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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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.
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Examination with CT and image registration is a new technique that we have previously used to assess 3D segmental motions in the lumbar spine in a phantom. Current multi-slice computed tomography (CT) offers highly accurate spatial volume resolution without significant distortion and modern CT scanners makes it possible to reduce the radiation dose to the patients. Our aim was to assess segmental movement in the lumbar spine with the aforementioned method in healthy subjects and also to determine rotation accuracy on phantom vertebrae. ⋯ This method to assess movement in the lumbar spine is a truly 3D method with a high precision giving both visual and numerical output. We believe that this method for measuring spine movement is useful both in research and in clinical settings.