Study DesignA retrospective study including 179 patients who underwent oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) at one institution.PurposeTo report the complications associated with a minimally invasive technique of a retroperitoneal anterolateral approach to the lumbar spine.Overview of LiteratureDifferent approaches to the lumbar spine have been proposed, but they are associated with an increased risk of complications and a longer operation.MethodsA total of 179 patients with previous posterior instrumented fusion undergoing OLIF were included. The technique is described in terms of: the number of levels fused, operative time and blood loss. Persurgical and postsurgical complications were noted.ResultsPatients were age 54.1 ± 10.6 with a BMI of 24.8 ± 4.1 kg/m2. The procedure was performed in the lumbar spine at L1-L2 in 4, L2-L3 in 54, L3-L4 in 120, L4-L5 in 134, and L5-S1 in 6 patients. It was done at 1 level in 56, 2 levels in 107, and 3 levels in 16 patients. Surgery time and blood loss were, respectively, 32.5 ± 13.2 minutes and 57 ± 131 ml per level fused. There were 19 patients with a single complication and one with two complications, including two patients with postoperative radiculopathy after L3-5 OLIF. There was no abdominal weakness or herniation.ConclusionsMinimally invasive OLIF can be performed easily and safely in the lumbar spine from L2 to L5, and at L1-2 for selected cases. Up to 3 levels can be addressed through a 'sliding window'. It is associated with minimal blood loss and short operations, and with decreased risk of abdominal wall weakness or herniation.

Pelvic morphology, as measured by the pelvic incidence angle, tends to increase during childhood and adolescence before stabilizing into adulthood, most likely to maintain an adequate sagittal balance in view of the physiologic and morphologic changes occurring during growth. Pelvic tilt and lumbar lordosis, two position-dependent parameters, also react by increasing with age, most likely to avoid inadequate anterior displacement of the body center of gravity. Sacral slope is achieved with the standing posture and is not further significantly influenced by age. These results are important to establish baseline values for these measurements in the pediatric population, in view of the reported association between pelvic morphology and the development of various spinal disorders such as spondylolisthesis and scoliosis.

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Introduction The differences in sagittal spino-pelvic alignment between adults with chronic low back pain (LBP) and the normal population are still poorly understood. In particular, it is still unknown if particular patterns of sagittal spino-pelvic alignment are more prevalent in chronic LBP. The current study helps to better understand the relationship between sagittal alignment and low back pain. Materials and methods To compare the sagittal spinopelvic alignment of patients with chronic LBP with a cohort of asymptomatic adults. Sagittal spino-pelvic alignment was evaluated in prospective cohorts of 198 patients with chronic LBP and 709 normal subjects. The two cohorts were compared with respect to the sacral slope

Thoracic kyphosis depended mostly on the spinal deformity, whereas lumbar lordosis was influenced mainly by the pelvic configuration. The scoliotic curve type was not associated with a specific pattern of sagittal pelvic morphology and balance. The pelvic incidence found in this study was significantly higher than that reported in the literature for normal adolescents. The role of the pelvic incidence in the pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis needs to be explored in a longitudinal study involving patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and normal adolescents.

Introduction In L5-S1 spondylolisthesis, it has been clearly demonstrated over the past decade that sacro-pelvic morphology is abnormal and that it can be associated to an abnormal sacro-pelvic orientation as well as to a disturbed global sagittal balance of the spine. The purpose of this article is to review the work done within the Spinal Deformity Study Group (SDSG) over the past decade, which has led to a classification incorporating this recent knowledge. Material and methods The evidence presented has been derived from the analysis of the SDSG database, a multicenter radiological database of patients with L5-S1 spondylolisthesis, collected from 43 spine surgeons in North America and Europe. Results The classification defines 6 types of spondylolisthesis based on features that can be assessed on sagittal radiographs of the spine and pelvis: (1) grade of slip, (2) pelvic incidence, and (3) spino-pelvic alignment. A reliability study has demonstrated substantial intra-and inter-observer reliability similar to other currently used classifications for spinal deformity. Furthermore, healthrelated quality of life measures were found to be significantly different between the 6 types, thus supporting the value of a classification based on spino-pelvic alignment. ConclusionsThe clinical relevance is that clinicians need to keep in mind when planning treatment that subjects with L5-S1 spondylolisthesis are a heterogeneous group with various adaptations of their posture. In the current controversy on whether high-grade deformities should or should not be reduced, it is suggested that reduction techniques should preferably be used in subjects with evidence of abnormal posture, in order to restore global spino-pelvic balance and improve the biomechanical environment for fusion.

Introduction Many studies suggest the importance of the sagittal sacropelvic balance and morphology in spinal and hip disorders. This study describes the normal age-and sex-related changes in sacropelvic morphology and balance in a prospective cohort of asymptomatic adults without spinal disorder. Materials and methods A prospective cohort of 709 asymptomatic adults without spinal pathology was recruited. There were 354 males and 355 females aged 37.9 ± 14.7 and 35.7 ± 13.9 years, respectively. For each subjects, pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), and sacral slope (SS) were measured from standing lateral radiographs. Ratios of SS to PI (SS/PI), PT to PI (PT/PI), and PT to SS (PT/SS) were also calculated. Results There was no significant difference in PI (pelvic incidence), SS (sacral slope), PT (pelvic tilt), PT/PI, SS/PI, or PT/SS between males and females. The mean ± 2 standard deviations (SD) range was 32°-74°, 0°-27°, and 24°-55°for PI, PT and SS, respectively. The mean ± 2 SD range was greater than 0.5 for SS/PI and less than 0.5 for PT/PI. PI was not related to age in either sex group. PT, SS, PT/PI, SS/PI, and PT/SS presented only weak correlation coefficients (r B 0.21) with respect to age. Conclusion The current study presents the largest cohort of asymptomatic adults in the literature dedicated to the evaluation of sagittal sacropelvic morphology and balance. The range of values corresponding to the mean ± 2 SD can provide invaluable information to clinicians about the normal range of values expected in 95% of the normal population.

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in the pediatric population is relatively rare but carries significant psychological and physiological consequences. An interdisciplinary group of experts composed of medical and surgical specialists treating patients with SCI formulated the following questions: 1) What is the epidemiology of pediatric spinal cord injury and fractures?; 2) Are there unique features of pediatric SCI which distinguish the pediatric SCI population from adult SCI?; 3) Is there evidence to support the use of neuroprotective approaches, including hypothermia and steroids, in the treatment of pediatric SCI? A systematic review of the literature using multiple databases was undertaken to evaluate these three specific questions. A search strategy composed of specific search terms (Spinal Cord Injury, Paraplegia, Quadriplegia, tetraplegia, lapbelt injuries, seatbelt injuries, cervical spine injuries and Pediatrics) returned over 220 abstracts that were evaluated and by two observers. Relevant abstracts were then evaluated and papers were graded using the Downs and Black method. A table of evidence was then presented to a panel of experts using a modified Delphi approach and the following recommendation was then formulated using a consensus approach: Pediatric patients with traumatic SCI have different mechanisms of injury and have a better neurological recovery potential when compared to adults. Patients with SCI before their adolescent growth spurt have a high likelihood of developing scoliosis. Because of these differences, traumatic SCI should be highly suspected in the presence of abnormal neck or neurological exam, a high-risk mechanism of injury or a distracting injury even in the absence of radiological anomaly.