This week in Spine

Jun 22–28, 2026 · 31 new studies, 10 reviews · Spine archive · All weeks

The new Spine research The Reduction sent the week of Jun 22–28, 2026, with the week’s most recent reviews, each with a one-line summary.

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New research

  1. Strategies for Work-up and Treatment of Case Scenarios in Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

    Journal of Hand Surgery (American) · Sep 2026 · PubMed

    Expert hand surgeons favor supraclavicular decompression with pectoralis tenotomy for thoracic outlet syndrome, with individualized approaches to complex cases.

  2. Curve progression in female adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with Risser grade ≥ 3: incidence, magnitude, and risk factors in a cohort of 915 unbraced female patients.

    Spine Deformity · Sep 2026 · PubMed

    Despite late skeletal maturity, 12% of female AIS patients with Risser ≥3 experience clinically significant progression; lower BMI and residual growth are independent risk factors.

  3. Tether Breakage Across First-generation and Second-generation Vertebral Body Tethering Devices in Treating Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

    Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics · Sep 01 2026 · PubMed

    Radiographic tether breakage in vertebral body tethering remains 50% with second-generation devices; surgeon-observed breakage improved significantly with newer technology.

  4. Carbon fiber-reinforced peek versus titanium implants for the surgical treatment of spinal metastases: Evaluation of local disease control and quality of life.

    Journal of Bone Oncology · Aug 2026 · PubMed

    Carbon fiber-reinforced PEEK and titanium spinal implants show comparable survival and local disease control in vertebral metastases treatment.

  5. Endoscopic Lumbar Surgery in the Elderly: An Age-Stratified Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

    Spine · Aug 15 2026 · PubMed

    Endoscopic lumbar surgery in elderly patients achieves comparable pain relief and functional improvement to younger cohorts without age-related safety concerns.

  6. Nonbrachial Plexopathy Diagnoses Seen in a Brachial Plexus Injury Specialty Clinic.

    Journal of Hand Surgery (Global Online) · Jul 2026 · PubMed

    Seven percent of brachial plexus referrals had nonplexus diagnoses; multidisciplinary evaluation prevented misdiagnosis and guided appropriate treatment including surgery in 15% of cases.

  7. Modified percutaneous vertebral body-intervertebral disc biopsy combined with genetic testing for the diagnosis of early-stage pyogenic spondylodiscitis: a retrospective cohort study.

    European Spine Journal · Jun 27 2026 · PubMed

    Modified percutaneous vertebral-disc biopsy with 16S rRNA sequencing improved pathogen detection to 85.7% for early pyogenic spondylodiscitis without added complications.

  8. Dorsal spinal instrumentation in multiple myeloma: postoperative acute kidney injury is associated with mortality, morbidity, and deterioration of bone and muscle status.

    European Spine Journal · Jun 23 2026 · PubMed

    Postoperative acute kidney injury in myeloma patients undergoing spinal surgery independently worsens survival, increases infection risk, and accelerates muscle and bone loss.

  9. Comparative morbidity and outcomes for adult spinal deformity corrections spanning C2-pelvis compared to T4-pelvis: a propensity score-matched analysis.

    Spine Deformity · Jun 20 2026 · PubMed

    C2-pelvis fusion for adult spinal deformity caused higher complication rates, prolonged ICU stay, and shorter overall survival compared to T4-pelvis fusion.

  10. Prevalence and Risk of Urinary Dysfunction in Cervical and Lumbar Degenerative Spinal Disease: A Large-Scale Population-Based Study.

    Global Spine Journal · Jun 18 2026 · PubMed

    Cervical and lumbar degenerative spinal disease independently increase urinary dysfunction risk; combined involvement carries highest risk at 2.24-fold increase.

  11. Timely Surgery and Time to Culture Positivity: Prognostic Indicators in Staphylococcus-related Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis.

    The Spine Journal · Jun 18 2026 · PubMed

    Timely surgery within 14 days and prolonged time-to-culture-positivity improve survival and recurrence-free outcomes in Staphylococcus pyogenic spondylodiscitis.

  12. Straightening the facts: early versus late adolescent surgery in idiopathic scoliosis.

    Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics B · Jun 17 2026 · PubMed

    Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery before age 14 achieved superior radiographic correction maintained over 2 years versus age 14+, with similar clinical outcomes.

  13. Discrepancy Rates Between Skeletal Maturity Assessment Systems in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

    Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics · Jun 16 2026 · PubMed

    Substantial discordance (16-25%) exists among skeletal maturity systems in adolescent scoliosis; Risser staging frequently overestimates maturity versus Sanders and CVM.

  14. Posterolateral approach for lumbar plexus intra-psoas schwannomas: systematic review and comparative anthropometric analysis of surgical corridors with an illustrative case.

    European Spine Journal · Jun 15 2026 · PubMed

    Posterolateral Wiltse-type corridor provides short surgical trajectory with good instrument maneuverability for intra-psoas schwannomas as alternative to anterior approaches.

  15. Does Hi-PoAD technique work for congenital scoliosis: a single centre case series.

    European Spine Journal · Jun 15 2026 · PubMed

    Hi-PoAD technique achieves meaningful deformity correction in congenital scoliosis with low complication rates, extending its utility beyond adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

  16. Automated lumbar muscles segmentation with segment anything model for adult degenerative scoliosis.

    European Spine Journal · Jun 13 2026 · PubMed

    AI-based automated lumbar muscle segmentation tool accurately measures muscle degeneration and correlates with coronal deformity in adult scoliosis.

  17. Longitudinal comparison of existing frailty indices to predict complications following adult spinal deformity surgery.

    European Spine Journal · Jun 12 2026 · PubMed

    Multiple frailty indices predict worse outcomes in adult spinal deformity surgery; FRAIL Scale best for admission/hospital-acquired conditions, mASD-FI for reoperation.

  18. Safety and efficacy of intraoperative vectored cranial traction with Gardner-Wells tongs for pediatric spine deformity surgery.

    Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics B · Jun 12 2026 · PubMed

    Vectored traction with Gardner-Wells tongs significantly reduces pressure-related complications during pediatric prone spine surgery without perioperative vision loss.

  19. Prophylactic Concave-side Decompression and Spinal Cord Medialization Reduces Neurological Complications in Severe Kyphoscoliosis with Type 3 Cord Morphology.

    The Spine Journal · Jun 09 2026 · PubMed

    Prophylactic concave-side decompression before 3CO significantly reduces neurological deficits and IONM alerts in severe kyphoscoliosis with type 3 cord morphology.

  20. Circumferential ALIF Provides Superior Sagittal Alignment and Lower Reoperation Rates Than TLIF in Patients ≤50 Years Undergoing Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

    Spine · Jun 08 2026 · PubMed

    ALIF with posterior instrumentation provides superior sagittal alignment, lower reoperation rates, and better long-term outcomes than TLIF in patients ≤50 years.

  21. Do Perineural Dexamethasone and Dexmedetomidine Improve Analgesia and Inflammatory Response After Lumbar Spine Surgery?

    Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research · Jun 05 2026 · PubMed

    Dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone as perineural adjuvants prolong analgesia; dexamethasone better reduces inflammation and opioid consumption after lumbar spine surgery.

  22. Impact of complications on survival after surgery for metastatic spinal cord compression.

    European Spine Journal · Jun 01 2026 · PubMed

    Postoperative systemic complications independently reduce survival after metastatic spinal cord compression surgery; impaired preoperative ambulation predicts higher complication risk and should guide surgical decision-making.

  23. Epinephrine-added Irrigation Shortens and Stabilizes Operative Time in Full-endoscopic Lumbar Decompression after Adjusting for the Learning Curve: An Interrupted Time Series Study.

    Spine · Jun 01 2026 · PubMed

    Epinephrine-added irrigation during full-endoscopic lumbar decompression significantly reduces operative time and improves visualization without hemodynamic instability after accounting for the learning curve.

  24. Characterizing risk factors for new neurological deficits in children undergoing posterior spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis.

    Spine Deformity · May 28 2026 · PubMed

    Preoperative steroid use, low albumin, and prolonged PT predict neurological complications after pediatric scoliosis fusion; antifibrinolytic use is protective.

  25. Evaluation of a Pediatric Surgical Risk Calculator for Postoperative Outcomes in Spinal Deformity.

    Global Spine Journal · May 25 2026 · PubMed

    ACS-NSQIP calculator substantially underestimates overall complication risk in pediatric spinal deformity surgery, particularly for extensive fusions and neuromuscular scoliosis.

  26. Differential Effects of Degenerative Spine Disease and Spinal Fusion on the Risk and Progression of Hip Osteoarthritis: A Nationwide Time-Varying Cohort Study.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · May 22 2026 · PubMed

    Both degenerative spine disease and spinal fusion independently increase hip osteoarthritis risk, with spinal fusion particularly associated with progression to total hip replacement.

  27. Contrast-Enhanced MRI-Based Grading of Nuchal Ligament Failure in Dropped Head Syndrome Caused by Isolated Neck Extensor Myopathy.

    Spine · May 04 2026 · PubMed

    Contrast-enhanced MRI grading of nuchal ligament disruption in dropped head syndrome correlates with head alignment and cervical extension loss, providing a useful severity stratification tool.

  28. Impact of the Level of Maximal Spinal Canal Stenosis on Clinical Manifestations and Surgical Outcomes in Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

    Spine · May 01 2026 · PubMed

    Level of maximal stenosis in cervical OPLL influences symptom patterns and domain-specific recovery; upper stenosis shows better arm/hand improvement, lower stenosis shows worse lower extremity recovery.

  29. Fixed-Angle Static Versus Variable-Angle Dynamic Plates for Multilevel Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

    Clinical Spine Surgery · Apr 28 2026 · PubMed

    Fixed-angle static plates better maintain cervical lordosis after multilevel ACDF than dynamic plates, with similar fusion rates, functional outcomes, and complication profiles at short-term follow-up.

  30. Feasibility and Safety of 2 C1 Pedicle Screw Trajectories: A Morphometric CT Analysis in an Adult Indian Population.

    Clinical Spine Surgery · Apr 17 2026 · PubMed

    Medially angulated C1 pedicle screw trajectories provide wider corridors and improved vascular clearance compared to straight trajectories in this Indian cohort.

  31. Nodular fasciitis of the intradural cervical spine with *MIR22HG::USP6* fusion a rare postoperative occurrence and novel molecular pathogenesis.

    European Spine Journal · Apr 13 2026 · PubMed

    Nodular fasciitis of the intradural cervical spine post-operatively is rare; early total resection yields excellent neurological recovery.

Recent reviews

  1. Advancements and applications of 3D printing in pediatric orthopedics: A comprehensive review.

    Journal of Children's Orthopaedics · Apr 2025 · PubMed

    Three-dimensional printing enhances surgical precision and reduces operative time in pediatric orthopedic applications for deformities, tumors, and spinal pathology.

  2. Morphologic and Clinical Aspects of Pott Disease in Ancient Human Remains: A Scoping Review.

    Spine · Feb 15 2025 · PubMed

    Pott disease in ancient skeletal remains shows male predominance and primarily affects the spine; most evidence comes from Europe and Near East excavations.

  3. Biological Therapeutic Modalities for Intervertebral Disc Diseases: An Orthoregeneration Network (ON) Foundation Review.

    Arthroscopy · Mar 2024 · PubMed

    Orthobiologics including PRP, stem cells, and nucleus pulposus cell injections show early promise for intervertebral disc regeneration and pain reduction, but robust clinical evidence remains limited.

  4. Differentiating Shoulder Pathology from Cervical Spine Pathology: An Algorithmic Approach.

    Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · Mar 15 2024 · PubMed

    Systematic algorithmic approach differentiates shoulder from cervical spine pathology, reducing diagnostic delays and guiding appropriate management of overlapping presentations.

  5. Management of low back pain accompanying sagittal plane pathologies in children: Spondylolysis/spondylolisthesis and Scheuermann's disease.

    Journal of Children's Orthopaedics · Dec 2023 · PubMed

    Low-grade spondylolisthesis responds to conservative care; high-grade disease is progressive and requires fusion; pedicle screw techniques achieve >90% fusion rates.

  6. Current Evidence for Hybrid Constructs: Simultaneous ACDF/Arthroplasty and Arthroplasty Adjacent to Previous ACDF.

    Clinical Spine Surgery · Nov 01 2023 · PubMed

    Hybrid cervical constructs combining arthroplasty with fusion address patient-specific pathology effectively and show promise for multi-level cervical disease.

  7. Current Applications of Machine Learning in Spine: From Clinical View.

    Global Spine Journal · Oct 2022 · PubMed

    Machine learning applications in spine show excellent performance for diagnosis, imaging, and predicting complications; more RCTs needed for clinical acceptance.

  8. Genetic animal modeling for idiopathic scoliosis research: history and considerations.

    Spine Deformity · Sep 2022 · PubMed

    Genetic animal models of idiopathic scoliosis are difficult due to complex genetics and bipedalism; careful model selection based on research questions essential.

  9. Revision surgery for non-union in adult spinal deformity.

    European Spine Journal · Feb 2020 · PubMed

    Successful revision surgery for adult spinal deformity pseudoarthrosis requires correcting alignment, restoring anterior column support, and achieving solid fixation; outcomes are generally satisfactory when these goals are met.

  10. A systematic approach to the hip-spine relationship and its applications to total hip arthroplasty.

    The Bone & Joint Journal · Jul 2019 · PubMed

    Hip-spine workgroup consensus standardizes spinopelvic terminology to guide acetabular component positioning in total hip arthroplasty planning.

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