Journal of Spine Surgery (Hong Kong)

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.21037/jss.2017.06.20.].

One complication associated with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP-2) use in minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) is heterotopic bone growth at the neural foramen which results in the compression of neural structures. Here we present an awake, minimally invasive surgical approach for treating the radiculopathy that results from this excessive bone growth in the foramen. A 42-year-old male underwent a lumbar 4-sacral 1 MIS-TLIF by another surgeon. He did well in the initial postoperative period, but he began to note right leg pain and numbness in an L5 dermatomal pattern...

Spinal metastatic disease (SMD) often requires spinal stabilization; however, the cervicothoracic junction can be a challenging area to instrument. An anterior approach may require division of the sternum. A posterior or posterolateral approach may rely on cervical lateral mass screws for superior construct fixation that are more prone to pullout than screws placed in a pedicle. The C7 pedicle is able to support pedicle screw fixation in most instances based on morphological features of the vertebra. When the C7 pedicle is used as a superior fixation point, it aligns with the thoracic pedicles below to create a streamlined posterior construct...

With the proliferation of a variety of modern MIS spine surgery procedures, it is mandatory that the surgeon dominate all aspects involved in surgical indication. The information related to the decision making in patient selection for specific procedures is mandatory for surgical success. The objective of this study is to present decision-making criteria in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) selection for a variety of patients and pathologies. In this article, practicing surgeons who specialize in various MIS approaches for spinal fusion were engaged to provide expert opinion and literature review on decision making criteria for several MIS procedures...

Over the past decade there has been a revolution in availability for minimally invasive techniques for the fixation of spinal fractures. In this narrative review we aimed to take a comprehensive look at these developments and their results from the Atlas to the Sacrum establishing the current evidence base for percutaneous fixation at each level of the spine.

Although rarely documented in the medical literature, bowel perforation injury can be a severe complication of spine surgery. Our goal was to review current literature regarding this complication and study possible methods of avoidance. We conducted a literature search in the PubMed database between January 1960 and March 2016 using the terms abrasion, bowels, bowel, complication, injury, intestine, intra-abdominal sepsis/shock, perforation, lumbar, spine, surgery, visceral. Diagnostic criteria, outcomes, risk factors, surgical approach, and treatment strategy were the parameters extracted from the search results and used for review...

We conducted a thorough review of the literature to examine the risks and complications associated with the use of Gardner-Wells Tongs (GWT). Twenty-three articles were included in this review for final analysis. One article reported a 37.5% (6/16) incidence rate of minor complications with the usage of GWTs, which included pin loosening, asymmetrical pin positioning, and superficial infections. Various cases reported more serious yet rare complications, including perforation of the skull, brain abscesses, and neurovascular damage...

Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have been investigated in recent years as an emerging therapy for various musculoskeletal conditions, including lumbar degenerative disc disease. Although PRP has received increasing attention from medical science experts, comprehensive clinical reports of its efficacy are limited to those treating knee osteoarthritis and epicondylitis. Use of PRP is gaining popularity in the area of degenerative disc disease, but there is a clear need for reliable clinical evidence of its applications and effectiveness...

Background: Lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (LDS) is a degenerative slippage of a lumbar vertebra relative to the adjacent vertebra below that can be clinically symptomatic. We aim to compare radiological and clinical outcome of surgery in L4-L5 LDS with or without applying the interbody fusion cage. Methods: We studied 60 patients (mean age, 51.3±13.2 years; follow-up, 53.3±14.6 months) with L4-L5 LDS who had been treated by decompression, pedicle screw and rod instrumentation associated with posterolateral fusion (PLF) without and with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in equally divided groups A and B, respectively...

Background: It is crucial to define if changes in patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure correspond to relevant clinical improvements. Aim of this study was to determine minimally clinically important differences (MCID) of the Japanese Orthopedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ) in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) to assess surgical success. Methods: A total of 127 patients with LDH consecutively referred to our clinic were enrolled into this prospective study between March 2012 and August 2015...

Background: The Dynesys system remains the most widely implanted posterior non-fusion pedicle screw system. Various study designs used in investigations with good to excellent short- and mid-term results have been reported in the current literature. However, there is a lack of information concerning long-term outcomes following treatment for spinal stenosis with degenerative spondylolisthesis. Methods: The aim of our study was twofold. Firstly, to assess whether the dynamic stabilization in situ with the Dynesys System without bone grafting provides enough stability to prevent progression of spondylolisthesis and secondarily to maintain significant clinical improvement in a long-term follow-up (FU)...

Background: To analyse the relation between immediate intraoperative neurophysiological changes during decompression and clinical outcome in a series of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) undergoing surgery. Methods: Twenty-four patients with neurogenic intermittent claudication (NIC) due to LSS undergoing decompressive surgery were prospectively studied. Intra operative trans-cranial motor evoked potentials (tcMEPs) were recorded before and immediately after surgical decompression...

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is a relatively less invasive treatment for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). The present study focused on the transforaminal approach (TFA) and investigated the significance of PELD via this approach for large central LDH. Methods: LDH that did not show cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) on axial T2-weighted magnetic resonance images was defined as large central LDH. PELD via the TFA was performed in 11 patients with large central LDH...

Background: The purpose of this study is to elucidate the current practice patterns of Canadian neurosurgeons with regards to anterior cervical discectomy (ACD). Methods: A one-page questionnaire was sent out using SurveyMonkey to all neurosurgeon members of the Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation (CNSF). End points were surgeon preference for ACD surgical method, graft source, the length of collar usage and the recommended time before returning to work. Results: Response rate was 74...

Background: Utilization of static and expandable interbody spacers for minimally invasive lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) offers favorable clinical results. However, complications such as implant migration and/or subsidence may occur with a static implant. Expandable devices allow for in situ expansion to optimize fit and mitigate iatrogenic endplate damage during trialing and impaction. This study sought to compare clinical and radiographic outcomes of static and expandable spacers following LLIF and report device-related complications...

Background: To identify predictive factors for critical care unit-level complications (CCU complication) after long-segment fusion procedures for adult spinal deformity (ASD). Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database [2010-2014] was reviewed. Only adult patients who underwent fusion of 7 or more spinal levels for ASD were included. CCU complications included intraoperative arrest/infarction, ventilation >48 hours, pulmonary embolism, renal failure requiring dialysis, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, unplanned intubation, septic shock, stroke, coma, or new neurological deficit...

Background: Chiari malformations type 1 (CM-1), a developmental anomaly of the posterior fossa, usually presents in adolescence or early adulthood. There are few studies on the national incidence of CM-1, taking into account outcomes based on concurrent diagnoses. To quantify trends in treatment and associated diagnoses, as retrospective review of the Kid's Inpatient Database (KID) from 2003-2012 was conducted. Methods: Patients aged 0-20 with primary diagnosis of CM-1 in the KID database were identified...

Background: Chordomas are rare malignant primary tumors of the spine. In the mobile spine and sacrum an en-bloc resection is associated with decreased rates of recurrence. Our objective was to identify the top cited articles in chordoma research and to further analyze characteristics of these articles. Methods: In March 2017, we used ISI Web of Science (v5.11, Thomas Reuter, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) to search for the following key word: "chordoma"...

Background: Retrospective review of a prospective database. Spine metastasis has been shown to occur in 40% of cancer patients with an annual incidence of over 18,000 cases in North America alone. In this study, we sought to explore the functional and survival outcomes of patients undergoing surgical treatment for metastatic disease of the spine. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of a prospective database at a major cancer center was conducted. A total of 55 patients who met the inclusion criteria from January 2010 to December 2015 were included...

Background: Controversy exists over the ability of various lumbar interbody fusion techniques to realign global and regional balance and their effect on patient outcomes. This is a retrospective cohort study to compare thirty-day postoperative outcomes between anterior and posterior interbody fusion techniques within a large national database. Methods: A retrospective cohort study utilizing the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database included 2,372 (29...