Association of insulin-like growth factor 1 serum levels with early recovery and in-hospital complications after spinal fusion.

Objective: Sterile surgical trauma triggers a hormonal stress response that promotes a catabolic state, leading to fatigue, muscle loss, and impaired recovery. This postoperative catabolism is mediated, in part, by a decrease in insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), a key anabolic hormone regulated by human growth hormone (HGH). Given the established role of IGF-1 in muscle maintenance, tissue regeneration, and as a sensitive marker of nutritional status, the authors aimed to determine whether baseline IGF-1 levels, assessed using age- and sex-adjusted z-scores, predict short-term postoperative medical complications and discharge disposition following spinal fusion surgery.

Breaking Down Instability: The Associations between Muscle Health, Facet Joint Morphology, Spinopelvic Alignment, and Stability Status in Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: to compare muscle health and imaging markers in patients with 1-level L4-L5 stable versus unstable degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS).

Summary Of Background Data: DLS may be stable or unstable.

Development and validation of a novel survey measuring lumbar activity levels: the Hospital for Special Surgery Core Health Evaluation-Lumbar Activity Rating Scale (HSS CHEV-LARS).

Background Content: Preoperative activity level provides a key baseline metric to evaluate postoperative recovery. Preoperative physical therapy also may positively impact length of stay and postoperative mobility after spine surgery. While there are surveys measuring activity levels in other areas of orthopedics (eg knee, shoulder, ankle), there are no such validated surveys in spine surgery.

Temporal Changes in PROMs Improvement and Recovery Kinetics Following Transforaminal Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: to analyze trends in PROMs improvement and recovery kinetics following transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy and foraminotomy (TELD).

Summary Of Background Data: As TELDs become an increasingly common alternative to fusions for lateral disc herniations, it is important to understand patients' postoperative recovery timelines to manage patient expectations.

Comparative Analysis of Three Posterior-Only Surgical Techniques for Isthmic L5-S1 Spondylolisthesis.

Objective: To compare adults with isthmic L5-S1 spondylolisthesis who were treated with three different surgical techniques: PS-only, TS, and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion/posterior lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF/PLIF).

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of adults with L5-S1 isthmic spondylolisthesis (grade ≥2) who underwent primary all-posterior operations with pedicle screws. Patients were excluded if they had <1 year follow-up, anterior approaches, and trans-sacral fibular grafts.

Bone Marrow Derived Extracellular Vesicles Activate Osteoclast Differentiation in Traumatic Brain Injury Induced Bone Loss.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major source of worldwide morbidity and mortality. Patients suffering from TBI exhibit a higher susceptibility to bone loss and an increased rate of bone fractures; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. Herein, we observed significantly lower bone quality and elevated levels of inflammation in bone and bone marrow niche after controlled cortical impact-induced TBI in in vivo CD-1 mice.

Role of MicroRNA-141 in the Aging Musculoskeletal System: A Current Overview.

MicroRNA's are small non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of genes by targeting the 3' UTR's of mRNA. Studies reveal that miRNAs play a pivotal role in normal musculoskeletal function such as mesenchymal stem cell differentiation, survivability and apoptosis, osteogenesis, and chondrogenesis. Changes in normal miRNA expression have been linked to a number of pathological disease processes.