Despite many methods of spine evaluation and advanced classifications of it’s curvature the prognosis concerning the development of scoliosis was not fully accurate until now. The scientists under the direction of dr. Kenneth Ward have tested the way of diagnosis whether curves in children witch scoliosis may transform into severe deformity. Analysing, i.e. human DNA they claimed that they can eliminate the probability of severe curvature with 99% accuracy. Thesis describing their research was published in “Spine” in December 2010.  Read full text »

Antibiotic therapy is part of preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative proceedings in spine surgery. Prophylactic antibiotics are recommended to decrease the rate of infections following instrumented and unsinstrumented spine fusion (1). Most spine surgeons administer antibiotic prophylaxis even in clean procedures – when there is no break in sterile technique, no open wound, and no entry into the respiratory, gastrointestinal, or genitourinary tracts (3). It is known that in patient with risk factors appropriate broad spectrum antibiotics should be used in first place, but we do not have strict recommendation of one specific antibiotic protocol or dosing regimen over another in the prevention of postoperative infections (1). An interesting issue is how long we should use antibiotics in spine surgery. Read full text »