Spinal Disorders

Spinal disorders are among the most common medical conditions with significant impact on health related quality of life, use of health care resources and socio-economic costs. Spinal surgery is still one of the fastest growing areas in clinical medicine. The increasing age of the population will require an increased need for the treatment of degenerative spinal disorders particularly spinal stenosis. Basic knowledge on the state of the art in diagnosis and treatment of spinal disorders is required not only for spine specialists but also for general orthopedic surgeons, rheumatologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, chiropractors, physiotherapists, basic scientists and health care executives to choose and/or evaluate appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Spinal Disorders is an easily readable teaching tool focusing on fundamentals and basic principles. It provides a homogeneous syllabus with a consistent didactic strategy teaching fundamentals and general principles. The chosen didactic concept highlights and repeats core messages throughout the chapters. This modern, up-to-date and easy to read textbook on spinal disorders with its appealing layout will inspire and stimulate the reader for the study of spinal disorders. Core messages and marginal notes highlight the most important teaching objectives and guide the reader through the chapter Introductory cases introduce the topic by report of a typical cases representative of the specific pathology Case studies aim to mediate fundamentals and basic principles of a chapter and enhance recollection by case study learning Recapitulations summarise the essential teaching objectives and provide a quick overview for the busy reader CONTENTS History of Spinal Surgery.- Basic Science: Biomechanics of the Spine.- Spinal Instrumentation.- Age-related Changes of the Spine.- Pathophysiology of Spinal Pain.- Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Spinal Disorders.- Predictors of Surgical Outcome. Patient Assessment: History and Clinical Examination.- Imaging Studies.- Injection Studies.- Neurologic Examination.- Electrophysiologic Assessment. Surgical Approaches.- Peri- and Postoperative Management: Preoperative Assessment.-Anaesthesia for Spinal Surgery.- Postoperative Care and Pain Management. Degenerative Disorders: Disc Herniation.- Spinal Stenosis.- Lumbar Spondylosis.- Non-specific Low Back Pain.- Cervical Radikulopathy and Myelopathy.- Priniciples of Postoperative Rehabilitation. Spinal Deformities: Idiopathic Scoliosis.- Neuromuscular Scoliosis.- Congenitale Scoliosis.- Degenerative Scoliosis.- Spondylolisthesis.- Juvenile Kyphosis (Scheuermann's Disease).- Malformations of the Spinal Cord. Fractures: Cervicale Fractures.- Thoracolumbar and Sacral Fractures.- Osteoporotic Fractures. Tumor und Inflammation: Primary Tumors.- Metastatic Tumors.- Intradural Tumors.- Spinal Infections.- Ankylosing Spondylitis.- Rheumatoid Arthritis. Surgical Complications