Fig. 18.1 (a) Conventional vs. modified minimally invasive speculum retractor; (b) conventional (bottom left) vs. miniaturized rongeurs; (c) miniaturized speculum retractor in situ; (d) the speculum-counter-retractor system can be docked…
Fig. 34.1 (a) The lateral transforaminal approach for endoscopic surgery. (b) The interlaminar approach for endoscopic surgery The constraints associated with the transforaminal approach motivated development of the full-endoscopic interlaminar…
Fig. 39.1 Gross pathology 12 month follow-up after autologous chondrocyte transplantation in the Canine model. Level L3–L4 was transplanted, level L1–L2 received no treatment and displayed more scar tissue, L2–L3…
Fig. 24.1 Rib used as an inlay or a strut graft Osteotomies A bony fusion between two vertebrae represents an obstacle to allow a good surgical lordosis restoration. The Smith-Petersen…
Fig. 42.1 Anterior retroperitoneal approach to the lumbar spine A total diskectomy is facilitated by mobilizing the disk with interbody distractors and releasing or resecting the posterior annulus and posterior…
Fig. 4.1 From foetal to old-age disk – macroscopy of the intervertebral disk. (a) Foetal lumbar spine (36th week of gestation) vs. (b) old-aged spine (86 years) showing the tremendous…
Fig. 2.1 Andreas Vesalius (1514–1564). This portrait is from his book De humani corporis fabrica libri septem, or on the fabric of the human body (Basel: Johannes Oporinus; June 1543),…
Fig. 31.1 Surgical indications of fusion in lumbar stenosis Sagittal orientation of the facet joints Total facetectomy Lumbar stenosis associated with lumbar previous idiopathic scoliotic deformity Degenerative scoliosis Intracanal synovial…
Fig. 19.1 Sagittal lumbar spine MR T2-weighted image depicts a cranially sequestered recurrent disk herniation Fig. 19.2 The disk material does not show an enhancement of contrast media and is…
Fig. 53.1 Posterolateral percutaneous diskectomy The concept of posterolateral percutaneous diskectomy was firstly introduced in 1973. Parvis Kambin conducted percutaneous indirect spinal canal decompression by nucleotomy using Craig’s cannula in…
