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Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Apr;98(16):e15258

Department of Spine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.

Rationale: Scoliosis is the most common form of dystrophic spinal deformities in type 1 neurofibromatosis, whereas a spontaneous rotational dislocation of the lumbar spine is a rare entity. Former researchers had advocated the use of circumferential fusion performed through combined anterior-posterior approaches as the mode of treatment of this situation, but we managed to achieve a solid circumferential fusion equally using posterior approach alone.

Patient Concerns: A 51-year-old lady presented with severe back pain and no history of trauma, fever, or loss of weight. Read More

J Int Med Res 2019 Apr 21:300060519836917. Epub 2019 Apr 21.

1 Department of Spine Surgery, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous curved vertebroplasty (PCVP) in treating thoracic and lumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs).

Methods: Patients with thoracolumbar OVCFs were recruited and randomly divided into three treatment groups: PCVP, unilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) or bilateral PVP. Bone cement dispersion in the fractured vertebrae was observed. Read More

J Neurosci Rural Pract 2019 Apr-Jun;10(2):256-260

Department of Neurosurgery, Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.

Background: Pedicle screw fixation is one of the widely used procedures for instrumentation and stabilization of the thoracic and lumbar spine. It has the advantage of stabilizing all the three columns in single approach. Various assistive techniques are available to place the pedicle screws more accurately but at the expense of increased exposure to radiation, prolonged surgical duration, and cost. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2019 Apr 16;25:2802-2810. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China (mainland).

BACKGROUND Fractures of the thoracolumbar (TL) spine represent 90% of all spinal fractures, followed by cervical and lumbar spine fractures. This study aimed to create fracture maps of the traumatic thoracolumbar (TL) fracture vertebral body (T12-L2) through the use of CT mapping as a big data visualization method to reveal recurrent patterns and characteristics of traumatic TL fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS A consecutive series of 174 fractured vertebrae (T12-L2) was used to create three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction images, which were superimposed and oriented to fit a model vertebral template by aligning specific bio-landmarks and reducing reconstructed fracture fragments. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Apr;98(15):e15126

Department of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.

Rationale: Full-thickness wound dehiscence with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage following posterior spine surgery is a rare but troublesome complication. In the present study, 3 clinical cases associated with this entity are reported.

Patient Concerns: The first case developed incision effusion 5 days after posterior decompression and internal fixation for lumbar spinal stenosis. Read More

Global Spine J 2019 Apr 15;9(2):185-190. Epub 2018 Aug 15.

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Study Design: Retrospective database study.

Objective: To analyze the economic and age data concerning primary and revision posterolateral fusion (PLF) and posterior/transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF/TLIF) throughout the United States to improve value-based care and health care utilization.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was queried by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for patients who underwent primary or revision PLF and PLIF/TLIF between 2011 and 2014. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Department of Orthopaedics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.

Study Design: A rat puncture injury intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration model with structural, biomechanical, and histological analyses.

Objective: To determine if males and females have distinct responses in the IVD after injury.

Summary Of Background Data: Low back pain (LBP) and spinal impairments are more common in women than men. Read More

Asian Spine J 2019 Apr 2. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Radiology and Imaging,Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Secunderabad, India.

Study Design: Observational comparative study.

Purpose: To compare fractional anisotropy (FA) maps with T2 values of the nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus (AF) of intervertebral discs in healthy volunteers and patients to develop a predictive disc health scale.

Overview Of Literature: T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not sensitive to early morphological changes and provides no quantitative biomarker profile for early degeneration. Read More

J Neurosurg Spine 2019 04 5:1-7. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Objective: Sagittal imbalance and loss of lumbar lordosis are the main drivers of functional disability in adult degenerative scoliosis. The main limitations of the classic posterior lumbar interbody fusion technique are increased risk of neurological injury and suboptimal correction of the segmental lordosis. Here, the authors describe the radiological results of a modified posterior lumbar interbody fusion and compare the results with a historical cohort of patients. Read More

Am Surg 2019 Mar;85(3):306-311

MRI after a CT scan for thoracolumbar spine (TLS) trauma has become commonplace because of the concerns for detection of posterior ligamentous complex injuries in the absence of substantial scientific evidence to support its use. We hypothesized that MRI scans were not necessary in the clinical management of TLS fractures. A prospective study was conducted at our Level I trauma center. Read More

Neurospine 2019 Mar 31;16(1):120-129. Epub 2019 Mar 31.

Neurosurgical Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.

Objective: Angled scopes allow 360° visualization, which makes percutaneous endoscopic techniques (percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy, PELD) particularly attractive for sequestrectomies, which entail the removal of extruded lumbar disc fragments that have migrated caudally or cranially between the ligaments, foramina, and neural structures, while preserving the disc. Although many different PELD techniques are currently available, not all of them are suitable for sequestrectomies; furthermore, long-term follow-up data are unfortunately lacking.

Methods: A pilot study was conducted on a cohort of 270 patients with lumbar radiculopathy undergoing minimally invasive spine surgery (PELD or microdiscectomy), of whom only 7 were eligible for endoscopic interlaminar sequestrectomy with disc preservation. Read More

Neurospine 2019 Mar 31;16(1):15-23. Epub 2019 Mar 31.

USC Spine Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

This study was aimed to provide a brief historical perspective to facilitate appreciation of current techniques, describe outcomes of endoscopic lumbar surgery relative to those of existing techniques, and identify topics in need of study and future directions for the field of endoscopic lumbar surgery. Using the PubMed database, a comprehensive search was conducted to identify peer-reviewed English language articles pertaining to endoscopic lumbar surgery. Lack of focus on pertinent techniques or lack of outcome measures constituted exclusion criteria. Read More

Clin Spine Surg 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Spine Service, Tallaght University Hospital.

J Neurosurg Spine 2019 Mar 29:1-5. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

2Swedish Neurosciences Institute, Seattle, Washington.

The sacrum forms the distal end of the spine and communicates with the pelvis. Fractures involving the sacrum are complex and may disrupt this vital communication. Neglecting these fractures may result in malunion, which often causes significant alteration in the pelvic parameters and sagittal balance. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2019 Mar;32(3):283-287

People's Hospital of Linxi City, Linxi 276003, Shandong, China;

Isthmic spondylolisthesis is a common degenerative disease of the spine and seriously affects people's quality of life. At present, surgical indications for lumbar spondylolisthesis have basically reached consensus. The surgical plan for the disease is mainly isthmus repair, decompression of spinal canal, reduction of spondylolisthesis, and spinal fusion. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2019 Mar;32(3):269-277

Department of Orthopaedics, the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China;

Objective: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of anterior decompression and posterior decompression in the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures with spinal cord injury, so as to provide a good scientific basis for more effective treatment of thoracolumbar fractures with spinal cord injury.

Methods: A clinical data about comparative study of anterior decompression and posterior decompression in the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures with spinal cord injury was searched and collected. The databases of Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, Wanfang Medical Network were searched by computer. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2019 Mar;32(3):248-253

Department of Orthopaedics, Beijing Fengtai Hospital of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Beijing 100071, China.

Objective: To explore the clinical early-middle stage clinical effect of percutaneous spinal endoscopic with the technique of Broad Easy Immediate Surgery(BEIS) for lumbar spinal stenosis.

Methods: The clinical data of 57 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis treated by surgery from June 2015 to June 2016 were retrospectively analyzed, including 32 cases treated by percutaneous spinal endoscopic with the technique of BEIS (minimally invasive group) and 25 cases by posterior approach of lumbar pedicle screws internal fixation and intervertebral disc excision with bone graft fusion surgery (open surgery group). The pre-operative general data such as age, Body Mass Index (BMI) and etc. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2019 Mar;32(3):220-224

Department of Spinal Surgery, Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical Univercity, Zhangzhou 363000, Fujian, China.

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of unilateral screw fixation and lumbar interbody fusion under the Quadrant tunnel to treat prolapsed lumbar disc herniation in young patients.

Methods: Between January 2015 and January 2017, 18 young patients with prolapsed lumbar disc herniation were treated with unilateral pedicle screw fixation and lumbar interbody fusion under Quadrant tunnel. Among them, there were 10 males and 8 females, aged from 20 to 28 years old with an average of 22. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2019 Mar;32(3):199-206

People's Hospital of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China;

Objective: To investigate the advantages of minimally invasive surgery-transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(MIS-TLIF) under Quadrant channel in the treatment of grade I and II degree degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Methods: The clinical data of 100 patients with grade I and II degree degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis treated from March 2014 to March 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 50 patients were treated with MIS-TLIF, including 19 males and 31 females, aged from 44 to 73 years old with an average of (49. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Mar;98(13):e14983

Department of Orthopaedics, LongHua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai.

Surgical therapy is vital for thoracolumbar burst fracture in restoring vertebral height, correcting kyphosis, decompressing nervous, and maintaining stability. Patients have unexpectedly lower hemoglobin levels postoperatively, which is remarkably inconsistent with the measured blood loss. However, hidden blood loss (HBL) is often neglected. Read More

J Orthop Case Rep 2018 Nov-Dec;8(6):96-99

Department of Spine Surgery, Baby Memorial Hospital, Calicut, Kerala, India.

Introduction: Lumbar puncture with unstyletted needle or any other spine trauma can cause implantation of skin fragments inside the dura and can cause acquired intraspinal epidermoid tumors. There is significant delay found between the episode of lumbar puncture and the presentation of the tumor. To the best of our knowledge, there is no reported case of intraspinal epidermoid tumor presenting as acute paraparesis secondary to infection of the tumor in the literature. Read More

J Orthop Case Rep 2018 Nov-Dec;8(6):74-78

Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (Stanmore), S.M. Della Misericordia Hospital (Perugia), Italy.

Introduction: The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) is a tertiary referral center and patients with spinal complications from multiple myeloma are managed here in a multidisciplinary approach. Balloon kyphoplasty(BKP) procedures are routinely performed in such patients when clinically indicated with good results and a low complication rate. There are little data reported in the literature about post-BKP hematoma formation and its management. Read More

J Orthop Case Rep 2018 Nov-Dec;8(6):31-33

Department of Orthopaedics, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Introduction: Traumatic lumbar spondylolisthesis, though a rare lesion, is frequently noted in patients with multiple traumatic injuries sustained in a high-velocity trauma like a road traffic accident.

Case Report: Here, we report a case of traumatic Biplanar translational injury at L5-S1 level with neurological deficit in a 22-year male with motor vehicle accident. Open reduction, decompression, and fusion with rigid fixation were achieved and spine alignment was restored, but the neurological recovery remained uncertain. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Mar 22. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Department of Neurosurgery, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery Pierre Wertheimer, Lyon, France; Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant, Lyon, France.

Objective: Spine trauma management in children varies from one team to another, and to date, no clear consensus has been reached. The goal of this study was to describe the epidemiology of spine trauma in children and evaluate the timing and techniques of surgery when it was required.

Methods: A retrospective review of all patients admitted to our pediatric trauma center for spine traumas that required surgical management, between 2005 and 2016, was performed. Read More

Work 2019 ;62(3):459-467

U.S. Spine & Sport Foundation, San Diego, CA, USA.

Background: Muscular strength and endurance are important attributes for structural firefighting. Matching resistance exercises to firefighter job demands is not well-established.

Objective: This study compared the electromyographic (EMG) activity of major muscles during the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) and weight lifting exercises in firefighters. Read More

Comput Biol Med 2019 Apr 25;107:292-301. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:

Whole-body vibration (WBV) has been identified as one of the serious risk factors leading to spinal disorders, particularly in professional drivers. Although the influential factors in this area have been investigated epidemiologically, finite element (FE) modeling can efficiently help us better understand the problem. In this study, a modified HYBRID III dummy FE model which was enhanced by detailed viscoelastic discs in the lumbar region was utilized to simulate the effect of WBV on lumbar spine loads. Read More

Mil Med 2019 Mar;184(Supplement_1):374-378

U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Survivability/Lethality Analysis Directorate, 328 Hopkins Rd, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

A recent study of all mounted vehicle underbody blast attacks found that 21% of Abbreviated Injury Scale Severity 2+ injuries in the Joint Trauma Analysis and Prevention of Injury in Combat network were injuries to the leg and ankle. To develop effective countermeasure systems for these attacks, the epidemiology and mechanisms of injury from this loading environment need to be quantified. The goal of this study was to develop a military correlate of an existing civilian case review framework, the Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN), to consider the differences in military event types and the amount of available vehicle/attack information. Read More

Eur Spine J 2019 Mar 21. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate midterm results after hybrid stabilization of unstable osteoporotic fractures of the thoracolumbar junction.

Methods: This retrospective study was performed at a level I trauma center. A total of 113 patients aged 61 and older were stabilized using hybrid stabilization consisting of short-segmental posterior instrumentation and augmentation of the fractured vertebral body after suffering an unstable osteoporotic vertebral body fracture at the thoracolumbar spine. Read More

Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2019 Mar 21. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Diagonal Paraguay 362, Santiago, Chile.

Introduction: Vertebral compression fractures (VCF) are frequently asymptomatic; incidental diagnosis is a valuable opportunity to identify low bone mass and to start treatment. We aimed to determine the proportion of patients over 60 years old evaluated with chest plus abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) scans, allowing visualization of the entire thoraco-lumbar spine, who incidentally present VCF.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated 300 patients over 60 years old who under went chest plus abdominal and pelvic CT scans. Read More

Orthopade 2019 Mar 21. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Trauma Surgery and Spinal Cord Injury, Heidelberg University, Schlierbacher Landstr. 200A, 69118, Heidelberg, Germany.

Background: Bracing constitutes the mainstay treatment for mild scoliosis. The 3D reconstruction of the spine using low-dose stereoradiographic imaging (LSI) is increasingly being used to determine the true shape of the deformity and to assess the success of bracing.

Objective: The aim of the study was to validate the measurement of 3D spinopelvic parameters and vertebral rotation in the setting of bracing treatment via a reliability study conducted in adherence to the guidelines for reporting reliability and agreement studies (GRRAS). Read More

Arch Pediatr 2019 Apr 18;26(3):168-170. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Chirurgie orthopédique pédiatrique, hôpital Clocheville, 49, boulevard Beranger, 37000 Tours, France.

A 14-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital after an episode of blunt trauma to the thorax, resulting in a Chance fracture of L1 and a compressive chylothorax 72h after admission. After initial drainage in the operating room, conservative management was successful. This case study documents one of the rare complications of spinal fractures in the context of high-energy blunt trauma. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Mar;98(12):e14941

Department of Orthopedic, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) on total diffusion volume of bone cement in percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). This study was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data of consecutive patients with A1.2 thoracolumbar compression fractures treated by PVP. Read More

Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2019 Feb 14;7(4):507-515. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Medical Molecular Genetics Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Division, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.

Background: Cell therapies offer a promising potential in promoting bone regeneration. Stem cell therapy presents attractive care modality in treating degenerative conditions or tissue injuries. The rationale behind this is both the expansion potential of stem cells into a large cell population size and its differentiation abilities into a wide variety of tissue types, when given the proper stimuli. Read More

Spine J 2019 Mar 16. Epub 2019 Mar 16.

Department of Orthopaedics and Sport Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, 325 Ninth Avenue Seattle, WA 98104, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Ankylosing spinal disorder (ASD) patients are at a greater risk for spinal fractures due to osteoporosis and rigidity of the spinal column. These fractures are associated with a high risk of neurologic compromise resulting from delayed or missed diagnoses. Although computed tomography (CT) is usually the initial imaging modality, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been proposed as mandatory to help identify spinal injuries in ASD patients with unexplained neck or back pain or known injuries to help identify noncontiguous fractures. Read More

Med Pr 2019 Mar 19. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Wyższa Szkoła Medyczna w Białymstoku / College of Medicine Sciences in Bialystok, Białystok, Poland.

Background: Most of the medical activities, which are work-related, both static and dynamic are performed by nurses in a forced position. Excessive and improper strain of the musculoskeletal system, especially when lifting and moving patients, is the cause of many injuries of the musculoskeletal system. The work presents the implementation and evaluation of the program concerning the prevention of dysfunction on the part of the musculoskeletal system, addressed to professionally active nurses. Read More

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2019;119(2):44-48

Research Institute of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Neurosurgery 'Razumovsky Saratov State Medical University' of Ministry Health of the Russian Federation, Saratov, Russia.

Aim: To estimate the character of neurophysiological monitoring in patients with thoracic and lumbar spine injuries at different treatment stages.

Material And Methods: Thirty-eight patients with non-complicated (22 patients, group 1) and complicated (16 patients, group 2) thoracic and lumbar spine injuries underwent electroneuromyography (ENM) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The examination was performed at early (up to 2 weeks) and later (more than 1 month) post-injury periods, before the operation and on the 10 day after decompressing-stabilizing interventions. Read More

Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi 2019 Mar;57(3):161-165

In order to provide the clinical guidelines of acute thoracolumbar injury for the Chinese orthopedic surgeons, the Spine Trauma Group of Chinese Association of Orthopedic Surgeons compiled this guideline. The guideline applies to adult patients with acute (less than 3 weeks) thoracolumbar fracture and(or) dislocation with or without spinal cord, cauda equina or nerve root injuries. The Study Group wrote the guideline by setting up questions, determining search words, screening literatures according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, analyzing the included literatures, confirming evidence levels and then providing recommendations. Read More

J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil 2019 Feb 26. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Background: Histological and histochemical analyses of muscle samples were used to determine the intensity of paraspinal muscle injury during open (OPEN) and minimally invasive (MIS) procedures due to spinal trauma.

Objective: A randomised prospective study design was chosen. According to our hypothesis, OPEN procedures will lead to more intensive microscopic changes than MIS. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Mar;98(10):e14793

Department of Orthopedics, Zhongshan City Torch High-tech Industrial Development Zone Hospital, Torch High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province.

To compare percutaneous vertebroplasty (VP) and balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) for their effectiveness and safety in the treatment of newly onset osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCF).Patients with confirmed diagnosis of newly onset osteoporotic VCF and treated in our center between January 2008 and December 2016 were retrospectively included in the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups according the surgical treatment they have received. Read More

J Orthop Trauma 2019 Feb 26. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, MI, USA.

Objectives: To determine if uncemented implants would provide similar outcomes while avoiding the complications associated with cement in the treatment of elderly patients with proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) with primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA).

Design: Case series SETTING:: A single Level I trauma centerPatients/Participants: A prospectively-obtained cohort of 30 patients who underwent uncemented RTSA as initial treatment for a comminuted PHF: 4 male, 26 female; average age 71 ± 11 years.

Intervention: Uncemented reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. Read More

Med Biol Eng Comput 2019 Mar 4. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Laboratoire de Biomécanique Appliquée, IFSTTAR, LBA UMR T24, Aix-Marseille Université, Boulevard Pierre Dramard, Marseille Cedex, France.

Traumatic events may lead to lumbar spine injuries ranging from low severity bony fracture to complex fracture dislocation. Injury pathomechanisms as well as the influence of loading rate and ligament mechanical properties were not yet fully elucidated. The objective was to quantify the influence of impact velocity and ligament properties variability on the lumbar spine response in traumatic flexion-shear conditions. Read More

J Clin Orthop Trauma 2019 Mar-Apr;10(2):241-243. Epub 2018 Feb 26.

University of Greenwich, London Bridge Hospital, London, England, United Kingdom.

Background: Symptomatic rotator cuff tears can cause significant pain and functional disturbance, with associated financial ramifications. Non-surgical management should always be considered initially, however if recalcitrant to these measures surgical intervention may involve open, arthroscopic-assisted mini-open or arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs. The use of trans-osseous sutures and suture anchors has been reported with good results, with no significant differences if the repair remains intact or recurrent tears occur. Read More

Gait Posture 2019 May 20;70:53-58. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, NYU Langone Health, 614 2ndAv, Suite G, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10016, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Altered spine kinematics are a common in people with LBP. This may be especially true for populations such as dancers, who are required to perform repetitive movements of the spine, although this remains unclear.

Research Question: Do dancers with recent LBP display altered spine kinematics compared to their asymptomatic counterparts?

Methods: A cross-sectional study of multi-segment spine kinematics was performed. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Orthopedic Oncology, Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Fengyang Rd 415#, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Objective: To describe a new surgical technique for total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) of the fifth lumbar (L5) tumor and evaluate the efficacy and safety of this new technique.

Summary Of Background Data: TES has been considered an optimal treatment for tumor, including certain spinal tumors, but it requires a combined posterior-anterior approach, which is often complicated by a long operation time, considerable blood loss and severe trauma. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2019 Feb 22. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Department of Neurosurgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China. 350001.

Study Design: This study is a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of tubular microdiscectomy (TMD) compared with conventional microdiscectomy (CMD) for lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Summary Of Background Data: TMD has developed rapidly due to reduced tissue trauma by minimization of the required access to spine and disc herniation; however, CMD remains the standard of care for this patient group. Read More

Craniomaxillofac Trauma Reconstr 2019 Mar 17;12(1):45-53. Epub 2018 May 17.

Department of Plastic Surgery, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey.

Mechanical falls are a common cause of facial trauma in the elderly population. It has been shown that the likelihood of sustaining a facial fracture due to a fall or activities of daily life significantly increases with age. Craniomaxillofacial fractures are most common during the first three decades of life; however, elderly patients more frequently require lengthy hospital stays and surgical intervention, and have shown increased complication rates compared with younger patients. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Feb;98(8):e14700

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Hospital Cheonan, Dongam-gu, Cheonan.

Rationale: Degenerative spondylolisthesis is defined as forward slippage of a vertebra with respect to the underlying vertebra and is associated with the induction of lumbar canal stenosis. The use of anterior column support for degenerative lumbar conditions has been well documented. Direct lateral interbody fusion (DLIF) gains access via a lateral approach through the retroperitoneal fat and psoas muscle. Read More

Top Companion Anim Med 2019 Mar 15;34:47-50. Epub 2018 Sep 15.

The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, Department of Clinical Sciences, Columbus, OH, USA.

A 10-year-old spayed female Bichon Frise presented to the neurology service for back pain and pelvic limb weakness for approximately 2 months duration. Neurologic examination revealed T3-L3 and L4-S3 myelopathies with multifocal spinal pain. Magnetic resonance imaging of the vertebral column revealed multiple mild disc protrusions but no obvious cause for the neurologic deficits. Read More

Int J Spine Surg 2019 Jan 22;13(1):53-67. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Center for Advanced Spine Care of Southern Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.

Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze incidence, estimate cost savings, and evaluate best management practices of complications resulting from outpatient transforaminal endoscopic decompression surgery for lumbar foraminal and lateral recess stenosis performed in an ambulatory surgery center.

Background: Endoscopic spinal surgery is gaining popularity for the treatment of lumbar disc herniations. Recent advances in surgical techniques allow for endoscopically assisted bony decompression for neurogenic claudication symptoms due to spinal stenosis. Read More

J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong) 2019 Jan-Apr;27(1):2309499019826406

3 Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.

Purpose:: Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and the acute phase C-reactive protein (CRP) blood concentrations after lumbar spine fusion may be affected by age. The purpose of this prospective observational study was to assess postoperative serum levels of pro-inflammatory IL-6 and CRP after instrumented lumbar spine fusion surgery. We hypothesized that older patients would have increased levels of IL-6 and CRP after surgery. Read More