Instructional course lectures
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Neck pain is a common complaint that typically represents a spectrum of disorders affecting the cervical spine. The clinical history and examination of patients with neck pain dictate the proper timing and selection of diagnostic studies such as plain radiography, MRI, and myelography with CT. ⋯ Nonsurgical treatment is the most appropriate first step in almost all cases of cervical radiculopathy. In contrast, the conservative care of cervical spondylotic myelopathy with measures such as physical therapy, spinal manipulation, medications, collars, and traction is limited.
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Neural injuries that occur after total hip arthroplasty (THA) can be classified as involving either the central nervous system or peripheral nerves. Central nervous system changes after THA may be attributed to increased appreciation of fat embolism syndrome associated with THA. Certain maneuvers such as impacting the acetabulum, femoral reaming, and cement pressurization can force marrow fat into the venous system. ⋯ The mechanisms of vascular injury include occlusion associated with preexisting peripheral vascular disease and vascular injury during removal of cement during screw fixation of acetabular components, cages, or structural grafts. Perioperative assessment should include vascular evaluation of patients with absent pulses, previous vascular bypass surgery, or dysvascular limbs. A CT scan should be considered when cement or components extend medially into the pelvis.
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Osteoporosis has received heightened attention over the past 2 decades because of its overwhelming cost to society. It is one of the most common diseases affecting both men and women. The key to treatment is early prevention accompanied by modification of risk factors and impact-oriented exercise, optimal medical management with antiresorptive medications, and addressing the complications of this disease such as compression fractures and spinal deformities. ⋯ The surgical treatment of deformities such as kyphosis and scoliosis can be very challenging given the poor bone quality and propensity for instrumentation cutout. The surgical treatment of spinal stenosis in the face of deformity in these patients requires keen surgical planning and a clear identification of the source of the patient's complaints--be it the deformity, the stenosis, or both. Several advances in instrumentation, such as the use of laminar fixation (if available), multisegment fixation, limited correction of the deformity, and augmentation of pedicle screw purchase through biologic and nonbiologic fillers have been developed.
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Degenerative cervical disk disease is a ubiquitous condition that is, for the most part, asymptomatic. When symptoms do arise as a result of these degenerative changes, they can be easily grouped into axial pain, radiculopathy and myelopathy. While the pathophysiology of radiculopathy and myelopathy is better understood, the source of neck pain remains somewhat controversial. ⋯ The natural history of these conditions suggests that for the most part patients with axial symptoms are best treated without surgery, while some patients with radiculopathy will continue to be disabled by their pain, and may be candidates for surgery. Myelopathic patients are unlikely to show significant improvement, and in most cases will show stepwise deterioration. Surgical decompression and stabilization should be considered in these patients.
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Complex elbow fractures are exceedingly challenging to treat. Treatment of severe distal humeral fractures fails because of either displacement or nonunion at the supracondylar level or stiffness resulting from prolonged immobilization. Coronal shear fractures of the capitellum and trochlea are difficult to repair and may require extensile exposure. ⋯ Articular injury to the radial head is commonly more severe than noted on plain radiographs. Fracture fragments are often anterior. Implants applied to the surface of the radial head must be placed in a safe zone.