News and Research for Spine Professionals

Which Patients Undergo Pre-Surgical Psychological Evaluation Before Spine Surgery?

How pre-surgical psychological evaluation may improve spine surgeons’ understanding of patients prior to intervention, allowing for better individualization of treatment based on both physiologic/biomechanical and psychosocial aspects of surgery.

ISASS Recommends Lumbar Decompression with Interlaminar Stabilization in Select Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS) released a Policy Statement covering interlaminar stabilization in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis.

Mount Sinai Offers Onsite 3D Printing Services for Spine Clinicians and Researchers

Use of 3D printing in this case actually led to a change in the way the surgery was performed. “It was one of those sort of aha moments where we realized the potential power of 3D modeling used intra-operatively."

Researchers Examine Optimal Vitamin D Dose for Osteoporosis

“Does a daily dose of 6,500 IU of vitamin D3 improve bone mineral density in the hip and spine when compared to a daily dose of 800 IU?”

Imaging Technology Improves Spinal Canal Tumor Detection

Scientists have developed a new computer system that works in conjunction with CT scans that improves detection of tumors in the spinal canal more clearly than ever. This latest technology was developed by doctors at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Radiology and Imaging Sciences Department in Bethesda, Maryland.

How to Give Advice on Management of Low Back Pain

How do clinical trials that test advice for acute low back pain compare with practice guidelines in terms of content, method of delivery, and treatment regimens?

Spinal Fusions by Orthopaedic Surgeons Linked to Greater In-Hospital Complications in National Database

Patients undergoing PCDF who are operated on by orthopaedic surgeons are more likely to experience in-hospital complications than those operated on by neurosurgeons, according to data from a nationwide database. This discrepancy was not found among patients who underwent PCDF at a single institution where interdisciplinary collaboration via two-surgeon spinal surgery is common.

What Comes First: Cervical or Lumbar Surgery for Tandem Spinal Stenosis?

This study provides additional support for treating the ‘proximal lesion’ first when the severity of stenosis symptoms is similar at the cervical spine and the lumbar spine, Choll Kim, MD, remarked.

Social Media for Doctors: How, When, and Why Physicians are Using Social Media

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat—social media sites—not to mention marketing and patient outreach, can be overwhelming. Here’s how you and your practice can best utilize social media.

ACOs Not Linked to Improved Lumbar Spine Surgery Outcomes

Patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery at ACOs did not have improved 90-day post-surgical outcomes according to research published in The Spine Journal.

Early Physical Therapy For Musculoskeletal Pain Reduces Likelihood of Opioid Use

Use of physical therapy within 3 months of being diagnosed with musculoskeletal pain of the shoulder, neck, knee, or low back was link to a significantly lower likelihood of subsequent opioid use.

Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture Risk in the Spine

Do homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate impact the prevalence of asymptomatic osteoporotic vertebral fractures —specifically in the lumbar spine and proximal femur, in postmenopausal women?

Possible New Treatment for Type 1 Diabetes-induced Osteoporosis

Research published offers a possible new treatment for diabetes-induced osteoporosis.

Does Supplement to Prevent Osteoporosis Work in the Spine?

Researchers examined the effect on bone mineral density of a supplement that includes a combination of nutrients.

Is Anemia a Risk Factor for Osteoporosis in the Spine?

Researchers looked at the link between anemia and low bone mineral density—specifically in the spine and femur—in postmenopausal women living in Turkey.

Is Inflammatory Bowel Disease Linked to Osteoporosis?

A study set out to understand the relationship between osteoporosis and inflammatory bowel disease. Read the findings here.

Exploring the Link Between Poverty and Osteoporosis

A study in Clinical Endocrinology explored the associations between socioeconomic status and a person’s risk for osteoporosis, related fractures, and other health conditions.

A Comparison of Treatments for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

This study explored the clinical outcomes of patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures who underwent different treatments for the condition.

Monthly Oral Ibandronate Boosts Bone Mineral Density in the Lumbar Spine

Is monthly ibandronate safe and effective when taken long-term?

Teriparatide Injections Can Improve Fusion Rates in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis

A prospective trial was done to examine if teriparatide administration following instrumented lumbar posterolateral fusion would improve bone union in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Formal Osteoporosis Screening Lowers Fracture Risk in Patients

A study was conducted to understand the effects of an osteoporosis screening program on patients’ fracture risk.

Predicting Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures in Women

What factors increase the risk of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in women who have reached menopause?

What Are Optimal Screening Strategies for Treatment of Osteoporosis and Fractures of the Spine?

There were 202 frail women involved in the study. These women were 65 years old or older; their mean age was 85 years old.

Does Inflammatory Bowel Disease Lead to Low Bone Mineral Density in the Lumbar Spine?

Researchers looked at whether inflammatory bowel disease could lead to osteoporosis in the lumbar spine, as well as other locations in the body.

Exploring the Association Between Osteoporosis and Psoriasis

Amidst controversy about the association between psoriasis and osteoporosis, their results demonstrate that both men and women with osteoporosis...

Osteoporosis in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

What are the factors that influence the association between bone loss and Parkinson’s disease? A study in the Journal of Neurology explored this question.

Preventing Glucocorticoid-induced Osteoporosis in Men

Researchers examined bisphosphonates—specifically 2 osteoporosis medications and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in men.

Low-molecular Weight Heparin New Warning Labels

Clinicians should carefully consider the timing of spinal catheter placement and removal in patients taking anticoagulant drugs.

Are Patients with Fibromyalgia at Risk for Osteoporosis of the Spine?

Patients with fibromyalgia typically have less sunlight exposure. The lack of exposure may put them at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis.

Monthly Minodronate Dose Safe and Effective for Osteoporosis

Researchers published a study on the safety and effectiveness of oral minodronate administered monthly.

How Effective Is High-impact Exercise on Osteoporosis?

How big of an impact does high-impact exercise have on bone health and osteoporosis?

The Concurrent Risks of Osteoporotic Fracture and Cardiovascular Disease

A study in the journal Bone set out to use risk factor algorithms to understand the association between osteoporosis risk factors and cardiovascular endpoints.

How Likely Are Women to Fracture a Bone While Taking Anti-osteoporosis Medications?

Researchers examined the characteristics of women who had a bone fracture—in the spine, wrist, or other location—after taking anti-osteoporosis medication.

Does Osteoporosis Influence Periodontitis Risk in Postmenopausal Women?

Is there an association between the low bone mineral density that occurs due to osteoporosis or osteopenia, and women’s risk of certain dental conditions?

Does Teen Pregnancy Lead to Osteoporosis?

Could teen pregnancy be a predictor of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women? Researchers explored this topic.

Can a Kale Supplement Boost Bone Mineral Density in the Spine?

Japanese researchers examined the effects kale supplementation has on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolic markers in postmenopausal women.

Exercise at a Young Age May Prevent Later Osteoporosis

A study in the Asian Journal of Sports Medicine examines the effects of exercise and other interventions on low bone mass in young women.

Can Treatment Influence Osteoporotic Fracture Risk?

A study explored the characteristics that may cause patients taking alendronate to experience fractures.

How Lumbar Spine Degenerative Changes Affect BMD and Osteoporosis Diagnosis

Researchers looked at degenerative changes in the lumbar spine in elderly women using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Socioeconomic Status and Osteoporosis Risk

Is there an association between socioeconomic status, bone mineral density, and vertebral wedge deformities? A team led by researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia explored this question.

Omega-3s and Exercise Have a Positive Effect on the Lumbar Spine

A study in Nutrition & Metabolism looked at how diet and exercise have a specific impact on osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

FDA Warns Consumers of Pro ArthMax Dangers

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers not to purchase or use Pro ArthMax, a product promoted and sold as a dietary supplement for joint, muscle and arthritic pain.

Allogenic Blood Transfusions and Survival Following Surgery for Spinal Metastases

Researchers suggest that more liberal transfusion policies might be warranted for patients undergoing surgery for spinal metastasis.

Smoking Linked to Greater Blood Loss and Need for Transfusions in Spinal Surgery

Smoking is significantly associated with increased surgical blood loss and perioperative transfusions among patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery, according to a retrospective study,

Liberal Transfusions Linked to Increased Morbidity Following Spine Surgery

The impact of more liberal use of transfusions on patient outcomes in spine surgery was not investigated prior to this study.

Study Looks at the Effects of Teriparatide on Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis

The goal was to assess the effectiveness of a daily subcutaneous injection of teriparatide in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Treatment Evaluation for Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

The researchers set out to explore the efficacy of PV treatment in patients who were managing OVCFs following spinal fusion surgery for degenerative lumbar disease.

Alcohol’s Effect on Post-menopausal Bone Health

While it’s understood that moderate alcohol consumption is associated with higher bone mass in post-menopausal women, the actual mechanism that causes this is not understood.