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To determine local variations of cervical sympathetic ganglia (CSG) according to vertebral levels on preoperative neck magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by designating carotid artery (CA) as the standard landmark at the center, in attempts to prevent injury to CSG in the anterior-anterolateral approaches performed in the cervical spinal region. The retrospective study reviewed neck MRI images of 281 patients, of which the images of 231 patients were excluded from the study based on the exclusion criteria. As a result, the MRI images of the remaining 50 patients were included in the study. The circumference of carotid artery (CA) was divided into eight equal zones with CA defined as the standard landmark at the center. High-risk zones were determined based on the anterior-anterolateral approaches. At C1 level, a superior ganglion was located on the right side in 32 (64%) and on the left side in 30 (60%) patients. At this level, it was most commonly located in Zone 6. Middle ganglion was observed most frequently at C3 level, which was detected on the right side in 17 (34%) and on the left side in 17 (34%) patients. At this level, it was most commonly located in Zone 2. Variations in the localizations of superior and middle cervical ganglia should be taken into consideration prior to surgical procedures planned for this region. This study sheds light on high-risk zones in the surgical site and could guide surgeons to better understand the location of cervical sympathetic ganglia before surgical planning.

Background Percutaneous endoscopic surgery is a common technique used for the treatment of disk herniation and spinal stenosis. In this report, we present a patient who underwent percutaneous endoscopic decompression due to spinal metastasis. Case Description A 72-year-old female patient with a known diagnosis of lung cancer presented to our clinic with a 10-day history of severe pain in the left leg and a 5-day history of muscle weakness in the left thigh. The patient had a history of multiple organ metastasis and multiple spinal metastasis. On neurologic examination, left hip flexion and extension were graded 2/5. Radiologic workup revealed compression on the left L3 nerve root caused by vertebral metastasis. The patient was planned for a percutaneous full-endoscopic interlaminar decompression due to her clinical condition. The tumor surrounding the left L3 nerve root was removed via endoscopic punch, which resulted in rapid relief of her back pain postoperatively. Adjunct physical therapy was recommended after discharge. Conclusions Percutaneous full-endoscopic interlaminar decompression can be an alternative minimally invasive treatment option in selected patients with radicular pain and neurologic deficit caused by spinal metastasis.

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) continues to be a devastating problem in developing countries. The inevitable traumatic effect is followed by a secondary phase of neuroinflammation leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Numerous agents and treatment modalities have been tested to date. The first clinically available triptan used to treat migraine, sumatriptan (SUM), has been evaluated for cerebral, testicular and renal ischemia previously but to our knowledge this is the fi rst paper where its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects after experimental TBI in rats has been evaluated. Aim: Employing an experimental trauma technique, we aimed to investigate whether SUM has ameliorating effects on the infl ammatory phase of TBI via neurological, histological and biochemical analyses. Methodology: Twenty-three Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, trauma and trauma + SUM. The two latter groups underwent experimental diffuse cortical injury mimicking TBI. The subjects underwent neurological assessment via the Garcia Test, histological analysis via a novel scoring system and biochemical analyses of neuron specifi c enolase (NSE), S-100B, caspase-3 (CASP3), and rat thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels. Results: SUM receiving group had a better Garcia Test score (P < 0.001), higher anti-inflammatory score (P = 0.004) and higher neuroprotective score (P < 0.001) along with a better histopathological score when compared with the trauma group. SUM receiving group had lower levels of S100B, CASP3 and TBARS. SUM was unable to reduce NSE levels. Conclusion: SUM may prove to be beneficial in decreasing mortality and morbidity rates after TBI through its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. The novel scoring system used in this study may be a valuable tool for similar experiments. Úvod: Traumatické poranění mozku (traumatic brain injury; TBI) je v rozvojových zemích stále velmi vážným problémem. Nevyhnutelným výsledkem traumatu je sekundární fáze s neuroinfl amací, která vede ke zvýšené morbiditě a mortalitě. Do současné doby byly tetovány různé účinné látky a léčebné modality. První klinicky dostupný tryptan, který byl použit k léčbě migrény – sumatriptan (SUM) – byl předtím hodnocen při cerebrální, testikulární a renální ischemii, ale pokud je nám známo, toto je první článek, který hodnotí jeho protizánětlivé a antioxidační vlastnosti po experimentálním TBI u potkanů. Cíl: Při použití naší techniky experimentálního traumatu jsme si dali za cíl zjistit, zda SUM zlepšuje stav při zánětlivé fázi TBI, a to prostřednictvím neurologické, histologické a biochemické analýzy. Metodologie: Dvacet tři potkanů kmene Wistar albino bylo náhodně rozděleno do tří skupin: kontrolní skupina, skupina s traumatem a skupina s traumatem, které byl podáván SUM. U posledních dvou skupin bylo vyvoláno experimentální difuzní poranění kortexu, které simulovalo TBI. Subjekty podstoupily neurologické hodnocení prostřednictvím Garciova testu, histologické vyšetření pomocí nového skórovacího systému a biochemickou analýzu hladin neuron specifi cké enolázy (NSE), S100B, kaspázy-3 (CASP3) a tzv. „rat thiobarbituric acid reactive substances“ (TBARS). Výsledky: Skupina, které byl podáván SUM, měla lepší skóre Garciova testu (p < 0,001), zvýšený protizánětlivý účinek (p = 0,004) a neuroprotektivní účinek (p < 0,001) a zároveň sníženou hladinu TBARS (p < 0,05), ale v porovnání se skupinou s traumatem měly podobné hladiny S100B, CASP3 a NSE. Závěr: Podání SUM může přinést prospěch z hlediska snížení mortality a morbidity po TBI vlivem jeho protizánětlivého a antioxidačního účinku. Nový skórovací systém použitý v této studii může být u podobných experimentů užitečným nástrojem.

The aim of this procedure is to widen the spinal canal by using minimally invasive techniques to do hemipartial laminectomy and bilateral flavectomy in patients with cervical spinal stenosis due to ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. A 66-year-old man presented with increasing neck and right shoulder pain for one year to Koç University Hospital. He reported a three-month history of numbness in his hands. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores were 15 and 8, respectively. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed spinal canal stenosis at the C3-4 level secondary to ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. Hemi-partial laminectomy at the C3 level, flavectomy, and bilateral decompression were performed using the right unilateral approach. The patient's complaints of symptoms considerably decreased three months later. The VAS and JOA scores were 2 and 16, respectively. This minimally invasive approach can be an alternative to classic laminectomy in patients who have radiculopathy and myelopathy due to posterior origin spinal stenosis in order to safely resolve pain and neurologic dysfunction.

BACKGROUND Modafinil has been proven to exert anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and neuroprotective effects on numerous neurological disorders. However, its effects after traumatic brain injury (TBI) has not been yet explore. This study aimed to explore if Modafinil can attenuate the neuroinflammatory phase of TBI and clarify the possible underlying mechanisms. METHODS A weight drop model was used to induce experimental TBI on 30 Wistar albino rats. The treatment group received Modafinil on the day of the trauma and the following 5 days. Garcia Test was used to assess for neurological status and histopathological examination along with biochemical analysis of NSE, S-100B, CASP3, and TBARS levels were performed. RESULTS Rats treated with Modafinil after the trauma had a statistically significant higher Garcia test score (p

Microdiscectomy (MD) is a stan-dard technique for the surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Uniportal percutaneous full-endoscopic in-terlaminar lumbar discectomy (PELD) is another surgical op-tion that has become popular owing to reports of shorter hos-pitalization and earlier functional recovery. There are very few articles analyzing the total costs of these two techniques. The purpose of this study was to compare total hospital costs among microdiscectomy (MD) and uniportal percutaneous full-endoscopic interlaminar lumbar discectomy (PELD).Forty patients aged between 22-70 years who underwent PELD or MD with different anesthesia techniques were divided into four groups: (i) PELD-local anesthesia (PELD-Local) (n=10), (ii) PELD-general anesthesia (PELD-General) (n=10), (iii) MD-spinal anesthesia (MD-Spinal) (n=10), (iv) MD-general anesthesia (MD-General) (n=10). Health care costs were defined as the sum of direct costs. Data were then analyzed based on anesthetic modality to produce a direct cost evaluation. Direct costs were compared statistically between MD and PELD groups.The sum of total costs was $1,249.50 in the PELD-Local group, $1,741.50 in the PELD-General group, $2,015.60 in the MD-Spinal group, and $2,348.70 in the MD-General group. The sum of total costs was higher in the MD-Spinal and MD-General groups than in the PELD-Local and PELD-General groups. The costs of surgical operation, surgical equipment, anesthesia (anesthetist's costs), hospital stay, anesthetic drugs and materials, laboratory wor-kup, nur-sing care, and two main groups (PELD-MD) me-dication diffe-red significantly among the two main groups (PELD-MD) (p0.01).This study demonstrated that PELD is less costly than MD.A microdiscectomia (MD) a lumbalis porc­korongsérv műtéti kezelésének standard technikája. Az egy munkacsatornás percutan endoszkópos in­ter­lamináris lumbalis discectomia (PELD) egy másik műtéti lehetőség, ami a rövidebb kórházi ápolási idő szüksé­ges­sége és a gyorsabb funkcionális gyógyulás miatt egyre nép­szerűbbé válik. Nagyon kevés tanulmány elemzi e két technika költségeit. Jelen tanulmány célja az MD és a PELD összes kórházi költségének összehasonlítása.Negyven 22 és 70 éves kor közötti, PELD vagy MD módszerrel és különböző aneszteziológiai technikával operált beteget osztottunk négy csoportba: 1. PELD + helyi érzéstelenítés (PELD-Local) (n = 10), 2. PELD + ál­ta­lános ér­zéstelenítés (PELD-General) (n = 10), 3. MD + spi­nalis ér­zés­­telenítés (MD-Spinal) (n = 10), 4. MD + ál­ta­lános érzés­telenítés (MD-General) (n = 10). Az egészség­ügyi költsé­ge­ket a direkt költés összegeként definiáltuk. A költségek direkt összehasonlíthatósága érdekében az ada­tokat az érzéstele­nítés módja szerint elemeztük. A direkt költségeket az MD- és a PELD-csoportok között hasonlí­tottuk össze.A PELD-Local-csoportban az összes költség összege 1249,5 $, a PELD-General-csoportban 1741,5 $, az MD-Spinal-csoportban 2015,6 $, az MD-General-csoportban 2348,7 $ volt. Az összes költség összege magasabb volt az MD-Spinal- és MD-General-csoportokban, mint a PELD-Local- és PELD-General-cso­portokban. A mű­tét, a sebészi eszközök, az anesz­tézia (az aneszteziológus díja), a kórházi tartózkodás, az érzéstelenítés során használt gyógyszerek és anyagok, a laboratóriumi vizsgálatok, az ápolás és a posztoperatív gyógyszerelés költsége szigni­fi­káns mértékben eltért a négy csoport között (p0,01).Vizsgálatunk igazolta, hogy a PELD kevésbé költséges, mint az MD.

Background Despite the fact that technologic advances and surgical experience expand the use of endoscope in spinal surgery, there are few reports on its application in the management of spinal tumors. We present a case report of intradural extramedullary tumor excision with the percutaneous full endoscopic translaminar approach. Case Description A 67-year-old male presented to our clinic with lumbar, left thigh pain and paresthesia in both thighs. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed a contrast-enhanced intradural extramedullary mass with benign characteristics on L1 with the preliminary diagnosis of meningioma. The percutaneous translaminar endoscopic approach was planned to remove the intradural extramedullary tumor from a 7-mm skin incision. Surgery was planned in 4 stages: 1) exposure of the dura by opening a window on the lamina, 2) opening and expanding of the dura, 3) exposure of all sides of the tumor, and 4) excision of the tumor and hemostasis. Closing the dura and ending the surgery. Conclusions This report supports that full endoscopic spinal intradural extramedullary mass excision may give good results in selected cases and in experienced hands.

Background To date, a number of approaches have been described for far-lateral disc surgery, including midline, paramedian, and intertransverse approaches. These approaches pose challenges for surgeons due to the difficulty in retraction caused by the anatomy of the foramen. We designed a retractor suitable for the three-dimensional anatomical structure of the foramen. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of the patients who were operated on using this retractor in our clinic. Methods The retrospective study included patients who were operated on due to far-lateral disc herniation using the retractor designed in our clinic between February 2013 and December 2018. Results The study included 11 (64.7%) women and 6 (35.3%) men, with a mean age of 56 years (range: 42-70 years). The mean operative time was 49 minutes (range: 40-70 minutes), the mean estimated blood loss was 42 mL (range: 25-60 mL), and the mean follow-up period was 22.6 months (range: 13-48 months). No complication occurred in any patient. A minimally invasive discectomy was performed via the paramedian approach in each patient. The patients were evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) for radicular pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), and the modified MacNab criteria. Conclusion The retractor developed in our study provided numerous benefits during the surgical procedure as it led to minimal blood loss and reduced operative times by avoiding bone resection in extraforaminal discs and requiring minimal bone resection in foraminal discs.

We present a unique case of multiple junctional vertebra fractures in a single patient requiring surgical intervention, the variety of which has not yet been reported in the literature. A 15-year old female was admitted to our emergency department after a suicide attempt from jumping from the window of a five-floor building. On admission her general status was critical, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was 6, and on painful stimuli she was able to move all four extremities. On her spinal CT, a C1 right arcus fracture, a C7 corpus fracture, an L3 and L5 burst fracture and a right sacrum fracture were detected. The patient also suffered from pneumothorax, pleural effusion and pulmonary contusions. After she was stable and extubated, she did not show any motor or sensory deficits. As the patient still had some pleural effusion and pulmonary contusions, posterior approaches were avoided at first and a C6-T1 anterior stabilization with mini plate-screws was performed. After her pulmonary problems resolved, a series of spinal instrumentation surgeries were performed over the following weeks. A case like this in which multiple traumatic junctional fractures were treated with different surgical techniques has not been reported in the literature before. It is important to emphasize if and when surgical intervention is needed. A multidisciplinary assessment of trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons and anesthesiologists is vital for forming a further treatment plan.

We present a 79-year-old female patient who had L2-5 dynamic stabilization with cement (Polymethylmethacrylate) injection 6 weeks prior. Due to post-operative right radicular pain, a lumbar CT was scheduled in which a malposition of the right L4 screw and cement leakage was observed. Via a percutaneous translaminar endoscopic approach the leaked cement was removed and the portion of the screw in contact with the nerve root was drilled. With this minimal-invasive procedure, the patient was relieved of her radicular pain.

Study design Technique note OBJECTIVE.: To evaluate the feasibility of endoscopy in various spinal pathologies SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: Osteoporotic vertebral fractures are a common pathology in the elderly. These fractures are often accompanied by serious complications such as neurological deficits due to the compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots. Methods A 78-year-old female patient presented to our hospital with a severe pain in her left leg and back. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an osteoporotic L3 burst fracture compressing the left L3 nerve root. A minimally invasive translaminar endoscopic approach was used to remove the fractured fragment and cement was injected into the L3 vertebra. The patient was mobilized the same evening and was relieved of her pain. Conclusion Minimally invasive endoscopy is a safe and effective alternative to conventional major decompression with or without posterior stabilization, particularly in elderly patients with serious comorbidities. Level of evidence 4.

Background Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and percutaneous kyphoplasty are 2 common procedures that could be applied simply in treatment of vertebral compression fractures. Despite simplicity and safe application of these procedures, there are some drawbacks as well. Cement leakage into the spinal canal is the most common complication of PVP and PKV procedures. The aim of this article is to present a minimally invasive alternative technique for removing cement leakage fragment after the PVP. Methods A 44-year-old female patient began to complain of L4 radiculopathy after L4 PVP. The lumbar computed tomography demonstrated cement fragment closed to upper medial aspect of the left L4 pedicle. A minimally invasive translaminar endoscopic procedure was performed to remove the cement fragment. Results Following the endoscopic procedure, the patient's complaints resolved completely and she was discharged on postoperative day 1. The minimally invasive intervention provided shorter operation time, minimal blood loss, and reduced complication rate due to its simplicity. In particular, there was no need to undergo general anesthesia. Conclusions Endoscopic translaminar approach could be safely performed in patients with symptomatic cement leakage after PVP or a percutaneous kyphoplasty procedure.

OBJECTIVE Thoracic pedicles have special and specific properties. In particular, upper thoracic pedicles are positioned in craniocaudal plane. Therefore, manipulation of thoracic pedicle screws on the left side is difficult for right-handed surgeons. We recommend a new position to insert thoracic pedicle screw that will be much comfortable for spine surgeons. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 33 patients who underwent upper thoracic pedicle screw instrumentation. In 15 patients, a total of 110 thoracic pedicle screws were inserted to the upper thoracic spine (T1-6) with classical position (anesthesiologist and monitor were placed near to patient's head. Surgeons were standing classically near to patient's body while patients were lying in prone position). In 18 patients, a total of 88 thoracic pedicle screws were inserted to the upper thoracic spine with the new standing position-surgeons stand by the head of the patient and the anesthesia monitor laterally and under patient's belt level. All the operations performed by the same senior spine surgeons with the help of C-arm. Postoperative computed tomography scans were obtained to assess the screw placement. The screw malposition and pedicle wall violations were divided and evaluated separately. Cortical penetration were measured and graded at either : 1-2 mm penetration, 2-4 mm penetration and >4 mm penetration. RESULTS Total 198 screws were inserted with two different standing positions. Of 198 screws 110 were in the classical positioning group and 88 were in the new positioning group. Incorrect screw placement was found in 33 screws (16.6%). The difference between total screw malposition by both standing positions were found to be statistically significant (p=0.011). The difference between total pedicle wall violations by both standing positions were found to be statistically significant (p=0.003). CONCLUSION Right-handedness is a problem during the upper thoracic pedicle screw placement on the left side. Changing the surgeon's position standing near to patient's head could provide a much comfortable position to orient the craniocaudal plane of the thoracic pedicles.

The most common benign tumor of the brain is meningiomas. Usually diagnosed between the ages of 40–60, they are more common in women. Studies have shown a strong relationship between hormones and malignancies. Although meningiomas are slow-growing tumors of the brain, pregnancy seems to induce its growth speed. Studies concerning meningiomas and hormone relationship may explain the reason why symptoms during pregnancy flare. More specifically, the estrogen and progesterone receptor may take an active role through signal transduction in inducing the growth of the tumor. Thus, the dilemma of pregnancy + meningioma arises. In this case, a 21-year-old pregnant with a giant meningioma diagnosed on the symptom of loss of sight is reported. Her pregnancy was terminated, and the tumor was excised. Her vision improved and the histopathological examination showed a progesterone receptor positive meningioma. It is a challenging decision to be made by the physician, the patient and the family when deciding if and when pregnancy should be terminated once an intracranial meningioma is diagnosed.

Objective: Failed Back Syndrome (FBS) is unacceptable relief of pain or recurrence of symptoms in patients after spinal surgery, such as laminectomy. One possible cause of FBS is peridural fibrosis (PF). PF is the overproduction of scar tissue adjacent to the dura mater. Bleeding can cause PF after laminectomy. Ostene is an alkylene oxide copolymer material used to stop bleeding from bony surfaces. Floseal is a gelatin thrombin matrix sealant used to assist fibrin formation and to promote coagulation. Methods: Total of 32 female Sprague–Dawley rats were evenly allotted to 4 experimental groups: laminectomy only, laminectomy + Ostene (Baxter International, Inc., Deerfield, IL, USA), laminectomy + Floseal (Baxter International, Inc., Deerfield, IL, USA), and laminectomy + Adcon-L (aap Implantate AG, Berlin, Germany). After performing total laminectomy, agents were placed over dura mater. Spinal column of test subjects was harvested 6 weeks after laminectomy. Histopathological examination of samples was based on Masson's trichrome and hematoxylin and eosin staining. PF observed in the groups was graded using system previously described by He et al. Statistically significant p value was defined as p < 0.005. Results: Present study revealed that Adcon-L, Ostene, and Floseal groups had reduced PF compared with laminectomy only group (p = 0.001). Comparison of Ostene and Floseal groups with Adcon-L group yielded no significant difference. Conclusion: Reoperation as result of FBS has greater risk and often has poor outcome; surgeons must take precautions to avoid FBS, such as careful selection of appropriate patient and operation technique. Ostene and Floseal may be applied and left in the operation field safely during laminectomy to reduce occurrence of PF after procedure., NA

Aim: to show the preliminary clinical results of the Orthrus modular dynamic stabilization system that is a new instrumentation system intended for degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine. Material and methods: the system utilizes two different types of screws that can be used in conjunction with different types of rods such as titanium, carbon fiber or PEEK. The first type of screw is a double headed screw to interconnect to the upper and lower level with independent rods. The second type of screw is a sliding screw to be used on a immovable vertebrae that allows movement in two planes on the tip. Results: the system has been used on 36 patients with pathology varying from degenerative disc disease to degenerative lumbar scoliosis. Satisfactory results have been obtained in a all 36 patients in the 12-month follow-up period. Conclusion: the Orthrus dynamic system shows better clinical results than the available dynamic systems on the market. It also proves to provide similar fusion with considerably less postoperative morbidity which makes it a better method to treat adult degenerative spine diseases for carefully chosen patients., NA

Aim: to investigate the biomechanical comparison of thoracic transpedicular screw trajectories on the sagittal plane. Material and methods: a three-dimensional, non-linear finite element analysis (FEA) model of T8 through T9 was used. Anatomic trajectory (AT) and Straightforward trajectory (ST) models of the transpedicular screws were used in the intact FEA model. The von-Mises stress and range of motion (ROM) of the transpedicular screws were evaluated. Results: the difference in ROM between both techniques was negligible. In lateral bending and axial rotation, FEA showed decrease in stress by 25% and 8%, respectively, when pedicle screws were placed using AT. Conclusion: AT decreased the von-Mises stress of the pedicle screws, thereby reducing the rates of screw breakage and fatigue risks. In addition, we believe that AT could protect against screw loosening because the von-Mises stress of the internal fixation was scattered., Turkish Neurosurgical Society

To investigate the postoperative complications, such as screw loosening, screw breakage and adjacent segment disease (ASD), in patients who underwent surgery with 2-level dynamic stabilization systems.Postoperative complications, clinical improvements and radiological parameters in patients who underwent surgery using a dynamic system for 2-level lumbar stabilization were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 103 patients with lumbar degenerative spinal instability underwent 2-level dynamic stabilization. Clinical findings were reviewed at 2-year followup. Screw breakage and loosening were evaluated during this duration together with clinical findings.Visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were significantly decreased at the four-month evaluation, and they were also decreased at the 1-year follow up and at the 24th postoperative month. ASD was diagnosed in twelve (8 females, 4 males) of the 103 patients in the follow-up radiological and clinical controls. There were 9 screw breakages and 4 screw loosening cases. The complication rate of 2-level dynamic stabilization was high in this study.Our results showed that complications (screw loosening or breakage and adjacent segment disease) are not rare after 2-level dynamic stabilization, unlike the acceptable results with the single-level dynamic system. The most probable explanation is that the instrument system behaves more rigidly with every additional segment.

Epidural fibrosis is a challenging topic in spinal surgery. Numerous clinical and experimental studies have been focused on this issue to clarify problems faced in spinal procedures for the patient as well as the surgeon and find out new methodologies. Dense cytokines and growth factors which are released from inflammatory cells have been suggested to play a major role in the inception and progression of fibrosis. One of the most investigated and important actor in epidural fibrosis is assumed to be the transforming growth factor-1 beta (TGF-1 beta) formation. Studies showed that Dexmedetomidine (DEX) downregulates TGF-beta pathway with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. From this point of view, for the first time in the literature we try to observe if there will be an effect of topical DEX administration over epidural fibrosis in a rat model. We hypothesized that DEX might have preventive effects on epidural fibrosis via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Twenty-four adult male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to three groups (Topical DEX, Spongostan, Laminectomy). A total laminectomy was performed at the L3-L5 level and then the ligamentum flavum and epidural fat tissue were cleared away from the surgical site. Histopathological assessment was performed postoperatively after 4 weeks. Our study revealed that topical DEX administration may have effects on reducing epidural fibrosis. Topical DEX administration may be helpful in preventing epidural fibrosis after laminectomy in rats through multiple anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms as well as through TGF -1 beta pathway.

Background Epidural fibrosis is a challenging topic in spinal surgery. This phenomenon constitutes one of the main reasons behind postlaminectomy syndrome or failed back surgery syndrome, which leads to persistent back and leg pain in association with compression and/or stretching the nerve root or the dura. The exact mechanism of action in epidural fibrosis is complex and remains uncertain. Excessive deposition of collagen, fibronectin, and dermatan sulfate, known as the “extracellular matrix,” and decrease of tissue cellularity results in epidural fibrosis. The most investigated and important actor in epidural fibrosis as well as in other forms of aberrant wound healing is presumed to be transforming growth factor-1β formation. Tamoxifen (TAM), a synthetic nonsteroidal antiestrogen used in breast cancer, is also effective in inhibiting fibroblast proliferation via downregulation of transforming growth factor-1β. Methods Twenty-four adult male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. Laminectomy was the sole intervention in the control group. Spongostan was placed in the operation lodge after laminectomy in the second group. In the treatment group, TAM was administrated orally after laminectomy. Epidural fibrosis, dural thickness, inflammatory response, and arachnoidal involvement were evaluated and graded histopathologically. Results Epidural fibrosis, dural thickness, and inflammatory response in the subjects treated with TAM were significantly less than in the control and Spongostan group and the differences were statistically significant. Although arachnoidal involvement was observed in a subject in the TAM group, the differences between all groups weren't statistically significant. Conclusions Tamoxifen reduced epidural fibrosis, dural thickness, and inflammatory response after laminectomy in rats.

AIM: Burst fractures can occur with different radiological images after high energy. We aimed to simplify radiological staging of burst fractures.METHODS: Eighty patients whom exposed spinal trauma and had burst fracture were evaluated concerning age, sex, fracture segment, neurological deficit, secondary organ injury and radiological changes that occurred.RESULTS: We performed a new classification in burst fractures at radiological images.CONCLUSIONS: According to this classification system, secondary organ injury and neurological deficit can be an indicator of energy exposure. If energy is high, the clinical status will be worse. Thus, we can get an idea about the likelihood of neurological deficit and secondary organ injuries. This classification has simplified the radiological staging of burst fractures and is a classification that gives a very accurate idea about the neurological condition.

AIM: To determine the effects of resveratrol on inflammation and apoptosis after experimental spinal cord injury (SCI). MATERIAL and METHODS: Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. All groups underwent thoracic laminectomy. The first group received no other intervention. The second and third groups suffered SCI via the aneurysm clip compression method, and additionally the third group received resveratrol. After euthanizing the rats, immunohistochemical analysis and biochemical parameters of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?) and interleukin (IL)-1? were measured. RESULTS: The resveratrol group had statistically significant lower levels of TNF-?, IL -1?, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) positive cells and higher number of glial and motor neuron cells. CONCLUSION: Resveratrol proves to have remarkable neuroprotective effects on SCI in an experimental model in addition to its proven cardioprotective effects. © 2018 Turkish Neurosurgical Society.

Aim Atlantoaxial instability is a special entity that may be caused by many disorders such as trauma, tumor, arthritis, congenital malformation and infection. Atlantoaxial fixation is needed to provide stability, prevent neurological deficits and correct deformity. The objective of this study is to introduce an alternative technique for the treatment of atlantoaxial instability in patients who have vertebral artery anomaly, anomalous C2 or osteoporosis. Material and methods C1-2-3 fixation was performed in a 50-years-old, male patient with atlantoaxial instability due to os odontoideum. C1 lateral masses identified and screw placement was performed. C2 facet joints were identified bilaterally. Superior margin of junction of pedicle and the lamina was used as the entry point and 3.5x22 mm screws were inserted from C2 facet joint to the C3 facet joint in mediolateral and craniocaudal direction under fluoroscopic guidance with caution. The posterior fixation screws are interconnected with two rods. Finally, autologous grafts were placed posterolaterally to encourage the fusion. Results Patient's complaints relieved after the surgery. C1-C2 instability wasn't seen in the postoperative radiological examinations. Conclusion In the surgical treatment of C1-2 instability, our technique could help to reduce the possibility of vertebral artery injury in patients who have a vertebral artery course anomaly or when it is difficult to place C2 pedicle screws due to anomalous C2 pedicles and osteoporosis. High fusion rate could be achived with this technique due to passing through the four cortical surfaces. No wire or allograft was required. Thus, the instrumentation cost could be reduced.

AIM: Many studies are available-in the literature on posterior spinal instrumentation, though the use of a rod and a plate is still controversial in the literature. In this study, a finite element analysis of the strength and superiority of modular rigid plate and rod systems, which are used in the lower lumbar region, in comparison with each other was used. MATERIAL and METHODS: A Ti6AI4V (Grade 5) titanium biocompatible alloy anterior plate was used for the lumbar spine fixation device, and a finite element analysis was conducted on the human lumbar spine model. In this study, an intact spine, a rigid system fixed with a rod, and modular plate systems were evaluated at flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. RESULTS: They did not show statistically significant superiority over one another in terms of limitations in movement during the range of motion exercises and rigidity.CONCLUSION: The posterior rigid stabilization system and novel stabilization system do not have a significant superiority over one another. Equivalent results in the limitation of movement and rigidity allow for the use of these systems for short-segment posterior spinal instrumentation with the same indications., NA

AIM To investigate the postoperative complications, such as screw loosening, screw breakage and adjacent segment disease (ASD), in patients who underwent surgery with 2-level dynamic stabilization systems. MATERIAL AND METHODS Postoperative complications, clinical improvements and radiological parameters in patients who underwent surgery using a dynamic system for 2-level lumbar stabilization were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 103 patients with lumbar degenerative spinal instability underwent 2-level dynamic stabilization. Clinical findings were reviewed at 2-year followup. Screw breakage and loosening were evaluated during this duration together with clinical findings. RESULTS Visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were significantly decreased at the four-month evaluation, and they were also decreased at the 1-year follow up and at the 24th postoperative month. ASD was diagnosed in twelve (8 females, 4 males) of the 103 patients in the follow-up radiological and clinical controls. There were 9 screw breakages and 4 screw loosening cases. The complication rate of 2-level dynamic stabilization was high in this study. CONCLUSION Our results showed that complications (screw loosening or breakage and adjacent segment disease) are not rare after 2-level dynamic stabilization, unlike the acceptable results with the single-level dynamic system. The most probable explanation is that the instrument system behaves more rigidly with every additional segment.

In this research, the effect of tadalafil, a selective inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate-specific phosphodiesterase type 5, on rats with spinal trauma was evaluated. The evaluation consisted of neurological examination and biochemical parameters. Twenty healthy male Wistar albino rats were used in this study. They were separated into three groups: tadalafil-receiving (TD) group (n = 7), laminectomy and trauma (LT) group (n = 7), and just laminectomy group (n = 6). The TD group received daily dose of tadalafil (10 mg/kg) for a week along with bait and water. Each rat's spinal cord was dissected with utter caution. The spinal cord was traumatized by Allen's weight-drop method. Using a standard apparatus, 5 g of weight was dropped from a height of 10 cm on the spinal cords of the TD and LT (laminectomy + trauma) group. No extra maneuvers were conducted on the laminectomy group. A day later, the rat's functional neurological status was examined followed by re-exploration of the spinal cord for sampling 1 cm of tissue. The Tarlov scale was used to evaluate the functional neurological status. The modified Tarlov scale was rated to be significantly higher in the TD group than that in the LT group. For the biochemical parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA) and cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?) involved in the inflammatory process were examined. MDA - an indicator of lipid peroxidation-was found to be significantly lower in the TD group compared with that in the LT group. TNF-? and IL-6 levels were also found to be lower in the TD group compared with those in the LT group. Shortly, this research showed that the use of TD group in spinal trauma resulted in better neurological outcome and significant improvement in biochemical parameters. © 2015 The Neurosurgical Foundation.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition of the central nervous system. There is no proven therapeutic agent for the treatment of this complex disorder. Asiatic acid (AA) has been used as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agent in Eastern countries for many years. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of AA on the treatment of traumatic SCI in rats.Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups as laminectomy, laminectomy+trauma, vehicle, and AA treatment groups. SCI was created by the modified Allen"s weight-drop technique. After the injury, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL1-Beta;, TNF-alpha;) and lipid peroxidation products (MDA) were measured. Tarlov functional recovery scores were also determined for each rat. The One-way ANOVA test was used for the analysis of difference between 4 experimental groups and the groups were compared individually by Tukey-LSD post hoc analysis test (p=0.001).AA administration just after SCI attenuated the levels of lipid peroxidation products (MDA) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha;, IL1Beta;). It also increased the Tarlov functional recovery scores of the rats.AA administration could attenuate a number of deleterious reactions after traumatic SCI. Further studies are needed to elucidate the pathways of neuroprotective effects of AA after spinal trauma.

WOS: 000372668500013, PubMed: 26768874, AIM: To determine the factors in choosing the right surgical technique for patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. MATERIAL and METHODS: 60 patients were operated with anterior median corpectomy and anterior fusion for cervical myelopathy in Ankara Ataturk Education and Research Hospital between the years 2006-2011. All data were obtained from patient files retrospectively. Patients were evaluated in the preoperative and early postoperative stages and 45 days after discharge by referring to their neurological examinations, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and Nurick scores and radiological findings. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 53.8 +/- 9.9 years (38-78) and 45 were male (75%) and 15 were female (25%). Diabetics made up 16.7% (n=10) of the group and nondiabetics 83.3% (n=50). Of the nondiabetic patients, the Nurick score on the first month after surgery was statistically lower than the preoperative and after 24 hours Nurick score (p

Background context The North American Spine Society (NASS) publishes clinical guidelines that are taken into consideration worldwide by clinicians who have a special interest in spinal surgery. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II is the second version of the original AGREE instrument to assess the quality of guidelines in terms of development process. This appraisal aims to evaluate each individual NASS guideline using AGREE II tool to demonstrate its methodologic robust and weakness. Purpose To evaluate the quality of the clinical practice guidelines published by the NASS. Study design Four appraisers used the AGREE II guideline evaluation instrument to evaluate the NASS guidelines. Methods All six guidelines available on the NASS web site as of July 1, 2014 were evaluated. Four reviewers independently assessed these guidelines using the AGREE II instrument. The instrument standardizes the quantitative assessment of quality for a guideline's development process across six domains that include: scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, clarity and presentation, applicability, and editorial independence. Additionally, each reviewer rated the overall quality of the guidelines. Results Overall results for the AGREE II domains across all six guidelines were: scope and purpose (median score, 94.4%), stakeholder involvement (median score, 56.9%), rigor of development (median score, 91.7%), clarity of presentation (median score, 94.4%), applicability (median score, 60.9%), and editorial independence (median score, 71.9%). Conclusions Our study showed that the quality of the NASS guidelines needs some improvement. There is a critical need for broader stakeholder involvement including patient representatives and health economists. Consideration of resource implications and monitoring process and standardization of how recommendations are implemented need to be improved. Studies analyzing facilitators and barriers would be helpful for future NASS guidelines.

Aim Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is a devastating health problem both for the patient and the clinician. Numerous treatment modalities have been studied to reverse the effects of spinal cord injury. Herein is reported the effects and the comparison of Alpha Lipoic Acid and N-Acetyl Cysteine on rats with SCI. Material and methods 38 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: only laminectomy, laminectomy and trauma, laminectomy trauma and Alpha Lipoic Acid 100 mg/kg IP administration, laminectomy trauma and N-Acetyl Cysteine 300 mg/kg IP administration, and vehicle group (PEG). The trauma model was the Modified Allen Weight drop method. After the procedure, the rats' motor function was evaluated using the modified Tarlov Scale and consequently they were sacrificed and the spinal cord tissue was analyzed biochemically for inflammation markers. Results Both Alpha Lipoic Acid and N-Acetyl Cysteine administration after the injury significantly improved the results. There was no statistically significant difference in between the agents. Conclusion Although these agents both proven to be effective in ameliorating the effects of SCI, there was not enough evidence in this research to conclude the benefit of one agent over the other.

Thoracolumbar fractures are an important topic in spinal surgery. In this article, the instability of the thoracolumbar fracture classifications and surgical treatments are discussed, with a particular focus on treatment concepts that are based on the modern classification systems.

Aim Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition of the central nervous system. There is no proven therapeutic agent for the treatment of this complex disorder. Asiatic acid (AA) has been used as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agent in Eastern countries for many years. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of AA on the treatment of traumatic SCI in rats. Material and methods Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups as laminectomy, laminectomy+trauma, vehicle, and AA treatment groups. SCI was created by the modified Allen"s weight-drop technique. After the injury, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL1-B, TNF-a) and lipid peroxidation products (MDA) were measured. Tarlov functional recovery scores were also determined for each rat. The One-way ANOVA test was used for the analysis of difference between 4 experimental groups and the groups were compared individually by Tukey-LSD post hoc analysis test (p=0.001). Results AA administration just after SCI attenuated the levels of lipid peroxidation products (MDA) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a, IL1B). It also increased the Tarlov functional recovery scores of the rats. Conclusion AA administration could attenuate a number of deleterious reactions after traumatic SCI. Further studies are needed to elucidate the pathways of neuroprotective effects of AA after spinal trauma.

The technique we describe was developed for cervical foraminal stenosis for cases in which a keyhole foraminotomy would not be effective. Many cervical stenosis cases are so severe that keyhole foraminotomy is not successful. However, the technique outlined in this study provides adequate enlargement of an entire cervical foraminal diameter. This study reports on a novel foraminal expansion technique. Linear drilling was performed in the middle of the facet joint. A small bone graft was placed between the divided lateral masses after distraction. A lateral mass stabilization was performed with screws and rods following the expansion procedure. A cervical foramen was linearly drilled medially to laterally, then expanded with small bone grafts, and a lateral mass instrumentation was added with surgery. The patient was well after the surgery. The novel foraminal expansion is an effective surgical method for severe foraminal stenosis.