Summary of Key Points • Acute spinal cord injury consists of a traumatic primary injury followed by secondary injury resulting from a progressive cascade of local pathophysiologic processes. This happens…
Summary of Key Points • Systems of describing spinal column injuries have historically focused on fracture classification and morphology. With advancements in our understanding of spinal biomechanics, modern classification systems…
Summary of Key Points • Spinal fractures are relatively common injuries that are more likely to occur at the thoracolumbar junction, are associated with neurologic injury in up to 20%…
Summary of Key Points • The rarity of pediatric spinal cord injury (SCI) requires a review of the principles of medical management. • The goals of management are to optimize…
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,…
Summary of Key Points • Spinal vascular malformations can be divided into four types including spinal dural fistulae, arteriovenous malformation (AVM) like glomus fissula, juvenile AVM, and ventral fistulae, although…
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…
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…
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. •…
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…
