Object. The diagnosis, treatment, and postoperative care of morbidly obese patients undergoing spinal surgery require modifications for body habitus. With a growing percentage of the United States population becoming morbidly obese, the surgeon may need elective or emergency treatment plans that address the special needs of these patients. The authors retrospectively reviewed the diagnosis, treatment, and postoperative care of the severely obese patient undergoing spinal surgery. Methods. To assess the associated results and complications of management that required modification for body habitus, 12 patients were included in the study (nine females); the mean age was 50 years and mean weight was 320 lb. Cases of cervical (two cases), thoracic (four cases), and lumbar surgeries (six cases) were included. The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 2 years. Patients presented with myelopathy (five cases), radicular pain and weakness (four cases), radiculopathy (two cases), and cauda equina syndrome (one patient). Chronic progressive neurological deterioration secondary to spinal cord compression was demonstrated in nine patients and acute pain and/or weakness secondary to nerve root compression was observed in three patients. Conclusions. The authors found that although morbidly obese patients may present late in the course of their symptoms and require modifications in the use of standard neuroimaging, operative facilities, and treatment plans, open mindedness and persistence can yield satisfactory results in most cases.

Spinal idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis (IHP) is a rare, chronic, nonspecific, granulomatous inflammatory disorder of the dura with unknown etiology. It can cause a localized or diffuse thickening of the dura mater with compression of the spinal canal and possible myelopathic symptoms. The authors report 3 consecutive cases of spinal IHP with a review of the literature. The diagnosis of spinal IHP was based on biopsy and pathological confirmation. Typical MR imaging findings suggestive of spinal IHP were noted in all cases. The clinical course may be marked by deterioration despite conservative therapy and may require surgical intervention to prevent irreversible neurological damage. Therefore, prompt diagnosis and institution of proper treatment is critical.

The authors assess the accuracy of targeting nucleus ventralis intermedius (Vim) with fast spin echo inversion recovery (FSE/IR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 18 successful deep brain stimulator (DBS) implants for medically refractory tremor. FSE/IR-MRI-derived coordinates are compared to the final coordinates employed for DBS lead placement, selected with intraoperative neurophysiology. The authors conclude that FSE/IR MRI is sufficiently reliable to serve as the sole means of anatomically targeting Vim for DBS lead placement. An independent computer workstation is not required for accurate targeting; however, intraoperative neurophysiology remains essential.