Medical Management of Neck and Low Back Pain
Summary of Key Points • Acute low back pain is common and has an excellent short-term prognosis. • Psychosocial variables are superior to structural findings or discography as predictors of…
Psychosocial Aspects and Work-Related Issues Regarding Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
Summary of Key Points • Low back pain and low back disability are two separate but related issues. • Patients with chronic pain represent significant challenges for the spine surgeon….
Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis
Summary of Key Points • Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a noninflammatory disease of unknown etiology that involves the entheses with preference for the thoracic spine. • DISH is…
Lumbar Interbody Cages
Summary of Key Points • Lumbar interbody cages are commonly used to supplement fusion procedures and function to stabilize the anterior spine, increase the area for fusion, provide indirect decompression…
Complex Lumbosacropelvic Fixation Techniques
Summary of Key Points • Diseases of the sacrum and lumbosacral junction lead to clinically complex problems for surgical treatment and biomechanical stabilization. • The lumbosacral pivot point, the axis…
Dorsal Thoracic and Lumbar Screw Fixation and Pedicle Fixation Techniques
Summary of Key Points • Anatomy of the pedicle varies between levels; knowledge of this anatomy is essential for proper pedicle screw placement. • Other than intraoperative fluoroscopy, navigation systems…
Anterior and Anterolateral Thoracic and Lumbar Spine Decompression and Fusion
Summary of Key Points • Anterior decompression and fusion of the thoracic and lumbar spine can be technically challenging and typically requires a thoracotomy or retroperitoneal approach involving the great…
Laminotomy, Laminectomy, Laminoplasty, and Foraminotomy
Summary of Key Points • Proper positioning of the patient prior to surgery is key to facilitating exposure and minimizing positional complications such as facial edema, ophthalmic difficulties, pressure issues,…
Paracoccygeal Transsacral Approach to the Lumbosacral Junction for Interbody Fusion
Summary of Key Points • The paracoccygeal transsacral approach is a minimally invasive surgical technique to achieve lumbar interbody fusion at L5-S1 or both L4-5 and L5-S1. • The unique…
Dorsal Thoracic and Lumbar Combined and Complex Techniques
Summary of Key Points • Posterior fixation techniques provide anchors that allow for significant manipulation and fixation of the spine. • Construct planning is critical, and the biomechanics of the…
