Postoperative paraspinal fluid collections can present a management dilemma to both radiologists and surgeons. Although many of these collections present as incidental findings and are unrelated to the presenting signs…
Imaging evaluation of postoperative spinal infection is challenging. A systematic approach and keen understanding of multimodality imaging techniques, as well as knowledge of the patient’s surgical procedure and clinical presentation,…
Radiologists are often required to evaluate postoperative spine imaging to assist the surgeon with further clinical management. This article reviews common spine surgical techniques and their proper evaluation on imaging…
The primary goal of motion preservation surgery in the spine is to maintain normal or near normal motion in an attempt to prevent adverse outcomes commonly seen with conventional spinal…
Few tasks in imaging are more challenging than that of optimizing evaluations of the instrumented spine. The authors describe how applying fundamental and more advanced principles to postoperative spine computed…
Although imaging plays a critical role and has become an integral part in preprocedure evaluation of osteoporotic patients at risk of compression fracture, many treated patients undergo follow-up imaging, for…
Primary or metastatic spine tumors can present with pain and/or neurologic compromise depending on their location within the spinal axis. Metastases and multiple myeloma comprise most of these lesions. Management…
Key points • An awareness of the preoperative imaging, the surgical technique and history, and the set of clinical problems and imaging findings most likely to occur at specific postoperative…
Key points • Imaging of the postoperative spine and associated complications is a common clinical scenario for the radiologist; however, despite advanced imaging techniques and better spatial resolution, this remains…
A. Orlando Ortiz, MD, MBA, FACR, Editor The very mention of postoperative spine imaging and evaluation precipitates eye rolling among my colleagues. It is one of those areas in radiology…
