Anterior cervical spine procedures have been associated with satisfactory outcomes. However, the occurrence of troublesome complications, although uncommon, needs to be taken into consideration.The purpose of our study was to assess the actual incidence of anterior cervical spine procedure-associated complications and identify any predisposing factors. A total of 114 patients undergoing anterior cervical procedures over a 6-year period were included in our retrospective, case-control study. The diagnosis was cervical radiculopathy, and/or myelopathy due to degenerative disc disease, cervical spondylosis, or traumatic cervical spine injury. All our participants underwent surgical treatment, and complications were recorded.The most commonly performed procedure (79%) was anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).Fourteen patients (12.3%) underwent anterior cervical corpectomy and interbody fusion, seven (6.1%) ACDF with plating, two (1.7%) odontoid screw fixation, and one anterior removal of osteophytes for severe Forestier's disease. Mean follow-up time was 42.5 months (range, 6-78 months). The overall complication rate was 13.2%. Specifically, we encountered adjacent intervertebral disc degeneration in 2.7% of our cases, dysphagia in 1.7%, postoperative soft tissue swelling and hematoma in 1.7%, and dural penetration in 1.7%. Additionally, esophageal perforation was observed in 0.9%, aggravation of preexisting myelopathy in 0.9%, symptomatic recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in 0.9%, mechanical failure in 0.9%, and superficial wound infection in 0.9%. In the vast majority anterior cervical spine surgery-associated complications are minor, requiring no further intervention. Awareness, early recognition, and appropriate management, are of paramount importance for improving the patients' overall functional outcome.

Background Pedicle screw placement is a commonly performed procedure. Robot-guided screw placement is a recent technological advance that has shown accuracy and reliability with first-generation platforms. Objective To report our initial experience with the safety, feasibility, and learning curve associated with pedicle screw placement utilizing next-generation robotic guidance. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted to obtain data for 20 patients who underwent lumbar pedicle screw placement under robotic guidance after undergoing interbody fusion for lumbar spinal stabilization for degenerative disc disease with or without spondylolisthesis. The newest generation Mazor X (Mazor Robotics Ltd, Caesarea, Israel) was used. Accuracy of screw placement was determined to be grade I to IV. Grade I was in the pedicle (no breach/deviation), grade II was breach < 2 mm, grade III was breach 2 to 4 mm, and grade IV was breach >4 mm; breach direction (superior, lateral, inferior, or medial) was also recorded. Results Twenty patients underwent robotically assisted pedicle screw placement of 75 screws at 24 levels. Seventy-four screw placements (98.7%) were grade I; 1 (1.3%) was grade II (medial). No complications occurred. Mean time for screw insertion was 3.6 min. Mean fluoroscopy time was 13.1 s and mean radiation dose was 29.9 mGy. CONCLUSION We found that next-generation robotic spine surgery was safe and feasible with reliable and precise accuracy and a minimal learning curve. As this technology improves, further novel applications are expected to develop. Further research is needed to determine long-term efficacy.

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Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage- (aSAH-) associated vasospasm constitutes a clinicopathological entity, in which reversible vasculopathy, impaired autoregulatory function, and hypovolemia take place, and lead to the reduction of cerebral perfusion and finally ischemia. Cerebral vasospasm begins most often on the third day after the ictal event and reaches the maximum on the 5th–7th postictal days. Several therapeutic modalities have been employed for preventing or reversing cerebral vasospasm. Triple “H” therapy, balloon and chemical angioplasty with superselective intra-arterial injection of vasodilators, administration of substances like magnesium sulfate, statins, fasudil hydrochloride, erythropoietin, endothelin-1 antagonists, nitric oxide progenitors, and sildenafil, are some of the therapeutic protocols, which are currently employed for managing patients with aSAH. Intense pathophysiological mechanism research has led to the identification of various mediators of cerebral vasospasm, such as endothelium-derived, vascular smooth muscle-derived, proinflammatory mediators, cytokines and adhesion molecules, stress-induced gene activation, and platelet-derived growth factors. Oral, intravenous, or intra-arterial administration of antagonists of these mediators has been suggested for treating patients suffering a-SAH vasospam. In our current study, we attempt to summate all the available pharmacological treatment modalities for managing vasospasm.