Summary of Key Points Effective management of spinal wounds require a thorough understanding of the soft tissue anatomy of the back. The basis for avoiding spinal wound complications relies on basic surgical principles, such as a clean, vascularized wound, organized…
Summary of Key Points Vascularized bone grafts combine structural properties with biological enhancement through vascularization. Common indications for vascularized bone grafts include: Bone graft greater than 5 cm Strut graft that will be more than 4 cm from the anterior…
Summary of Key Points The gold standard for fusion substrates in spine surgery has historically been autogenous bone, particularly that of the iliac crest because of its readily available supply of both cortical and cancellous bone. Iliac crest bone graft…
Summary of Key Points Severely disabled persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) who will require assistance from others to complete activities of daily living must learn adaptive and interpersonal strategies to obtain needed care. Early consultation with physical medicine and…
Summary of Key Points The ligamentous and musculotendinous connections of the lumbosacropelvic region are normally robust, and impart stability to the pelvic ring; because of this, injuries to this region are relatively uncommon and are usually associated with significant forces…
Summary of Key Points At the thoracolumbar spine, a long and stiff kyphotic thoracic spine converts abruptly into a mobile lordotic lumbar spine, and this transition zone is susceptible to injury. All suspected spine trauma patients should be immobilized from…
Summary of Key Points Cervical spine trauma is common and often amenable to a posterior approach for surgical fixation. The role of surgical decompression and stabilization of the spine is determined by neural compression and stability of the spine. When…
Summary of Key Points Outcomes of cervical trauma can range from minor disability to total loss of function or life, and early management may have a major impact on clinical outcomes. Adherence to advanced trauma life support protocols, including proper…
Summary of Key Points All patients with injuries to the spinal column will require appropriate nonoperative management during their care. The majority of spine fractures can be managed nonoperatively with excellent long-term results. Those that require surgical treatment must be…
Summary of Key Points Spinal traction is an important treatment adjunct for cervical fractures, dislocations, destabilizing conditions, and deformity. Methods of spinal traction include head halter traction, Gardner–Wells tongs, and cranial halos. The most common indication for weighted traction is…