Minimally Invasive Posterior Cervical Fusion: A Handsome Option.

Cervical spondylosis is the leading cause of cervical myelopathy. When surgery is indicated, it is commonly addressed through an anterior or posterior cervical approach, such as cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or laminectomy and fusion (LMF). Besides their own merits, each one has specific approach- or device-related complications, such as dysphagia, significant postoperative pain, wound infection, adjacent segment degeneration (ASD), and pseudoarthrosis. Through a tissue-sparing minimally invasive technique, posterior cervical fusion (PCF) has shown unfolding compelling evidence of biomechanical stability, good clinical outcomes, and high fusion rates, with fewer complications and better econometrics. On the basis of our own experience, we discuss here the indications, advantages, and drawbacks of minimally invasive PCF.

Spinal Intradural Extramedullary Tumors: A Retrospective Analysis on Ten-Years' Experience of Minimally Invasive Surgery and a Comparison with the Open Approach.

Spinal intradural extramedullary (ID-EM) tumors are pathologies widely treated through a classical open approach. However, minimally invasive surgery is gaining traction as a comparable treatment option because it carries less morbidity and may reduce healthcare costs.This study aimed to compare the clinical and functional outcomes of open versus minimally invasive approaches for patients with ID-EM tumors. We performed a retrospective analysis on prospectively collected data from patients with ID-EM tumors submitted to surgery. Baseline features and operative variables were compared, including surgery duration and estimated blood loss (EBL). Postoperative data covered tumor histology, length of stay (LOS), complication(s), and neurological status (Medical Research Council (MRC) scale) at the last follow-up.In total, 46 patients were included: 30 (65.2%) operated through an open approach and 16 (34.8%) through a minimally invasive surgical (MIS) approach. The predominant histology type was schwannomas (43.5%). Lesions more frequently affected the lumbar spine (34.8%). The tumor dimensions were similar in both cohorts. The minimally invasive approach was on average 76.7 min faster and correlated positively with less EBL (140 mL less than that of the open approach). Patients in the MIS group had shorter LOSs (5.63 days vs. 17.27 days) and had fewer postoperative complications. No significant difference in functional outcome was found.MIS is as effective as the traditional approach in achieving comparable functional outcomes, with advantages such as shorter surgery durations, less blood loss, and shorter hospital LOSs.

Long-Term Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of Low-Grade Lumbar Spondylolisthesis Stabilization with Rigid Percutaneous Pedicle Screws.

The armamentarium of surgical treatment options for lumbar spondylolisthesis (LS) includes decompression alone, stabilization with interlaminar devices, or instrumented fusion, through open or minimally invasive approaches. Despite its safe profuse use in distinctive lumbar spine disorders, using percutaneous pedicle screws (PPSs) alone to stabilize LS has never been described before. We performed a retrospective study of prospectively collected data, enrolling 24 patients with LS and scrutinizing clinical and radiological outcomes. A statistically significant decrease in visual analog scale (VAS) scores (p < 0.001) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores (p < 0.001) was observed, as was a reduction in the intake of acetaminophen after surgery (p = 0.022). In the long-term, PPS effectively reduced the index-level range of motion (p < 0.001), reduced preoperative slippage (p = 0.03), and maintained foraminal height, thus accounting for the positive clinical outcomes. It induced a significant segmental kyphotic effect (p < 0.001) that was compensated for by a favorable increase in the pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis (PI-LL) index (0.028).

Rosette-forming glioneural tumor in the tectal plate: Endoscopic diagnosis and conservative management.

We present the case of a 29 year-old male with a tumor involving the mesencephalic tectum with associated hydrocephalus. Third ventriculocisternostomy was performed along with endoscopic biopsy; this provided adequate sampling of the tumor and enabled diagnosis of rosette-forming glioneural tumor (RGNT). The patient was followed for 48 months without progression of the disease. We review the features of the previous eight cases described in the literature and discuss the advantages of a minimally invasive approach and conservative management.