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Background Wound infections after posterior spinal surgery are a troublesome complication; patients are occasionally forced to remove the internal fixation device, which can lead to instability of the spine and injury to the spinal cord. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of modified vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) for treating an early postoperative spinal wound infection. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 18 patients with wound infections after posterior spinal surgery from 2014 to 2017 at a single tertiary center. All patients included in the study received modified VAC treatment (VAC combined with a closed suction irrigation system, CSIS) until the wound satisfied the secondary closure conditions. Detailed information was obtained from the medical records. Results Wound size decreased significantly after 1 week of the modified VAC treatment. Three patients were treated with VAC three times and one patient received the VAC treatment four times; the remaining patients received the VAC treatment twice. The patients had excellent wound beds after an average of 8 days. The wound healed completely after an average of 17 days, and the average hospital stay was 33 days. There was no recurrence of infection at the 1-year follow-up. Conclusions This study demonstrates that VAC combined with a CSIS is a safe, reliable, and effective method to treat a wound infection after spinal surgery. This improved VAC procedure provides an excellent wound bed to facilitate wound healing and shorten the hospital stay.

Rationale: In previous studies, few cases of cervical myelopathy caused by invaginated anomalous laminae of the axis have been reported, and none of them was combined with occipitalization of the atlas. Patient concerns: A 28-year-old male was brought to our hospital with motor and sensory impairments of the extremities after a car accident. Diagnoses: MRI showed the spinal cord was markedly compressed at the C2/3 level. Reconstructed CT scans revealed an invaginated laminae of axis into the spinal canal as well as atlas assimilation. Interventions: The patient was successfully managed with surgical treatment by removal of the anomalous osseous structure as well as fixation and fusion. Outcomes: The patient had a rapid recovery after the operation. He regained the normal strength of his 4 extremities and the numbness of his extremities disappeared. He returned to his normal work 3 months after the surgery without any symptoms. Lessons: Invaginated laminae of axis combined with occipitalization of the atlas is a rare deformity. MRI and reconstructed CT scans are useful for both diagnosing and surgical planning of this case. Surgical removal of the laminae results in a satisfactory outcome. The pathogenesis of this anomaly could be the fusion sequence error of the 4 chondrification centers in the embryological term.

Background: A “digit-like” bone is a rare developmental anomaly that is usually seen in the pelvic or thoracic regions. Such an anomaly in the cervical spine is extremely rare and few cases have been reported. We present a patient with an anomalous bone posterior to a cervical vertebra. The patient was admitted to our hospital with a gradually growing hard neck mass and esthetic complaints. Physical examination, radiographs, reconstructed computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a digit-like bone posterior to the cervical spine. The patient was diagnosed with a “cervical digit.” Through a posterior midline approach, the anomalous bone was excised because of its gradually increasing size and esthetic complaints. Results: Intraoperatively, the bony mass was found to have a pseudoarticulation with the spinous process of C5 (the fifth cervical vertebra). The specimen consisted of normal bone and cartilage. The child returned to a normal life postoperatively with no symptoms. There was no recurrence at the 2-year follow-up. Conclusion: A congenital cervical digit is a rare deformity. A detailed clinical workup and advanced imaging examinations are useful for diagnosing such conditions. Esthetic complaints contribute to surgical indications. This is the first cervical digit managed with surgical excision of the anomalous bone and had a favorable outcome.

Rationale: The complication of iatrogenic distraction of odontoid fracture after anterior screw fixation has not been reported in the literature. We treated the patient with endoscopically assisted bone grafting with good results. The new technique was not reported in the management of odontoid fracture or nonunion before. Patient concerns: A 22-year-old man presented with neck pain after a motorcycle crash. The cervical spine radiograph and computed tomographic scan demonstrated the base of dens displaced 2 mm anteriorly. Diagnoses: Radiographic images showed a type II odontoid fracture. Interventions: The patient was treated by percutaneous anterior screw fixation. The postoperative radiograph and CT demonstrated an iatrogenic distraction of the odontoid with a gap of 6 mm.The follow-up radiograph did not show any sign of bone union 1 month and a half later. A revision surgery was given by anterior endoscopically assisted bone grafting. The patient was encouraged to sit out of bed immediately after the surgery with the protection of a soft cervical collar for 3 months. Outcomes: No complications such as neural structures or vascular injuries were found. Bone union was achieved at the 1-year follow-up CT scans. Physical examination showed a full range of motion in the neck. Lessons: We reported a case of iatrogenic odontoid distraction that was managed by anterior endoscopically assisted bone grafting. It is a technically feasible and minimally invasive procedure.

Thoracic cortical bone trajectory (CBT) screw fixation can maximize the thread contact with cortical bone, and it is 53.8% higher than that of the traditional pedicle screws. Moreover, it can also enable less tissue dissection and retraction for reduced muscle disruption. Eighty pediatric patients are divided into 4 age groups and their thoracic vertebrae are analyzed on computed tomography (CT) images. The maximal screw length, maximal screw diameter, screw diameter, and the cephalad angle are measured. The statistical analysis is performed using the Student's t-test and Pearson's correlation analysis. Maximal screw length increases from T9 to T12 and there are significant differences between girls and boys at T9, T10, T11, and T12 in majority of groups (P

The objective of this study was to prospectively compare intraoperative fluoroscopy time and clinical and radiological results in pediatric femoral shaft fractures treated with titanium elastic nailing (TEN) using a small-incision, blind-hand reduction vs closed reduction. From February 2008 to December 2009, sixty-eight children were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group A comprised 34 patients treated with a small-incision, blind-hand reduction technique and group B comprised 34 patients treated with a closed reduction technique. Operative time, intraoperative fluoroscopy time, fracture union time, and complications were recorded in both groups. Clinical and radiological results were assessed using the TEN scoring system. Mean operative time was 30.5±8.5 in group A and 53.0±15.0 minutes in group B, and mean fluoroscopy time was 28.4±18.5 seconds in group A and 65.0±28.5 seconds in group B. Operative time and fluoroscopy time were significantly longer in group B ( P

Lumbar interspinous devices are intended to unload the facet joints, restore foraminal height, lower intradisk pressure, and provide motion-preserving stabilization. They are an alternative treatment for patients with spinal degeneration and have increased in popularity in recent years. To the authors’ knowledge, heterotopic ossification has not been previously reported around an interspinous device, and this is the first reported case of interspinous fusion after interspinous device placement. A 66-year-old man presented with a 3-year history of low back pain and a 4-month history of radiating pain down his left leg. A diagnosis was made of lumbar spinal stenosis and left disk herniation at L4–L5 after physical and imaging examinations. A dynamic interspinous device was implanted after the decompressive surgery. The patient’s symptoms were relieved postoperatively. Thirty-two months later, he returned with back pain after being in a traffic accident. Lumbar radiographs showed a massive bony formation around the implant. Radiographs and a computed tomography scan 4.5 years later revealed that the implanted device segments were fused. No implant motion was seen on dynamic radiographs. Because the patient was symptom free, no interventions were performed. Heterotopic bone formation around a dynamic interspinous device may hamper motion preservation, and heterotopic ossification is a potential mid- and long-term complication.