 44.1 ± 10. Read More

Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi 2020 Apr;34(4):422-427

Department of Spine Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, P.R.China.

Objective: To analyze the restoration of intervertebral height and lordosis of fusion segment after open-transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Open-TLIF) and minimally invasive-TLIF (MIS-TLIF).

Methods: Between January 2013 and February 2016, patients who treated with TLIF due to lumbar degenerative diseases and met the selection criteria were selected as the study objects. Among them, 41 patients were treated with open-TLIF (Open-TLIF group), 34 patients were treated with MIS-TLIF (MIS-TLIF group). Read More

J Orthop Surg Res 2020 Apr 7;15(1):132. Epub 2020 Apr 7.

Nanchang Hongdu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 264 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.

Purpose: To compare the effect of conventional pedicle screw (CPS) and cement-augmented pedicle screw instrumentation (CAPSI) on adjacent segment degeneration (ASD).

Methods: A normal male volunteer without a history of spinal disease was selected, lumbar CT data was collected, an intact L3-S1 three-dimensional finite element model was created by software including Mimics, Geomagic, and SolidWorks, and the fixation methods were performed accordingly. A common pedicle screw model and a cement-augmented pedicle screw model of L4-L5 with fusion and internal fixation were constructed. Read More

Asian Spine J 2020 Apr 8. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

Sunshine Medical Academy of Research and Training, Sunshine Hospitals, Secunderabad, India.

Study Design: Developing an in vitro model for assessing the anti-inflammatory properties of curvularin.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of natural fungal macrolactone as a therapeutic drug against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in primary human nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) in vitro.

Overview Of Literature: Lumbar disk disease is a common cause of lower back pain (LBP) and sciatica. Read More

Neurospine 2020 Mar 31;17(1):215-220. Epub 2020 Mar 31.

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

Objective: Low back pain is the most common reason for physician visit in Western population. It's one of the factors that affect health-related quality of life. Intervertebral disc degeneration is one of the leading factors for low back pain and disc degeneration needs serious attention. Read More

Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2020 Apr 6:1-12. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, NY, USA.

Lumbar total disc arthroplasty (TDA) is an attractive option for the treatment of spinal disorders. However, post-operative complications may cause revision surgery. In this study, an in-depth biomechanical analysis was performed to test how sensitive post-operative spinal responses in sagittal bending were to design parameters of a widely used ball-in-socket TDA design. Read More

Acta Ortop Mex 2019 May-Jun;33(3):185-191

Médica Sur. Ciudad de México. México.

The study of Biomechanics of the lumbar spine with clinical approach allows the physician related to locomotive sciences, to have a better interpretation of the clinical and radiological findings in order to carry out a treatment or a prediction of a medical problem with greater scientific foundation. The lumbar vertebral segment is studied from a biomechanical point of view in an integrated way, correlating with other body regions. The structures analyzed are the vertebrae, the intervertebral disks, the ligament and muscular system. Read More

Gene 2020 Aug 30;750:144634. Epub 2020 Mar 30.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States. Electronic address:

Lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a multifaceted progressive condition and often accompanied by disc herniation (DH) and/or degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS). Given the high prevalence of the disease (up to 20% according to some estimates) and the high costs associated with its care, there is a need to explore novel therapies such as regenerative medicine. Exploring these novel therapies first warrants investigation of molecular pathways underlying these disorders. Read More

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 2020 Feb;45(3):609-616

Wangjing Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Beijing 100102, China.

The aim of this paper was to investigate the key targets and mechanism of "Epimedii Folium-Paeoniae Radix Alba" in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation by means of network pharmacology. The currently recognized databases and analysis software at home and abroad were used to construct the network from drugs and diseases. The chemical components of Epimedii Folium and Paeo-niae Radix Alba were collected by using databases such as TCMSP, while their active components were determined and the action targets were predicted according to threshold screening and literature reports. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Mar;99(12):e18930

The Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common disease that seriously affects patients' quality of life. Although several articles have reported that acupuncture can improve the symptoms of LDH, different guidelines do not evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture consistently, new randomized controlled trials have been published in recent years.The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for LDH. Read More

J Spine Surg 2020 Jan;6(Suppl 1):S165-S178

University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.

Background: A diseased lumbar intervertebral vacuum disc void of any structurally intact tissue may be vertically unstable. A primary standalone endoscopic decompression and interbody fusion surgery in the treatment of vertical instability in patients with a vacuum disc may be a more reliable treatment than decompression alone.

Methods: The authors solicited responses to an online survey sent to spine surgeons by email, and chat groups on social media networks, including Facebook, WeChat, WhatsApp, and Linkedin. Read More

Asian J Neurosurg 2020 Jan-Mar;15(1):180-183. Epub 2020 Feb 25.

Department of Spinal Surgery Unit, Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux University, C.H.U Tripode Pellegrin, Place Amélie Raba Léon, 33076 Bordeaux, France.

Here, we report a case of idiopathic epidural lipomatosis presented with a clinical picture of lumbar canal stenosis with neurogenic claudication which resolved completely only by weight loss. A 53-year-old obese male with a body mass index of 36 without significant past medical history presented to the outpatient clinic with neurogenic claudication and bilateral sciatic radiculopathy. Initially, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed epidural lipomatosis at the level of L5 vertebral body and L5-S1 intervertebral disc. Read More

Oper Orthop Traumatol 2020 Jun 16;32(3):200-208. Epub 2020 Mar 16.

Wirbelsäulenzentrum, Schön Klinik, München Harlaching, Harlachinger Str. 51, 81547, München, Deutschland.

Objective: Minimally invasive anterolateral approach to the lumbar spine (oblique lateral interbody fusion, OLIF) to correct lumbar deformities.

Indications: Ventral release in degenerative lumbar scoliosis or segmental kyphosis and intervertebral spondylodesis.

Contraindications: No absolute contraindications. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Mar;99(11):e19457

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Affiliated Hangzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.

Background: Lumbar degenerative disease (LDD) is a very common disease. And decompression alone, posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), and interspinous device (Coflex) are generally accepted surgical techniques. However, the effectiveness and safety of the above techniques are still not clear. Read More

Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi 2020 Mar;34(3):300-307

Department of Orthopaedics, Harrison International Peace Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Hengshui Hebei, 053000, P.R.China.

Objective: To investigate the difference between four transforaminal endoscopic approaches in the treatment of serious lumbar disc herniation.

Methods: Between October 2010 and February 2015, a total of 122 patients with serious lumbar disc herniation were enrolled and treated with discectomy under transforaminal endoscope. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to the different approaches. Read More

Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 2020 Apr 10;106(2):285-289. Epub 2020 Mar 10.

Chirurgie orthopédique et traumatologique, centre hospitalo-universitaire de Rennes, 2, rue Henri le Guilloux, 35000 Rennes, France.

Introduction: Radiologic assessment of interbody fusion (IF) is controversial; thin-slice CT is the present gold standard despite artifacts due to the metal implant that hinder interpretation. The present study aimed to assess the contribution of MRI in IF assessment after instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) using tantalum intervertebral implants. The study hypothesis was that fusion following PLIF can be assessed on MRI. Read More

Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 2020 Apr 10;106(2):269-274. Epub 2020 Mar 10.

Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Rennes, 2, Rue Henri-le-Guilloux, 35000 Rennes, France.

Introduction: Intervertebral implants increase stability and improve results in lumbar interbody fusion (LIF). The aim of the present study was to assess clinical and radiological results of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) using a tantalum intervertebral implant without associated interbody bone graft.

Materiel And Methods: A single-center retrospective study included 52 cases of single-level PLIF, using 2 tantalum intervertebral cages, without interbody bone graft: 42 for degenerative disc disease, 10 for isthmic spondylolisthesis. Read More