Objectives: To summarize the current evidence on surgical treatment for large bridging osteophytes of the anterior cervical spine from Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH). Overview of Literature: In the current review, the surgical treatment of secondary dysphagia from DISH was the most useful treatment. We propose a treatment algorithm for management of this condition because currently there are only case reports and retrospective studies available. Methods: Literature search was performed using the MeSH terms “Anterior Cervical Osteophyte,” “Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH),” and “Dysphagia” and “Treatment” for articles published between January 2000 and February 2020. PubMed search identified 117 articles that met the initial screening criteria. Detailed analysis identified the 40 best matching articles, following which the full inclusion and exclusion criteria left 11 articles for this review. Results: Incidence of secondary dysphagia was associated with DISH in elderly patients (average 65 years). The major clinical findings were dysphagia or respiratory compromise, with the most common level of bridging osteophytes of the cervical spine at C3–C5. There were 10 articles on surgical treatment involving anterior cervical osteophytectomy without fusion, 1 for multilevel cervical oblique corpectomy, 1 for anterior cervical discectomy with fusion plus plate, and 1 for anterior cervical osteophytectomy with stand-alone PEEK cage or plus plate. All the cases resulted in significant improvement without recurrence, with only 1 case having post-operative complications. Follow-up duration was 3–70.3 months. Conclusions: Surgical intervention for anterior cervical osteophytectomy appears to result in improved outcomes. However, there could be disadvantages concerning cervical spine motion if cervical osteophytectomy with cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) plus plate system is done.

Background Neglected fracture-dislocation thoracic spine without neurological deficit is an extremely rare injury. Current studies reveal that global sagittal balance is very important for quality of life (QOL). Complex deformity causes difficulty with dissection in the surgical planning and type of spinal osteotomy. Restoration of global balance parameters are related to a successful outcome, if the surgeon understands the morphology of complex bone deformity and the surgical tactics of spinal osteotomy. Case presentation A 23-year-old female presented with untreated thoracic kyphotic deformity without paraplegia (ASIA E), following a motor vehicle accident 2 months earlier. Radiographic imaging and computed tomography scan revealed a complex fracture-dislocation at the T8–T9 level with kyphosis deformity, abnormal C7 plump line, and 65 degrees of sagittal Cobb's angle (T7–T11). The multilevel Ponte osteotomy surgical technique was performed at the apex of the kyphosis. After the patient underwent corrective osteotomy and instrumentation, postoperative radiograph and CT scan revealed 24 degrees of sagittal Cobb's angle (T7–T11). The patient's balance was recovered when followed up at 1 year. The patient's quality of life was improved and thus she was extremely satisfied with this treatment. Conclusion Neglected fracture-dislocation thoracic spine without neurological deficit is rarely seen. It is a complex deformity injury. In this case, we performed multilevel Ponte osteotomy, instead of osteosynthesis, to restore the complex deformity that was affecting global balance. Successful outcomes are the result of good surgical preoperative planning and the surgical tactics of spinal osteotomy.

Category: Basic Sciences/Biologics; Ankle; Other Introduction/Purpose: Displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures are mostly treated by reduction and internal fixation. The calcaneal cortical thickness and regional bone density play an important role in the stability of the fixation construct. This study aims to assess the relationship between calcaneal bone morphology and bone mineral density (BMD) status. Methods: Seventeen fresh cadaveric specimens underwent a BMD scan at the femoral neck and were later classified according to WHO criteria into three groups, including normal five specimens, osteopenic six specimens, and osteoporotic groups six specimens. The calcaneus bone of each specimen was then dissected and evaluated for the bone morphology. The sustentaculum tali of the calcaneus was divided into anterior, middle, and posterior segment. The superior, inferior, and posterior cortices of the calcaneus were equally divided from medial to lateral into five segments and from anterior to posterior into three segments (Figure 1). The cortical thickness (mm) was measured at the center of each divided fragment. The calcaneal bone density (g/cm3) was quantified at three regions of interest (ROI), including superior, inferior, and posterior ROI (Figure 2). Results: The calcaneal cortical thickness and calcaneal bone density of each fragment or each ROI were demonstrated as the median and interquartile range (IQR) (Table 1-5, Figure 3). The overall cortical thickness and calcaneal bone density values were significantly lower in the osteopenic or osteoporotic group when compared with the normal BMD group. Notably, the cortical thickness of the normal group at the lateral one-fifth and/or lateral two-fifth fragment of the superior, posterior, and inferior cortices of the calcaneus were not significantly different when compared with the osteopenic or osteoporotic group. When focusing at the sustenaculum tali, the posterior cortical thickness was significantly different only when compared between the normal and osteoporotic groups. Inter and intra-rater reliability of the outcome measurements were all excellent (>0.80). Conclusion: The cortical thickness of the posterior aspect of the sustenaculum tali, as well as the cortical thickness of the lateral one-fifth and lateral two-fifth of the calcaneus, were less likely effected by the decrease in BMD status. However, the anterior part of sustenaculum tali, anteromedial area of superior and inferior cortex and inferomedial area of posterior cortex are thicker than others.