The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
-
Although routine transection of the C2 nerve root during atlantoaxial segmental screw fixation has been recommended by some surgeons, it remains controversial and to our knowledge no comparative studies have been performed to determine whether transection or preservation of the C2 nerve root affects patient-derived sensory outcomes. ⋯ C2 nerve root transection is not a benign procedure and, in our experience, more than a quarter of the patients experience increased neuralgic pain following C2 nerve root transection. Because the prevalence and intensity of postoperative neuralgia was significantly higher with C2 nerve root transection than with its preservation, we recommend against routine C2 nerve root transection when performing atlantoaxial segmental screw fixation.
-
Review Practice Guideline
An evidence-based clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (update).
The evidence-based clinical guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis by the North American Spine Society (NASS) provides evidence-based recommendations to address key clinical questions surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. The guideline is intended to reflect contemporary treatment concepts for symptomatic degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis as reflected in the highest quality clinical literature available on this subject as of July 2010. The goals of the guideline recommendations are to assist in delivering optimum efficacious treatment and functional recovery from this spinal disorder. ⋯ A clinical guideline for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis has been updated using the techniques of evidence-based medicine and using the best available clinical evidence to aid both practitioners and patients involved with the care of this condition. The entire guideline document, including the evidentiary tables, suggestions for future research, and all references, will be available electronically at the NASS Web site (www.spine.org) and will remain updated on a timely schedule.
-
Multilevel cervical myelopathy can be treated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or corpectomy via the anterior approach and laminoplasty via the posterior approach. Till date, there is no proven superior approach. ⋯ Our study showed that patients with multilevel disease treated with laminoplasty do well and compare favorably with patients treated with an anterior approach. Notably, posterior surgery was associated with shorter operating time, better improvement in JOA scores at 6 months, and a tendency toward lesser complications. Posterior surgery was not associated with increased neck disability and neck pain at 2 years. Anterior surgery had better NDI improvement at early follow-up. There is a need for a larger study that is prospectively randomized with long-term follow-up before we can confidently advocate one approach over the other in the management of cervical myelopathy.
-
The normal spine is not a symmetrical structure. In recent studies, we demonstrated the presence of an axial rotational pattern that is similar to what is seen in the most prevalent curve patterns in idiopathic scoliosis at different ages. This suggests that if the spine starts to decompensate into scoliosis, it follows this preexistent rotational pattern. In scoliosis, the neurocentral junctions (NCJs) close asymmetrically, which leads to a different pedicle morphology in the convexity and concavity of the curve. The present study aimed to establish at which age the NCJ closes in different regions of the spine, whether it closes asymmetrically in the nonscoliotic spine as well and whether the closure pattern is related to the earlier demonstrated preexistent rotation. ⋯ This study focuses on the asymmetry and the regional pattern of closure of the NCJs at different ages. It suggests that preexistent rotation of the spine is related to the asymmetrical closure of the NCJs. Whether the asymmetry is the cause of or is caused by the preexistent rotation cannot be derived from this study.
-
To our knowledge, no large series comparing the risk of vertebral artery injury by C1-C2 transarticular screw versus C2 pedicle screw have been published. In addition, no comparative studies have been performed on those with a high-riding vertebral artery and/or a narrow pedicle who are thought to be at higher risk than those with normal anatomy. ⋯ Overall, neither technique has more inherent anatomic risk of vertebral artery injury. However, in the presence of a high-riding vertebral artery, placement of a pedicle screw is significantly safer than the placement of a transarticular screw. Narrow pedicles, which might be anticipated to lead to higher risk for a pedicle screw than a transarticular screw, did not result in a significant difference because most patients (82%) with narrow pedicles had a concurrent high-riding vertebral artery that also increased the risk with a transarticular screw. Except in case of a high-riding vertebral artery, our results suggest that the surgeon can opt for either technique and expect similar anatomic risks of vertebral artery injury.