Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF): Is Trans-Psoas Surgery Associated with Muscle Size Changes and Clinical Findings?

Introduction: Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF) is based on a less-invasive access corridor through the retroperitoneum and psoas muscle, though concerns persist over postoperative weakness and neuropathy on the surgical side. This study investigates if the trans-psoas LLIF approach is associated with long-term changes in psoas morphology, hip flexor (HF) weakness, and lower extremity dysesthesia.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed all LLIF cases at a single institution from January 2016 to June 2024.

Global Insights Into Spondylodiscitis: A Bibliometric Analysis of Four Decades of Research.

The diagnosis and management of spondylodiscitis (SD) remain challenging for clinicians due to its insidious onset and nonspecific clinical presentation. Patients often have multiple comorbidities, requiring a multidisciplinary approach that may involve both nonsurgical and surgical interventions. This bibliometric study aims to analyze global research output on SD, exploring publication trends, citation patterns, contributing countries and journals, and commonly associated keywords.

What Is Worse: A Comparison of Solitary Versus Multifocal Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis Using a Nationwide Analysis of Readmission Rates and Risk Factors.

Spondylodiscitis is a growing infectious condition with significant morbidity. The impact of multifocal involvement remains understudied. This study compared 90-day all-cause readmission rates between patients with solitary versus multifocal spondylodiscitis and identified the associated risk factors.

Cervical Sagittal Alignment Revisited on the Path to Personalized Spine Surgery: A Big Picture Perspective through Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization.

Objective: Spinal alignment has become a focal point of spine deformity surgery amid an increased emphasis on global balance. Following a strong focus on thoracolumbar alignment, the cervical spine has recently emerged as a key area for further investigations. We applied formal bibliographic analytic techniques to assess trends regarding cervical sagittal alignment over time.

Characteristics of noncontinuous multilevel spinal fractures: an age-group specific analysis.

Objective: Noncontinuous multilevel fractures (NMF) are complex injuries characterized by spinal fractures at non-adjacent levels, with reported incidence ranging from 1.6 to 17.7% depending on imaging modalities.

Readmission rates and hospital charges: a comparative study of surgical interventions in degenerative spondylolisthesis and spinal canal stenosis.

Objective: Degenerative spondylolisthesis and spinal canal stenosis are some of the more common clinical conditions associated with low back pain, with various surgical techniques available, ranging from standalone decompression to fusion. Interspinous spacer devices (ISD) have emerged as an intermediary surgical option. The aim was to compare 90-day all-cause readmission rates between techniques, with secondary outcomes including total hospital charges and postoperative complications.

The Impact of Location on De Novo Spondylodiscitis: Regions Matter but Are Secondary to Comorbidities.

: Primary spondylodiscitis (SD) cases surging in incidence globally remain a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for physicians. The effect of lesion location on outcomes remains unclear. This study aims to assess the 90-day all-cause readmission rate in patients suffering from spondylodiscitis in different regions of the spine, with a secondary objective of comparing in-hospital mortality rates.

The conundrum of finding an optimal spondylodiscitis treatment pathway: how do treatments affect readmission rates?

Objective: The rising incidence of spondylodiscitis (SD) poses a challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. Treatment approaches are inconsistent, devoid of standardized algorithms and lack evidence-based guidelines. To date there is a knowledge gap relative to treatment, readmission rates and efficacy for different SD management strategies.

Beyond the Spine: Exploring Mental Health Disorders in Spondylodiscitis.

: Spondylodiscitis (SD) is a challenging and multifaceted condition with increasing incidences globally. Mental health disorders (MHDs) are well recognized for their negative impacts on outcomes. To our knowledge, the effects of MHDs on SD have not been studied.

In-Hospital mortality in Spondylodiscitis: Risk factors assessed through the National Inpatient Sample analysis.

Objective: Spondylodiscitis (SD) poses an increasing challenge to healthcare providers by its insidious onset and diverse clinical manifestations, concurrent with an aging population, immunocompromising conditions and various influencing comorbidities. Overall mortality remains relatively high, up to 7.3%, despite advancements in diagnostics and treatment.

Surgical procedure and retrospective comparative series of Microport's AnteriorPath vs. AMIS in total hip arthroplasty. Preliminary findings from a single institution.

Objective: In recent years, the paradigm of surgical approaches for total hip arthroplasty (THA) has evolved, with portal-assisted techniques emerging as a promising avenue for increasing precision and minimizing invasiveness. The purpose of this study was to compare early experience with the Microport anterior percutaneously (MAP) assisted THA system, with the established AMIS direct anterior approach (DAA).

Material And Methods: A retrospective chart analysis was performed on 200 consecutive patients who underwent DAA or MAP at our institution in 2022.

Surgical Approach and Complications of Stand-alone Lateral Trans-Psoas Interbody Fusion.

Interbody fusion of the lumbar spine is a standard procedure for symptomatic degenerative lumbar spine disease if conservative treatment fails. Surgical decompression and fusion of the segment can be achieved using several different techniques. Over the last decades, minimally invasive techniques, such as lateral interbody fusion (LLIF), have been developed to reduce tissue damage and complications and allow quicker patient recovery.

Spine surgery and readmission: Risk factors in lumbar corpectomy patients.

Background: A corpectomy of the lumbar spine is a widely performed surgical procedure with numerous indications. Previous research predominantly focused on various surgical techniques and their outcomes, lacking a general and comprehensive analysis of factors affecting this procedure. With this study, we aimed to assess the all-cause 90-day readmission rate and identify risk factors for adverse events following a lumbar corpectomy.

The Impact of Hypoalbuminemia on Outcomes in Non-Surgically Treated Patients With Central Cord Injury.

Study designDatabase study.ObjectivesAcute traumatic central cord syndrome (atCCS) is the most common incomplete spinal cord injury in the US, characterized by motor weakness of the upper extremities with relative sparing of the lower extremities and varying degrees of bladder dysfunction and sensory changes caudal to the lesion. Hypoalbuminemia (HA) has previously been associated with poorer outcomes following acute spinal cord injury.

The Importance of Preserving the Posterior Ligament Complex in Elective Lumbar Fusion Surgery: Early Results from a Single-Center Experience.

Background:  Adjacent segment disease (ASD) is a degenerative condition at the segment adjacent to a previously fused segment. Potential risk factors for ASD, such as posterior ligamentous complex (PLC) integrity between the upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) and the first unfused segment (UIV+1), have not been addressed. The objective of this study is to assess the PLC integrity between the UIV and UIV+1 following posterior lumbar decompression and fusion (PLDF).

Malnutrition in spondylodiscitis: an overlooked risk factor.

Objective: Spondylodiscitis presents a significant diagnostic and treatment challenge to healthcare providers, with various risk factors and treatment outcomes having been identified. Malnutrition, a multifactorial condition defined by imbalance or deficiency of nutrients, is a known risk factor for various adverse events such as postoperative infection and readmissions in spine surgery. However, its impact in SD has not yet been explored.

Incidence and predictors of readmission following hospitalization for thoracic disc herniation.

Objective: Symptomatic thoracic disc herniations (TDH) are relatively rare and can be discovered incidentally on neuroimaging. Surgical interventions for TDH represent only 4 % of all surgeries performed for intervertebral disc pathologies, which are most commonly indicated for myelopathy and radiculopathy. Given the absence of publications on rates of readmissions following hospitalization for TDH, we aim to establish baseline metrics for the 90-day all-cause readmission rates and pertinent risk factors.

The Association of Bone Mineral Density with Distal Junctional Kyphosis and Distal Junctional Failure After Multilevel Spine Fusions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Distal junctional kyphosis (DJK) and distal junctional failure (DJF) are known complications of adult multilevel spinal fusion surgery. Previous literature has extensively investigated proximal junctional kyphosis and proximal junctional failure, but DJK and DJF are relatively understudied. This study investigates the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and DJK/DJF via a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hemiarthroplasty in Proximal Humerus Fractures: Does Modular Metaphyseal Stem Design Lead to Better Results? An Analysis of 24 Cases.

Introduction: Anatomic hemiarthroplasty (aHA) is a treatment option for non-reconstructable constructable multifragment proximal humeral fractures that preserves range of motion. Our study aims to evaluate the radiographic and clinical outcomes of patients who received a modular aHA with anatomical sizing of the tubercle-bearing metaphyseal components.

Materials And Methods: The medical records of thirty-nine consecutive patients were reviewed.

The hidden risk: Intracranial hemorrhage following durotomies in spine surgery.

Objective: Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) after durotomy in elective spine surgery, though rare, can pose a significant risk to patient outcomes. Spine surgeries bear a risk of dural tears (DT) with potential of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage (PCSFL). Excessive PCSFL can precipitate a decrease in intracranial pressure, potentially leading to ICH.

The Postoperative Airway Compromise Score-First Steps to Developing a Postoperative Tool for the Assessment of Upper Airway-Related Complications Following Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery.

Background: Acute upper airway compromise is a rare but catastrophic complication after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. This study aims to develop a score to identify patients at risk of acute postoperative airway compromise (PAC).

Methods: Potential risk factors for acute PAC were selected by a modified Delphi process.

The Impact of the SARS-COVID-19 Lockdowns on the Subjectively Perceived Performance Level of Amateur Athletes after Returning to the Gyms.

Since December 2019, few issues have garnered as much global attention as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-19). The imposed lockdowns in 2020/21, which led to the closure of all gyms, barred people from participating in their favourite sports activities. This study explores athletes' self-evaluations of their performance levels upon return to training facilities post-reopening.