Timing of Surgery Following Spinal Cord Injury
Summary of Key Points • The timing of surgery following spinal cord injury should be determined so as to best reduce the extent of secondary injury, avoid hypotension and hypoxia,…
Spinal Dural and Extradural Vascular Malformations
Summary of Key Points • A high index of suspicion for spinal fistula must be exercised in patients with myelopathy and an underwhelming magnetic resonance imaging. • Flow voids dorsal…
Spinal Infections: Diagnosis and Treatment of Discitis, Osteomyelitis, and Epidural Abscess
Summary of Key Points • Diagnosis of spinal infections requires a high index of suspicion due to an insidious onset and nonspecific symptoms, especially in children. • Predisposing risk factors…
Sacral Tumors: Regional Challenges
Summary of Key Points • Percutaneous computed tomography–guided biopsy should be performed in patients when diagnosis may influence the decision to proceed with surgery or the extent of surgery. •…
Staging, Classification, and Oncologic Approaches for Metastatic Tumors Involving the Spine
Summary of Key Points • The NOMS Framework consists of four considerations (neurologic, oncologic, mechanical, and systemic) and facilitates decision making in patients with metastatic spine tumors. • Conventional external…
Thoracic and Lumbar Spondylosis
Summary of Key Points • Lumbar and thoracic spondylosis is a progressive age- and usage-related disorder. • In degenerative spondylosis, the generation of pain may be due to facet hypertrophy,…
Prognostic Factors, Surgical Outcomes, and Guidelines for Managing Metastatic Spine Cancer
Summary of Key Points • A growing number of patients with spinal metastasis are living longer due to better systemic therapies. • The management of patients with spinal metastasis requires…
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Summary of Key Points • The majority of operative interventions on the spine in rheumatoid arthritis patients occur at the C1-2 level due to pannus formation or instability. • Current…
Primary and Metastatic Bone Lesions
Summary of Key Points • Metastatic disease is by far the most prevalent form of spinal neoplasia. • Primary tumors of the spine are far more rare. • Management of…
Spondylectomy for Spinal Tumors
Summary of Key Points • In the cervical spine, the vertebral arteries must be carefully assessed for tumor involvement and to determine whether they can be sacrificed. • T2-12 thoracic…
