Cranio-Cervical Trauma Eidemiology, Classification, Diagnosis and Management

J Spine Neurosurg 2017, 6:5. DOI: 10.4172/2325-9701.1000284

Objective: To provide an overview of current knowledge of the management of Cranio-Cervical (Occipito-cervical) injuries.

Conclusion: Cranio-cervical injuries constitute a significant proportion of high velocity trauma and can be missed. There is a need for high index of suspicion in such patients. Recent trends seem to favour surgical management of these injuries even in the elderly. Aim should be early surgical fixation wherever possible even in elderly patients, if there is no significant co-morbidity or contraindication for surgery.

UHCW Research: Amar Saxena

Intramuscular diaphragm stimulation for ventilator-dependent chronic respiratory failure caused by high spinal cord injuries (IPG594)

New NICE Interventional Procedure guidance on intramuscular diaphragm stimulation for ventilator-dependent chronic respiratory failure in people with high spinal cord injuries. This involves implanting electrodes into the diaphragm to make it contract. This gradually strengthens the diaphragm and may eventually help the person to breathe without a ventilator.

Current evidence on intramuscular diaphragm stimulation for ventilator-dependent chronic respiratory failure caused by high spinal cord injuries shows that there are serious but well-recognised safety concerns. Evidence on efficacy is limited in quantity and quality. Therefore, this procedure should only be used in the context of research.

Major vascular injuries during lumbar disc surgery

The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) is passing on important information following the death of a patient:

There is a 1:4000 risk of abdominal vessel injury during lumbar spine discectomy. Teams delivering such surgery should know about this rare but life-threatening complication and be prepared and able to manage the situation.

The Society of British Neurological Surgeons (SBNS) and the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) received instruction from the Coroner to act to prevent future death. Teams delivering this service are asked to address matters of consent, education, continuing professional development as well as the organisation of timely and safe supportive services.

Prehospital Care of Spinal Cord Injuries in India

Prehospital and disaster medicine: the official journal of the National Association of EMS Physicians and the World Association for Emergency and Disaster Medicine in association with the Acute Care Foundation32(S1):S165 · April 2017

Study/Objective: Prehospital Care of Spinal Cord Injuries in India.

UHCW Research: Chris Turner

Upper margin of the lamina-guided lateral mass screw placement in the sub-axial cervical spine

British Journal of Neurosurgery. Conference: 2017 Spring Meeting of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons. United Kingdom. Conference Start: 20170329. Conference End: 20170331. 31 (2) (pp 120), 2017

The present study explores the anatomical feasibility of a new technique of lateral mass fixation, in which the screws are inserted close to the union of the upper margin of the ipsilateral lamina with the lateral mass and directed along the upper margin of the lamina.

UHCW Research: Amit A., Shad A., Dardis R., Saxena A. and El-Maghrabi H.

Lateral interbody fusion in the lumbar spine for low back pain

New Interventional Procedures guidance on lateral interbody fusion in the lumbar spine for low back pain in adults. This involves removing the damaged disc and fixing parts of the spine together, to relieve pain.

Epiduroscopic lumbar discectomy through the sacral hiatus for sciatica - guidance (IPG570)

New NICE Interventional Procedure Guidance on epiduroscopic lumbar discectomy through the sacral hiatus for sciatica in adults. This involves removing the part of the spinal disc pressing against the spinal nerve, to relieve pain.

Percutaneous insertion of craniocaudal expandable implants for vertebral compression fracture

New NICE intervantional procedure guidance on percutaneous insertion of craniocaudal expandable implants for vertebral compression fracture in adults. This involves inserting an implant into the spine to restore the vertebral height.

Childhood Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors Treatment Overview (PDQ®)

General information about childhood brain and spinal cord tumors from the National Cancer Institute.
Click here for the Health Professional Version

The National Back Pain Pathway – Prof Charles Greenough

Back pain is the largest single cause of disability in the UK, with lower back pain alone accounting for 11% of the total disability of the UK population.
Referrals for spinal surgery are increasing year on year and a growing number of patients are waiting longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment. Wide variations exist in surgical rates between centres, and there are a significant number of treatments with a poor evidence base.
From a review of the service it was clear that that there were three main issues impacting on this area of work:...

Mobi-C for cervical disc replacement

New NICE medtech innovation briefing (MIB) on Mobi-C for cervical disc replacement.

Mobi-C is a prosthetic device used for 1- or 2-level cervical disc replacement. It is designed for people with cervical disc degeneration. The evidence from 1 systematic review and 3 additional studies summarised in this briefing includes 1,675 individual patients and is of mixed quality. The systematic review concluded that Mobi-C is non inferior to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). The studies found that Mobi-C (at 1 or 2 levels) was more effective than ACDF for overall success and for reducing limitations of daily activity as a result of neck pain, and allowed a greater range of motion with less adjacent segment degeneration and less need for subsequent surgery. Each Mobi-C prosthesis costs £1,750 (excluding VAT).