Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are associated with significant pain and disability. The current standard of care is expectant medical management; however, there is emerging data encouraging the use of early kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty. The goal of this nationwide study was to investigate the outcomes of patients with acute thoracolumbar VCF who undergo very early (inpatient) kyphoplasty compared with those managed medically.

Sacral amputations for en bloc resection of malignant spinal tumors are associated with significant morbidity, especially wound complications, and require complex plastic surgery reconstructions to achieve wound closure. In this study, the authors investigate wound healing related to early postoperative mobilization (≤ 3 days of bed rest) compared with delayed postoperative mobilization (> 3 days of bed rest). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative wound complications.

The impact of C5 palsy on quality of life (QOL) and its relationship with recovery and overall well-being remain poorly understood. In this study, the authors aimed to examine the effects of postoperative C5 palsy on upper extremity function and QOL in patients undergoing cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (C-OPLL) surgery, using both objective clinical assessments and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Additionally, this study aimed to explore the correlation between residual C5 palsy and QOL over a 2-year period.

While health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures have been extensively quantified in cervical deformity (CD), this clinical dimension has not yet been fully integrated into understanding CD radiographic subtypes prior to surgery. The aim of this study was to identify distinct patterns of HRQOL deficits among patients with CD by focusing on clinical scores and to examine the association of these patterns with radiographic morphotypes of CD.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists are established therapeutics for weight loss that are increasingly used for BMI optimization prior to spine surgery. However, emerging evidence has suggested that GLP-1 agonists might reduce bone mineral density (BMD), increasing the risk of postoperative biomechanical complications. CT-based Hounsfield units (HUs) have gained popularity as a method for measuring spinal BMD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of GLP-1 agonist-induced weight loss on spinal BMD as measured by opportunistic CT-based HUs.

Surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is becoming increasingly common and costly. Using propensity score matching to rigorously control for demographic, clinical, and surgical confounders, the authors provide the most refined assessment yet of the impact of discharge to subacute rehabilitation (SAR) or home with health services on excess length of stay (LOS) and inpatient expense following surgery for CSM.

Paraspinal involvement has been consistently reported as a negative predictor of local control following stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for spinal metastases. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of paraspinal disease and determine the impact on outcomes.

Older patients are increasingly undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Although studies have examined complication rates in older patients, the correlation between age and achieving specific patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is lacking. The authors sought to determine whether older patients undergoing ACDF are independently associated with lower odds of achieving minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for pain and physical function.

While preoperative embolization (PrE) is known to reduce blood loss during spinal surgery for histopathologically hypervascular metastases, its efficacy in nonhypervascular spinal metastases remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PrE in patients with nonhypervascular spinal metastatic tumors, focusing primarily on estimated blood loss (EBL) and secondarily on perioperative outcomes.

Symptomatic, low-grade spondylolisthesis is usually well treated by surgical intervention. While some patients obtain less than optimal improvement, low-grade spondylolisthesis deteriorates in a few patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate what factors predict deterioration in back pain scores after surgical treatment of low-grade spondylolisthesis.

Depression and anxiety affect 10%-20% of the population, are leading causes of nonfatal disease, and are underdiagnosed globally. Mental health can play a significant role in surgical outcomes, including treatment of degenerative spinal conditions. Understanding the relationships between mental health and spinal surgery outcomes is critical for optimizing perioperative care.

In this review article, the authors describe the thought process, alternatives, and approaches to adult spinal deformity. Although fusion of the entire major curve of scoliosis is certainly reasonable and necessary in certain cases, the authors discuss conditions in which shorter constructs may be considered. They also discuss when it is important to fuse both the major and fractional curves and when shorter constructs are not ideal. Factors that favor choosing an upper instrumented vertebral level in the upper thoracic, lower thoracic, or lumbar spine are discussed. Case examples are presented, and decision-making considerations are discussed.

Prior studies on spinal ependymoma typically group patients based on tumor pathology, often combining myxopapillary ependymomas and other ependymoma subtypes into a single cohort. This study aimed to evaluate differences in patient presentation and long-term functional outcomes between cervical/thoracic and conus/filum ependymomas. The authors hypothesized that these variations are location specific and warrant further stratification.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) with a ventral CSF leak (type 1) is believed to be caused by discogenic microspurs. Recently, this hypothesis was questioned, in which Hofmann's ligament, a fibrous connective tissue between the dura and posterior longitudinal ligament, was claimed to be the cause of a spinal dural tear. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether SIH type 1 lesions arise from a discogenic source or from fibrotic tissue.

The aim of this study was to characterize patient demographics, injury characteristics, clinical management, and inpatient hospital course of victims of gunshot wounds (GSWs) to the spine to describe a "natural history" of disease following this injury.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has demonstrated benefits across various surgical specialties. However, a significant research-practice gap remains, with fewer than half of spine surgeons incorporating ERAS principles into daily practice. A key barrier to ERAS implementation in spine surgery is postoperative compliance, as patients often express concerns about worsening pain. To address these challenges, the authors developed a standardized, delivery-focused ERAS clinical pathway (CP) for oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF). This study prospectively evaluated whether ERAS-CP can improve postoperative compliance without compromising pain control compared with conventional ERAS.

Lumbar spinal fusion is a common intervention performed for the treatment of degenerative spinal disease. Recent literature has identified disparities in lumbar fusion outcomes relative to socioeconomic status; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The authors hypothesized that access to primary healthcare services could be significantly associated with increased complications and reoperation rates in patients undergoing elective lumbar fusion. They sought to assess the association of low access to primary healthcare with readmissions, reoperations, and complications following spinal fusion.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans undergo decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis annually. The mild (minimally invasive lumbar decompression) procedure was developed as a potentially less invasive alternative to open decompression; however, much of the evidence has been gathered from industry-sponsored studies. The present study sought to compare real-world clinical outcomes between the mild procedure and open decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis.

Primary spinal oligodendrogliomas (sODGs) are an exceptionally rare subset of oligodendrogliomas (ODGs). As such, there is a limited understanding of their natural history, optimal treatment approaches, and long-term outcomes. This systematic review aimed to better characterize the presentation and management of sODGs.