The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with respiratory insufficiency is infrequently seen in North America currently. ⋯ A staged anterior and posterior VCR with intervening halo-gravity traction is a viable option to treat severe scoliosis in patients with restrictive pulmonary function.
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Interspinous process devices represent an emerging treatment for neurogenic intermittent claudication resulting from lumbar spinal stenosis. Most published descriptions of the operative technique involve treatment of patients in the modified lateral decubitus knee-chest position (modified lateral decubitus), and yet many surgeons have begun to perform the procedure in various prone positions. The patient's positioning on the operating room table seems likely to influence resting interspinous distance, and thus implant sizing and possibly the risk of intraoperative spinous process fracture. The intersegmental lumbar effect of variants on operative prone positioning compared with the modified lateral decubitus position has not been studied. ⋯ Prone positioning of patients in flexion on the operating table using the Andrews table or Wilson frame resulted in similar lumbar interspinous distance compared with the modified lateral decubitus position. Prone positioning on the Jackson frame resulted in statistically less interspinous distance than all other positions. Positioning on the Andrews table resulted in similar segmental angulation to the modified lateral decubitus position. Extrapolation from these data, obtained in healthy males younger than the typical age of patients treated with interspinous distraction devices, should clearly be done with caution. However, it seems reasonable to suggest that performing these procedures in the prone position using the Andrews table (greatest interspinous distance) is unlikely to result in the placement of significantly undersized implants, or significantly increase the force required to insert an implant.
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Stand-alone nonbiologic interbody fusion devices for the lumbar spine have been used for interbody fusion since the early 1990s. However, most devices lack the stability found in clinically successful circumferential fusion constructs. Stability results from cage geometry and device/vertebral endplate interface integrity. To date, there has not been a published comparative biomechanical study specifically evaluating the effects of endplate engagement of interbody devices. ⋯ The cages with endplate spikes or threads provide substantial motion segment rigidity compared with intact in bending modes. Only the cages with endplate spikes were more rigid than intact in torsion. All devices experienced increased rigidity with anterior plating and even greater rigidity with posterior fixation. It appears that the endplate engagement with spikes may be beneficial in limiting torsion, which is generally difficult with other "stand-alone" devices tested in the current and prior reports.
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Osteoporosis and osteomalacia are significant risk factors for fracture and spine instrumentation failure. Low-energy fractures are becoming increasingly more common because of an increase in life expectancy and age of the population. Decreased bone density is an independent risk factor for instrumentation failure in spinal fusion operations. ⋯ Despite of the large number of elderly patients undergoing spine care and the high incidence of osteoporosis and/or osteomalacia in this population, a large portion of the spine surgeons who responded to the survey reported that they do not perform routine osteoporosis/osteomalacia workups. Of those who do perform workups, some commented that it will change their surgical plan or preoperative treatment. It appears that there is a need for increased awareness among spine specialists regarding osteoporosis screening and treatment. Osteoporosis practice patterns may also be affected with newly evolving government quality reporting regulations.
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Anterior fusion through an open thoracotomy restores kyphosis more reliably than posterior techniques in patients with thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Video-assisted thoracoscopic spinal fusion and instrumentation (VATS) minimizes the morbidity, from soft tissue and muscle dissection that accompanies traditional open thoracotomy. To our knowledge, there has not been a comprehensive analysis of VATS with respect to radiographic and clinical outcomes in the sagittal plane. ⋯ Video-assisted thoracoscopic spinal fusion and instrumentation, in agreement with results reported for open anterior instrumentation, reliably restores or increases thoracic kyphosis while preserving junctional alignment in thoracic AIS.