Bone Graft Harvesting
Summary of Key Points • Autogenous bone graft is still the gold standard graft substrate for achieving fusion. • It is therefore imperative that spine surgeons have an intimate knowledge…
Motion-Sparing, Nonimplant Surgery: Cervical Spine and Lumbar Spine
Summary of Key Points • There is a wide array of motion-sparing, nonimplant surgical procedures that can adequately address patients’ symptoms in a cost-effective manner if the proper presurgical and…
Adult Thoracic and Lumbar Deformity
Summary of Key Points • Adult spinal deformity (ASD) may be considered a spectrum of spinal malalignments. ASD includes spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, kyphosis, sagittal spinopelvic malalignment, and axial rotation. The most…
Myelomeningocele and Associated Anomalies
Summary of Key Points • Myelomeningocele, or spina bifida aperta, is defined as a dorsally protruding open neural tube defect. The etiology of myelomeningocele is multifactorial and heterogeneous. • Prenatal…
Minimally Invasive Techniques for Thoracolumbar Deformity
Summary of Key Points • The prevalence of adult spinal deformity is increasing due to an aging U.S. population. • Open surgical correction has been shown to lead to significantly…
Spinal Wound Closure
Summary of Key Points • Understanding spinal anatomy and the underlying structures provides grounds for managing spinal wounds. • Orderly and layered closure of any spinal wound, whether anterior or…
Spinal Augmentation for Vertebral Compression Fractures
Summary of Key Points • The percutaneous vertebral augmentation procedures vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are indicated for painful vertebral compression fractures refractory to conservative medical management. • Vertebroplasty involves injection of…
Minimally Invasive Spinal Decompression and Stabilization Techniques I: Philosophy and Rationale
Summary of Key Points • Minimally invasive spine surgery has gained popularity. It may be used for decompression and stabilization of all segments of the spine and spinal cord. •…
Chiari Malformations and Syringomyelia
Summary of Key Points • Chiari malformations are a spectrum of conditions involving bone and parenchymal abnormalities of the hindbrain and craniocervical junction (CVJ). The most common variant, Chiari I,…
Smoking and the Spine
Summary of Key Points • Tobacco is responsible for one in five deaths, and tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of death and disability in the United States….
