Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Surgical Management Of Fungal Vertebral Osteomyelitis, Benjamin M. Zussman, Bs, David L. Penn, Ms, James S. Harrop, Md

JHN Journal

Fungal vertebral osteomyelitis (FVO) is an uncommon but aggressive disease that may cause spinal instability, neurological insult, and possible death. Little data about treatment strategies and patient outcomes exist. A retrospective review of medical and surgical management with follow-up of this disease was performed.

Mis Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery: Five-Level Fusion Through A Novel Cervical Tube, Ashwini Sharan Md, Mitchell A. Hardenbrook, Md, John K. Ratliff Md, James Harrop, Md

JHN Journal

Minimally invasive surgical (MIS) techniques to the spine have focused mainly on the lumbar region. Many reports exist on the ability to decompress the neural structures in the lumbar and thoracic spine both via an anterior and posterior approach. Familiarity with these techniques now allows one or two level interbody and pedicle fusions, and treatment of trauma through MIS approaches. Controversy exists as to the efficacy of these techniques because direct studies comparing MIS approaches with open techniques are lacking. However, proponents of these techniques site smaller incision, less muscle retraction, less blood loss, shorter length of stay and better …

On The Incidence Of Pulmonary Embolism In Spinal Arthrodesis And The Need For Better Evidence And Prevention Guidelines, Zachary J. Senders, Bs, Benjamin Zussman, Bs, James S. Harrop, Md

JHN Journal

Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is a rare but serious event that may occur after spinal surgery. Vascular endothelial damage during surgery and immobilization of the patient after surgery contribute to a higher risk of thrombosis and subsequent PE. Prophylaxis including intermittent pneumatic compression stockings, heparin, and other interventions is often employed by the treatment team to lower the risk of thromboembolic complications. In orthopedic, trauma, burn and other high-risk surgical patients, the incidence of PE has been thoroughly studied, and this knowledge has been used to establish prophylaxis guidelines specifically for these patients. The incidence of PE in spinal fusion patients, …

Bevacizumab: A Controversial Agent Against High-Grade Gliomas, Sussan Salas, Md, Miguel Guzman, Md, Kevin Judy, Md

JHN Journal

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults. Despite the current regimen of surgical resection with subsequent external beam radiotherapy and temozolomide, mean survival is 14.6 months and 2-year survival is 26%. GBM is a highly vascular tumor, a result of its increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) compared to other brain tumors. VEGF promotes endothelial cell proliferation, and is thought to have a pivotal role during tumor progression. Multiple treatment modalities have targeted VEGF and VEGF receptors (VEGFTs) due to their essential roles in the regulation of angiogenic processes. Bevacizumab is a …

Surgeon Opinions On Use Of Epidural Steroids In Treatment Of Lumbar Disk Disease: Results Of An Online Survey, John K. Ratliff Md, Mitchell Maltenfort Phd, Bryan Lebude

JHN Journal

“Standard of care” can vary along regional and specialty lines; it is common to discover that a local “standard” can be different somewhere else. Opinions may differ between pain management specialists, primary care physicians, and spine surgeons with regard to use of conservative treatment modalities.

Opinion within a given group of practitioners, however, should converge. Local differences between hospitals may exist, but conferences, professional journals, and national boards for certification are mechanisms that should act to maintain homogeneity within a professional group. It could be expected that commonly utilized treatment approaches within a well defined group of sub-specialists should converge. …

Case Report: Intramedullary Cervical Spinal Cord Hemangioblastoma With An Evaluation Of Von Hippel-Lindau Disease, Steven Falowski Md, Ashwini Sharan Md, James S. Harrop Md, John K. Ratliff Md

JHN Journal

History of Present Illness

MO is a 49 year old male with a history of multiple sclerosis who presents with a one year history of progressive numbness in his shoulders bilateral and upper back. The patient describes occasional sharp pains that radiate to his first three fingers on his right hand. He denies weakness, clumsiness, difficulty walking, or bladder/bowel dysfunction. He describes no problems with handwriting, or fine motor skills.

Spinal Cord Stimulators: An Introduction, Steven Falowski Md

JHN Journal

Pain can be divided into two broad categories, nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain. Nociceptive pain is a dull, throbbing pain which results from irritated nerves after physical tissue injury. This is seen commonly in cancer or after a fracture. Nociceptive pain is amenable to treatment with pain medications such as opioids and/or anti-inflammatories. Neuropathic pain is described as burning, shooting, or shocking pain. This type of pain results from nerve damage or abnormal nerve conduction such as pain exhibited with failed back syndrome, post surgical pain, neuromas, shingles, and complex regional pain syndrome (previously called RSD or causalgia). Neuropathic pain …

Intramedullary Spinal Cord Metastases And Radiation Therapy: A Case Report, Daniel Ikeda, James S. Harrop Md

JHN Journal

Intramedullary spinal cord metastases (ISCM) are a clinically rare, although devastating, complication of disseminated cancer. These lesions have been reported to originate from many types of solid tumors, although primary lung carcinoma, particularly small cell, is the most common etiology. These metastases, which can occur anywhere along the spinal cord, often represent the end-stage of the disease process with limited survival outcomes.

Patients with ISCM may develop a variety of neurological deficits with treatment goals aimed at palliation. Different modalities of treatment have been found to preserve or restore ambulation and neurological function. The options for therapeutic intervention include surgical, …

Spinal Cord Stimulation For Control Of Pain, Stephen Falowski Md

JHN Journal

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an adjustable, non-destructive procedure which delivers therapeutic doses of electrical current to the spinal cord for the management of neuropathic pain. The most common indications include post-laminectomy (“failed back surgery”) syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), ischemic limb pain, and angina. Other reported applications include visceral/abdominal pain, cervical neuritis pain, spinal cord injury pain, post-herpetic neuralgia, and neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome.

Case Report: Hemorrhage Into An Occult Spinal Ependymoma After Epidural Anesthesia, Peter G. Campbell Md, Ashwini D. Sharan Md, James S. Harrop Md, Alex R. Vaccaro Md, John K. Ratliff Md

JHN Journal

Epidural anesthesia is a procedure which is well tolerated and has a low incidence of adverse events. In performing caesarean sections, regional anesthesia (spinal or epidural) is the preferred modality for anesthetic delivery. Although rare with continuous epidural anesthesia, epidural hematomas have been reported to occur with an incidence between 1:150,000 and 1:190,00010. An underlying bleeding diathesis has been implicated as a causative factor. We present the sixth reported case of hemorrhage into an occult intradural neoplasm after spinal or epidural anesthesia. Similar lesions have not been reported in the recent spine literature.