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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To review the current understanding and data of sagittal balance and alignment considerations in paraplegic patients. ⋯ Current available literature data have not defined normal sagittal parameters for paraplegic patients. There are significant differences in postural sagittal parameters and muscle activations in paraplegic and non-spinal cord injury patients that can lead to differences in sagittal alignment and balance. Treatment goal in spine surgery for paraplegic patients should address their global function, sitting balance, and ability to perform self-care rather than the accepted radiographic parameters for adult spinal deformity in ambulatory patients.
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This article presents the current concepts of correction of spinal deformity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. Untreated AS can be a debilitating disease. In a few patients, disease progression results in severe spinal deformity affecting not only the thoracolumbar, but also the cervical spine. Surgery for correction in AS patients has a long history. With the advent of modern instrumentation, standardization of surgical and anesthesiologic techniques, surgical safety and corrective results could be improved and experiences from lumbar osteotomies could be transferred to the cervical spine. ⋯ The article should encourage readers to improve surgical correction efficacy and provide a better understanding of correction geometry in 3CO for thoracolumbar and cervical spinal deformities.
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In past decades, the role of sagittal alignment has been widely demonstrated in the setting of spinal conditions. As several parameters can be affected, identifying the driver of the deformity is the cornerstone of a successful treatment approach. Despite the importance of restoring sagittal alignment for optimizing outcome, this task remains challenging. Self-learning computers and optimized algorithms are of great interest in spine surgery as in that they facilitate better planning and prediction of postoperative alignment. Nowadays, computer-assisted tools are part of surgeons' daily practice; however, the use of such tools remains to be time-consuming. ⋯ Integrating newer technology can change the current way of planning/simulating surgery. The use of powerful computer-assisted tools that are able to integrate several parameters and learn from experience can change the traditional way of selecting treatment pathways and counseling patients. However, there is still much work to be done to reach a desired level as noted in other orthopedic fields, such as hip surgery. Many of these tools already exist in non-medical fields and their adaptation to spine surgery is of considerable interest.
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Correction of rigid cervical deformities often requires osteotomies to realign the spine. Cervical pedicle subtraction osteotomy can be technically challenging due to the presence of cervical nerve roots and usually can only be performed at C7 or T1 due to the presence of vertebral arteries. In contrast, anterior cervical osteotomy can be performed throughout the cervical spine and is a safe and effective method for correction of both sagittal and coronal cervical deformities. We describe the anterior cervical osteotomy technique with a review of the pertinent literature. ⋯ Anterior cervical osteotomy is a safe and effective technique for correction of rigid cervical deformities. Spine surgeons should be familiar with this technique to optimize clinical outcome in patients undergoing cervical deformity correction.
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This investigation aimed to examine the extent to which case-based discussion with experts could influence the audience's opinions on the treatment of patients during a continuing medical education event for spine surgeons. ⋯ On the basis of our results, case-based discussion driven by experts, as a form of teaching, has a measurable effect in terms of changes in the learners' opinions.