Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Techniques, Pearls and Pitfalls

Lumbar interbody fusion (LIF) is an effective and popular surgical procedure for the management of various spinal pathologies, especially degenerative diseases. Currently, LIF can be performed with posterior, transforaminal, anterior, and lateral approaches by open surgery or minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Each technique has its own advantages and disadvantages. In general, posterior LIF is a well-established procedure with good fusion rates and low complication rates but is limited by the possibility of iatrogenic injury to the neural structures and paraspinal muscles. Transforaminal LIF is frequently performed using an MIS technique and has an advantage of reducing these iatrogenic injuries. Anterior LIF (ALIF) can restore the disk height and sagittal alignment but has inherent approach-related challenges such as visceral and vascular complications. Lateral LIF and oblique LIF are performed using an MIS technique and have shown postoperative outcomes similar to ALIF; however, these approaches carry a risk of injury to psoas, lumbar plexus, and vascular structures. Herein, we provide a detailed description of the surgical procedures of each LIF technique. We shall then consider the pearls and pitfalls, as well as propose surgical indications and contraindications based on the available evidence in the literatures.

Cerclage Clamping Using Cerclage Passer for Reduction of Anterior and Posterior Column Fracture / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: Both column and T-shaped acetabular fractures are frequently presented with difficulty in reduction. Incomplete reduction may cause traumatic arthritis in the hip joint, resulting in inferior clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study is to introduce our wiring technique and to report the clinical and radiological outcomes of such technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight patients who underwent our proposed technique for having acetabular fracture with displaced quadrilateral plate between March 2013 and December 2014 were enrolled. All patients were followed-up more than 1 year. The wire passer was set up from an anterolateral aspect of the iliac crest to the greater sciatic notch, between the abductor muscle and the periosteum. The quadrilateral plate of acetabular fracture was reduced with wiring. Internal fixation was added to the pelvic brim. An analysis of the clinical and radiological outcomes was performed. RESULTS: Reduction was performed within the 3 mm intra-articular step-off in all patients. The mean duration of union was 11.8 weeks (9-15 weeks). Five patients (62.5%) showed excellent results, and radiologically, three patients (37.5%) showed good results, and seven patients (87.5%) showed better than good results. CONCLUSION: The cerclage wiring fixation technique using a large cerclage passer instrument can be a useful and safe reduction method in some cases of acetabular fractures.

The Change of the Ulnar Variance in Accordance with the Wrist Position in Ulnocarpal Impaction Syndrome

PURPOSE: We evaluated the change of the ulnar variance (UV) as forearm rotation in patients with ulnocarpal impaction syndrome (UIS). METHODS: Twenty patients who suffered from ulnar side pain of the wrist and had abnormal lesions at ulno-basal side of the lunate in the radiologic examinations were included in this study. Their UVs in six wrist position (neutral, supination, pronation, neutral and grip, supination and grip, pronation and grip) were measured by the method of perpendiculars. UVs and the maximum change of UV in patients with UIS were compared with those of control group statistically. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in UVs of all forearm rotation and grip status. The maximum change of UV was in supination position to pronation and grip status for all cases. The mean maximum change of UV in patients with UIS was 2.03+/-1.03 mm, and that of control group was 1.86+/-0.86 mm. But there was no significant difference between them. The ulnar shortening osteotomy was performed for thirteen UIS patients, and one patient with osteoarthritis at distal radio-ulnar joint was operated with Darrach procedure. Six patients underwent conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in the maximum change of UV as forearm rotation between UIS patients and control group.