Cervical Fusion Techniques Unmasked: Plating vs. Cage-Only.

Aim: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a common surgical intervention for degenerative cervical spine conditions. The use of anterior plating alongside cage-only techniques in ACDF remains a topic of debate due to concerns regarding sagittal alignment, clinical outcomes, complications and adjacent segment pathology.In this study, we aimed to compare fusion with anterior plating and cage (PLATE) versus cage-only (CAGE-O) technique on postoperative cervical sagittal alignment parameters, clinical outcome and complication profiles following two-level ACDF.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures and Postoperative Sagittal Balance.

Background: Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) lead to posture restrictions, back muscle fatigue, difficulty walking, impaired lung function, an increased risk of disability, and severe pain. Collectively, these symptoms significantly diminish patients' quality of life. While non-surgical management is often attempted, it may prove inadequate for cases involving walking difficulties and sagittal imbalance.

Dynamic vs. Rigid: Transforming the Treatment Landscape for Multisegmental Lumbar Degeneration.

Multisegmental lumbar degenerative disease (ms-LDD) is a common condition in older adults, often requiring surgical intervention. While rigid stabilization remains the gold standard, it is associated with complications such as adjacent segment disease (ASD), higher blood loss, and longer recovery times. The Dynesys dynamic stabilization system offers an alternative by preserving motion while stabilizing the spine.

Comparison of Hybrid Dynamic Stabilization with TLIF Versus Dynamic Stabilization Alone in Degenerative Lumbar Instability.

: This study aimed to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of dynamic rod stabilization with and without transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in patients undergoing surgery for degenerative lumbar instability. Specifically, we evaluated the prognostic value of hybrid systems in reducing adjacent segment disease (ASD), enhancing fusion rates, and improving functional outcomes. : A retrospective analysis was conducted on 62 patients treated between 2019 and 2022.

Neuroprotection unveiled: melatonin mitigates apoptotic pathways in traumatic brain injury.

Objective: This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of melatonin in mice subjected to traumatic brain injury (TBI), focusing on caspase-dependent apoptotic signaling pathways.

Materials And Methods: A total of 21 mice were divided into three groups: control, trauma (TBI), and trauma + melatonin (TBI + M). TBI was induced in the TBI and TBI + M groups via a free-fall impact on the frontal lobes.

Dynamic Stabilization: A Game-Changer in Disc Herniation Surgery.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of dynamic stabilization as an alternative to traditional fusion surgery for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation and degenerative disc disease, focusing on its impact on segmental stability and patient outcomes.

Background: Back pain is a prevalent global health issue, often caused by abnormal load distribution rather than movement. Key diagnoses such as lumbar disc herniation and degenerative disc disease are linked to spinal instability.

Battle of the authors: Comparing neurosurgery articles written by humans and AI.

Background: The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has led to its application in various fields, including medical literature. This study compares the quality of neurosurgery articles written by human authors and those generated by ChatGPT, an advanced AI model. The objective was to determine if AI-generated articles meet the standards of human-written academic papers.

Dynamic stabilization for unilateral spinal pathologies: clinical efficacy and safety outcomes.

Background: Fusion operations using transpedicular screws and cages are commonly employed for spinal stabilization, but they present with drawbacks including increased rigidity and altered biomechanics. Complications such as adjacent segment disease, pseudoarthrosis, and implant failure are often associated with traditional rigid stabilization techniques. To address these challenges, unilateral dynamic stabilization has emerged as a novel approach for patients with unilateral spinal pathologies.

Odontoid remodeling with occipital condyle stabilization in patients with metastatic C2 involvement.

The occipitocervical junction (OCJ) is a complex anatomical region crucial for protecting the lower brain stem, upper spinal cord, and lower cranial nerves. Instability in this area can lead to severe outcomes such as chronic pain, neurological deficits, or death. Various surgical techniques have been developed for OCJ stabilization, particularly using occipital condyle screws, which have shown promise in providing stability and preserving neck rotation.

Use of 3- Dimensional Modeling and Virtual Reality in the Education of Posterior Spinal Instrumentation.

Aim: To assess the effectiveness and safety of Virtual Reality (VR) simulations for education of posterior spinal instrumentation.

Material And Methods: Participants were instructed to apply Cervical-Thoracic-Lumbar and Sacral posterior instrumentation techniques using the VR. Each participant underwent a qualitative assessment of the use of the VR.

Unlocking Precision in Spinal Surgery: Evaluating the Impact of Neuronavigation Systems.

Objective: In spine surgery, ensuring the safety of vital structures is crucial, and various instruments contribute to the surgeon's confidence. This study aims to present outcomes from spinal cases operated on using the freehand technique and neuronavigation with an O-arm in our clinic. Additionally, we investigate the impact of surgical experience on outcomes by comparing early and late cases operated on with neuronavigation.

Assessment of Increased T2 Signal Activity in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Undergoing Posterior Cervical Fusion.

Aim: To compare the preoperative and postoperative increased signal intensity (ISI) outcomes of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients who underwent posterior decompression and fusion, and to assess the correlation between ISI changes and postsurgical clinical prognosis.

Material And Methods: The results from 123 patients were evaluated. In addition to demographic data, such as age and gender, factors, including body mass index (BMI); smoking history; duration of symptoms; follow-up periods; levels of decompression and fusion; comorbidities, such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, and hypertension; ISI grading; cervical sagittal vertical axis; C2-7 cervical lordosis parameters; and Modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) scores, were statistically analyzed preoperatively and postoperatively.

Two-Stage Lumbar Dynamic Stabilization Surgery: A Comprehensive Analysis of Screw Loosening Rates and Functional Outcomes Compared to Single-Stage Approach in Osteopenic and Osteoporotic Patients.

Background: Dynamic lumbar stabilization aims to preserve spinal movement, offering stability and controlled motion. However, screw loosening, especially in patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis, remains challenging.

Method: Between 2018 and 2022, a retrospective analysis was conducted on a total of 119 patients diagnosed with osteopenia and osteoporosis who underwent spinal dynamic instrumentation surgery.

Clinical parameters of laminoplasty and laminectomy with fusion in the treatment of cervical spondylosis and analysis of postoperative sagittal balance.

Background/aim: Cervical spondylosis is a progressive disease that causes degenerative changes affecting the spine, intervertebral discs, facets, and ligaments. With anterior and posterior surgical interventions, effective treatments can be applied in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). The relationship between regional and global spinal alignment and functional and pain outcomes was examined and it was revealed that these parameters play a significant role in obtaining good results.

Efficacy and Advantages of Spinal Anesthesia in Lumbar Disk Surgery.

Background:  Quality of life (QoL) may be affected due to various reasons such as low back or leg pains with accompanying neurologic problems. Lumbar disk surgery is one of the most common performed surgeries to relieve those symptoms. Various anesthetic techniques can be used safely to perform lumbar disk surgeries.

Can Dynamic Spinal Stabilization Be an Alternative to Fusion Surgery in Adult Spinal Deformity Cases?

Background: Rigid stabilization and fusion surgery are widely used for the correction of spinal sagittal and coronal imbalance (SCI). However, instrument failure, pseudoarthrosis, and adjacent segment disease are frequent complications of rigid stabilization and fusion surgery in elderly patients. In this study, we present the results of dynamic stabilization and 2-stage dynamic stabilization surgery for the treatment of spinal SCI.

The association between calreticulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 expressions with prognostic factors in high-grade gliomas.

Objective: The aim of this study is to present the expressions of Calreticulin (CALR) and Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in high-grade gliomas and to further show the relation between the levels of these molecules and Ki-67 index, presence of Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-1 mutation, and tumor grade.

Patients And Methods: A total of 43 patients who underwent surgical resection due to high-grade gliomas (HGG) (grades III and IV) were included. The control group comprised 27 people who showed no gross pathology in the brain during the autopsy procedures.

Does long segment subarachnoido-subarachnoid shunt prevent posttraumatic and postinfectious spinal arachnoid cyst recurrence?: technical note and case series.

Syringomyelia associated with extensive spinal adhesive arachnoiditis (SAA) can be defined as a rare but progressive disease with potentially devastating clinical consequences. Diagnosis can be challenging due to the absence of specific clinical findings, confusion with other pathologies, and late imaging modalities. The treatment strategy for syringomyelia associated with extensive SAA should include direct drainage of the syringomyelia, and dissection of the adhesive arachnoid with expansive duraplasty.

Is The Modular Dynamic System as Effective as Classical Dynamic Systems in Long Segment Dynamic Thoracolumbar Stabilization?

Aim: To evaluate the outcomes of dynamic stabilization in the multilevel degenerative spondylotic spine, and to compare the two dynamic systems (Dynesys® and Orthrus®) to reveal the increasing role of dynamic systems in the management of the degenerative spine.

Material And Methods: A total of 74 patients who received dynamic stabilization for degenerative pathologies were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic details: preoperative data including neurological status, pain scores, and radiology; and intraoperative data including blood loss, duration of surgery, complications, and postoperative data including the neurologic status, duration of hospital stay, and pain scores were examined.

Use of Dynamic Spinal Instruments (Dynesys) in Adult Spinal Deformities According to Silva-Lenke and Berjano-Lamartina Classifications.

Background: Adult spinal deformities (ASD) present complex challenges in spine surgery. The diverse nature of these deformities requires a comprehensive understanding of their classification and treatment options. Traditional approaches, such as fusion and rigid stabilization are associated with complications, including screw loosening, breakage, proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK), and pseudoarthrosis.

Posterior video-assisted trans pedicular surgery for calcified midline thoracic disc herniation.

Background: In the treatment of patients with calcified midline thoracic disc herniation (CMTDH), the posterior video-assisted transpedicular surgery (VATPS) technique is employed. Both anterior and posterior surgical approaches for treating CMTDH carry a significant risk of surgical complications and potential morbidity. This technical note introduces a surgical procedure that avoids the drawbacks associated with these approaches.

Clinical and radiological analysis of the effects of three different lumbar transpedicular dynamic stabilization system on disc degeneration and regeneration.

Objective: This study aims to assess the clinical outcomes of three transpedicular dynamic systems in treating degenerative disc disease and evaluate their impact on both clinical and radiological aspects of the operated and adjacent segments.

Materials And Methods: A total of 111 patients who underwent posterior transpedicular short-segment dynamic system procedures for treatment of degenerative disc disease were included. The patients were categorized into three groups, namely, Group 1 (Dynesys system,  = 38), Group 2 (Safinaz screw + PEEK rod,  = 37), and Group 3 (Safinaz screw + titanium rod,  = 36).