European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Our objective is to report on the clinical and radiological outcome following a decancellisation closing wedge osteotomy for the correction of fixed cervico-thoracic kyphosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The only treatment available for severe fixed flexion deformity of the cervical spine in these patients is an extension osteotomy. Traditionally an anterior opening, posterior closing wedge osteotomy is performed with or without internal fixation. ⋯ No patient suffered spinal cord injury or permanent nerve root palsy. There was no loss of correction or pseudarthrosis at final follow up. C7 decancellisation closing wedge osteotomy supplemented with secure segmental internal fixation in experienced hands provides a safe and effective treatment for fixed cervico-thoracic kyphosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
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Clinical Trial
Modified transcorporeal anterior cervical microforaminotomy for cervical radiculopathy: a technical note and early results.
A prospective analysis of the first twenty patients operated for cervical radiculopathy by a new modification of transcorporeal anterior cervical foraminotomy technique. To evaluate early results of a functional disc surgery in which decompression for the cervical radiculopathy is done by drilling a hole in the upper vertebral body and most of the disc tissue is preserved. Earlier approaches to cervical disc surgery either advocated simple discectomy or discectomy with fusion, ultimately leading to loss of motion segment. ⋯ It avoids unnecessary violation of the disc space and much of the bony stabilizers of the cervical spine. Short-term results of this technique are quite encouraging. Longer-term analysis can help in outlining the true benefits of this technique.
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In this study we tried to achieve a better understanding of the biodynamic mechanism of balance in the scoliotic spine. Therefore we focused on the pre- and postoperative spine of patients with idiopathic scoliosis with a primary thoracic curve and a secondary lumbar curve. Several studies showed that the lumbar curve spontaneously corrects and improves after selective thoracic fusion. ⋯ The lumbar curve correction does not occur throughout the whole lumbar curve. Most correction is achieved in the upper part of the curve. The distal lumbar curve seems to be more rigid and less important in the spontaneous curve correction.
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A retrospective study of 21 patients with idiopathic scoliosis who underwent endoscopic thoracoplasty was done. The objective of the study was to report and assess the morbidity and mid term outcomes of video-assisted thoracoplasty in idiopathic scoliosis. Patients with idiopathic scoliosis often present cosmetic complaints due to their rib deformity. ⋯ No complications related to endoscopic anterior release and rib hump resection occurred in the series. Endoscopic thoracoplasty is a safe and reliable technique in idiopathic scoliosis. If indicated, the anterior release can be performed with video-assistance and the thoracoplasty can be performed on the same stage.