European Spine Journal

"European Spine Journal" is a publication founded in response to the increasing trend toward specialization in spinal surgery and spinal pathology in general. ...

List of Papers (Total 1,549)

Endplate fractures with subtle structural damage in impact loaded flexed ovine lumbar segments: a potential initiator of disc degeneration

To (a) investigate patterns of structural damage in flexed, healthy ovine lumbar motion segments subjected to controlled impact loading approximating a low energy traumatic fall; and (b) determine the relative risk of herniation, endplate failure and other subtle modes of structural disruption as potential mechanical initiators of disc degeneration. Twenty-three healthy ovine...

Predictive factors associated with the onset of Kummell’s disease

Kummell’s disease (KD) is a long-term complication of vertebral compression fractures, resulting in vertebral collapse and kyphosis. Despite its clinical significance, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. To identify the predictive factors for the onset of KD and provide clinical insights for early screening and intervention in KD patients. Retrospective study. A...

Sensory integration strategies on repeated postural stability and neuromuscular adaptation in individuals with low back pain

Individuals with low back pain (LBP) often exhibit balance impairments resulting from altered neuromuscular control and sensory integration deficits. This study aimed to compare differences in sway excursion and neuromuscular responses in maintaining spatial orientation and equilibrium between adults with and without LBP under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. Thirty-two...

Changes in sagittal spinopelvic alignment are associated with increased pain and impaired function in multiple myeloma patients

Multiple myeloma (MM), a type of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, frequently causes osteolytic spinal lesions, increasing the risk of fracture and poor sagittal spinopelvic alignment. In relapsed patients, these changes may contribute to increased pain and functional impairment. The clinical data of 86 MM patients (48 males, 38 females) who underwent ≥ 3 whole-body CT scans between...

The conundrum of finding an optimal spondylodiscitis treatment pathway: how do treatments affect readmission rates?

The rising incidence of spondylodiscitis (SD) poses a challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. Treatment approaches are inconsistent, devoid of standardized algorithms and lack evidence-based guidelines. To date there is a knowledge gap relative to treatment, readmission rates and efficacy for different SD management strategies. This study aims to assess the 90-day all-cause...

Responsiveness and minimal important change of neck disability index and numeric pain rating scale for neck patients in the Norwegian neck and back register

To evaluate the responsiveness and the minimal important change (MIC) of Neck Disability Index (NDI) and pain during activity by the numeric rating scale (NRSa) in the Norwegian neck and back registry (NNRR). Participants with neck pain responding to baseline, 6 and 12-months follow-up in the NNRR were included. Responsiveness was calculated using the area under the receiver...

Foot pressure in patients with chronic lumbar radicular pain (sciatica) caused by lumbar disc herniation: a case-control observational study

This study aimed to determine whether there are differences in plantar pressures during gait between patients with lumbar disc herniation -induced sciatica and healthy individuals. This observational case–control study included 41 patients with sciatica due to lumbar disc herniation and 30 healthy controls. Plantar pressures were evaluated using the FootScan® platform in 10-foot...

A case of sustained neurological improvement in a metastatic intramedullary spinal cord tumor from lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy

Metastatic intramedullary spinal cord tumors generally have poor prognosis, with chemotherapy often deemed ineffective. We report about a patient who achieved a favorable outcome with an immune checkpoint inhibitor following the resection of the extramedullary component of a metastatic intramedullary tumor. A 74-year-old man underwent upper lobectomy for lung cancer. Seven months...

Exploring the role of gut microbiota in intervertebral disc degeneration: insights from bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis

Although previous studies have indicated a potential association between the gut microbiota and intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), the precise nature of this relationship remains unclear. The objective of this study is to further explore the potential causal relationship between gut microbiota and IVDD using a bidirectional Mendelian randomization approach, with the aim of...

Percutaneous pedicle screw placement with a mini-open decompression versus open surgery in the treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis: one-year results of a randomised controlled trial

Symptomatic lumbar spondylolisthesis is usually treated with fusion surgery when conservative methods fail. However, traditional open decompression and fusion involves a large skin incision and muscle detachment. Therefore, minimally invasive techniques have been developed to reduce tissue damage, potentially leading to less postoperative pain and earlier resumption of activities...

Biomechanical preservation of lumbar spine stability and motion with an intraosseous implant following vertebral body osteotomy

When nonsurgical treatments for low back pain with radiculopathy fail to relieve symptoms from nerve root compression, lumbar spine fusion is the standard treatment. A potential new option is using a vertebral body osteotomy (VBO) with the Vertiwedge Intraosseous System™, a novel spinal implant designed to restore foraminal height, spinal alignment, and preserve motion. The...

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and gabapentinoid use independently predict greater postoperative opioid consumption in lumbar fusion patients

Treatment of preoperative depression has been shown to reduce pain perception and disability after spine surgery, which encouraged utilizing antidepressants as a treatment for pain. Though opioid consumption after spine surgery has been well studied, few studies have investigated its association with medications such as antidepressants and gabapentinoids. Therefore, our study...

Patients on antidepressants are more likely to be discharged to inpatient rehabilitation after lumbar fusion

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between antidepressant use and inpatient physical therapy performance, as well as discharge disposition after surgery. Patients undergoing primary 1–3 level lumbar fusion at a single, tertiary care institution from 2017 to 2021 were retrospectively identified. Patient characteristics, surgical details, and surgical...

Comparison of the immobilizing effect of soft, semi-rigid and rigid neck orthoses

Cervical orthoses are widely used in the management of cervical spine (c-spine) injuries, serving to limit motion, alleviate pain, and enhance patient security. While extensive research has examined soft and rigid cervical braces, data on semi-rigid braces, such as the PDC collar, remain scarce. This study aims to compare the immobilizing effects of a semi-rigid cervical orthosis...

The psychometric properties of the Dubousset Functional Test in patients with thoracic hyperkyphosis

The Dubousset Functional Test (DFT) has precise metrics that evaluate the functionality of the spinopelvic muscle groups maintaining the spinal alignment. This study investigates concurrent validity, interrater reliability, responsivity, and feasibility of the DFT in patients with thoracic hyperkyphosis. Thirty patients with thoracic hyperkyphosis performed the DFT twice, the...

The effectiveness of physiotherapy and rehabilitation after cervical spinal surgery: a systematic review

To identify and characterize randomized controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of physiotherapy (PT) after cervical spine surgery in patients with degenerative spinal disease in terms of the effect of PT, and to define the treatment parameters included in the PT program and the initial period, duration, and frequency of these parameters. PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane...

Surgical outcomes in oncological sacrectomy: a detailed analysis of surgical site infections (SSI)

Sacral surgeries, especially sacrectomies, are complex due to the sacrum’s anatomical intricacies and its proximity to vital neurovascular structures. These procedures are primarily performed for the treatment of primary sacral malignancies, metastatic lesions, and traumatic injuries. Infection is a significant concern in sacrectomies, given the large incisions, extensive soft...

Impact of growth on spinal biomechanics and tether force in VBT: a simulation study

Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT) allows correction of scoliosis while preserving the spinal mobility. Despite an increasing availability of data on clinical experience and surgical techniques, there is still a lack of knowledge on the underlying biomechanics, specifically when considered in combination with growth. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a growing...

Sex-based differences in biomechanical function for chronic low back pain and how it relates to pain experience

The relationship between pain experience and biomechanical impairment in chronic low back pain (LBP) is unclear. Among the broader pain literature, sex-based differences in pain experience have been established. However, it is unknown if sex-based differences in pain experience relates to compromised movement patterns for patients with chronic LBP. This study examined sex...

Efficacy and safety of lumbopelvic fixation in spinal metastasis comparing S2 Alar-iliac screw and conventional iliac screw

The clinical issue of lumbosacral metastases (LM) is really significant. This study aims to compare in patients with lumbar pathology (LM) the outcomes of the conventional iliac (CI) screw technique against the S2 alar-iliac (S2AI). A retrospective review of institutional databases was performed for lumbar metastasis patients. who underwent lumbopelvic fixation, with or without...

Two to five years pulmonary functions after thoracic, thoracolumbar and bilateral vertebral body tethering surgery

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis negatively impacts chest wall development. Bracing and fusion surgery have shown varied effects on pulmonary outcomes. Vertebral Body Tethering presents a growth-sparing alternative that might mitigate these effects by reducing biomechanical disruptions. Aim was to evaluate changes in pulmonary functions during the course of the follow-up after VBT...