Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2020 May 13;105:103690. Epub 2020 Feb 13.

SURVICE Engineering Co, USA.

The objective of this study was to determine force-based lumbar spine injury criteria due to vertical impact using Post Mortem Human Surrogate (PMHS) experiments. Mounted personnel in military vehicles sustain loads from the pelvis in combat events such as underbody blast loadings. Forty-three post mortem human subject thoracolumbar spinal columns were obtained, screened for pre-existing trauma, bone mineral densities (BMDs) were determined, pre-test radiological images were taken, fixed at the ends in polymethylmethacrylate, load cells were attached to the ends of the fixation, positioned on custom vertical accelerator device based on a military-seating posture, and impacted at the base. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Feb;99(9):e19310

Department of Spine, Wangjing Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences.

Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is 1 of the most common diseases in orthopedics, which seriously affects people's daily life and brings a heavy burden on society and families. Chinese herbal medicine has been used in clinical practice for a long time and Duhuo Jisheng Decoction (DHJSD) is believed to help alleviate the symptoms of LDH. This systematic review aims to collect evidences from randomized clinical trials and evaluate the efficacy of DHJSD on LDH in order to provide a reference for clinicians and researchers. Read More

Global Spine J 2019 May 8;9(1 Suppl):77S-88S. Epub 2019 May 8.

Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Study Design: Narrative review.

Objectives: To describe the current AOSpine Trauma Classification system for spinal trauma and highlight the value of patient-specific modifiers for facilitating communication and nuances in treatment.

Methods: The classification for spine trauma previously developed by The AOSpine Knowledge Forum is reviewed and the importance of case modifiers in this system is discussed. Read More

J Neurosurg Spine 2019 May 31;31(3):338-346. Epub 2019 May 31.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hôpital Henri Mondor, AP-HP, Université Paris Est Créteil (UPEC), Creteil, France

Objective: L5-S1 stand-alone anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) is a reliable technique to treat symptomatic degenerative disc disease but remains controversial for treatment of isthmic spondylolisthesis. In the present study the authors aimed to identify risk factors of instrumentation failure and pseudarthrosis after stand-alone L5-S1 ALIF and to evaluate whether instrumentation failure influenced the rate of fusion.

Methods: The study included 64 patients (22 [34. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2019 May 29;20(1):259. Epub 2019 May 29.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Oyaguchi Kami-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-8610, Japan.

Background: There have been only a few reports of subsequent postoperative vertebral fracture following posterior spinal instrumentation fusion, especially in elderly female patients. This study attempted to evaluate the long-term prevalence of subsequent postoperative vertebral fracture in female patients aged 70 years and older who underwent spine decompression and fusion surgery with pedicle screw fixation.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data from 125 patients who met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Read More

J Neurosurg Spine 2019 May;31(3):334-337

1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University; and.

Objective: Lumbar surgery via a lateral approach is a minimally invasive and highly useful procedure. However, care must be taken to avoid its potentially fatal complications of intestinal and vascular injuries. The object of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of intraoperative ultrasound in improving the safety of lateral lumbar spine surgery. Read More

Spine J 2019 09 19;19(9):1559-1565. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan. Electronic address:

Background Context: Dural tear represents a common complication of microendoscopic spine surgery that may lead to postoperative sequelae including insufficient decompression, cerebrospinal fluid fistula, intracranial hypotension, and subdural/intraparenchymal bleeding. The gold standard to manage intraoperative dural tears is primary repair. However, the downside of conversion to open surgery can be detrimental. 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

Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 2019 May 2;42(5):775-778. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

MGH Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.

We describe the case of a 30-year-old patient who was referred for lumbar epidural corticosteroid injection due to right L5 radiculopathy. Two months earlier, MRI demonstrated a right large paracentral L4-L5 disk extrusion causing disabling L5 radiculopathy. The L4-L5 level was selected for interlaminar injection, using fluoroscopic guidance. Read More

Adv Gerontol 2019 ;32(5):795-803

Ural state medical University, 3 Repin str., Yekaterinburg 620028, Russian Federation, e-mail:

Based on the long-term observation of 105 representatives of the elderly and senile age, the features of the clinical picture of pain syndromes formed in the elderly and senile age on the basis of combined spinal lesions in osteoporosis and spondylarthrosis are presented, and methods of diagnosis and treatment of such patients are proposed. The main variants of symptoms developing in response to long-term tonic muscle tension in degenerative age-dependent injuries of vertebral bodies, intervertebral discs and facet joints at the level of thoracic and lumbosacral spine are shown. Pathogenetic connections of frequent urination disorders in the elderly and senile age with pathological processes in the spine and muscular-tonic pain syndromes were determined. Read More

Br J Neurosurg 2019 Feb 6;33(1):84-87. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

a Department of Neurological Surgery , Oregon Health & Science University , Portland , OR , USA.

Surgical treatment for high-grade spondylolisthesis with high sacral slope remains controversial and no definitive gold standard procedure has been identified. The Bohlman technique, in which a fibular strut is reamed posteriorly across the L5-S1 disc space in an oblique, inferior to superior trajectory, has been increasingly utilized. Recently, a Reverse Bohlman technique has been described, in which a graft is reamed anteriorly across a single disc space in a superior to inferior trajectory. Read More

J Biomech Eng 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

ASME Fellow, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Biomedical Engineering Department, University of California, Davis, 2132 Bainer Drive, Davis, CA 95616-5294.

Mathematical models of the human spine can be used to investigate spinal biomechanics without the difficulties, limitations and ethical concerns associated with physical experimentation. Validation of such models is necessary to ensure the modeled system behavior accurately represents the physics of the actual system. The goal of this work was to validate a medical image-based nonlinear lumbosacral spine finite element model of a healthy 20-year-old female subject under physiological moments. Read More

Dtsch Arztebl Int 2018 10;115(42):697-704

Department of Orthopedics, Trauma Surgery and Plastic Surgery, University Hospital of Leipzig, Leibzig, Germany; Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, BG Hospital Bergmannstrost, Halle, Germany; Reha Assist Deutschland GmbH, Berlin, Germany; Collm Klinik Oschatz GmbH, Oschatz, Germany; Department of Orthopedic, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of Halle, Halle, Germany; Department of General Orthopedic and Spine Surgery, St. Josef-Hospital Bochum, University Hospital of the Ruhr University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany.

Background: The conservative treatment of traumatic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures is often not clearly defined.

Methods: This review is based on articles retrieved by a systematic search in the PubMed and Web of Science databases for publications up to February 2018 dealing with the conservative treatment of traumatic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures. The search initially yielded 3345 hits, of which 35 were suitable for use in this review. Read More

Int Orthop 2019 04 13;43(4):981-986. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Arithera Hospital for Special Diseases, Bukovačka 1, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.

Purpose: To analyze and clarify conflicting aspects of fusion and total disc replacement (TDR) surgery in literature.

Method: Using keywords, 23 literature reviews, 41 studies accepted by "importance criteria" from the Internet, and 16 articles "published in 2018" were chosen. Altogether 80 studies. Read More

Int Orthop 2019 04 4;43(4):891-898. Epub 2018 Nov 4.

Spine Center Stuttgart, Paulinenhilfe, Diakonie-Klinikum Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.

Purpose: To investigate whether differences in spinopelvic parameters, and especially spinopelvic alignment, could be associated with adjacent segment disease (ASD) or pseudarthrosis after short-segment lumbar fusion.

Methods: Retrospective study of patients offered mono- or bisegmental transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or titanium cages, due to degenerative disease. Of 419 patients, 32 (7. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 1;122:e790-e794. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Electronic address:

Objective: Lumbar spondylolisthesis can be related to facet arthropathy and disc degeneration or to a fracture of the pars interarticularis, but the mechanistic underpinnings of spondylolisthesis remain unclear. We posit that high sacral slope and body weight increase sacral inclination vector forces, which leads to pars fractures and exacerbates risk for spondylolisthesis.

Methods: To investigate this hypothesis, we measured the sacral slope, body weight, and S1 endplate vector forces for patients who underwent L5-S1 fusion for grade I spondylolisthesis. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 11 21;119:304-305. Epub 2018 Aug 21.

Department of Neurosurgery, Avicenne Military Hospital, Marrakech, Morocco; Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco.

The pathogenesis of spinal posterior ring apophysis separation (PRAS) remains controversial, and spontaneous regression of PRAS has not been established previously. This is a case report about a 33-year-old man with a PRAS of the posterior superior end plate of S1 who presented with spontaneous low back pain followed by right leg pain. The patient was managed conservatively. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Nov 12;119:494-499. Epub 2018 Jun 12.

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

Objective: The incidental dural tear is a common complication in lumbar spine surgery. It has been reported that the incidence of dural tears is much greater in endoscopic procedures. Primary closure via suturing remains challenging in endoscopic procedures. Read More

Pediatr Neurosurg 2018 30;53(4):263-269. Epub 2018 May 30.

Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

A 4-year-old girl was admitted to the emergency department after having been buried beneath a wall. A computed tomography scan revealed anterior grade V L5-S1 spondylolisthesis, and magnetic resonance imaging showed a traumatic rupture of the fibrous annulus of the L5-S1 intervertebral disc and lesion of the anterior longitudinal and yellow ligaments. The patient underwent anterior and posterior fixation. Read More

Can Vet J 2018 04;59(4):388-392

Dick White Referrals, Six Mile Bottom, Cambridgeshire CB8 0UH, United Kingdom.

One cat was presented for investigation of urinary retention and constipation and a second cat was presented with decreased appetite, reluctance to jump, reduced level of activity, and constipation. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed dorsal bulging of the hypo-intense intervertebral disc at S3-Cd1 on fast spin echo T2. Dorsal laminectomy was performed and both cats recovered with resolution of neurological signs. Read More

Cureus 2017 Dec 22;9(12):e1980. Epub 2017 Dec 22.

None, Miller Scientific Consulting.

Introduction Oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) is a newer procedure that avoids the psoas and lumbosacral plexus due to its oblique trajectory into the retroperitoneal space. While early experience with OLIF is reassuring, the longer-term clinical efficacy has not been well established. The purpose of this study was to describe two-year clinical outcomes with OLIF performed by a single surgeon during the learning curve without the aid of the neuromonitoring. Read More

Neurosurg Focus 2018 01;44(1):E6

3Clinical Research, Spine Institute of Louisiana, Shreveport, Louisiana.

OBJECTIVE Recently, authors have called into question the utility and complication index of the lateral lumbar interbody fusion procedure at the L4-5 level. Furthermore, the need for direct decompression has also been debated. Here, the authors report the clinical and radiographic outcomes of transpsoas lumbar interbody fusion, relying only on indirect decompression to treat patients with neurogenic claudication secondary to Grade 1 and 2 spondylolisthesis at the L4-5 level. Read More

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2018 Jan 23;48(1):169-186. Epub 2017 Oct 23.

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4474 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA.

Once decompressive surgery has been elected, the approach that maximizes the likelihood of gaining access to the herniated material for complete removal should be chosen. In most cases, a procedure that optimizes access to the ventrolateral aspect of the spinal cord will be advantageous but it is important to tailor the details of the surgical procedure to suit individual patients. Decompressive surgery for chronic (type II) herniations will frequently demand a ventral approach with partial corpectomy. Read More

Spine J 2018 01 28;18(1):7-14. Epub 2017 Sep 28.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Ave, S1157, San Francisco, CA, 94143-0514, USA. Electronic address:

Background Context: Prolonged microgravity exposure is associated with localized low back pain and an elevated risk of post-flight disc herniation. Although the mechanisms by which microgravity impairs the spine are unclear, they should be foundational for developing in-flight countermeasures for maintaining astronaut spine health. Because human spine anatomy has adapted to upright posture on Earth, observations of how spaceflight affects the spine should also provide new and potentially important information on spine biomechanics that benefit the general population. Read More

Br J Neurosurg 2018 Oct 13;32(5):579-581. Epub 2017 Jul 13.

a Department of Orthopaedics , Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College , Hangzhou , Zhejiang , China.

A 23 year-old female was diagnosed with lumbar idiopathic intervertebral disc calcification associated with ossification of OLF. The patient underwent posterior decompression and posterolateral fusion with pedicle screw fixation, which achieved excellent clinical improvement. Surgical intervention of a posterior approach for decompression and instrumented fusion is indicated in cases that the spinal cord compression with neurologic deficits was involved. Read More

Instr Course Lect 2017 Feb;66:403-408

Research Coordinator, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.

Low back pain is the most common complaint expressed by adult patients in the primary care setting, and the incidence of low back pain in adolescents is rising. Adolescents who are involved in athletics most commonly suffer from spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, mechanical low back pain, and herniated disks, whereas adult athletes most commonly suffer from lumbosacral strain and herniated or degenerative disks. Initial nonsurgical management aims to reduce inflammation and noninvasively strengthen damaged tissues. Read More

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

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

World Neurosurg 2017 Jun 6;102:91-96. Epub 2017 Mar 6.

Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Background: Scattered reports exist in the medical literature regarding facet tropism. However, this finding has had mixed conclusions regarding its origin and impact on the normal spine.

Methods: We performed a literature review of the anatomy, embryology, biomechanics, and pathology related to lumbar facet tropism. Read More

Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2017 Feb;42(2):189-194

Department of Spine Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined anterior and posterior short segment fixation and fusion for lumbar sagittal split fracture.
 Methods: From March, 2005 to May, 2013, 13 patients of lumbar sagittal split fracture underwent short segment posterior fixation and anterior fusion. Preoperative and postoperative kyphotic Cobb's angle, visual analogue scale (VAS) score of back pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI), as well as the incidence of complication were accessed. Read More

Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2017 01 11;27 Suppl 1:S5-S14. Epub 2016 Dec 11.

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Electronic address:

Background: No studies have been published on an astronaut population to assess the effectiveness of countermeasures for limiting physiological changes in the lumbopelvic region caused by microgravity exposure during spaceflight. However, several studies in this area have been done using spaceflight simulation via bed-rest. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of countermeasures designed to limit physiological changes to the lumbopelvic region caused by spaceflight simulation by means of bed-rest. Read More

Clin Spine Surg 2018 02;31(1):E8-E12

Department of Neurosurgery, Kantonsspital Aarau, Tellstrasse, Aarau.

Study Design: A laboratory cadaveric study.

Objective: We aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of a posterior oblique approach, sharing the same advantages as the transpsoas technique while minimizing the risk of lumbar plexus or psoas muscle injuries.

Summary Of Background Data: The transpsoas approach for interbody fusion and corpectomy offers advantages over posterior and anterior approaches. Read More

Ergonomics 2017 Aug 28;60(8):1055-1063. Epub 2016 Nov 28.

a Department of Bioengineering , University of California , San Diego , CA , USA.

Military training aims to improve load carriage performance and reduce risk of injuries. Data describing the lumbar spine (LS) postural response to load carriage throughout training are limited. We hypothesised that training would reduce the LS postural response to load. Read More

Clin Spine Surg 2017 Jul;30(6):E839-E844

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Spinal Injuries Center, Iizuka, Japan.

Study Design: The prospective cohort study.

Objective Of The Study: The objective was to evaluate the relationships between local pressure changes of the intervertebral foramen during lumbar spine extension and lumbar foraminal morphology.

Summary Of Background Data: The physiological states of lumbosacral nerve roots in the vertebral foramen remain controversial. Read More

Eur Spine J 2016 12 6;25(12):4195-4198. Epub 2016 Aug 6.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan.

Purpose: Bleeding from the lumbar artery is a potential complication during the transpsoas approach to the lower lumbar intervertebral discs. In this anatomic study, the morphological relationships between the branches of the lumbar artery and the lower intervertebral disc were investigated to assess the risk of injury to the branches of the lumbar segmental arteries.

Methods: We studied 88 sites (86 lumbar arteries) at the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae bilaterally in 22 formalin-fixed cadavers. Read More

Eur Spine J 2019 Aug 2;28(8):1751-1754. Epub 2016 Aug 2.

Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, Sector C, Vasant Kunj, Delhi, India.

Hyperextension injuries of lumbar spine resulting in lumbosacral dislocation are a rare entity. We report a case of a 60-year-old male who presented to us in outpatient department with history of trivial fall from bicycle with fracture through the pedicles extending from L2 to L5 with lumbosacral dislocation with free floating posterior elements with intact neurology. This is the first case report of 4 level extension compression injury with lumbosacral dislocation leading to floating lumbar spine to the best of author's knowledge. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2017 Mar;42(5):345-351

*Departments of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, CA †Departments of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, CA ‡Departments of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA §Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA ¶Department of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.

Study Design: Repeated measures.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of operationally relevant loads and distributions on lumbar spine (LS) in a group of active-duty Marines.

Summary Of Background Data: Low-back pain has been associated with heavy load carriage among military personnel. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2017 Feb;42(3):135-142

*Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan †Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, East Chiba Medical Center, Togane, Japan ‡Department of Bioenvironmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan §Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shimoshizu National Hospital, Yotsukaido, Japan ¶Kitachiba Spine and Sports Clinic, Chiba, Japan.

Study Design: A retrospective radiological study on vascular anatomy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anatomical and radiological features of lumbar segmental arteries with respect to the surgical field of the oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) approach by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Summary Of Background Data: OLIF surgery restores disc height and enables indirect decompression of narrowed spinal canals through an oblique lateral approach to the spine, by using a specially designed retractor. Read More

Leg Med (Tokyo) 2016 May 22;20:44-8. Epub 2016 Apr 22.

Center of Legal Medicine Lausanne-Geneva, University of Lausanne, Chemin de la Vulliette 4, CH-1000 Lausanne 25, Switzerland.

Lumbar surgery is regularly applied in cases of discal hernia and acquired lumbar stenosis. In this report, we present a case of a laceration in the left common iliac artery and iliac vein during a lumbar surgery and discuss the literature concerning this kind of event. In the present case, the surgical procedure was followed by a sudden decrease in blood pressure, and the surgeon discovered an intra-abdominal haemorrhage that led to the patient's death. Read More

Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi 2015 Dec;29(12):1500-3

Objective: To explore the effectiveness of posterior lumbar interbody fusion in the treatment of double-segmental bilateral isthmic lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Methods: Between February 2008 and December 2013, 17 patients with double-segmental bilateral isthmic lumbar spondylolisthesis were treated with posterior lumbar interbody fusion. There were 12 males and 5 females, with an age ranged 48-69 years (mean, 55. Read More

Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi 2015 Sep;29(9):1104-8

Objective: To evaluate the medium-term effectiveness of Waveflex system in the treatment of multiple lumbar degenerative diseases.

Methods: Between May 2010 and July 2012, 26 patients with multiple lumbar degenerative diseases underwent posterior decompression, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), and internal fixation with Waveflex system. There were 15 males and 11 females, aged 23-65 years (mean, 34. Read More

World Neurosurg 2016 Mar 14;87:455-62. Epub 2015 Dec 14.

Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Spine Surgery, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Objective: Incidental durotomy (ID) during lumbar spine surgery is a frequent complication of growing clinical relevance as the number and complexity of spinal procedures increases. Yet, there is still a lack of guidelines for the treatment of ID with a large heterogeneity of established surgical techniques. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of dural suturing in patients having ID during degenerative lumbar spine surgery, compared with other dural closure techniques. Read More

Cells Tissues Organs 2016 9;201(1):38-50. Epub 2015 Oct 9.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.

The intervertebral disc (IVD) is a fibrocartilaginous joint between two vertebral bodies. An IVD unit consists of a gelatinous central nucleus pulposus, encased by the annulus fibrosus, which is sandwiched between cartilaginous endplates (EPs). The IVD homeostasis can be disrupted by injuries, ageing and/or genetic predispositions, leading to degenerative disc disorders and subsequent lower back pain. Read More

JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep 2015 01;13(1):3-13

1 The Witwatersrand Centre for Evidence-based Practice: a Collaborating Centre of the Joanna Briggs Institute, South Africa2 Neuromusculoskeletal Physiotherapy, South Africa3 Sports Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne; Cricket Australia4 School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Australia5 Cricket South Africa6 Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Arthritis Research UK Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis, United Kingdom7 School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.

Review Question/objective: Review question: which extrinsic and intrinsic factors are associated with non-contact injury in adult cricket pace bowlers?Review objective: the objective of this review is to determine the extrinsic and intrinsic factors associated with non-contact injury in adult pace bowlers.

Background: Cricket is generally considered to be a sport of low injury risk compared to other sports. In cricket, the pace bowler strives towards the adoption of a bowling technique with a relatively low injury threat that will, at the same time, allow for a fast (>120km/hr) and accurate delivery to the opposing batsman. Read More

Sports Med 2016 Jan;46(1):79-101

School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.

Background: The high prevalence of injury amongst cricket fast bowlers exposes a great need for research into the risk factors associated with injury. Both extrinsic (environment-related) and intrinsic (person-related) risk factors are likely to be implicated within the high prevalence of non-contact injury amongst fast bowlers in cricket. Identifying and defining the relative importance of these risk factors is necessary in order to optimize injury prevention efforts. Read More

Acta Orthop Belg 2014 Dec;80(4):545-50

Purpose: To confirm the validity of postoperative creatine kinase (CK) values as an indicator of muscle lesion, assess the relationship of CK with variables indicating surgical invasiveness and investigate an association between CK values and excessive postoperative pain.

Material And Methods: The study included 96 patients (mean age 62.8 years) who underwent instrumented spine fusion for degenerative lumbosacral disease. Read More

J Spinal Disord Tech 2015 Jul;28(6):222-5

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.

Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF) is performed via tubular dilators thereby preserving the integrity of the paraspinal musculature. The decreased soft tissue disruption in the MIS technique has been associated with significantly decreased blood loss, shorter length of hospitalization, and an expedited return to work while maintaining comparable arthrodesis rates when compared with the open technique particularly in the setting of spondylolisthesis (isthmic and degenerative), recurrent symptomatic disk herniation, spinal stenosis, pseudoarthrosis, iatrogenic instability, and spinal trauma. The purpose of this article and the accompanying video wass to demonstrate the techniques for a primary, single-level MIS TLIF. Read More

Eur Spine J 2016 Mar 13;25(3):774-82. Epub 2015 May 13.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, 11155-9567, Tehran, Iran.

Purpose: Iatrogenic injuries to paraspinal muscles during the posterior lumbar surgery (PLS) cause a reduction in their cross-sectional areas (CSAs) and contractile densities over time post-surgery. This study aims to quantify such alterations.

Method: Pre- and postoperative CSAs (~6 months interval) of all paraspinal muscles were measured in six patients undergoing PLS using a 3-T magnetic resonance (MR) scanner to quantify the alterations in geometrical and tissue effective contractile (non-fatty) CSAs of these muscles at all lumbar levels. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2015 Jun;40(12):942-7

*Department of Orthopedics, Spine and Scoliosis Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY; and †Department of Neuroradiology, Weill Cornell Medical Center New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY.

Study Design: Observational study.

Objective: To demonstrate use of magnetic resonance (MR) neurography to visualize the course of the lumbar plexus at the L4-L5 disc space.

Summary Of Background Data: Risk of injury to the lumbar plexus during lateral transpsoas approach for lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) is significant. Read More