Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Turk J Med Sci 2019 Feb 11;49(1):258-264. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Background/aim: We aimed to compare the effectivity of percutaneous disc coagulation therapy (PDCT) and navigable ablation decompression treatment (L-DISQ) in patients who were diagnosed with cervical disc herniation.

Materials And Methods: Visual analog scale (VAS) and Neck Pain Index (NPI) scores were recorded initially and at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th months after the procedures. Patient Satisfaction Scale (PSS) scores were recorded 12 months after the procedures

Results: Mean VAS scores were 7. Read More

Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2018 12 13;14(4):484-496. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland.

During hanging gravitational forces affect the spine. Intervertebral vacuum phenomenon (VP) implies that gas accumulations in the discs are caused by degeneration of the spine and trauma. It was hypothesized that VP detected on postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) has a higher incidence in hanging deaths, which can be correlated to age, degenerative spinal changes and type of hanging (complete-incomplete). Read More

J Orthop Sci 2018 Nov 8. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan; Keio Spine Research Group, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address:

Background: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) makes the spine prone to unstable fractures with neurological deterioration. This study was conducted to assess clinical and radiographic features of spinal fractures in DISH by the level of spinal injury, and to evaluate the optimal treatment for each level.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective study over a 5-year period, including 46 patients (35 males; 11 females) with a mean age of 77. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Aug;97(34):e12046

Department of Orthopaedic Trauma Service Center, Hebei Medical University Third Affiliated Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.

The objective of this study was to use finite element models to investigate the biomechanics of stable thoracolumbar burst fracture repair using unilateral short-segment fixation and 4 alternate pedicle screw systems.Four posterior pedicle screw systems were compared for unilateral short-segment fixation using finite element models: intermediate bilateral short pedicle screw fixation, intermediate bilateral long pedicle screw fixation, intermediate unilateral short pedicle screw fixation, and intermediate unilateral long pedicle screw fixation. We compared range of motion (ROM), von Mises stresses on the implants, and stress on the intervertebral discs superior and inferior to the injured vertebra during simulated spinal movements. Read More

Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi 2018 07;32(7):920-926

Spine and Trauma Ward, Department of Orthopedics, Fuyang People's Hospital, Fuyang Clinical College of Anhui Medical University, Fuyang Anhui, 236000, P.R.China.

Objective: To discuss the security and effectiveness of fixing the unstable region of sagittal injured unit symmetrically with pedicle screws combined with bone graft fusion for treating thoracolumbar fractures.

Methods: A series of 65 patients with a single level thoracolumbar fracture between November 2011 and November 2015 were included in the study. There were 41 males and 24 females with an average age of 36. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Nov 23;119:40-44. Epub 2018 Jul 23.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system is a rare neurologic disorder characterized by the superficial deposition of hemosiderin in the subpial layer resulting in iron-related progressive neurodegeneration.

Case Description: In this report, we present a case of superficial siderosis of the central nervous system secondary to an intradural thoracic disk herniation causing a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak.

Conclusions: The patient was successfully treated with T6-T8 transpedicular partial corpectomy, as well as diskectomy with decompression followed by watertight closure of the CSF leak. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Jul;97(28):e11442

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan.

The aim of the present study is to identify factors correlated with kyphotic deformity after thoracolumbar spine injuries. We performed a retrospective case-control study with data from thoracolumbar spine fracture patients who were treated with posterior spinal fixation. Patients with a follow-up period shorter than 6 months and who experienced low-energy trauma were excluded. Read More

Turk Neurosurg 2019 ;29(1):90-94

Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Adana, Turkey.

Aim: To present the results of vertebroplasty for treating thoracolumbar burst fractures without neurological deficit.

Material And Methods: Twelve patients (aged ≥65 years) with thoracolumbar fractures but without neurological deficits underwent vertebroplasty. In all fracture cases, the anterior and middle columns of the vertebrae were affected and the canal was mildly compressed. Read More

BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2018 8;4(1):e000335. Epub 2018 Mar 8.

Department of Radiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Background/aim: In high-level Olympic athletes, many spinal pathologies arise from overuse, while others are the result of acute injury. Our aim is to analyse the epidemiology of spinal pathologies detected on MRI in athletes participating in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics.

Methods: In this retrospective study, all spine MRIs performed during the 2016 Rio Games were analysed. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Jun 7;114:8-12. Epub 2018 Mar 7.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Affiliated Second Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China. Electronic address:

Background: The percutaneous endoscopic technique through an interlaminar approach is a commonly used minimally invasive procedure in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, even lumbar spinal stenosis. This report describes complete decompression with the percutaneous endoscopic technique for patients with thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF).

Case Description: We performed surgical decompression in of 2 patients with thoracic myelopathy caused by OLF using percutaneous endoscopic surgery through an interlaminar approach. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2017 Sep;30(9):833-837

Department of Spinal Surgery, the Second People's Hospital of Changshu City, Changshu 215500, Jiangsu, China.

Objective: To investigate the risk factors of non-surgical vertebral fracture after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in patients with single segment thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture(OVCF).

Methods: The clinical data of 219 patients with single segment thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture underwent percutaneous kyphoplasty from January 2010 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 29 cases in non-surgical vertebral body fracture group with 7 males and 22 females aged (67. Read More

Skeletal Radiol 2018 Aug 13;47(8):1177-1182. Epub 2018 Feb 13.

Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.

Although spontaneous regression of herniated disk material has been reported in the lumbar and cervical spine, reports of complete spontaneous regression of calcified thoracic disk herniations are exceedingly rare. In symptomatic patients, surgery is typically the treatment of choice; however, conservative therapy with surveillance may allow time for spontaneous resolution and potentially avoid high-risk surgery. We report a 40-year-old woman with complete spontaneous resolution of a large calcified thoracic disk extrusion with conservative management over an 8-month period. Read More

Spinal Cord Ser Cases 2018 22;4. Epub 2018 Jan 22.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Al Razi Hospital, Shuwaikh, Kuwait.

Study Design: Retrospective, descriptive study.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological profile of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Kuwait.

Setting: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital, Kuwait. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2018 08;43(16):1095-1101

University of California, San Francisco, CA.

Study Design: Descriptive histologic and magnetic resonance imaging study of human cadaveric spines.

Objective: To identify and characterize common endplate pathologies to form a histologic foundation for an etiology-based classification system.

Summary Of Background Data: Irregularities at the spinal disc-vertebra interface are associated with back pain and intervertebral disc herniation injuries. Read More

Injury 2018 Feb 15;49(2):272-278. Epub 2017 Dec 15.

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Implants, Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, China. Electronic address:

Objective: To formulate radiological indexes based on CT for further MRI examination to detect posterior ligamentous complex injury (PLC) or disc injury in thoracolumbar burst fractures without neurological deficit in the emergent setting.

Materials And Methods: Patients with a single thoracolumbar burst fracture and no neurological deficit were included into this study. Radiological indexes on CT included canal compromise (CC), anterior and posterior vertebral height ratio (PVH and AVH ratio), local kyphosis (LK) and regional kyphosis (RK). Read More

Clin Orthop Surg 2017 Dec 10;9(4):465-471. Epub 2017 Nov 10.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.

Background: To determine the relationship between superior disc-endplate complex injury and correction loss after surgery in a group of young adult patients with a stable thoracolumbar burst fracture.

Methods: The study group was comprised of young adult patients who had undergone short-segment posterior fixation and bone grafting under the diagnosis of a stable thoracolumbar burst fracture from March 2008 to February 2014. Follow-up was available for more than 1 year. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 02 31;110:64. Epub 2017 Oct 31.

Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

The authors present a case report of a patient with a giant thoracic calcified disc. The patient underwent a posterior thoracic laminectomy and fusion without resection of the disc. The calcified disc regressed in size and lost its calcified component postoperatively. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2018 Jan 31;47:111-115. Epub 2017 Oct 31.

Department of Neurology, Wolfson Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Holon, Israel. Electronic address:

Hand weakness and wasting in the setting of mid-cervical spondylosis and disc herniation without radiological evidence for compression of the C8 or T1 roots has been rarely reported. We retrospectively studied the data of patients with hand weakness and mid-cervical spondylosis. The clinical and radiological findings were compared to a control group of patients with weakness of the arm or forearm muscles and similar mid-cervical spondylosis. Read More

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2018 Jan 23;48(1):187-200. Epub 2017 Oct 23.

Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.

Fenestration offers the advantages of prophylaxis without the need for specialized instrumentation and imaging. Currently there is a lack of equipoise regarding the efficacy of fenestration relative to decompression for treatment of acute canine intervertebral disk herniation; most veterinary spinal surgeons do not consider the 2 procedures equivalently efficacious. Therapeutic fenestration should perhaps be given greater consideration, especially if advanced imaging shows only mild to moderate spinal cord compression or there are restrictions on the duration of surgery, when it might be better to spend the time on fenestration rather than decompression. Read More

PLoS One 2017 24;12(10):e0186779. Epub 2017 Oct 24.

Laboratoire de Biomécanique Appliquée, IFSTTAR Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France.

Recent findings suggest that vertebral osteophytes increase the resistance of the spine to compression. However, the role of vertebral osteophytes on the biomechanical response of the spine under fast dynamic compression, up to failure, is unclear. Seventeen human spine specimens composed of three vertebrae (from T5-T7 to T11-L1) and their surrounding soft tissues were harvested from nine cadavers, aged 77 to 92 years. Read More

J Neurointerv Surg 2017 Nov 9;9(11):1113-1117. Epub 2016 Nov 9.

Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of our target puncture technique with the traditional technique during percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) with intravertebral clefts (IVCs).

Methods: 104 patients treated with PKP for single OVCFs with IVCs were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were divided into three groups: cleft filling by the traditional technique (Group A, n=18); interdigitated filling (Group B, n=50); and overfilling by the target technique (Group C, n=36). Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2017 Oct 10;18(1):411. Epub 2017 Oct 10.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zuyderland Medical Centre, Postbus 5500, 6130 MB, Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands.

Background: Short-segment pedicle-screw instrumentation is frequently used to stabilize thoracolumbar burst fractures. A recognized disadvantage of this procedure is recurrent kyphosis from intervertebral disc creep into the fractured central endplate. Balloon Assisted Endplate Reduction (BAER) using Tricalcium Phosphate bone cement (TCP) enables elevation of the centrally depressed endplate. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2017 Aug;96(31):e7694

aDepartment of Anesthesia bDepartment of Thoracic surgery, Shaoxing People's Hospital (Shaoxing Hospital of Zhejiang University), Shaoxing, P.R. China.

Rationale: Bronchial rupture is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication during double-lumen endobronchial tube placement. The rupture of the left main bronchus resulting from repeated surgical torsion is uncommon.

Patient Concerns: A 70-year-old man with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), intermediate emphysema, chronic bronchitis, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and L3-L4 lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Read More

J Vet Med Sci 2017 Sep 31;79(9):1532-1539. Epub 2017 Jul 31.

Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju-si, 52828, South Korea.

The present study aimed to investigate the technical feasibility of percutaneous endoscopic mini-hemilaminectomy via a uniportal approach, and to evaluate the possibility of decompression and endoscopic examination of the thoracic and lumbar spinal canals in small dogs during such procedures. Fresh canine cadavers of mixed-breed dogs (n=7) were used in this study. Following injection of a barium and agarose mixture (BA-gel) to stimulate intervertebral disc herniation, percutaneous endoscopic mini-hemilaminectomy was performed using a lateral approach to the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. Read More

J Neurosurg Spine 2017 Sep 30;27(3):341-345. Epub 2017 Jun 30.

Department of Neurosurgery and.

A family with familial spinal extradural arachnoid cyst is presented. A 14-year-old boy had an extensive T-8 through L-2 dorsal extradural arachnoid cyst with spinal cord compression and slowly progressive myelopathy. His mother had presented 4 years earlier with acute excruciating back pain due to the combination of a lumbar extradural arachnoid cyst at L2-4 and an extruded disc at L3-4. Read More

World Neurosurg 2017 Sep 6;105:441-455. Epub 2017 Jun 6.

Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Objective: To present our experience with anterior transthoracic surgery for high-risk thoracic disc herniations (TDHs) using motor evoked potential monitoring (MEPm).

Methods: We estimated surgical risk based on clinical and radiologic characteristics, including anteroposterior (AP) spinal canal occupation (SCO), AP spinal cord compression (SCC), residual AP spinal cord diameter (RSCD), and intramedullary signal changes (ISC). We analyzed Anand, ASIA, and Nurick scores, anesthesiologic, neurophysiological, and surgical reports. Read More

J Orthop Res 2018 01 28;36(1):192-201. Epub 2017 Jun 28.

University of California, 513 Parnassus Avenue, S-1157, San Francisco, California, 94143-0514.

Damage at the intervertebral disc-vertebra interface associates with back pain and disc herniation. However, the structural and biomechanical properties of the disc-vertebra interface remain underexplored. We sought to measure mechanical properties and failure mechanisms, quantify architectural features, and assess structure-function relationships at this vulnerable location. Read More

Int J Surg 2017 Jul 31;43:126-130. Epub 2017 May 31.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Huadu District People's Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China. Electronic address:

Objective: This study mainly aimed to evaluate complications of cement leakage for osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures by PVP using HVC, and access the clinical efficacy.

Methods: Between May 2013 and June 2015, 66 patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures, who underwent PVP (36 HVC and 30 LVC) in our hospital, were enrolled. Cement leakage, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), refracture of the cemented vertebrae, and adjacent vertebral fractures were evaluated. Read More

Eur Spine J 2017 12 25;26(12):3187-3198. Epub 2017 May 25.

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

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to analyze the biomechanical basis of incomplete burst fractures of the thoracolumbar spine, summarize the available treatment options with evidence from the literature, and to propose a method to differentiate fracture severity.

Methods: The injury pattern, classification, and treatment strategies of incomplete burst fractures of the thoracolumbal spine have been described following a review of the literature. All level I-III studies, studies with long-term results and comparative studies were included and summarized. Read More

World Neurosurg 2017 Jul 17;103:419-423. Epub 2017 Apr 17.

Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany; Department of Neurosurgery, Universitätsmedizin Mainz, Mainz, Germany.

Background: Multisegmental cervical instrumentations ending at the cervicothoracic junction may lead to significant adjacent segment degeneration. The purpose of this study was to compare the extent of sequential pathologies in the lower adjacent segment between patient groups with a primarily cervical instrumentation ending at C7 versus an instrumentation including the cervicothoracic junction ending at T1 or T2.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 98 consecutive patients with multisegmental posterior cervical fusion surgery ending either at C7 or at T1 or T2 was performed. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2017 Dec;42(24):E1437-E1445

National Spinal Injuries Unit, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Study Design: Systematic literature review.

Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically review the current evidence in the literature on thoracic discectomies, to compare the clinical outcomes, and to determine whether there is evidence to support the use of either the anterior or posterior approach.

Summary Of Background Data: Thoracic disc herniations (TDHs) often present with myelopathy, radiculopathy, or a combination of both. Read More

Bone 2017 Aug 11;101:3-9. Epub 2017 Apr 11.

Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FI-00290, Finland; Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki FI-00290, Finland; Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, and Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address:

Background: WNT signaling plays a major role in bone and cartilage metabolism. Impaired WNT/β-catenin signaling leads to early-onset osteoporosis, but specific features in bone and other tissues remain inadequately characterized. We have identified two large Finnish families with early-onset osteoporosis due to a heterozygous WNT1 mutation c. Read More

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2018 Jan 13;26(1):325-332. Epub 2017 Apr 13.

Department of Orthopaedics, Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Purpose: Evidence-based facts regarding spine abnormalities and back pain are needed in order to develop rehabilitation programs and prevent spine injuries in young skiers. The aim therefore is to identify MRI changes in the thoraco-lumbar spine and the lifetime prevalence of back pain, as well as the association between them, in young skiers compared to non-athletes.

Methods: Seventy-five young elite alpine and mogul skiers, age range 16-20 years, were compared with 27 non-athletic controls. Read More

World Neurosurg 2017 Jul 2;103:78-83. Epub 2017 Apr 2.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Background: Although there are many postoperative febrile causes, surgical-site infection has always been considered as one of the major causes, but it should be excluded; we encountered many patients who showed delayed postoperative fever that was not related to wound infection after spinal surgery. We aimed to determine the incidence of delayed postoperative fever and its characteristics after spinal surgery, and to analyze the causal factors.

Methods: A total of 250 patients who underwent any type of spinal surgery were analyzed. Read More

Spine J 2017 08 31;17(8):1113-1119. Epub 2017 Mar 31.

Osaka Rosai Hospital, 1179-3 Nagasonecho, Kita-ku, Sakai city, Osaka 591-8025, Japan.

Background Context: Short-segment posterior spinal instrumentation for thoracolumbar burst fracture provides superior correction of kyphosis by an indirect reduction technique, but it has a high failure rate.

Purpose: The purpose of the study we report here was to compare outcomes for temporary short-segment pedicle screw fixation with vertebroplasty and for such fixation without vertebroplasty.

Study Design: This is a prospective multicenter comparative study. Read More

Eur Spine J 2017 10 22;26(Suppl 4):505-513. Epub 2017 Mar 22.

P.O. Santa Maria Delle Grazie, ASL Napoli2 Nord, Loc. La Schiana, Pozzuoli, 80078, NA, Italy.

Purpose Thoracic disk herniation is uncommon. It still represents a challenge for spinal surgeons. Multiple surgical strategies are available and, often, they are matter of debate. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2017 Feb;96(6):e5936

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Affiliated Southeast Hospital of Xiamen University, Orthopaedic Center of People's Liberation Army, Zhangzhou, China.

Prospective cohort study. To evaluate whether failure of the fracture fragment at the anterior column reduction in thoracolumbar fracture has an influence on the final radiologic and clinical outcomes.Cervical teardrop fracture has caused wide concern in spinal surgery field. Read More

Spine J 2017 06 3;17(6):863-874. Epub 2017 Feb 3.

Centre of Applied Anatomy, University of Bristol, Southwell St, Bristol, BS2 8EJ, UK. Electronic address:

Background Context: Spinal injuries and surgery may have important effects on neighboring spinal levels, but previous investigations of adjacent-level biomechanics have produced conflicting results. We use "stress profilometry" and noncontact strain measurements to investigate thoroughly this long-standing problem.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine how vertebral fracture and vertebroplasty affect compressive load-sharing and vertebral deformations at adjacent spinal levels. Read More

J Am Vet Med Assoc 2017 Feb;250(4):417-423

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of anesthesia-associated hypotension on final motor and urinary function in paraplegic dogs without nociception that underwent hemilaminectomy because of acute, severe thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH). DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 56 paraplegic dogs with acute thoracolumbar IVDH and absent nociception. Read More

Acta Neurol Belg 2017 09 3;117(3):783-785. Epub 2017 Feb 3.

Department of Neurology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Science, Lucknow, 226014, India.

World Neurosurg 2017 Apr 1;100:711.e7-711.e12. Epub 2017 Feb 1.

Department of Neurosurgery, The Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, Sacramento, California, USA.

Background: Spinal cord herniation (SCH) is rare, is mostly idiopathic, and occurs predominantly in the thoracic spine. SCH is less common in the cervical spine and has been reported after posterior cervical spine surgery associated with the development of pseudomeningoceles. Two cases of SCH have been reported after anterior cervical corpectomies for ossified posterior longitudinal ligament with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. Read More

Acta Neurochir Suppl 2017 ;124:327-331

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.

Background: The choice of surgical approach for thoracic disc herniation should consider the location on the axial plane and the consistency of the herniated disc. Calcified midline disc herniations are difficult to remove with a transpedicular approach because of limitations due to blind spots; so they are usually treated via a transthoracic approach, although this entails a high risk of thoracopulmonary injuries.

Methods: In this work we present two cases of calcified midline thoracic disc herniations treated with a transpedicular approach, improved by using a three-dimensional (3D) neuronavigation system to verify the extent of removal on the blind side. Read More

Acta Neurochir Suppl 2017 ;124:289-295

IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, Pozzilli, IS, 86077, Italy.

Background: The aim of our study was to assess how a preoperative computed tomography (CT)-based navigation system affected the correctness and safety of transpedicular screw insertion, compared with standard techniques.

Method: Between January 2012 and February 2014, 203 patients underwent thoracic and lumbar fixation, with open and percutaneous techniques; 218 screws were implanted through an open navigated technique (1.0 Spine & Trauma 3d ver. Read More

Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2017 Feb 16;43(1):27-33. Epub 2017 Jan 16.

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

Unstable vertebral body fragility fractures of the thoracolumbar spine can occur with or without relevant trauma. Initially, a standardized diagnostic algorithm including magnetic resonance tomography is recommended to detect accompanied further vertebral body fractures, to interpret the individual fracture stability, and to screen for relevant traumatic intervertebral disc lesions. Aim of the therapy is to assure fast mobilization and to maintain spinal alignment. Read More

Spinal Cord Ser Cases 2016 15;2:16037. Epub 2016 Dec 15.

Department of Spine Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University , Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

Introduction: Brown-Sequard syndrome (BSS) has been reported in patients with various spinal pathologies, including spinal traumatic injuries, spinal cord neoplasms, epidural hematomas and spinal cord ischemia. Pure BSS caused by cervical disc herniation is very rare.

Case Presentation: We report a rare case of cervical disc herniation presenting as BSS associated with Horner syndrome (HS), which has not been reported up to now. Read More

Eur Spine J 2017 05 29;26(Suppl 1):146-150. Epub 2016 Dec 29.

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, SAR, China.

Purpose: To highlight the importance of preventing visceral injury due to prominent anterior implants at the spinal column.

Methods: A 52-year-old man with cord compression was treated with a T9/10 discectomy and instrumented fusion via a right thoracotomy and trans-pleural approach. Postoperatively, he had improved lower limb numbness. Read More

Orthop Surg 2016 Nov;8(4):523-526

Cell Engineering Laboratory of Orthopaedic Institute, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China.

Intervertebral disc herniation is a common cause of spinal cord compression, especially for the thoracic and thoracolumbar spinal cord, which has limited buffer space in the spinal canal. Spinal cord compression usually causes decreased sensation and paralysis of limbs below the level of compression, urinary and fecal incontinence, and/or urinary retention, which brings great suffering to the patients and usually requires surgical intervention. Thoracotomy or abdominothoracic surgery is usually performed for the thoracolumbar cord compression caused by hard intervertebral disc herniation. Read More

Braz J Med Biol Res 2016 3;49(11):e5599. Epub 2016 Nov 3.

China-Japan Union Hospital, Department of Operating Room, Jilin University, Changchun, China.

We aimed to describe the surgical technique and clinical outcomes of paraspinal-approach reduction and fixation (PARF) in a group of patients with Denis type B thoracolumbar burst fracture (TLBF) with neurological deficiencies. A total of 62 patients with Denis B TLBF with neurological deficiencies were included in this study between January 2009 and December 2011. Clinical evaluations including the Frankel scale, pain visual analog scale (VAS) and radiological assessment (CT scans for fragment reduction and X-ray for the Cobb angle, adjacent superior and inferior intervertebral disc height, and vertebral canal diameter) were performed preoperatively and at 3 days, 6 months, and 1 and 2 years postoperatively. Read More

J Neurosurg Spine 2016 Nov 17;25(5):610-619. Epub 2016 Jun 17.

Department of Neurosurgery, San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital, Rome, Italy.

OBJECTIVE Pedicle screw instrumentation of the osteoporotic spine carries an increased risk of screw loosening, pullout, and fixation failure. A variety of techniques have been used clinically to improve pedicle screw fixation in the presence of compromised bone. Pedicle screws may be augmented with cement, but this may lead to cement leakage and result in disastrous consequences. Read More