Surgical treatment is associated with a higher complication rate than conservative treatment. Therefore, the surgeon must know the treatment limitations and recognize patients who would truly benefit from surgery.

Objectives:To compare the accuracy of insertion of pedicle screws into the thoracic spine using fluoroscopic guidance or computer-assisted navigation techniques.Methods:Eight cadaveric thoracic spines were divided into two groups: the fluoroscopy group, in which pedicle screws were inserted with the guidance of a C-arm device, and the navigation group, in which insertion of the screws was monitored using computer-assisted navigation equipment. All procedures were performed by the same spinal surgeon. The rate of pedicle breach was compared between the two groups.Results:There was one intra-canal perforation in each group. Both perforations were medial in direction, and the breaches were 2 to 4 mm deep. There were no statistically significant differences in breach rate between the two groups.Conclusions:The accuracy of insertion of pedicle screws in the thoracic spine using computer-assisted navigation is equivalent to that achieved using fluoroscopic guidance. Computer-assisted navigation improves the safety of the surgical team during the procedure due to the absence of exposure to radiation. Therefore, there is a need for future randomized controlled trials to be conducted in the clinical setting to evaluate other outcomes, including duration of surgery and blood loss during the procedure. Level of evidence IV.

<sec><title>OBJECTIVE:</title><p> To review the medical records of patients who underwent surgery for placement of cervical disc prosthesis after two years of postoperative follow-up, showing the basic epidemiological data, the technical aspects and the incidence of complications.</p></sec><sec><title>METHODS:</title><p> Medical records of seven patients who underwent surgery for placement of cervical disc prosthesis were reviewed after two years of follow-up, at the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo.</p></sec><sec><title>RESULTS:</title><p> The average age of patients participating in this study was 43.86 years. Six patients (85.7%) had one level approached while one patient (14.3%) had two levels addressed. The level C5-C6 has been approached in one patient (14.3%) while the C6-C7 level was addressed in five patients (71.4%). One patient (14.3%) had these two levels being addressed, C5-C6 and C6-C7. The mean operative time was 164.29±40 minutes. Three patients were hospitalized for 2 days and four for 3 days making an average of 2.57±0.535 days. Two patients (28.6%) underwent a new surgical intervention due to loosening of the prosthesis. The mean follow-up was 28.14±5.178 months (23-35 months).</p></sec><sec><title>CONCLUSIONS:</title><p> Although cervical arthroplasty appears to be a safe procedure and present promising results in our study as well as in many other studies, it requires long-term studies.</p></sec>

Objectives: The lumbar kyphosis in patients with myelomeningocele is a complex deformity whose treatment is mainly surgical. The objective of this study is to summarize the results and complications obtained by the group in 2012 with respect to this group of patients. Method: Performed a retrospective analysis of the medical records and radiographs of patients consecutively operated in 2012. The technique was originally described by Dunn-McCarthy and consists of kyphectomy and posterior fixation using S-shaped Luque rods through the foramina of S1 associated with pedicle screws in the thoracic spine. Results: Six patients were included in the study. The age at surgery was 11 years and 7±22 months and the weight was 29.1±11.9 kg. The procedure lasted 271±87 minutes, with the removal of one or two (mean 1.5) vertebrae from the apex of the kyphosis. Hospitalization time was 10±9 days. The lumbar kyphosis measuring 116.3±37 degrees preoperatively was reduced to 62.5±21 degrees. All patients began to sit without support and to lie in the supine position. Four patients developed postoperative infection and required surgical debridement at the follow-up. One patient had the implant removed after a year due to loosening of the rod in the sacrum. Conclusion: The surgical technique allows excellent functional results in the correction of lumbar kyphosis in patients with myelomeningocele despite high complication rates. It is necessary to conduct studies with a larger number of patients and duration of follow-up to assess whether the use of pedicle screws will decrease the rate of loosening and pseudoarthrosis.