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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Degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) in the setting of symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis is commonly treated with spinal fusion in addition to decompression with laminectomy. However, recent studies have shown similar clinical outcomes after decompression alone, suggesting that a subset of DS patients may not require spinal fusion. Identification of dynamic instability could prove useful for predicting which patients are at higher risk of post-laminectomy destabilization necessitating fusion. The goal of this study was to determine if static clinical radiographs adequately characterize dynamic instability in patients with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) and to compare the rotational and translational kinematics in vivo during continuous dynamic flexion activity in DS versus asymptomatic age-matched controls. ⋯ Level V data These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.
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Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty have become one of the most frequent surgical procedures in the treatment of vertebral compression fractures. Often, the cause of compression fractures is lowered bone mineral density as in osteoporosis. In the differential workup, also pathologic vertebral compression fractures need to be ruled out. Importantly, imaging techniques alone cannot safely differentiate between invasive lymphatic and osteoporotic vertebral fracture. Our goal was to identify the degree of unexpected positive histology in kyphoplasty for presumed osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. ⋯ Therefore, we could demonstrate that the incidence of unexpected positive histology in vertebral compression fracture treated with kyphoplasty is significant (3.1%). As a conclusion, if a kyphoplasty is performed due to assumed osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture, a biopsy should be taken to safely rule out a pathological fracture caused by lymphatic bony invasion.
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En bloc resections aim at surgically removing a tumor in a single, intact piece, fully encased by a continuous shell of healthy tissue-the "margin". Intraoperative continuous assessment of the plane of resection regarding the tumor's margins is paramount. The goal of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of experienced spinal tumor surgeons' perception of these margins. ⋯ Surgeons are fairly accurate in their intraoperative assessment of clear margins achieved; however, this accuracy is not perfect and exploring ways to improve this intraoperative assessment is of major importance possibly impacting the outcome of the treatment.
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A balanced ratio of the main parameters of lumbar lordosis (LL) and pelvic incidence (PI) has high clinical relevance. A postoperative mismatch of LL and PI has been described in the literature to be associated with an inferior clinical outcome and higher postoperative revision rates. The aim of this retrospective, radiological study is to evaluate the magnitude of relordosing in mono-/bisegmental TLIF spondylodesis affecting the spino-pelvic alignment and the main contributing factors. ⋯ This retrospective study demonstrates that significant relordosing and, therefore, correction of the spino-pelvic alignment are possible with mono-/bisegmental TLIF spondylodesis. Positive influence of higher cage sizes and surgeon's experience was shown. We conclude that the ratio of LL/PI should be taken into account preoperatively in lumbar fusion surgery when planning mono-/bisegmental TLIF spondylodesis to optimize spino-pelvic alignment. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.
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To elucidate the effects of growth differentiation factor-6 (GDF6) on: (i) gene expression of inflammatory/pain-related molecules and structural integrity in the rabbit intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration model, and (ii) sensory dysfunction and changes in pain-marker expression in dorsal nerve ganglia (DRGs) in the rat xenograft radiculopathy model. ⋯ GDF6 injection may change the pathological status of degenerative discs and attenuate degenerated IVD-induced pain.