Overview The posterior-only treatment of Scheuermann kyphosis using segmental posterior shortening and instrumentation has been a treatment option for over 20 years. Early reports detail the poor results with posterior-only…
Overview As the terminal segment of the spine, the sacrum is subjected to substantial forces as it transmits axial loads from the lumbar spine to the adjacent ilia via the…
Overview Large and rigid scoliotic deformities can be treated with many methods that are constantly evolving. Preoperative traction has been reported by many authors for the treatment of rigid curves…
Overview Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) has evolved as one of the predominant surgical techniques for the treatment of diskogenic back pain. Through an anterior retroperitoneal approach, the entire ventral…
Overview The surgical management of sacral fractures is challenging. Although they are rare injuries, they often present with a wide variety of injury and fracture patterns. Presentations vary from high-energy…
Background Each year in the United States, approximately 150,000 to 170,000 people sustain spinal column fractures; most of these will be caused by trauma, and such injuries can lead to…
Overview The technique for ipsilateral lumbar transfacet fixation (ILTF) was first described by King in 1948. It was modified in 1959 by Boucher, who reported the results of transfacet fixation…
Overview The understanding of preserving normal tissues to achieve surgical goals drives surgeons to adapt to minimally invasive spine surgery. The current posterior microscopic lumbar diskectomy is still considered a…
General Considerations Degenerative spine disease, or spondylosis, affects everyone—the infirm and the healthy, the sedentary and the athletic, the young and the old. Spondylosis occurs throughout the spine but is…
Classifications of Spinal Fractures Historical Review The classification, management, surgical approaches, and stabilization techniques for thoracolumbar fractures have been undergoing continuous evolution over the past few decades. Appropriate classification of…
