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Study DesignRetrospective case series.PurposeTo describe a novel single incision that combines anterior and posterior approaches for decompression and instrumented fusion to treat tuberculosis of the thoracic spine and study the neurological and radiological outcomes.Overview of LiteratureTuberculosis of the spine remains a major health issue in many developing countries. The options for treating tuberculosis of the thoracic spine include the anterior, posterior, and combined approaches, each with its advantages and disadvantages.MethodsTotally, 143 patients with tuberculosis of the thoracic spine were surgically treated using the “Versatile approach”. Posterior fixation was performed using sublaminar wires and a Hartshill rectangle in all patients. Anterior reconstruction was accomplished using bone graft harvested from autologous rib, iliac crest, or fibula.ResultsThe study included 45 males and 98 females, with a mean age of 33.18±18.65 years (range, 3–82 years) and a mean follow-up of 60.23±24.56 months (range, 18–156 months). Kyphosis improved from a mean value of 24.02 preoperatively to 10.25 postoperatively. A preoperative neurological deficit was observed in 131 patients, with 130 patients regaining ambulatory power. No patient had deterioration of neurological status following surgery. Fusion was achieved in all cases. The visual analogscale score improved from an average score of 7.02 preoperatively to 1.51 at final follow-up. Eight patients had superficial macerations, which healed spontaneously. One patient had buckling of the anterior graft, and one patient had implant breakage following road traffic accident.ConclusionsThe “Versatile approach” is an effective, single-stage, single-incision method that combines anterior and posterior approaches for the surgically treating tuberculosis of the thoracic spine. It offers the advantage of direct visualization for decompression and reconstruction of the anterior and posterior vertebral columns, thus providing an excellent, long-lasting clinical outcome.

Surgical management of thoraco-lumbar spine fracture in pregnancy has specific concerns during surgery like positioning, approach, and radiation exposure to fetus. We report a case of burst fracture of 12th thoracic vertebrae with paraplegia in a young female with 26 weeks of gestation. Surgery was performed in prone position on a Toronto frame. This report also discusses the management of thoraco-lumbar spine fracture in pregnancy with review of literature.

Context:Preoperative severity of myelopathy, age, and duration of symptoms have been shown to be highly predictive of the outcome in compressive cervical myelopathy (CCM). The role of radiological parameters is still controversial.Aims:Define the prognostic factors in CCM and formulate a prognostic score to predict the outcome following surgery in CCM.Settings and Design:Retrospective.Materials and Methods:This study included 78 consecutive patients with CCM treated surgically. The modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scale was used to quantify severity of myelopathy at admission and at 12-month follow-up. The outcome was defined as good if the patient had mJOA score ≥16 and poor if the score was <16. Age, sex, duration of symptoms, comorbidities, intrinsic hand muscle wasting (IHMW), diagnosis, surgical technique, Torg ratio, instability on dynamic radiographs, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal intensity changes were assessed.Statistics:Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (version 20.0) was used for statistical analysis. The association was assessed amongst variables using logistic regression analysis. Parameters having a statistically significant correlation with the outcome were included in formulating a prognostic score.Results:Severity of myelopathy, IHMW, age, duration, diabetes, and instability on radiographs were predictive of the outcome with a P value <0.01. Genders, diagnosis, surgical procedure, Torg ratio, and intensity changes on MRI were not significantly related to the outcome. A 8-point scoring system was devised incorporating the significant clinicoradiological parameters, and it was found that nearly all patients (97.82%) with a score below 5 had good outcome and all patients (100%) with a score above 5 had poor outcome. The outcome is difficult to predict with a score of 5.Conclusions:Clinical parameters are better predictors of the outcome as compared to radiological findings, following surgery in CCM. A simple scoring system based on clinicoradiological parameters is suggested in this paper to predict the outcome following surgery in cases of CCM.

Context:Approaches suggested for treatment of neglected dislocations in the subaxial cervical spine (SACS) include only anterior approach (a), only posterior approach (b), posterior-anterior approach, posterior-anterior-posterior approach, and anterior-posterior-anterior-posterior approach. No protocol is suggested in literature to guide surgeons treating neglected dislocations.Aim:To describe a protocol for the treatment of neglected dislocation in the SACS.Settings and Designs:Retrospective case series and review of literature.Materials and Methods:Six consecutive patients of neglected dislocation (presenting to us more than 3 weeks following trauma) of the SACS were operated as per the protocol suggested in this paper. A retrospective review of the occupational therapy reports, patient records, and radiographs was performed. Only cases with time lapse of more than 3 weeks between the time of injury and initial management have been included in the review.Results:Closed reduction (CR) was achieved in three patients following cervical traction and these were managed by anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Open reduction via posterior approach and soft tissue release was required to achieve reduction in two patients. Following reduction posterior instrumented fusion was done in them. One patient with preoperative neurological deficit needed a facetectomy to achieve reduction. Following short-segment fixation, ACDF was also performed in this patient. None of the patients deteriorated neurologically following surgery. Fusion was achieved in all patients.Conclusions:Preoperative and intraoperative traction have a role in the management of neglected dislocations in the cervical spine. If CR is achieved the patient may be managed by ACDF. If CR is not achieved, posterior soft tissue release may be done to achieve reduction and partial facetectomy must be reserved for cases in which reduction is not achieved after soft tissue release. A treatment protocol for management of neglected dislocation in the SACS has been suggested in this paper.