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Background The risk of posterior cage migration (PCM) exists when a fusion cage is used for transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). This complication is influenced by contact pressure between the endplate and the cage. Previous reports demonstrated that anteriorly located cages bore more load and had greater strain than posteriorly located cages. However, there have been no detailed reports on the correlation between cage positioning and PCM. Methods From March 2014 to October 2015, we reviewed 953 patients receiving open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and bilateral pedicle screw instrumentation. One hundred patients without PCM were randomly sampled as the control group. Postoperative sagittal and coronal cage positions in the disc space were evaluated with the ‘depth ratio’ and the ‘coronal ratio’. The demographic data of patients with and without PCM were compared to detect patient-related factors. Radiographic and cage related parameters, including cage position, preoperative disc height, preoperative spine stability, cage geometry, cage size, and height variance (= cage height – preoperative disc height) were compared between the PCM group and the control group. Univariate analyses and a multivariate logistic model were used to identify risk factors of PCM. Results Posterior cage migration occurred in 24 (2.52%) of 953 patients. The univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that those with a decreased depth ratio (OR, 9.78E-4; 95% CI, 9.69E-4 – 9.87E-4; p  < 0.001) and height variance (OR, 0.757, 95% CI, 0.575–0997, p  = 0.048) had a significantly higher risk of developing PCM. Conclusions Our results verified that posteriorly located cages and undersized cages are more prone to developing PCM, which may aid surgeons in making optimal decisions during TLIF procedures.

Short segment posterior fixation is the preferred method for stabilizing thoracolumbar fractures. In case of significant disruption of the anterior column, the simple short segment construct does not ensure adequate stability. In this study, we tried to evaluate the effect of inclusion of the fractured vertebra in short segment fixation of thoracolumbar fractures. In a prospective randomized study, eighty patients with thoracolumbar fractures treated just with posterior pedicular fixation were randomized into two groups receiving either the one level above and one level below excluding the fracture level (bridging group), or including the fracture level (including group). Different clinical and radiological parameters were recorded and followed. A sum of 80 patients (42 patients in group 1 and 38 patients in group 2) were enrolled in the study. The patients in both the groups showed similar clinical outcome. There was a high rate of instrumentation failure in the “bridging” group. The “bridging” group showed a mean worsening (29%) in kyphosis, whereas the “including” group improved significantly by a mean of 6%. The significant effect of the “including” technique on the reduction of kyphotic deformity was most prominent in type C fractures. In conclusion, inclusion of the fracture level into the construct offers a better kyphosis correction, in addition to fewer instrument failures, without additional complications, and with a comparable-if not better-clinical and functional outcome. We recommend insertion of screws into pedicles of the fractured thoracolumbar vertebra when considering a short segment posterior fixation, especially in Magerl type C fractures.

•No significant differences in the radiographic and clinical outcomes.•The cage group showed a lower risk of postoperative dysphagia and ASD.•The stand-alone cage was an effective and safe alternative for the CDDD. The self-locking stand-alone cage has been clinically applied in treating cervical degenerative disc disease (CDDD). However, no long-term clinical and radiographic studies have been performed so far. This retrospective study was designed to analyze and compare the efficacy and outcomes of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using self-locking stand-alone cages and cages with the anterior cervical plating system. A total of 98 consecutive patients were recruited in this study. Patients in the cage group were given stand-alone self-locking cages, and patients in the plate group were treated with cages and anterior plate fixation. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss and complications were recorded. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the JOA scoring system, Neck Disability Index and Odom’s criteria. The cervical lordosis, subsidence and cervical fusion status were assessed by X-ray and computed tomography. The mean follow-up period was 39.7 months in the cage group and 42.2 months in the plate group. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative dysphagia, sore throat and adjacent segment degeneration in the cage group were significantly less than those in the plate group (p < 0.05). All the patients in both groups achieved complete interbody fusion. Postoperative JOA and NDI scores in both groups were obviously improved compared with the preoperative ones. The postoperative cervical lordosis was effectively restored in both groups. The self-locking stand-alone cage for ACDF could effectively restore the cervical physiological curvature, cause few complications, and lead to satisfactory outcomes. Therefore, it could be used as an effective and reliable treatment for the CDDD.

Abstract BACKGROUND Basilar invagination is a developmental anomaly of the craniovertebral junction in which the odontoid abnormally prolapses into the foramen magnum. It is often associated with other osseous anomalies of the craniovertebral junction, including atlanto-occipital assimilation, incomplete ring of C1, and hypoplasia of the basiocciput, occipital condyles, and atlas. Basilar invagination is also associated with neural axis abnormalities, including Chiari malformation, syringomyelia, syringobulbia, and hydrocephalus. Patients frequently present with neurologic symptoms and deficits and warrant surgical treatment to prevent progression. OBJECTIVE To review the management of basilar invagination. METHODS The literature was reviewed in reference to the evaluation and management of basilar invagination, with particular emphasis on the surgical treatment. RESULTS Reducible basilar invagination may be treated with posterior decompression and stabilization. Ventral decompression may be necessary for basilar invagination with neural compression that is not reducible with axial cervical traction. Posterior cervical stabilization is necessary after ventral decompression. Modern rod and screw systems combined with autogenous bone graft enable correction of deformity, immediate stabilization, and high fusion rates. CONCLUSION Basilar invagination is a developmental anomaly and commonly presents with neurologic findings. Treatment is typically surgical and involves anterior decompression followed by posterior stabilization for irreducible invagination and posterior decompression and stabilization for reducible invagination.

Surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) can be used to improve pulmonary mechanics; however, hardware infection is a morbid complication. Antibiotic impregnated beads have been used to suppress infection in orthopedic practices. We aimed to determine the efficacy of antibiotic beads for infected and at-risk SSRF hardware. This is a single institution retrospective review of adults (18 years or older) that received SSRF between 2009 and 2017. Infected and at-risk hardware were managed with antibiotic beads. The primary outcome was bony union of rib fractures. There were 285 SSRF patients. Infection rate was 3.5%. Antibiotic beads were placed in 17 patients – 9 for infected hardware and 8 for prophylaxis. Increased body mass index (p = 0.04) and hemorrhagic shock at admission (p = 0.03) were risk factors for infection. There was 100% bony union post-operatively. SSRF hardware infection is morbid. Antibiotic beads can salvage SSRF hardware until bony union. •SSRF hardware infection increases hospital and ICU duration of stay.•Antibiotic beads suppress SSRF hardware infection to allow bony union.•Hemorrhagic shock on admission and increased BMI are infection risk factors.

Purpose To reveal whether minimal invasive implantation of a novel intramedullary device produces comparable outcomes with LCP fixation in patients with displaced midshaft clavicle fractures. Methods A prospective randomized two-arm study was performed on patients presenting with Robinson type 2B1 and 2B2 displaced midshaft clavicle fractures with >2 cm shortening. In group 1 ( n  = 35, mean age; 42.02 ± 13.87) patients received minimal invasive intramedullary fixation with Sonoma Crx device (Sonoma, USA) whereas in group 2 ( n  = 40, mean age; 39.07 ± 7.04) patients received 3.5 mm locking compression plate (Synthes, USA). Functional assessment was made using range of motion measurement (ROM), constant shoulder score and DASH disability of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) scoring. Results Mean time of operation was similar between the two groups ( p  = 0.46) whereas mean time of fluoroscopy was significantly longer in group 1 compared to group 2 ( p  < 0.001). At the 12 month follow-up, there was a slight but significant difference in ROM degrees between the two groups ( p  = 0.005). Mean quick DASH score was significantly lower in group 1 than that in group 2 ( p  < 0.001) whereas there was no significant difference in constant shoulder scores between the two groups ( p  = 0.06). Time to bony union was also shorter in group 1 compared to group 2 ( p  < 0.001). Conclusion Minimal invasive intramedullary implantation technique provided satisfactory clinical outcomes and shortened the time until bony union compared to LCP fixation. Further study on larger populations is required to establish whether the technique offers lower complication rates than LCP fixation.

BACKGROUND:Although posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) has a successful fusion rate, the long-term outcome of PLIF is occasionally below expectations because of adjacent segment degeneration (ASD). OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the ability of hybrid stabilization using DIAM (Device for Interspinous Assisted Motion) to delay ASD. METHODS:An intervention comparison study of 75 patients (hybrid, 25; PLIF, 50) was performed. The indications for hybrid stabilization were facet joint degeneration, Pfirrmann grade II to III, and stenosis at the rostral adjacent segment. The PLIF group consisted of patients matched for age, sex, and fusion. The hybrid stabilization procedure included traditional PLIF and DIAM installation at a superior adjacent segment. The outcomes were analyzed with a linear mixed model analysis. Conditional logistic regression was performed to calculate the odds ratio for the association of surgical methods. RESULTS:The hybrid group (24%) revealed fewer ASDs than the PLIF group (48%). Among ASDs, spondylolisthesis occurred more frequently in the PLIF group than the hybrid group. Hybrid surgery was significantly associated with ASD; the odds ratio for hybrid surgery was 0.28 compared with PLIF. Foraminal height of the PLIF group decreased more than the hybrid group (P = .01). Segmental mobility showed a greater increase in the PLIF group than the hybrid group (P = .04). However, the clinical outcomes did not show significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSION:Hybrid stabilization with DIAM and pedicle screws can be used for patients with facet degeneration at adjacent segments but should be further investigated. ABBREVIATIONS:ASD, adjacent segment degenerationFH, foraminal heightODI, Oswestry Disability IndexPLIF, posterior lumbar interbody fusionVAS, Visual Analog Scale

Summary We estimated the cost-effectiveness of hemiarthroplasty compared to internal fixation for elderly patients with displaced femoral neck fractures. Over 2 years, patients treated with hemiarthroplasty gained more quality-adjusted life years than patients treated with internal fixation. In addition, costs for hemiarthroplasty were lower. Hemiarthroplasty was thus cost effective. Introduction Estimating the cost utility of hemiarthroplasty compared to internal fixation in the treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly. Methods A cost-utility analysis (CUA) was conducted alongside a clinical randomized controlled trial at a university hospital in Norway; 166 patients, 124 (75%) women with a mean age of 82 years were randomized to either internal fixation ( n  = 86) or hemiarthroplasty ( n  = 80). Patients were followed up at 4, 12, and 24 months. Health-related quality of life was assessed with the EQ-5D, and in combination with time used to calculate patients’ quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Resource use was identified, quantified, and valued for direct and indirect hospital costs and for societal costs. Results were expressed in incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Results Over the 2-year period, patients treated with hemiarthroplasty gained 0.15–0.20 more QALYs than patients treated with internal fixation. For the hemiarthroplasty group, the direct hospital costs, total hospital costs, and total costs were non-significantly less costly compared with the internal fixation group, with an incremental cost of €2,731 ( p  = 0.81), €2,474 ( p  = 0.80), and €14,160 ( p  = 0.07), respectively. Thus, hemiarthroplasty was the dominant treatment. Sensitivity analyses by bootstrapping supported these findings. Conclusion Hemiarthroplasty was a cost-effective treatment. Trial registration, NCT00464230.

There is a debate about the choice of operative intervention in humerus shaft fractures requiring surgical intervention. A prospective, comparative study of management of acute humeral shaft fractures treated by antegrade interlocking nail fixation and dynamic compression plating was undertaken over a period of three years. Twenty patients of interlocking nailing and sixteen patients of plating were included after considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Functional scoring criteria were used for postoperative assessment and the average follow-up period was one year. A higher rate of excellent and good results and a tendency for earlier union was seen with the plating group in our series.

The first techniques of operative fracture with plates were developed in the 19th century. In fact, at the beginning these methods consisted of an open reduction of the fracture usually followed by a very unstable fixation. As a consequence, the fracture had to be opened with a real risk of (sometimes lethal) infection, and due to unstable fixation, protection with a cast was often necessary. During the period between World Wars I and II, plates for fracture fixation developed with great variety. It became increasingly recognised that, because a fracture of a long bone normally heals with minimal resorption at the bone ends, this may result in slight shortening and collapse, so a very rigid plate might prevent such collapse. However, as a consequence, delayed healing was observed unless the patient was lucky enough to have the plate break. One way of dealing with this was to use a slotted plate in which the screws could move axially, but the really important advance was recognition of the role of compression. After the first description of compression by Danis with a “coapteur”, Bagby and Müller with the AO improved the technique of compression. The classic dynamic compression plates from the 1970s were the key to a very rigid fixation, leading to primary bone healing. Nevertheless, the use of strong plates resulted in delayed union and the osteoporosis, cancellous bone, comminution, and/or pathological bone resulted in some failures due to insufficient stability. Finally, new devices represented by locking plates increased the stability, contributing to the principles of a more biological osteosynthesis while giving enough stability to allow immediate full weight bearing in some patients.