The cortical bone trajectory (CBT) technique has emerged as a minimally invasive approach for lumbar fusion but may result in pseudoarthrosis and hardware failure. This report presents a case of successful pedicle screw revision in a patient with previous failed L2 and L3 fusion using a novel \"two-step\" technique, including (1) drilling a new trajectory with Medtronic EM800N Stealth MIDAS Navigated MR8 drill system (Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) and (2) placement of Solera 4.75 ATS (awl-tapped screws) with navigated POWEREASE™ (Medtronic), described here for the first time. This method involves utilizing neuronavigation and specialized instruments to safely place pedicle screws through the path of the old cortical screw trajectory, addressing the challenges associated with CBT hardware failure.

BACKGROUND: Establishing thresholds of change that are actually meaningful for the patient in an outcome measurement instrument is paramount. This concept is called the minimum clinically important difference (MCID). We summarize available MCID calculation methods relevant to spine surgery, and outline key considerations, followed by a step-by-step working example of how MCID can be calculated, using publicly available data, to enable the readers to follow the calculations themselves.
METHODS: Thirteen MCID calculations methods were summarized, including anchor-based methods, distribution-based methods, Reliable Change Index, 30% Reduction from Baseline, Social Comparison Approach and the Delphi method. All methods, except the latter two, were used to calculate MCID for improvement of Zurich Claudication Questionnaire (ZCQ) Symptom Severity of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Numeric Rating Scale for Leg Pain and Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire Walking Ability domain were used as anchors.
RESULTS: The MCID for improvement of ZCQ Symptom Severity ranged from 0.8 to 5.1. On average, distribution-based methods yielded lower MCID values, than anchor-based methods. The percentage of patients who achieved the calculated MCID threshold ranged from 9.5% to 61.9%.
CONCLUSIONS: MCID calculations are encouraged in spinal research to evaluate treatment success. Anchor-based methods, relying on scales assessing patient preferences, continue to be the \"gold-standard\" with receiver operating characteristic curve approach being optimal. In their absence, the minimum detectable change approach is acceptable. The provided explanation and step-by-step example of MCID calculations with statistical code and publicly available data can act as guidance in planning future MCID calculation studies.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative bowel and bladder dysfunction (BBD) poses a significant risk following surgery of the sacral spinal segments and sacral nerve roots, particularly in neuro-oncology cases. The need for more reliable neuromonitoring techniques to enhance the safety of spine surgery is evident.
METHODS: We conducted a case series comprising 60 procedures involving 56 patients, spanning from September 2022 to January 2024. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of sacral reflexes (bulbocavernosus and external urethral sphincter reflexes) and compared them with transcranial motor evoked potentials (TCMEP) incorporating anal sphincter (AS) and external urethral sphincter (EUS) recordings, as well as spontaneous electromyography (s-EMG) with AS and EUS recordings.
RESULTS: Sacral reflexes demonstrated a specificity of 100% in predicting postoperative BBD, with a sensitivity of 73.33%. While sensitivity slightly decreased to 64.71% at the 1-month follow-up, it remained consistently high overall. TCMEP with AS/EUS recordings did not identify any instances of postoperative BBD, whereas s-EMG with AS/EUS recordings showed a sensitivity of 14.29% and a specificity of 97.14%.
CONCLUSIONS: Sacral reflex monitoring emerges as a robust adjunct to routine neuromonitoring, offering surgeons valuable predictive insights to potentially mitigate the occurrence of postoperative BBD.

Intradural spinal metastases significantly impair neurological function and quality of life, necessitating multimodal, palliative management to preserve mobility and alleviate pain. The effectiveness of systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy is limited due to the blood-spinal cord barrier and the tumours\' radioresistance, respectively. This highlights the urgency for alternative treatments given the rapid neurological decline. Surgical intervention becomes crucial, focusing on maximum tumour debulking to enhance disease control, restore ambulation, and palliate symptoms without compromising neurological function. Achieving this involves meticulous preoperative planning and aggressive intraoperative neuromonitoring. Combining surgery with adjuvant therapies may improve local control and potentially delay recurrence. This case-based review emphasizes the surgical considerations and outcomes in two cases of intradural spinal metastases, underscoring the value of surgery in multimodal therapy.

We report a 48-year-old male patient with spinal epithelioid hemangioendothelioma in T3 and T4 who began with symptoms of paresthesia in the lower limbs and distal weakness of the right lower limb, back pain, increased limitation in walking, urinary incontinence, and constipation. A safe maximum resection was performed, finding residual disease during the PET/CT scan, so it was decided to treat with radiotherapy, and there was a good response to this treatment. A literature review of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the thoracic spine was done which showed a mean age of presentation of 41 years and a male-female ratio of 1:0.53. The main symptom was pain, which was present in 100% of the patients, and wide surgery was performed in 56.8% of the patients, intralesional surgery in 31.8%, and biopsy in 11.4%. A total of 46.6% of patients received radiation therapy, and only 6.6% received chemotherapy. The patients had an average follow-up of 38 months. We recommend that extension studies such as PET/CT scans be performed after surgical resection. This can serve as a follow-up with hemangioendothelioma epithelioma patients about metastatic disease or residual disease that will guide us in giving adjuvant treatments, such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy, for better control of the disease.

Staphylococcus aureus is found in the normal skin and mucosa of approximately 30% of healthy populations and is the most common pathogen in human disease associated with bacteria. They are divided into methicillin-sensitive S . aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The S. aureus strains carrying the Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes (SA-PVL) were initially believed to belong to the MRSA group; however, recent reports showed they also belonged to the MSSA group (MSSA-PVL). SA-PVL is common in skin and soft-tissue infections but rare in musculoskeletal infections, especially in spondylodiscitis. We are reporting a case suffering from cervical spondylodiscitis and epidural abscess associated with MSSA carrying the Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes.

UNASSIGNED: Lymphangiomas are benign hamartomas in the spectrum of lymphatic malformations, exhibiting multifaceted clinical features. Spinal involvement is exceedingly rare, with only 35 cases reported to date. Both due to their rarity and chameleonic radiologic features, spinal lymphangiomas (SLs) are usually misdiagnosed; postoperatively, surgeons are thus confronted with an unexpected histopathological diagnosis with sparse pertinent literature and no treatment guidelines available.
UNASSIGNED: Here, we report the case of a 67-year-old female who underwent surgery for a T6-T7 epidural SL with transforaminal extension, manifesting with spastic paraparesis. Then, we present the results of the first systematic review of the literature on this subject, delineating the clinical and imaging features and the therapeutic implications of this rare disease entity.
UNASSIGNED: Our patient was treated with T6-T7 hemilaminectomy and resection of the epidural mass, with complete recovery of her neurological picture. No recurrence was evident at 18 months. In the literature, 35 cases of SL were reported that can be classified as vertebral SL (n = 18), epidural SL (n = 10), intradural SL (n = 3), or intrathoracic lymphangiomas with secondary spinal involvement (n = 4). Specific treatment strategies (both surgical and nonsurgical) were adopted in relation to each of these categories.
UNASSIGNED: Gathering knowledge about SL is fundamental to promote both correct preoperative identification and appropriate perioperative management of this rare disease entity. By reviewing the literature and discussing an exemplary case, we delineate a framework that can guide surgeons facing such an unfamiliar diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: To assess the accuracy of robot-assisted Magerl screw placement and explore the factors affecting the accuracy.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent robot-assisted Magerl screw placement was performed. The accuracy of Magerl screw placement was evaluated according to the Gertzbein and Robbins scale.
RESULTS: 47 Magerl screws were placed in 24 consecutive patients. 32 Magerl screws were narrower than the C2 isthmus height and 26 of them were grade A. 15 Magerl screws were wider than the C2 isthmus height and all of them were grade B. Temporary fixation after decompression and a smaller difference between the C2 isthmus height and screw diameter were associated with a higher probability of cortical breach.
CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy of robot-assisted Magerl screw placement was excellent. Temporary fixation after decompression and a smaller difference between the C2 isthmus height and screw diameter increased the risk of cortical breach.

The aging global population presents an increasing challenge for spine surgeons. Advancements in spine surgery, including minimally invasive techniques, have broadened treatment options, potentially benefiting older patients. This study aims to explore the clinical outcomes of spine surgery in septuagenarians and octogenarians.
This retrospective analysis, conducted at a US tertiary center, included patients aged 70 and older who underwent elective spine surgery for degenerative conditions. Data included the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), ASA classification, surgical procedures, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and reoperation rates. The objective of this study was to describe the outcomes of our cohort of older patients and discern whether differences existed between septuagenarians and octogenarians.
Among the 120 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, there were no significant differences in preoperative factors between the age groups (P > 0.05). Notably, the septuagenarian group had a higher average number of fused levels (2.36 vs. 0.38, P = 0.001), while the octogenarian group underwent a higher proportion of minimally invasive procedures (P = 0.012), resulting in lower overall bleeding in the oldest group(P < 0.001). Mobility outcomes were more favorable in septuagenarians, whereas octogenarians tended to maintain or experience a decline in mobility(P = 0.012). A total of 6 (5%) intraoperative complications and 12 (10%) postoperative complications were documented, with no statistically significant differences observed between the groups.
This case series demonstrates that septuagenarians and octogenarians can achieve favorable clinical outcomes with elective spine surgery. Spine surgeons should be well-versed in the clinical and surgical care of older adults, providing optimal management that considers their increased comorbidity burden and heightened fragility.

We report a case where neuromonitoring, using motor evoked potentials (MEP), detected an intraoperative L5 nerve root deficit during a lumbosacral decompression and instrumented fusion procedure. Critically, the MEP changes were not preceded nor accompanied by any significant spontaneous electromyography (sEMG) activity. Presumptive L5 innervated muscles, including tibialis anterior (TA), extensor hallucis longus (EHL) and gluteus maximus, were targets for nerve root surveillance using combined MEP and sEMG techniques. During a high-grade spondylolisthesis correction procedure, attempts to align a left-sided rod resulted in repeated loss and recovery cycles of MEP from the TA and EHL. No accompanying EMG alerts were associated with any of the MEP changes nor were MEP variations seen from muscles innervated above and below L5. After several attempts, the rod alignment was achieved, but significant MEP signal decrement (72% decrease) remained from the EHL. Postoperatively, the patient experienced significant foot drop on the left side that recovered over a period of 3 months. This case contributes to a growing body of evidence that exclusive reliance on sEMG for spinal nerve root scrutiny can be unreliable and MEP may provide more dependable data on nerve root patency.