The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Anterior transarticular screw (ATAS) fixation has been suggested as a viable alternative to posterior stabilization. However, we are not aware of previous reports attempting to establish the usefulness of specific fluoroscopic landmark-guided trajectories in the use of ATAS, and we could find no reference to it in a computerized search using MEDLINE. ⋯ Our results suggest that it may be possible to place ATASs without violating the vertebral artery groove, spinal canal, or the atlanto-occipital joint by using the described entry points, trajectories, and fluoroscopic landmarks.
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Case Reports
Rectal perforation after AxiaLIF instrumentation: case report and review of the literature.
Bowel perforation is an uncommon complication of posterior spinal surgery. The AxiaLIF transsacral instrumentation system has been used for the treatment of L5-S1 spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease since its introduction in 2005 as a potentially less invasive alternative to traditional anterior or posterior interbody fusion. ⋯ Delayed presentation of rectal perforation with a subsequent anaerobic sepsis is a potential complication of the presacral approach to the L5-S1 disc space. Recognition and treatment with fecal diversion and long-term intravenous antibiotics is an alternative to device removal and sacral reconstruction.
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Case Reports
"Artifactual fracture-subluxation" of cervical spine in computed tomography screening sans plain radiographs.
Computed tomography (CT) has become the sole modality of screening for cervical injury in polytrauma because of the high sensitivity, speed, and convenience, thereby eliminating the need for plain radiographs. ⋯ Motion artifact in cervical CT screening can lead to a misdiagnosis of fracture subluxation. Duplication of soft tissue is highly suggestive of this motion artifact, and an additional single lateral plain radiograph may avert this pitfall.