Dural Tears
Overview In spinal surgery, the occurrence of dural tears, both incidental and nonincidental, is not uncommon. Dural tears are more common with certain spinal procedures, such as revision laminectomy surgery,…
Thoracoscopic and Posterior Endoscopic Approaches to the Thoracic Spine
Thoracoscopic Approach Overview For the surgery of thoracic spinal tumors, open thoracotomy is usually used. However, morbidity associated with conventional open thoracotomy often limits the application of anterior approaches to…
Surgical Management of Gunshot Wounds to the Spine
Overview Gunshot wounds (GSWs) to the spine represent a major health problem in U.S. metropolitan areas as well as in military hospitals. With the perpetually escalating levels of violence, civilian…
Primary Malignant and Benign Tumors of the Spine
Overview Spinal tumors are generally categorized by location, and they fall into three anatomic groups: 1) extradural, 2) intradural-extramedullary, and 3) intramedullary. Primary malignant and benign tumors are typically extradural…
Anterior Release and Fusion Techniques for Scoliosis
Overview Although anterior approaches to the thoracolumbar spine date as far back as the 1930s, first-generation anterior column instrumentation was developed in 1968 by Dwyer and colleagues and was composed…
Surgical Technique for Resection of Intradural Tumors
Overview Primary tumors of the spinal cord are relatively rare, comprising 2% to 4% of all primary central nervous system tumors. Spinal tumors are generally identified by location and can…
Bone Graft Harvesting Techniques
Overview The success of many spinal procedures is determined by successful bone graft fusion. Although instrumentation can provide immediate rigid fixation, ultimately, bone fusion must occur to prevent long-term failure….
Surgical Management of Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis
Overview Adult degenerative scoliosis remains a challenging problem for patients and spine surgeons. Treatment decisions can be complicated by social, psychologic, and medical factors. Patient outcomes can be optimized by…
Iliac Fixation
Overview The lumbosacral junction of the spine is a high stress area; it is the transition from the highly mobile lumbar spine to the rigid pelvis. As a result of…
Surgical Treatment of Flat Back Deformity
Overview Flat back syndrome, otherwise known as fixed sagittal imbalance, describes a clinical entity that results in a symptomatic and fixed loss of physiologic lumbar lordosis, causing an overall spinal…
