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Introduction: Lumbar fusion is one of the most widespread techniques to treat degenerative lumbar pathology. To prevent complications such as non-union or adjacent segment degeneration, dynamic stabilization techniques were developed, but with controversial results. The aim of the present study was to compare long-term radiologic and clinical results between fusion and dynamic stabilization., Material and Methods: A single-center retrospective study included patients with recurrent lumbar discal hernia or lumbar canal stenosis managed by posterolateral fusion or by dynamic stabilization associated to neurologic release. Patients were seen in follow-up for radiological and clinical assessment: visual analog pain scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Short Form-12 (SF-12), adjacent segment disease (ASD), and intervertebral range of motion (ROM)., Results: Fifty-eight patients were included: 25 in the fusion group (FG), and 33 in the Dynesys ® group (DG). VAS scores were significantly lower in DG than FG. ODI was 14.6±2.8 in DG, versus 19.4±3.3 in FG (P=0.0001). SF-12 physical subscore was significantly higher in DG. ROM was 4.1±2° in DG, vs. 0.7±0.5° in FG (P=0.001). Radiologic ASD was significantly greater in FG than DG (36% vs. 12.1%; P=0.012), without difference in clinical expression (DG, 1 case; FG, 2 cases)., Conclusion: Dynamic stabilization provided clinical and radiological results comparable to those of posterolateral fusion in these indications (although level L5-S1 was not studied)., Level of Evidence: IV., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Posterior instrumentation allows good osteosynthesis for thoracolumbar junction fractures. However, in approximately 20% of cases, anterior bone defects may persist, leading to pseudoarthrosis and loss of reduction. Anterior approaches can circumvent this drawback, but they are considered aggressive with a high rate of complications. The advent of the endoscopic mini-invasive techniques has led to a reduction in the number of complications while maintaining the same consolidation rate. Nevertheless, poor restitution of anatomic curves is a reproach for this technique. This prospective study reports clinical and radiological result of 50 patients (19 women and 31 men) operated between April 2000 and March 2006 with a video-assisted anterior approach using an endodistractor for reduction and consequent insertion of the implant. There were A3 (n = 44), A2 (n = 2), A1 (n = 3) and C1 (n = 1) fractures (Magerl classification). The specific system for fracture reduction was used in the last 39 cases of this series. A Pyramesh cage (Medtronic, Memphis, USA) was used in 15 patients, a peek cage (Creaspine, Bordeaux, France) in 30 patients and a tricortical graft in 5 patients. Standard X-rays and CT scan were performed pre-operatively. Kyphosis, and angulations were measured pre-, per- and post-operatively. Mean immediate postoperative gain in localized kyphosis was 12.18 degrees and mean gain at last follow-up was 11.71 degrees. Mean immediate postoperative gain in RA was 13.24 degrees and remained identical at last follow-up. Five patients had a transient pulmonary atelectasia and there was one pulmonary infection. No neurological complication occurred. Fracture reduction is comparable to the best thoracotomy series while limiting approach-related complications.

Purpose of the Study: The retroperitoneal mini-invasive anterior approach to the lumbar spine is widely used for disc excision and insertion of a prosthetic disc. A large operating window is needed. Venous wounds constitute one of the most serious complications. We analyzed the angle and position of the iliocaval on the preoperative angio-MRI in search for correlations with the intraoperative findings. Our aim was to determine whether the preoperative angio-MRI gives indications concerning the operative difficulty and the best strategy for prosthesis fitting., Material and Method: This prospective study included 35 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for implantation of a Maverick disc prosthesis. Average patient age was 46.7 years. The indication for surgery was isolated degenerative discopathy with invalidating chronic low back pain without alteration of the muscle masse or facet joints. A preoperative angio-MRI was performed with T1 spin-echo sequences for the coronal slices and T2 axial slices passing through the upper extremity of the L5-S1 disc. We searched for correlations between the MRI and operative findings. Elements studied were those used in the Capellades classification: height of the iliocaval junction (high, very high, low, very low), position of the common iliac vein (lateral, intermediate, medial), angle formed by the two common iliac veins., Results: The lateral position was the most frequent (31.5%). The average junction angle was 65 degrees). The only position where it was not possible to "pass" under the iliocaval junction was for a very low medial localization with a narrow angle (45 degrees)., Discussion: Our series included a homogenous group comparable with other series in the literature. The junction angle for very low medial localizations is of considerable importance because it is impossible to fit the implant in the L5-S1 under the iliocaval junction if the angle is over 60 degrees., Conclusion: The position of the iliocaval junction, and particularly its angle, are of considerable importance for insertion of an L5-S1 disc prosthesis. The preoperative angio-MRI provides information on the potential difficulty of the insertion. In addition, with this preoperative information, the patient can be warned that it may not be possible to insert the implant so that a therapeutic alternative may be proposed.

Purpose of the Study: There are several solutions for the treatment of fractures of the thoracolumbar junction (classical anterior, posterior, combined approaches). The advent of video-assisted minimally invasive techniques has helped minimize complications. The aim of this work was to analyze the clinical and radiological outcome in a prospective series of 20 patients who underwent video-assisted mini-thoracotomy for the treatment of thoracolumbar junction fractures., Material and Methods: This prospective study included 20 patients, mean age 43.3 years, with at least one year follow-up. All patients presented a normal neurological examination (Frankel E). Fractures were classified Magerl A (n = 19) and B (n = 1). Corporectomy/correction (aided with an endodistractor in the last nine cases) was performed with grafting and osteosynthesis. Perioperative and postoperative complications were noted. Focal kyphosis and regional angulation were noted before and after the operation and at last follow-up using the Stagnara system., Results: The arthrodesis had fused at last follow-up in all patients. There were three cases of alelectasia which regressed in two months. Overall outcome showed satisfactory angular correction which was maintained at last follow-up. The gain in focal kyphosis was 13.71 degrees on average in the immediate postoperative period and persisted at last follow-up (13.31degrees). The gain in corrected regional angulation was 14 degrees in the immediate postoperative period and 14 degrees at last follow-up. The gain in focal kyphosis and regional angulation was two-fold greater with the endodistractor than with external maneuvers., Discussion: The complication rate was very low. Corrections obtained were comparable with those reported in the literature and persisted over time., Conclusion: Bearing in mind the learning curve, there are fewer complications with the video-assisted minimally invasive approach than with classical thoracotomy or anterior surgery. This is true for perioperative and early and late postoperative complications. The correction achieved is satisfactory and lasting. A specific ancillary is essential for the reduction and for fitting the anterior graft without lost of correction. This technique combines the best results achieved with thoracotomy (Onimus) with a limited rate of complications.

Posterolateral fusion has long been considered the "gold standard" technique for surgical treatment of adult spondylolisthesis. Superior results have subsequently been reported with interbody fusion with cages and posterior instrumentation. The goal of this prospective study was to compare the two techniques regarding their clinical outcomes and fusion rates. Fifty-two patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis were operated by the same surgeon. One group (25 patients) had decompression and posterolateral fusion (PLF) with a pedicle screw system ; patients in the other group were treated by decompression, posterior interbody fusion (PLIF) and a pedicle screw system. The two groups were similar with respect to grade of slipping, age, and activity. Seventy-seven percent of the patients had a good or very good result with PLIF and 68% with posterolateral fusion. However, there was no statistical difference in cases with low grade slipping, whereas the difference was significant for cases with high grade slipping. The fusion rate was 93% with PLIF and 68% with PLF, but without any significant incidence on the functional outcome. Based on these findings, we now use posterior interbody fusion for high grade spondylolisthesis which requires reduction or if the disc space is still high. When the slip grade is low, or the disc space is narrow, we prefer posterolateral fusion.