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Purpose: This retropective multicentric study aims to investigate the clinical applicability of the NSE score in the elderly, to verify the role of this tool as an easy help for decision making also for this class of patients., Methods: All elderly patients (> 65 years) suffering from spinal metastases undergoing surgical or non-surgical treatment at the authors' Institutions between 2015 and 2022 were recruited. An agreement group (AG) and non-agreement group (NAG) were identified accordingly to the agreement between the NSE score indication and the performed treatment. Neurological status and axial pain were evaluated for both groups at follow-up (3 and 6 months). The same analysis was conducted specifically grouping patients older than 75 years., Results: A strong association with improvement or preservation of clinical status (p < 0.001) at follow-up was obtained in AG. The association was not statistically significant in NAG at the 3-month follow-up (p 1.00 and 0.07 respectively) and at 6 months (p 0.293 and 0.09 respectively). The group of patients over 75 years old showed similar results in terms of statistical association between the agreement group and better outcomes., Conclusion: Far from the need or the aim to build dogmatic algorithms, the goal of preserving a proper performance status plays a key role in a modern oncological management: functional outcomes of the multicentric study group showed that the NSE score represents a reliable tool to establish the need for surgery also for elderly patients., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: The optimal management of hangman's fractures is controversial and the standard of care has been neither established nor supported by strong evidence. The Judet approach has been introduced in 1970 as surgical option to treat selected cases of hangman's fractures, harboring the advantage to preserve motion of the craniovertebral junction and to restore the C2 vertebra anatomy by insertion of transpedicular screws through the fracture line. This paper reviews the literature on hangman's fractures surgically managed by Judet approach, and reports two new illustrative cases., Methods: The PubMed database was searched for the review process. After initial screening of abstracts and papers, 13 manuscripts were included in the present review.Two cases of hangman's fractures, a Levine-Edwards type I and a type IIA, respectively, treated with direct transpedicular C2 screw fixation are reported. Surgical steps of the Judet approach are also described., Results: Our literature review revealed that the technique described by Judet is gaining appeal only in recent years and there is no consensus on surgical indications.No surgery-related complications were observed in the two reported cases. Patients experienced a significant reduction of neck pain postoperatively. Motion of craniovertebral junction was preserved in both patients at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups., Conclusions: Direct transpedicular osteosynthesis of C2-pars interarticularis fracture has been already demonstrated as effective in type II and IIA hangman's fractures. The application of such technique in selected patients with atypical type I fractures should also be considered in order to achieve early mobilization and avoid external fixation., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Surgery of fractures involving the skull base and the facial skeleton often presents challenges that should be addressed to prevent secondary brain injuries (i.e., cerebro-spinal fluid leak), preserve visual functioning, and guarantee a good esthetic result. Complex craniofacial reconstruction can be aided by navigation and pre-operative planning. In recent years, computerized planning of surgical reconstruction drastically increased the safety and efficacy of surgery, but the impact of intraoperative high quality image devices such as an intraoperative computed tomography (CT) scan has not been investigated yet. This case-control study reports the institutional preliminary experience of using intraoperative CT scans in the surgical management of complex cranio-facial fractures. The results in terms of accuracy of bony reconstruction and neurological or surgical complications have been analyzed in 12 consecutive patients treated with (6 cases) or without (6 cases) i-CT. Comparative analysis demonstrated a greater accuracy of reconstruction in patients treated with the assistance of i-CT. Intraoperative CT is a useful tool with a promising role in a multidisciplinary surgical approach to complex cranio-facial surgery., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Objectives: To evaluate clinical response after external lumbar drainage (ELD) and ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS) in a cohort of patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus associated with parkinsonism (iNPH-P), considering parkinsonism as clinical primary outcome., Methods: Patients underwent long-term 72-h intracranial pressure-controlled CSF ELD. Clinical motor response before and after ELD was evaluated using changes in UPDRS-ME as outcome measure. A standardized cognitive assessment was also performed. iNPH-P patients who underwent VPS were clinically followed-up after surgery., Results: Fourteen iNPH-P patients (age: 69.3 ± 11.6 years) were studied. The time of evaluation after ELD removal was 3.5 ± 1.8 days. We observed a significant motor improvement after the drainage in eight (57.1%) patients. Percent clinical motor response was 18.4 ± 6.7%. Twelve (85.7%) patients underwent VPS. Nine patients were examined after surgery at 31.6 ± 7 months. Four (44.4%) patients presented a clinically detectable improvement in motor response after VPS. No significant changes in cognitive performances were detected., Conclusions: A clinically detectable motor response on parkinsonian signs was observed in a consistent part of iNPH-P patients few days after ELD as well as over two and half years after VPS. Parkinsonism should be considered as outcome measure for the clinical management of patients with iNPH-P.

Background: A retro-odontoid pseudotumour compressing the spinal cord and causing myelopathy is often associated with an inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid arthritis. A degenerative non-inflammatory retro-odontoid pseudotumour responsible for clinically relevant spinal cord compression is a rare condition described in small clinical series and is likely associated with craniovertebral junction hypermobility or instability-like conditions. For several years, direct removal of the lesion through an anterior or lateral approach has been advocated as the best surgical option. However, in the last decade the posterior approach to the craniovertebral junction, to perform C1-C2 fixation and C1 laminectomy without removal of the retro-odontoid tissue, has demonstrated its efficacy in reducing retro-odontoid pannus as well as in obtaining improvement of myelopathy., Methods: In this paper we analyse the clinical and radiological outcomes of seven patients (five males and two females) treated with posterior C1-C2 fixation and C1 laminectomy for a degenerative non-inflammatory retro-odontoid pseudotumour responsible for spinal cord compression. C1 laminectomy provided immediate spinal cord decompression. We also review the relevant literature focusing on associated cervical degenerative conditions that may contribute to triggering or acceleration of atlantoaxial hypermobility or 'instability', causing formation of the retro-odontoid tissue., Results: The mean follow-up period (of six followed-up patients) was 55.8 months (range 10-96 months). In all cases the Nurick score at the latest follow-up visit demonstrated clinical improvement; magnetic resonance imaging during follow-up demonstrated progressive reduction of the retro-odontoid pseudotumour in all but one patient, who died of surgery-unrelated disease in the early postoperative period. No vascular or neural damage secondary to C1-C2 fixation was observed., Conclusion: C1-C2 fixation associated with C1 laminectomy is an effective surgical option to treat myelopathy secondary to a degenerative retro-odontoid pseudotumour. In these cases, direct removal of intracanalar tissue compressing the spinal cord is not required, as C1-C2 fixation is sufficient to cause its disappearance.

Background: Percutaneous techniques have increasingly gained popularity in recent years. The application of technological innovation, including neuromonitoring techniques, has the potential to increase the safety and efficacy of these procedures., Methods: Thirty patients suffering from osteoporotic dorsolumbar burst fracture were prospectively enrolled in this study. The patients underwent percutaneous fenestrated pedicle screw fixation augmented with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) injection. A novel surgeon-dedicated neuromonitoring device was used in order to increase the safety and the accuracy of the screw insertion. A second group of 30 patients who did not undergo neuromonitoring during percutaneous pedicle screw placement, matched for demographic characteristics, constituted the control group., Findings: A total of 296 screws were inserted. All treated patients had a good outcome, documented by an improvement in visual analogue scale (VAS) scores. Excellent trajectories were achieved in all patients. Cobb's angle and anterior vertebral height were satisfactorily restored in all study group patients. Three misplaced screws in three patients and a case of PMMA leakage without neurological deficits were observed in the control group, whereas no complication was recorded in the study group (p = 0.03)., Conclusions: Neuromonitoring in cement-augmented percutaneous pedicle screw placement appears to improve surgeon confidence during surgery, reducing the risk of screw misplacement or cement leakage.

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS), including percutaneous pedicle-screw fixation (PPSF), mini-open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (m-open TLIF), vertebroplasty, and stentoplasty, allows the preservation of neurological function and the restoration of spine stability, while reducing associated risks and complications. This study aimed to analyze the safety and efficacy of MISS in elderly patients suffering from degenerative or traumatic thoracolumbar diseases. Forty-five patients (28 females), with a mean age of 73 years (range 65-89), suffering from osteoporotic vertebral fractures (24), degenerative spondylolisthesis (15), and lumbar canal stenosis with instability and/or de novo scoliosis (6) were included.Twenty-one patients underwent PPSF and m-open TLIF. The remaining patients received PPSF without interbody fusion, and in six of these fenestrated screws were used for vertebral body cement augmentation.Functional evaluation was obtained with a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) pre- and postoperatively. Preoperative imaging included X-rays, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients were followed-up with X-rays, and a CT scan was also obtained at the last follow-up. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 59 months (mean 28 months). Follow-up CT scan documented intersomatic fusion in only 14 % of patients treated with m-open TLIF. Despite the high incidence of non-union, mean VAS and ODI scores showed a significant improvement, with a reduction of mean VAS from 9 to 4 and a reduction of mean ODI from 76.33 to 38.15 %. Only three patients developed postoperative complications. No patients showed neurological deficits.Minimally invasive spine surgery for degenerative and traumatic spinal diseases is a safe and effective treatment also in elderly patients.

Purpose: To report our early experience with minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in low-dysplastic lumbosacral lytic spondylolisthesis (LDLLS), and to analyze the impact of surgery on postoperative spino-pelvic and sacro-pelvic parameters., Methods: Eight patients (mean age 47.6 years) underwent MIS for LDLLS involving in all but one the L5-S1 level. VAS and ODI were used for clinical assessment. Imaging included pre-operative X-rays, CT and MRI scans. Post-operatively, all patients underwent X-rays and CT-scans. Pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT) and sacral slope (SS) values as well as lumbar lordosis (LL) have been derived from pre- and post-operative standard X-rays., Results: Mean follow-up is 30.12 months (range 15-42). No complications related to the surgical procedure were observed. Patients reported a satisfactory clinical outcome, as demonstrated by variation in mean VAS (from 9.1 to 3.6) and ODI (from 70.50 to 28.25 %) scores. Comparison between pre- and post-operative sacro-pelvic parameters documented moderate changes, with reduction of PT and increase of SS in all but one patient. Overall sagittal balance of the spine has been evaluated using the sagittal vertical axis (SVA), obtained from post-operative X-rays. Mean value of SVA demonstrated a good sagittal balance of the spine., Conclusion: This series demonstrates that MIS is feasible and effective for LDLLS, as witnesses by the satisfactory clinical results maintained at medium-term follow-up. We submit that TLIF is a valid option but an adequately sized and positioned interbody cage is a key factor to allow satisfactory restoration of segmental lordosis.

Purpose: To analyze the prospectively collected data in a series of patients treated with single- or multilevel ACDF with a stand-alone, zero-profile device, focusing on clinico-radiological outcome, complications and technical hints, and to review the literature on such new devices., Methods: Eighty-five patients harboring symptomatic DDD underwent ACDF with the Zero-P cage-plate: 29 at 1-level and 56 at 2-4 levels (total 162 devices). In the multilevel group, 9 patients received a combination of Zero-P and stand-alone cages (hybrid implants). This study focuses on 32 patients with follow-up ranging from 20 to 48 months. NDI, SF-36 and arm pain VAS scores were registered preoperatively and at follow-up visits. Dysphagia was assessed using the Bazaz score. Imaging included X-rays, CT and MRI, also to assess the presence of vertebral body fractures in multilevel cases. Paired Student t test was used for statistical analysis., Results: SF-36 and NDI showed a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.01) and mean arm pain VAS score decreased from 79 to 41. X-rays and CT demonstrated, respectively, a 94.5 % and a 92 % fusion rate. Three patients complained of moderate and two of mild transient dysphagia (15.5 %). No device-related complications occurred and no fractures, secondary to four screws insertion in one vertebral body (i.e., swiss cheese effect), were detected in multilevel cases. In patients with extensive anterior osteophytes only a "focal spondylectomy" was required., Conclusion: The Zero-P device is safe and efficient, even in multilevel cases. Dysphagia is minimal, extensive anterior osteophytectomy is unnecessary and technical hints may ease the surgical workflow. This is the largest series, with the longest follow-up, reported.

Purpose: Retro-odontoid pseudotumor, not related to inflammatory or traumatic conditions, is an uncommon pathology. Atlanto-axial instability has been advocated to explain the pathophysiology of retro-odontoid pseudotumor's formation and growth. Despite pseudotumor direct removal through transoral or lateral approach represented the main surgical strategy for a long time, in the last decade several authors highlighted the possibility to treat retro-odontoid pseudotumor by occipito-cervical or C1-C2 fixation without removal of the intracanalar tissue. The goal of this study is to analyze the data collected in a series of patients suffering from cervical myelopathy due to non-inflammatory, degenerative retro-odontoid pannus and treated by posterior C1-C2 fixation. The relevant literature is also reviewed., Methods: Five patients, not suffering from inflammatory diseases, were treated between 2009 and 2012. Abnormalities of cranio-cervical junction and/or lower cervical spondylotic degeneration were observed in all patients. No evidence of atlanto-axial instability was demonstrated. Clinical and radiological evaluation included pre- and post-operative Nurick score as well as pre- and post-operative X-rays, CT and MRI. In one case, CT scan highlighted an eggshell calcification of the pannus. All patients underwent either a C1-C2 fixation (C1 lateral mass and C2 isthmus-pedicle screws) or occipito-cervical fixation (2 patients) in cases of C0-C1 fusion., Results: Follow-up ranges from 22 to 45 months (mean 32) in four patients. One patient died of surgery-unrelated disease. Nurick score changes suggest a clinical improvement in four cases. Neuro-radiological evaluation shows a progressive but incomplete reduction of thickness of retro-odontoid pseudotumor in one patient, and its disappearance in the other three cases. A second-stage transoral or posterior lateral approach was not required., Conclusion: Although the etiopathogenesis of non-inflammatory, i.e., degenerative, retro-odontoid pseudotumor is still controversial, our series (the second largest on degenerative retro-odontoid pannus in the literature) confirms that a posterior approach may be sufficient and transoral surgery is not required.