Overview The lumbosacral junction–the confluence of the lumbar spine, sacrum, and ilium—can be afflicted by traumatic, infectious, degenerative, deformative (scoliosis), and neoplastic processes. Surgical management of diseases that affect the…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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….
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…
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…
