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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The conventional open pedicle screw fusion (PSF) requires an extensive detachment of the paraspinal muscle from the posterior aspect of the lumbar spine, which can cause muscle injury and subsequently lead to "approach-related morbidity". The spinous process-splitting (SPS) approach for decompression, unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression, and the Wiltse approach for pedicle screw insertion are considered to be less invasive to the paraspinal musculature. We investigated whether SPS open PSF combined with the abovementioned techniques attenuates the paraspinal muscle damage and yields favorable clinical results, including alleviation in the low back discomfort, in comparison to the conventional open PSF. ⋯ In conclusion, SPS open PSF was less damaging to the paraspinal muscle than the conventional open PSF and had a significant clinical effect, reducing low back discomfort over 1 year after the surgery.
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Far-lateral extraforaminal lumbar disc herniation is an uncommon cause of nerve root entrapment, and studies addressing the long-term outcome of surgically treated patients are few. The purpose of this study was to analyze the ultra-long-term outcome of patients who were treated via a lateral approach. ⋯ The lateral approach is a minimally invasive and safe procedure with low complication rates. The profit from surgery is maintained beyond the usual postoperative observation periods. Thus, ultimate outcome at ultra-long-term follow-up is very gratifying in the vast majority of patients.
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Thoracic disc disease with radicular pain and myelopathic symptoms can have serious neurological sequelae. The authors present a relevant treatment option. ⋯ Thoracoscopic microdiscectomy for single level symptomatic disc herniation is a highly effective and reliable technique, it can be performed safely with low complication rate.
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In this prospective study the purpose was to evaluate patients with lumbar-disc herniation regarding changes in back-muscle fatigue and subjective health measurements 2 years after surgery. ⋯ Both EMG and endurance time measurements are needed for evaluating fatigue in lumbar-disc herniation.
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Surgical treatment is mandatory for spinal pseudarthrosis in advanced ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients with painful sagittal deformity and/or neurological deficits. However, the most effective and safe surgical procedure for AS-related symptomatic thoracolumbar pseudarthrosis is still controversial. The purpose of this study is to explore the outcomes of pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) at the level of pseudarthrotic lesion combined with supplemental anterior fusion for patients suffering from kyphotic pseudarthrosis in AS. ⋯ PSO can be safely performed through the site of pseudarthrotic lesion in AS patients with pseudarthrosis and kyphotic deformity. After PSO, supplemental anterior fusion is sometimes necessary to support the anterior and middle column in a second stage if there is a bone defect in the osteotomy site.