Characterizing neck injuries in the national football league: a descriptive epidemiology study.

BACKGROUND: Neck injury is a common and often debilitating injury among athletes participating in American football. Limited data exists regarding neck injuries among elite athletes in the National Football League (NFL). To characterize the epidemiology of non-season ending, season-ending, and career-ending neck injuries in the NFL from 2016 through 2021. METHODS: Athletes who sustained neck injuries were identified using the NFL's injured reserve (IR) list between the 2016 and 2021 seasons. Demographics and return to sport (RTS) data were collected. Available game footages were reviewed to identify the mechanism of injury (MOI). Injury incidence rates were calculated based on per team play basis. RESULTS: During the 6-year study period, 464 players (mean age 26.8 ± 3.2 years) were placed on the injury reserve list due to neck injuries. There were 285 defensive players and 179 offensive players injured (61.4 vs 38.6%, respectively, p < 0.001). Defensive back was the most common position to sustain a neck injury (111 players, 23.9%). 407 players (87.7%) sustained non-season-ending injuries with a mean RTS at 9.2 ± 11.3 days. 36 players (7.8%) sustained season-ending injuries with a mean RTS at 378.6 ± 162.0 days. 21 players (4.5%) sustained career-ending injuries. The overall incidence of neck injuries was 23.5 per 10,000 team plays. The incidence of season-ending injuries and career-ending injuries were 1.82 and 1.06 per 10,000 team plays, respectively. There were 38 injuries with available footages for MOI assessment (23 non-season-ending, 9 season-ending, 6 career-ending). Head-to-head contact was seen in 15 injuries (39.5%), head-down tackling in 11 injuries (28.9%), direct extremity-to-head contact in 7 injuries (18.4%), and head-to-ground contact in 5 injuries (13.2%). There was no significant difference in age, position, or MOI among players sustaining non-season-ending, season-ending, and career-ending injuries. CONCLUSION: There is a high incidence of neck injuries among NFL athletes with predictable MOIs including head-to-head contact, head-down tackling, direct extremity-to-head contact, and head-to-ground contact. Defensive players were more likely to sustain neck injuries compared to offensive players. Defensive back was the most common position to sustain a neck injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Obesity and perioperative adverse events in patients undergoing complex revision surgery for the thoracolumbar spine.

BACKGROUND: There are no previous studies that evaluate the effect of obesity on patients undergoing complex revision thoracolumbar spine surgery. The primary objective was to determine the relationship between obesity and perioperative adverse events (AEs) with patients undergoing complex revision thoracolumbar spine surgery while controlling for psoas muscle index (PMI) as a confounding variable. The secondary objective was to determine the relationship between obesity and 30-day readmission rates, 30-day re-operation rates, rate of discharge to a facility, and post-operative length of stay (LOS). METHODS: Between May 2016 and February 2020, a retrospective analysis of individuals undergoing complex revision surgery of the thoracolumbar spine was performed at a single institution. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2. PMI < 500 mm2/m2 for males and < 412 mm2/m2 for females were used to define low muscle mass. A Spine Surgical Invasiveness Index (SSII) > 10 was used to define complex revision surgery. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to ascertain the effects of low muscle mass, obesity, age, and gender on the likelihood of the occurrence of any AE. RESULTS: A total of 114 consecutive patients were included in the study. Fifty-four patients were in the obese cohort and 60 patients in the non-obese cohort. There was not a significant difference in perioperative outcomes of both the obese and non-obese patients. There were 22 obese patients (40.7%) and 33 non-obese patients (55.0%) that experienced any AE (p = 0.130). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that individuals with low muscle mass had a significantly higher likelihood for an AE than individuals with normal or high muscle mass (OR: 7.53, 95% CI: 3.05-18.60). Obesity did not have a significant effect in predicting AEs. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is not associated with perioperative AEs, 30-day readmission rates, 30-day re-operation rates, rate of discharge to a facility, or post-operative length of stay (LOS) among patients undergoing complex revision thoracolumbar spine surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Determining C2 Pedicle Screw Placement Feasibility in the Pediatric Population: A Computed Tomographic Safe Zone Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Due to high rates of anatomic variability of the C2 pedicle, thin-sliced pedicular-oriented computed tomography (CT) and 3-dimensional reconstructive CT technologies have been introduced to predict safe C2 pedicle screw placement. However, this technology may not be readily available in all centers. The purpose of this study was to perform a C2 pedicle safe zone analysis using standard sagittal CT scans to predict the feasibility of C2 pedicle screw placement in a pediatric population and to compare the results with our previously obtained safe zone analysis from the adult population. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed at a single level I trauma center of pediatric patients who completed CT scans of the cervical spine. The feasibility of C2 pedicle screw placement was analyzed using our previously described C2 pedicle safe zone analysis technique. The risk profiles were compared with our previously obtained safe zone analysis from the adult population. RESULTS: Thirty-nine consecutive patients with a mean age of 7.8±4.4 years and 78 total pedicles were included in the study. Fourteen pedicles (18%) were considered low risk, 37 (47%) were moderate risk, and 27 (35%) were high risk for vertebral artery injury. Individual patients were found to have a significant amount of side-to-side variability between pedicles with 21 patients (54%) having left and right pedicles with different risk profiles. Four patients (10%) demonstrated low risk profiles in bilateral pedicles. There was no significant difference between the risk profiles of pediatric and adult patients. CONCLUSIONS: There is a considerable amount of anatomic variability within the pediatric C2 pedicles. Using this simple and accessible technique during the review of preoperative imaging, C2 pedicle screw placement may be considered in appropriately selected pediatric patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Generation of patient-derived tumor xenografts from percutaneous tumor biopsies in children with bone sarcomas.

One of the limitations of performing percutaneous biopsies in patients with bone sarcomas is the small amount of tumor that can be obtained for research purposes. Here, we describe our experience developing patient-derived tumor xenografts (PDXs) using percutaneous tumor biopsies in children with bone sarcomas. We generated 14 bone sarcoma PDXs from percutaneous tumor biopsies. We also developed eight bone sarcoma PDXs from surgical resection of primary bone tumors and pulmonary metastases. A multidisciplinary team approach was critical to establish an accurate diagnosis and to provide adequate tumor samples for PDX generation.

A novel muscle-sparing high thoracotomy for upper thoracic spine resection and reconstruction.

PURPOSE: High thoracotomy allows access to the anterior cervicothoracic and upper thoracic vertebrae; however, traditional techniques transect shoulder girdle muscles, leading to postoperative shoulder dysfunction. Muscle-sparing techniques diminish this concern, but often sacrifice the quality of exposure. We describe a novel muscle-sparing, high thoracotomy approach for the treatment of ventral cervicothoracic and upper thoracic spine lesions. METHODS: A novel muscle-sparing, high thoracotomy approach is described, utilizing a midline posterior incision with lateral extension from the lateral decubitus position. Five patients are presented to illustrate the application of this technique in thoracic tumors with intimate spinal involvement. RESULTS: The muscle-sparing, high thoracotomy approach afforded gross total resection and spinal reconstruction in five consecutive patients, including stage IV lung carcinoma with invasion of the T5 and T6 vertebral bodies, two malignant fibrous histiocytomas causing thoracic cord compression, a metastatic T6 lesion of unknown primary with associated cord compression; and a Pancoast tumor. All patients seen at 6 months had full symmetric shoulder range of motion postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The described muscle-sparing, high thoracotomy approach provides excellent exposure of the ventral cervicothoracic and upper thoracic spine without the morbidity associated with the transection of shoulder girdle muscle bellies. This technique is particularly useful in patients with primary malignant bone tumors requiring en bloc excision and metastatic tumors with large soft tissue components.

Modern Techniques for the Management of Metastatic Spine Disease.

The management of metastatic spine disease has evolved substantially in the past 5 years. Early treatment approaches with more aggressive surgical indications were based on studies that misinterpreted or overemphasized the advantages of the surgical management of metastatic spine disease. However, substantial advantages in radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and biologic agents have led to considerable improvements in patient outcomes and have, in many patients, shifted the paradigm back to nonsurgical or less invasive treatment modalities. Surgeons should be aware of critiques of earlier treatment strategies and associated frameworks for the management of metastatic spine disease. The Medical, Oncologic, Stenosis, and Stability framework was developed to address some of the shortcomings of early metastatic spine disease treatment approaches.

Response to Letter Regarding "Predictive Value of Preoperative Serum Albumin in Patients With Metastatic Spine Diseases: A Statistical Comment".

We thank the authors for their interest in and commentary on "Preoperative Serum Albumin Level Predicts Length of Stay and Perioperative Adverse Events Following Vertebral Corpectomy and Posterior Stabilization for Metastatic Spine Disease." We appreciate the opportunity to respond to their comments herein.

Customized 3-dimensional-printed Vertebral Implants for Spinal Reconstruction After Tumor Resection: A Systematic Review.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. OBJECTIVE: To examine the outcomes of customized 3-dimensional (3D) printed implants for spinal reconstruction after tumor resection. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Various techniques exist for spinal reconstruction after tumor resection. Currently, there is no consensus regarding the utility of customized 3D-printed implants for spinal reconstruction after tumor resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review was registered with PROSPERO and performed according to "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses" guidelines. All level I-V evidence studies reporting the use of 3D-printed implants for spinal reconstruction after tumor resection were included. RESULTS: Eleven studies (65 patients; mean age, 40.9 ± 18.1 y) were included. Eleven patients (16.9%) underwent intralesional resections with positive margins and 54 patients (83.1%) underwent en bloc spondylectomy with negative margins. All patients underwent vertebral reconstruction with 3D-printed titanium implants. Tumor involvement was in the cervical spine in 21 patients (32.3%), thoracic spine in 29 patients (44.6%), thoracolumbar junction in 2 patients (3.1%), and lumbar spine in 13 patients (20.0%). Ten studies with 62 patients reported perioperative outcomes radiologic/oncologic status at final follow-up. At the mean final follow-up of 18.5 ± 9.8 months, 47 patients (75.8%) had no evidence of disease, 9 patients (14.5%) were alive with recurrence, and 6 patients (9.7%) had died of disease. One patient who underwent C3-C5 en bloc spondylectomy had an asymptomatic subsidence of 2.7 mm at the final follow-up. Twenty patients that underwent thoracic and/or lumbar reconstruction had a mean subsidence of 3.8 ± 4.7 mm at the final follow-up; however, only 1 patient had a symptomatic subsidence that required revision surgery. Eleven patients (17.7%) had one or more major complications. CONCLUSION: There is some evidence to suggest that using customized 3D-printed titanium or titanium alloy implants is an effective technique for spinal reconstruction after tumor resection. There is a high incidence of asymptomatic subsidence and major complications that are similar to other methods of reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, systematic review of level I-V studies.

Percutaneous Cementation for Improvement of Pain and Function for Osteolytic Pelvic Metastasis: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic metastasis is a common presentation among patients presenting with skeletal metastasis. Image-guided percutaneous cementation of these lesions is becoming increasingly popular for the treatment of these lesions. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review that investigates clinical outcomes after percutaneous cementation for pelvic metastasis. METHODS: A systematic review was registered with International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews and performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines using the PubMed, SCOPUS, and Ovid MEDLINE databases. All level I to IV clinical studies published in the English language investigating the clinical outcomes after percutaneous cementation for pelvic metastasis were included. RESULTS: Fourteen studies with 579 patients (278 men, 301 women) and 631 metastatic pelvic lesions were included in the study. The mean follow-up range was 0.7 to 26.4 months. Percutaneous cementation alone was performed in 441 patients (76.2%). Supplemental ablative procedures were performed in 77 patients (13.3%), and supplemental internal fixation using cannulated screws was performed in 107 patients (18.5%). Twelve studies with 430 patients (74.2%) reported pain-related and/or functional outcome scores, of which all studies reported overall clinically notable improvement at short-term follow-up. All studies reported periprocedural complications. Local cement leakage was the most common complication (162/631 lesions, 25.7%) followed by transient local pain (25/579 patients, 4.3%). There were no reported cases of major complications. Seven patients (1.2%) underwent re-intervention for persistent symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous cementation may be an effective method for treating pain and function related to pelvic metastasis. The most common complication was cement leakage surrounding the lesion. The rates of major complications were low, and most complications appeared minor and transient. Additional prospective studies are needed to further assess the efficacy of this procedure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, systematic review of level I to IV therapeutic studies.

The Management of Intraoperative Spinal Cord Injury - A Scoping Review.

STUDY DESIGN: Scoping Review. OBJECTIVE: To review the literature and summarize information on checklists and algorithms for responding to intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) alerts and management of intraoperative spinal cord injuries (ISCIs). METHODS: MEDLINE® was searched from inception through January 26, 2022 as were sources of grey literature. We attempted to obtain guidelines and/or consensus statements from the following sources: American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM), American Academy of Neurology (AAN), American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, NASS (North American Spine Society), and other spine surgery organizations. RESULTS: Of 16 studies reporting on management strategies for ISCIs, two were publications of consensus meetings which were conducted according to the Delphi method and eight were retrospective cohort studies. The remaining six studies were narrative reviews that proposed intraoperative checklists and management strategies for IONM alerts. Of note, 56% of included studies focused only on patients undergoing spinal deformity surgery. Intraoperative considerations and measures taken in the event of an ISCI are divided and reported in three categories of i) Anesthesiologic, ii) Neurophysiological/Technical, and iii) Surgical management strategies. CONCLUSION: There is a paucity of literature on comparative effectiveness and harms of management strategies in response to an IONM alert and possible ISCI. There is a pressing need to develop a standardized checklist and care pathway to avoid and minimize the risk of postoperative neurologic sequelae.

A Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Recommendations on Hemodynamic Management.

STUDY DESIGN: Clinical practice guideline development following the GRADE process. OBJECTIVES: Hemodynamic management is one of the only available treatment options that likely improves neurologic outcomes in patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Augmenting mean arterial pressure (MAP) aims to improve blood perfusion and oxygen delivery to the injured spinal cord in order to minimize secondary ischemic damage to neural tissue. The objective of this guideline was to update the 2013 AANS/CNS recommendations on the hemodynamic management of patients with acute traumatic SCI, acknowledging that much has been published in this area since its publication. Specifically, we sought to make recommendations on 1. The range of mean arterial pressure (MAP) to be maintained by identifying an upper and lower MAP limit; 2. The duration of such MAP augmentation; and 3. The choice of vasopressor. Additionally, we sought to make a recommendation on spinal cord perfusion pressure (SCPP) targets. METHODS: A multidisciplinary guideline development group (GDG) was formed that included health care professionals from a wide range of clinical specialities, patient advocates, and individuals living with SCI. The GDG reviewed the 2013 AANS/CNS guidelines and voted on whether each recommendation should be endorsed or updated. A systematic review of the literature, following PRISMA standards and registered in PROSPERO, was conducted to inform the guideline development process and address the following key questions: (i) what are the effects of goal-directed interventions to optimize spinal cord perfusion on extent of neurological recovery and rates of adverse events at any time point of follow-up? and (ii) what are the effects of particular monitoring techniques, perfusion ranges, pharmacological agents, and durations of treatment on extent of neurological recovery and rates of adverse events at any time point of follow-up? The GDG combined the information from this systematic review with their clinical expertise in order to develop recommendations on a MAP target range (specifically an upper and lower limit to target), the optimal duration for MAP augmentation, and the use of vasopressors or inotropes. Using methods outlined by the GRADE working group, recommendations were formulated that considered the balance of benefits and harms, financial impact, acceptability, feasibility and patient preferences. RESULTS: The GDG suggested that MAP should be augmented to at least 75-80 mmHg as the "lower limit," but not actively augmented beyond an "upper limit" of 90-95 mmHg in order to optimize spinal cord perfusion in acute traumatic SCI. The quality of the evidence around the "target MAP" was very low, and thus the strength of this recommendation is weak. For duration of hemodynamic management, the GDG "suggested" that MAP be augmented for a duration of 3-7 days. Again, the quality of the evidence around the duration of MAP support was very low, and thus the strength of this recommendation is also weak. The GDG felt that a recommendation on the choice of vasopressor or the use of SCPP targets was not warranted, given the dearth of available evidence. CONCLUSION: We provide new recommendations for blood pressure management after acute SCI that acknowledge the limitations of the current evidence on the relationship between MAP and neurologic recovery. It was felt that the low quality of existing evidence and uncertainty around the relationship between MAP and neurologic recovery justified a greater range of MAP to target, and for a broader range of days post-injury than recommended in previous guidelines. While important knowledge gaps still remain regarding hemodynamic management, these recommendations represent current perspectives on the role of MAP augmentation for acute SCI.

An Update of a Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Recommendations on the Role and Timing of Decompressive Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Clinical practice guideline development. OBJECTIVES: Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) can result in devastating motor, sensory, and autonomic impairment; loss of independence; and reduced quality of life. Preclinical evidence suggests that early decompression of the spinal cord may help to limit secondary injury, reduce damage to the neural tissue, and improve functional outcomes. Emerging evidence indicates that "early" surgical decompression completed within 24 hours of injury also improves neurological recovery in patients with acute SCI. The objective of this clinical practice guideline (CPG) is to update the 2017 recommendations on the timing of surgical decompression and to evaluate the evidence with respect to ultra-early surgery (in particular, but not limited to, <12 hours after acute SCI). METHODS: A multidisciplinary, international, guideline development group (GDG) was formed that consisted of spine surgeons, neurologists, critical care specialists, emergency medicine doctors, physical medicine and rehabilitation professionals, as well as individuals living with SCI. A systematic review was conducted based on accepted methodological standards to evaluate the impact of early (within 24 hours of acute SCI) or ultra-early (in particular, but not limited to, within 12 hours of acute SCI) surgery on neurological recovery, functional outcomes, administrative outcomes, safety, and cost-effectiveness. The GRADE approach was used to rate the overall strength of evidence across studies for each primary outcome. Using the "evidence-to-recommendation" framework, recommendations were then developed that considered the balance of benefits and harms, financial impact, patient values, acceptability, and feasibility. The guideline was internally appraised using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II tool. RESULTS: The GDG recommended that early surgery (≤24 hours after injury) be offered as the preferred option for adult patients with acute SCI regardless of level. This recommendation was based on moderate evidence suggesting that patients were 2 times more likely to recover by ≥ 2 ASIA Impairment Score (AIS) grades at 6 months (RR: 2.76, 95% CI 1.60 to 4.98) and 12 months (RR: 1.95, 95% CI 1.26 to 3.18) if they were decompressed within 24 hours compared to after 24 hours. Furthermore, patients undergoing early surgery improved by an additional 4.50 (95% 1.70 to 7.29) points on the ASIA Motor Score compared to patients undergoing surgery after 24 hours post-injury. The GDG also agreed that a recommendation for ultra-early surgery could not be made on the basis of the current evidence because of the small sample sizes, variable definitions of what constituted ultra-early in the literature, and the inconsistency of the evidence. CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended that patients with an acute SCI, regardless of level, undergo surgery within 24 hours after injury when medically feasible. Future research is required to determine the differential effectiveness of early surgery in different subpopulations and the impact of ultra-early surgery on neurological recovery. Moreover, further work is required to define what constitutes effective spinal cord decompression and to individualize care. It is also recognized that a concerted international effort will be required to translate these recommendations into policy.

A Clinical Practice Guideline for Prevention, Diagnosis and Management of Intraoperative Spinal Cord Injury: Recommendations for Use of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring and for the Use of Preoperative and Intraoperative Protocols for Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Development of a clinical practice guideline following the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) process. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to develop guidelines that outline the utility of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) to detect intraoperative spinal cord injury (ISCI) among patients undergoing spine surgery, to define a subset of patients undergoing spine surgery at higher risk for ISCI and to develop protocols to prevent, diagnose, and manage ISCI. METHODS: All systematic reviews were performed according to PRISMA standards and registered on PROSPERO. A multidisciplinary, international Guidelines Development Group (GDG) reviewed and discussed the evidence using GRADE protocols. Consensus was defined by 80% agreement among GDG members. A systematic review and diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) meta-analysis was performed to synthesize pooled evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of IONM to detect ISCI among patients undergoing spinal surgery. The IONM modalities evaluated included somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), motor evoked potentials (MEPs), electromyography (EMG), and multimodal neuromonitoring. Utilizing this knowledge and their clinical experience, the multidisciplinary GDG created recommendations for the use of IONM to identify ISCI in patients undergoing spine surgery. The evidence related to existing care pathways to manage ISCI was summarized and based on this a novel AO Spine-PRAXIS care pathway was created. RESULTS: Our recommendations are as follows: (1) We recommend that intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring be employed for high risk patients undergoing spine surgery, and (2) We suggest that patients at "high risk" for ISCI during spine surgery be proactively identified, that after identification of such patients, multi-disciplinary team discussions be undertaken to manage patients, and that an intraoperative protocol including the use of IONM be implemented. A care pathway for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of ISCI has been developed by the GDG. CONCLUSION: We anticipate that these guidelines will promote the use of IONM to detect and manage ISCI, and promote the use of preoperative and intraoperative checklists by surgeons and other team members for high risk patients undergoing spine surgery. We welcome teams to implement and evaluate the care pathway created by our GDG.

Anterior column realignment (ACR) for focal kyphotic spinal deformity using an anterior to psoas approach and anterior longitudinal ligament release.

Background: The anterior-to-psoas (ATP) approach to the lumbar spine has been proposed as an alternative to the transpsoas approach for approaching the disc space without dissecting through the psoas muscle, thus decreasing the risk of injury to the lumbar plexus. There are no prior studies that evaluates the clinical application of anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) release and anterior column realignment (ACR) using the ATP approach. The objective of this study was to describe and evaluate the safety of ACR using an ATP approach with release of both the ALL and bilateral annulus for correction of a focal kyphotic lumbar deformity. Methods: A retrospective analysis of fourteen consecutive patients at a single institution between January 2017 and December 2019 of patients undergoing ACR using an ATP approach for lumbar flatback syndrome with focal kyphotic lumbar deformity by a single surgeon was performed. Primary outcome measures were pre- and postoperative radiographic parameters. Secondary outcome measures were perioperative adverse events (AEs), 30-day readmissions/reoperations, discharge disposition, post-operative length of stay (LOS), and radiographic complications. Results: Fourteen consecutive patients (mean age 67.0±3.9 years, 8 males, 6 females) with 15 total ACR levels were included in the study. A grade 1 posterior column osteotomy (PCO) with posterior instrumentation was performed at all ACR levels. L2-L3 ACR was performed in nine patients, L3-L4 in four patients, and L4-L5 in two patients. Mean preoperative disk lordotic angle at the ACR level was 5.4°±5.9° of kyphosis. Mean increase in postoperative disk lordotic angle was 24.0°±8.5° at a mean follow-up of 34.0±23.4 months. Conclusions: ACR can be performed with a complete ALL release under direct visualization using the ATP approach. This technique can be a safe and effective method for achieving substantial correction of a focal kyphotic deformity within the lumbar spine.

At-Risk Tackling Techniques and Effectiveness in NCAA Division I Collegiate Football.

Background: Head-down tackling has been associated with injuries to the brachial plexus, cervical spine, and head in high school and collegiate American football. Head-down tackling has also been associated with decreased effectiveness in successful tackles compared with head-up tackling. Purpose: To assess tackling techniques used during National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I football games and to evaluate the successful tackling rates according to technique. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Three reviewers analyzed 1000 consecutive solo defensive tackling attempts made in the 2021 season (October to December) by 8 universities within the NCAA Southeastern Conference. Slow-motion replays were used to analyze the success of the tackling attempt, the tackling method, and the initial point of contact with respect to the offensive player's waist. The chi-square or Fisher exact test was used to analyze categorical data, and the 2-tailed Student t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze continuous data. Results: Head-up and head-down tackling occurred in 902 (90.2%) and 98 (9.8%) tackle attempts, respectively. Head-up tackles were successful in 76.2% of the attempts compared with 55.1% for head-down tackles (P < .001). Tackles were made at or above the offensive player's waist in 777 (77.7%) attempts and below the waist in 223 (22.3%) attempts. Tackles at or above the waist were successful in 77.6% of the attempts compared with 61.9% of tackles below the waist (P < .001). The inside-shoulder method was used in 592 (59.2%) tackles, the arm method in 317 (31.7%), the head-across-the-bow method in 72 (7.2%), and the helmet-to-helmet method in 19 (1.9%). Inside-shoulder tackles had the highest success rate of 93.2%, compared with 41.6% for arm (P < .001), 59.7% for head-across-the-bow (P < .001), and 73.7% for helmet-to-helmet (P = .001) tackles. Inside-shoulder tackles resulted in head-up tackling in 92.9% compared with 41.7% for head-across-the-bow (P < .001) and 57.9% for helmet-to-helmet (P < .001) tackles. There were no recorded injuries to the tackler. Conclusion: Head-up tackles, tackles made at or above the offensive player's waist, and inside-shoulder tackles had the highest success rates. Head-down tackling and tackling below the waist were associated with poor tackling methods, including head-across-the-bow and helmet-to-helmet tackles, which had lower success rates.

Postoperative Rehabilitation to Improve Outcomes After Cervical Spine Fusion for Degenerative Cervical Spondylosis: A Systematic Review.

Postoperative rehabilitation has recently been identified as a high-priority research topic for improving surgical outcomes for degenerative cervical spondylosis (DCS). However, there remains no consensus on specific rehabilitation strategies. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of postoperative rehabilitation strategies for short-term and long-term outcomes after cervical spine fusion for DCS. A systematic review was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines using the PubMed, Scopus, and Ovid Medline databases. All level I-IV therapeutic studies in the English language investigating the outcomes of postoperative rehabilitation strategies after cervical spine fusion for DCS were included. Nine studies with 895 patients with DCS (747 anterior-only fusion, 55 patients with posterior-only fusion, 93 patients with physiotherapy alone) were included in this analysis, with 446 (49.8%) patients receiving physiotherapy alone or standard postoperative therapy and 449 (50.2%) patients receiving standard postoperative therapy with additional intervention or augmentation. These interventions included pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation, telephone-supported home exercise program (HEP), early cervical spine stabilizer training, structured postoperative therapy, and a postoperative cervical collar. One level II study demonstrated that PEMF led to increased fusion rates at six months postoperatively compared to standard therapy alone, one level II study demonstrated that postoperative cervical therapy in addition to standard therapy was better than standard therapy alone in the improvement of neck pain intensity, one level IV study demonstrated home exercise therapy led to an improvement in neck pain, arm pain, and disability, and six level II studies reported no difference in clinical outcome measures between augmented or targeted therapy and standard postoperative therapy for DCS. In conclusion, there is moderate evidence to suggest that there is no significant difference in clinical and surgical outcomes between standard postoperative therapy and augmented or targeted postoperative therapy for cervical fusion in the setting of cervical spondylosis. However, there is some evidence to support that certain therapeutic modalities, such as PEMF stimulation, may lead to improved fusion rates, clinical outcomes, and patient satisfaction when compared to standard postoperative therapy protocols. There is no evidence to support a difference in effectiveness with different types of postoperative rehabilitation strategies between anterior and posterior fusions for DCS.

Preoperative Serum Albumin Level Predicts Length of Stay and Perioperative Adverse Events Following Vertebral Corpectomy and Posterior Stabilization for Metastatic Spine Disease.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of a prospectively collected national database. OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between preoperative serum albumin levels and perioperative adverse events (AEs) following vertebral corpectomy and posterior stabilization for metastatic spine disease. METHODS: The 2010 to 2019 American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement (ACS-NSQIP) database was used to identify all patients undergoing vertebral corpectomy and posterior stabilization for metastatic spine disease. Receiver operative characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine preoperative serum albumin cut-off values for predicting perioperative AEs. Low preoperative serum albumin was defined as serum albumin below this cut-off value. RESULTS: A total of 301 patients were included in the study. ROC curve analysis demonstrated serum albumin < 3.25 g/dL as a cut-off value for predicting perioperative AEs. The low serum albumin group had a higher overall perioperative AEs (P = .041), longer post-operative LOS (P < .001), higher 30-day reoperation rate (P = .014), and a higher in-hospital mortality rate (P = .046). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that low preoperative serum albumin was associated with higher perioperative AEs. CONCLUSIONS: Low serum albumin level is associated with higher perioperative AEs, longer postoperative LOS, and higher rates of 30-day reoperation and in-hospital mortality among patients undergoing vertebral corpectomy and posterior stabilization for metastatic spine disease. Strategies to improve preoperative nutritional status in patients undergoing this procedure may improve these perioperative outcome measures within this surgical population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Vascular injury risk stratification for lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) at L4-L5: a morphometric study using magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Proper vascular injury risk stratification (VIRS) methods for L4-L5 lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) surgery have not been well-described. The objective of this study was to propose a novel VIRS method for L4-L5 LLIF surgery via the transpsoas approach. Methods: Axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of adult patients were obtained and analyzed. The VIRS scores were assessed using anterior disc line to posterior vessel wall distance, the disc vessel angle (DVA), and the disc edge to vessel distance at the level of L4-L5 disc space. Results: Ninety-one consecutive adult patients were included in the study. The right common iliac vein (CIV) had a high risk of injury with both right- and left-sided approaches. The left CIV had a moderate risk with a left-sided approach when the iliocaval confluence was above the L4-L5 disc space but had a high risk when the confluence was at the L4-L5 disc space. The left CIV had a high risk with a right-sided approach when the confluence was above the L4-L5 disc space but had a moderate risk when the confluence was at the L4-L5 disc space. The inferior vena cava (IVC) had a high risk with both right- and left-sided approaches. The aorta had a moderate risk regardless of the right or left-sided approaches. The left common iliac artery (CIA) had a moderate risk with a right-sided approach and a low risk with a left-sided approach. The right CIA had a low risk with both right- and left-sided approaches. Conclusions: There are significant vascular anatomic variations at the L4-L5 disc level and a proper VIRS can be performed utilizing a combination of anterior disc line to posterior vessel wall distance, DVA, and disc edge to vessel distance, on the axial MRI.

Prolonged bed rest as adjuvant therapy after complex reconstructive spine surgery.

BACKGROUND: The benefits of postoperative mobilization include decreased incidence of pulmonary complications, pressure ulcers, and progression of deep vein thrombosis. However, the complexity of certain spinal reconstructions and the patient's physiologic condition may preclude the possibility of early mobilization. Prolonged bed rest after spine surgery is controversial. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We evaluated the efficacy of prolonged bed rest after complex spine surgery to determine (1) patient characteristics that led to prescribing bed rest, (2) clinical and radiographic outcomes, (3) complications, and (4) estimated direct costs. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all 11 patients (median age, 50 years) who underwent complex spine surgery followed by prolonged bed rest between 2005 and 2010. All patients were deemed at high risk for developing pseudarthrosis or instrumentation failure without postoperative bed rest. One patient died of complications related to pulmonary tuberculosis at 4 months. The patients averaged 3 months of bed rest. Minimum followup was 24 months (median, 30 months; range, 4-52 months). RESULTS: All patients had (1) tenuous or limited fixation after correction of severe deformity, (2) previously failed spine reconstruction after early mobilization, or (3) limited treatment options if failure occurred again. No patient experienced pseudarthrosis, failure of instrumentation, thromboembolic disease, pressure ulcers, or pneumonia. One patient had a delayed union and one developed late urosepsis. The median cost of skilled nursing facilities during the period of bed rest was $16,702, while the median cost of home health nursing was $5712. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with contraindications to early postoperative mobilization, prolonged bed rest may be useful to minimize the risk of complications that can occur with mobilization. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Anterior versus posterior spinal fusion for Lenke type 5 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies.

PURPOSE: To review and compare clinical and radiologic outcomes between anterior spinal fusion (ASF) and posterior spinal fusion (PSF) for the treatment of Lenke type 5 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). METHODS: A systematic review was performed according to Preferred reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. All level I-III evidence studies investigating the clinical and radiologic outcomes of ASF and PSF for the treatment of Lenke type 5 AIS were included. RESULTS: Nine studies (285 ASF patients, 298 PSF patients) were included. ASF was associated with a significantly lower number of levels fused compared with PSF (p < 0.01) with similar immediate and long-term coronal deformity correction (p = 0.16; p = 0.12, respectively). PSF achieved a better correction of thoracic hypokyphosis in one study and lumbar hypolordosis in three studies. PSF was associated with a significant shorter length of stay (LOS) compared with ASF (p < 0.01). One long-term study demonstrated a significantly higher rate of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) with PSF compared with ASF. There were no significant differences in major complication or re-operation rates. CONCLUSION: For the treatment of Lenke type 5 AIS, there is moderate evidence to suggest that ASF requires a lower number of instrumented levels to achieve similar immediate and long-term coronal deformity correction compared with PSF. There is some evidence to suggest that PSF may achieve better thoracic and lumbar sagittal deformity correction compared with ASF. There is some evidence to suggest a higher incidence of PJK at long-term follow-up with PSF compared with ASF. ASF is associated with a longer post-operative LOS compared with PSF.