Automated magnetic resonance imaging-based grading of the lumbar intervertebral disc and facet joints.

Background: Degeneration of both intervertebral discs (IVDs) and facet joints in the lumbar spine has been associated with low back pain, but whether and how IVD/joint degeneration contributes to pain remains an open question. Joint degeneration can be identified by pairing T1 and T2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with analysis techniques such as Pfirrmann grades (IVD degeneration) and Fujiwara scores (facet degeneration). However, these grades are subjective, prompting the need to develop an automated technique to enhance inter-rater reliability. This study introduces an automated convolutional neural network (CNN) technique trained on clinical MRI images of IVD and facet joints obtained from public-access Lumbar Spine MRI Dataset. The primary goal of the automated system is to classify health of lumbar discs and facet joints according to Pfirrmann and Fujiwara grading systems and to enhance inter-rater reliability associated with these grading systems. Methods: Performance of the CNN on both the Pfirrmann and Fujiwara scales was measured by comparing the percent agreement, Pearson's correlation and Fleiss kappa value for results from the classifier to the grades assigned by an expert grader. Results: The CNN demonstrates comparable performance to human graders for both Pfirrmann and Fujiwara grading systems, but with larger errors in Fujiwara grading. The CNN improves the reliability of the Pfirrmann system, aligning with previous findings for IVD assessment. Conclusion: The study highlights the potential of using deep learning in classifying the IVD and facet joint health, and due to the high variability in the Fujiwara scoring system, highlights the need for improved imaging and scoring techniques to evaluate facet joint health. All codes required to use the automatic grading routines described herein are available in the Data Repository for University of Minnesota (DRUM).

Sagittal balance in sitting and standing positions: A systematic review of radiographic measures.

Background: Sagittal imbalance can be caused by various etiologies and is among the most important indicators of spinal deformity. Sagittal balance can be restored through surgical intervention based on several radiographic measures. The purpose of this study is to review the normal parameters in the sitting position, which are not well understood and could have significant implications for non-ambulatory patients. Methods: A systematic review was performed adhering to PRISMA Guidelines. Using R-software, the weighted means and 95% confidence intervals of the radiographic findings were calculated using a random effect model and significance testing using unpaired t-tests. Results: 10 articles with a total of 1066 subjects reported radiographic measures of subjects with no spinal deformity in the sitting and standing position. In the healthy individual, standing sagittal vertical axis -16.8°was significantly less than sitting 28.4° (p < 0.0001), while standing lumbar lordosis 43.3°is significantly greater than sitting 21.3° (p < 0.0001). Thoracic kyphosis was not significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.368). Standing sacral slope 34.3° was significantly greater than sitting 19.5° (p < 0.0001) and standing pelvic tilt 14.0° was significantly less than sitting 33.9° (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: There are key differences between standing and sitting postures, which could lead to undue stress on surgical implants and poor outcomes, especially for non-ambulatory populations. There is a need for more studies reporting sitting and standing radiographic measures in different postures and spinal conditions.

Odontoid Fracture as Proximal Junctional Failure in Patients With Multilevel Spine Fusions.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: Proximal junctional failure (PJF) commonly occurs as a recognized potential outcome of fusion surgery. Here we describe a unique series of patients with multilevel spine fusion including the cervical spine, who developed PJF as an odontoid fracture. METHODS: We performed a single site retrospective review of patients with prior fusion that included a cervical component, who presented with an odontoid fracture between 2012 and 2019. Radiographic measurements included C2-C7 SVA, C2-C7 lordosis, T1 slope, Occiput-C2 angle, proximal junctional kyphosis, and cervical mismatch. Associated fractures, medical comorbidities, and treatments were determined via chart review after IRB approval. RESULTS: Nine patients met inclusion criteria. 5 reported trauma with subsequent onset of pain. All patients sustained a Type II odontoid fracture. 5 with associated C1/Jefferson fractures. In all patients, pre-injury Occiput-C2 angle was outside normative range; C2-C7 SVA was greater than 4 cm in 6 patients; T1-slope minus cervical lordosis was greater than 18.5 degrees in 6 patients. 7 patients were treated operatively with extension of fusion to C1 and 2 patients declined operative treatment. CONCLUSION: In this series of 9 patients with multilevel fusion with type II odontoid fractures, all patients demonstrated abnormal pre-fracture sagittal alignment parameters and a greater than normal association of C1 fractures was noted. Further study is needed to establish the role of poor sagittal alignment with compensatory occiput-C2 angulation as a predisposing factor for odontoid fracture as a proximal junctional failure mechanism.

Rescue Pelvic Fixation in a Patient with Sacral-2-Alar-Iliac and Triangular Sacroiliac Joint Fusion (Bedrock) Instrumentation.

The purpose of this report is to demonstrate the creation of a 4-rod lumbosacral construct, when "stacked" sacral-2-alar-iliac (S2AI) screws are not possible due to a concurrent treatment of sacroiliitis with a posterior approach sacroiliac joint fusion device. This technique uses a combined S2AI and subcrestal iliac approach to achieve the 4-rod lumbosacral construct, while simultaneously biomechanically supporting the S2AI screws and treating the sacroiliitis.

Novel 2D long film imaging utility to avoid wrong level spinal surgery.

Wrong-level spinal surgery (WLSS) can lead to increased morbidity, cost, and worse long-term outcomes. Current intraoperative localization methods rely on counting spinal levels from a known reference location using fluoroscopy. Miscounting from a reference is an intraoperative error that leads to WLSS, especially for those with anatomical variations. The problem is exacerbated when fluoroscopy is not able to produce images with the clarity needed to confidently count levels, a prevalent issue for obese patients. A new feature called the "2D Long Film'' is available for the Medtronic (Minneapolis, MN) O-arm Surgical Imaging System. Using this novel technology and standard fluoroscopy, this study reports the imaging of two obese adult female patients with a body mass index of 36.9 and 42.0 undergoing transforaminal thoracic interbody fusion. Fluoroscopy images of obese patients are difficult to capture for two reasons: increased scatter and restricted field of view. This report demonstrates that 2D Long Film can improve both these issues for obese patients in need of thoracic localization. The 2D Long Film captures existing instrumentation, localization needles, and the vertebral levels in a clear single image. We display the differences between standard fluoroscopy and the 2D Long Film for thoracic level localization, demonstrating a potential new standard of care and better visualization, leading to a less challenging vertebrae localization process, potentially mitigating WLSS risk. The quality of this new 2D Long Film feature could also reduce time in the operating room and the necessity of other visualization methods.

Lymphatic Injury After Vertebral Column Resection from a Posterior Approach for Spinal Deformity Correction: A Case Report.

CASE: We describe a case of lymphatic injury that occurred during a 2-level vertebral column resection for spinal deformity correction from a posterior-only approach. Large surgical drain volume output with laboratory findings of high levels of triglycerides and lymphocytes prompted conservative treatment with an elastic wrap bandage and a "no fat" diet. The patient responded to the treatment with no sequelae noted. CONCLUSION: Lymphatic complications are rare in spine surgery. All reported cases are associated with anterior approaches. The lymphatic injury presented here demonstrates the potential for this complication to occur during posterior-only approaches as well.

Pelvic Fixation Using S2AI and Triangular Titanium Implants (Bedrock Technique).

Pelvic fixation is becoming an increasingly important caudal anchor point for long lumbar constructs, high-grade spondylolisthesis, fixation of sacral fractures, and support for 3-column osteotomies, by adding lumbosacral fixation anterior to the McCord pivot point. Iliac bolts were once common but have become less favorable due to screw head irritation and complications associated with connecting rods. S2-alar-iliac (S2AI) screws have been shown to achieve equivalent anchoring strength of constructs to the pelvis, while being lower profile and in line with the lumbar instrumentation. More recently, surgeons have noted the potential for S2AI screws to toggle and loosen, commonly in the softer sacrum, leading to caudal anchor failure and possible pseudarthrosis. The addition of triangular titanium implants to augment S2AI screws (bedrock technique) is a relatively new adaptation to reduce toggling on the S2AI screw and improve the overall stability of the pelvic fixation. Video 1 shows the placement of an S2AI screw and triangular titanium implant for pelvic fixation. The patient is a 68-year-old woman who presented with flat back syndrome, spinal stenosis, degenerative spondylolisthesis, pseudarthrosis of previously instrumented levels, and bilateral sacroiliitis. She underwent posterior instrumentation and fusion of L1 to S1 with pelvic fixation, open bilateral sacroiliac joint fusion, and multilevel Smith-Peterson osteotomies and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions.

2-Dimensional Long Film O-Arm Imaging, an Alternative When Intraoperative Fluoroscopy Is Inadequate.

Obtaining intraoperative images of the spine in the obese patient and at the cervicothoracic junction have historically been technically difficult due to variable penetration and x-ray scatter. This is particularly true for spinal deformity cases, where clear visualization of the end plates is needed to determine if functional alignment has been restored to the spine. The novel "2D long film" functionality for the Medtronic O-arm is capable of capturing the x-ray backscatter, producing enhanced intraoperative images. Furthermore, images can be obtained along the gantry translation of the O-arm and combined into a single long image, optimizing the workflow of surgeons who use the O-arm for intraoperative navigation. The purpose of this report is to highlight 2 example spinal deformity cases that underscore the utility of this imaging technology. In both cases, standard intraoperative fluoroscopy visualization was unacceptable, so 2D long film images were obtained to assess postcorrection spinal alignment.

Feasibility of Telementoring for Microneurosurgical Procedures Using a Microscope: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

BACKGROUND: Our pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of our telementoring-telescripting model to facilitate seamless communication between surgeons while the operating surgeon is using a microscope. METHODS: As a first proof of concept, 4 students identified 20 anatomic landmarks on a dry human skull with or without telementoring guidance. To assess the ability to communicate operative information, a senior neurosurgery resident evaluated the student's ability and timing to complete a stepwise craniotomy on a cadaveric head, with and without telementoring guidance; a second portion included exposure of the anterior circulation. The mentor was able to annotate directly onto the operator's visual field, which was visible to the operator without looking away from the binocular view. RESULTS: The students showed that they were familiar with half (50% ± 10%) of the structures for identification and none was familiar with the steps to complete a craniotomy before using our system. With the guidance of a remote surgeon projected into the visual field of the microscope, the students were able to correctly identify 100% of the structures and complete a craniotomy. Our system also proved effective in guiding a more experienced neurosurgery resident through complex operative steps associated with exposure of the anterior circulation. CONCLUSIONS: Our pilot study showed a platform feasible in providing effective operative direction to inexperienced operators while operating using a microscope. A remote mentor was able to view the visual field of the microscope, annotate on the visual stream, and have the annotated stream appear in the binocular view for the operating mentee.

Validation of an adapted MRI pulse sequence for quantification of fatty infiltration in muscle.

PURPOSE: The long-term goal of our research is to develop a patient-specific biomechanical model of the supraspinatus muscle and tendon for analyzing the effects of fatty infiltration and pennation angle changes. One input of the model will be the amount and distribution of fat within the muscle. Therefore, the objective of this project was to adapt and validate a novel magnetic resonance imaging pulse sequence for quantifying the extent of fatty infiltration for the supraspinatus muscle. METHODS: Samples of incremental combinations of muscle and fat from a cow were prepared and scanned with our quantitative MR technique. The MR results were compared to actual fat measurements taken using a Soxtec extraction analyzer. RESULTS: The MR fat quantification results closely match those values determined by Soxtec analysis (R(2)=.98, root mean square deviation=4.9). CONCLUSIONS: Our MR fat quantification protocol can be used to accurately quantify fatty infiltration in skeletal muscle. This ability to evaluate skeletal muscle tissue noninvasively will improve the efficacy of evaluation of fatty degeneration in assessing tissue quality preoperatively. This can be important in surgical planning of any musculoskeletal repairs, particularly rotator cuff tears.