A total of 104 patients underwent transpedicular spinal instrumentation using the Cotrel-Dubousset (71 cases) or the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital (33) screw-rod system. Surgery was performed for lumbar vertebral column instability secondary to fractures (28 cases), spondylolisthesis (29), tumors (four), vertebral osteomyelitis (two), or postoperative causes (41). Pseudoarthrodesis due to failure of a prior fusion was present in 37 cases. The 55 men and 49 women (mean age 47 years, range 18 to 87 years) all presented with severe back pain. Signs or symptoms of neural compression were noted in 96 patients. Surgery consisted of neural decompression, internal fixation, and autogenous iliac bone grafting. Spondylolistheses were fused in situ, without reduction; otherwise, major spinal deformities were corrected. A total of 516 pedicle screws were placed. The mean extent of fusion was 2.7 motion segments (range one to six motion segments). A 96% fusion rate was obtained with a mean follow-up period of 20 months. There were no operative deaths. Major complications included one spinal epidural hematoma, three isolated nerve root deficits (two transient, one permanent), and three wound infections (two deep, one superficial). Instrument failure eventually developed in 18 patients; nine were asymptomatic with a solid fusion and did not require further treatment and the other nine were symptomatic or had a pseudoarthrosis and required operative revision. Pedicle screw-rod fixation offers biomechanical advantages compared to other forms of internal fixation for the lumbar spine. It enables short-segment fixation with preservation of lumbar lordosis and adjacent normal motion segments. This technique provides a highly successful method to obtain arthrodesis, even with prior pseudoarthrosis.

Object Access to the intervertebral discs from L2–S1 in one surgical position can be challenging. The transpsoas minimally invasive surgical (MIS) approach is preferred by many surgeons, but this approach poses potential risk to neural structures of the lumbar plexus as they course through the psoas. The lumbar plexus and iliac crest often restrict the L4–5 disc access, and the L5–S1 level has not been a viable option from a direct lateral approach. The purpose of the present study was to investigate an MIS oblique corridor to the L2–S1 intervertebral disc space in cadaveric specimens while keeping the specimens in a lateral decubitus position with minimal disruption of the psoas and lumbar plexus. Methods Twenty fresh-frozen full-torso cadaveric specimens were dissected, and an oblique anatomical corridor to access the L2–S1 discs was examined. Measurements were taken in a static state and with mild retraction of the psoas. The access corridor was defined at L2–5 as the left lateral border of the aorta (or iliac artery) and the anterior medial border of the psoas. The L5–S1 corridor of access was defined transversely from the midsagittal line of the inferior endplate of L-5 to the medial border of the left common iliac vessel and vertically to the first vascular structure that crosses midline. Results The mean access corridor diameters in the static state and with mild psoas retraction, respectively, were as follows: at L2–3, 18.60 mm and 25.50 mm; at L3–4, 19.25 mm and 27.05 mm; and at L4–5, 15.00 mm and 24.45 mm. The L5–S1 corridor mean values were 14.75 mm transversely, from midline to the left common iliac vessel and 23.85 mm from the inferior endplate of L-5 cephalad to the first midline vessel. Conclusions The oblique corridor allows access to the L2–S1 discs while keeping the patient in a lateral decubitus position without a break in the table. Minimal psoas retraction without significant tendon disruption allowed for a generous corridor to the disc space. The L5–S1 disc space can be accessed from an oblique angle consistently with gentle retraction of the iliac vessels. This study supports the potential of an MIS oblique retroperitoneal approach to the L2–S1 discs.

Allogeneic fibula is an effective substrate for use in achieving fusion after anterior cervical discectomy. Maximal results are achieved with its use at one level in nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking decreased the fusion rate with allogeneic fibula in the anterior cervical spine, but not by a statistically significant amount.

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