Prasad A, Pawar SG, Dhar A, Ramani P, Malik AA, Babhulkar S. Surgical Management of Degenerative Spondylolisthesis. J Spinal Surg 2015;2(3):67-71.

To study the clinical profile of patients with spinal dysraphisms and the outcome of surgical interventions in these patients.

A total of 39 patients with spinal dysraphism were studied in a tertiary care setting during the period of June 2012 to January 2015. Among the selected patients the clinical profile, radiological profile and the surgical interventions undertaken were studied and the outcome were noted. All patients were followed for a period 3 months postoperatively for presence of complications. Appropriate descriptive statistics were used to analyze the findings and to draw the inferences.

Median age of the patients was 6 months, ranging from 12 days to 7 years. Majority of the cases were diagnosed to have myelomeningocele (82.1%) and other conditions of spinal dysraphism included lipomyelomeningocele (2 cases), Diastematomyelia (2 cases and dermal sinus 1 case). Lumbosacral region (79.5%) was the commonest location. In four cases hypotonia and paraparesis were the presenting symptoms and nearly half of the patients had cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak (46.2%) and one-third of the patients had associated hydrocephalus (33.3%). All cases underwent operative procedure, anatomical repair using standard techniques. Postoperatively, all the patients were followed for upto 3 months where in CSF leak (10.3%), wound infection (10.3%) and paraparesis (10.3%) were the common postoperative complications in our study. Mortality was witnessed in two patients.

Among the spinal dysraphisms, myelomeningocele is the most common birth defect. Management of patients with spinal dysraphisms should be individualized involving timely diagnosis and selective surgical intervention.

Sidram V, Kumar PCC, Raghavendra B, Sangreshi V. A Prospective Study of Spectrum of Spinal Dysraphisms and its Surgical Outcome. J Spinal Surg 2015;2(3):72-77.

Gopal VV, Mahadevan K. Nanotechnology in Spinal Cord Injury: A New Hope for Overcoming Barriers to Treatment. J Spinal Surg 2015;2(3):78-84.

Over the past decades, significant progress has been made in our understanding of the basics and techniques of surgical treatment for intradural tumors. However, the management which is most ideal for these lesions has remained a controversial topic.

To review previous work on the available operative options for intradural tumors with focus on both the advantages and disadvantages in each case, the outcomes and also highlight on the current trends in this aspect of spine surgery.

A systematic literature review of previous publications on the various techniques employed in the surgical treatment of intradural tumors. We discuss their presentation, basic concepts and practical aspects of their management with emphasis on the techniques of operative treatment.

Different outcomes following the application of various techniques in the surgical management of intradural spinal tumors have been well-documented in the literature. However, there are currently no algorithms to guide the surgeon on surgical care for intradural spinal tumors. The choice of which surgery to do in each case is a function of each surgeon's philosophy, knowledge and cummulative experience as well as a clear understanding of the anatomy of the lesion in each patient, the available facilities and equipment.

Onyia CU, Menon SK. Surgical Techniques for Managing Intradural Spinal Tumors: An Overview and Update. J Spinal Surg 2015;2(3):85-96.

Hadgaonkar S, Shah KC, Pradhan C, Krishnan V, Shyam A, Sancheti P. A Combination of Quadriparesis in Cervical Spine Injury with Open Humerus Fracture: A Unique Situation and a Review of the Current Concepts of Damage Control Principles in Spine Trauma. J Spinal Surg 2015;2(3):97-101.

Hadgaonkar S, Shah KC, Shyam A, Sancheti P. Intraspinal Intradural Sublaminar Wire-consequences: Revision Surgery with Note on Correct Technique. J Spinal Surg 2015;2(3):102-105.