Objective: To analyze the usage of floor-mounted robot in minimally invasive lumbar fusion.Methods: Patients who underwent minimally invasive lumbar fusion for degenerative pathology using floor-mounted robot (ExcelsiusGPS) were included. Pedicle screw accuracy, proximal level violation rate, pedicle screw size, screw-related complications, and robot abandonment rate were analyzed.Results: Two hundred twenty-nine patients were included. Most surgeries were primary single-level fusion. Sixty-five percent of surgeries had intraoperative computed tomography (CT) workflow, 35% had preoperative CT workflow. Sixty-six percent were transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, 16% were lateral, 8% were anterior, and 10% were a combined approach. A total of 1,050 screws were placed with robotic assistance (85% in prone position, 15% in lateral position). Postoperative CT scan was available for 80 patients (419 screws). Overall pedicle screw accuracy rate was 96.4% (prone, 96.7%; lateral, 94.2%; primary, 96.7%; revision, 95.3%). Overall poor screw placement rate was 2.8% (prone, 2.7%; lateral, 3.8%; primary, 2.7%; revision, 3.5%). Overall proximal facet and endplate violation rates were 0.4% and 0.9%. Average diameter and length of pedicle screws were 7.1 mm and 47.7 mm. Screw revision had to be done for 1 screw (0.1%). Use of the robot had to be aborted in 2 cases (0.8%).Conclusion: Usage of floor-mounted robotics for the placement of lumbar pedicle screws leads to excellent accuracy, large screw size, and negligible screw-related complications. It does so for screw placement in prone/lateral position and primary/revision surgery alike with negligible robot abandonment rates.

Background: Identifying genetic risk factors for spinal disorders may lead to knowledge regarding underlying molecular mechanisms and the development of new treatments. Methods: Cases of lumbar spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, and pseudarthrosis after spinal fusion were identified from the UK Biobank. Controls were patients without the diagnosis. Whole-genome regressions were used to test for genetic variants potentially implicated in the occurrence of each phenotype. External validation was performed in FinnGen. Results: A total of 389,413 participants were identified from the UK Biobank. A locus on chromosome 2 spanning GFPT1, NFU1, AAK1, and LOC124906020 was implicated in lumbar spondylolisthesis. Two loci on chromosomes 2 and 12 spanning genes GFPT1, NFU1, and PDE3A were implicated in spinal stenosis. Three loci on chromosomes 6, 10, and 15 spanning genes CHST3, LOC102723493, and SMAD3 were implicated in degenerative disc disease. Finally, 2 novel loci on chromosomes 5 and 9, with the latter corresponding to the LOC105376270 gene, were implicated in pseudarthrosis. Some of these variants associated with spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease were also replicated in FinnGen. Conclusions: This study revealed nucleotide variations in select genetic loci that were potentially implicated in 4 different spinal pathologies, providing potential insights into the pathological mechanisms. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background: Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. It is popular among seniors but has recently grown across all age groups. As pickleball has gained interest, its corresponding injury burden has also increased. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to identify pickleball-related injury trends and underlying mechanisms across different age groups presenting to US emergency departments. It was hypothesized that (1) pickleball-related injuries would increase significantly between 2013 and 2022, (2) older age groups would have the greatest frequency of injury, and (3) falls would be the most common mechanism of injury. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried for pickleball injuries between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2022. The demographic information, injury site, and diagnosis were recorded, and case narratives were reviewed to identify the injury mechanism. The statistical sample weight assigned for NEISS cases by hospital was used to calculate national estimates (NEs). Injury trends over time were evaluated by linear regression. Results: A total of 1110 NEISS cases representing 66,350 nationally estimated pickleball-related injuries were included. The mean age was 64 ± 14.7 years (range, 4-93 years). Most injuries occurred in those aged 65 to 80 years (NEISS cases = 643; NE = 40,507 [61.1%]), followed by those aged 35 to 64 years (NEISS cases = 349; NE = 20,785 [31.3%]). Falls were the most common injury mechanism overall (NEISS cases = 699; NE = 43,434 [65.5%]). However, being hit with a paddle and a twist/inversion were the most common mechanisms for ages 0 to 17 and 18 to 34 years, respectively. Fractures were the most common diagnosis (NEISS cases = 363; NE = 21,703 [32.7%]), followed by strains/sprains (NEISS cases = 327; NE = 20,419 [30.8%]). Also, 69.1% of all fractures occurred in female players. The wrist was the most injured, accounting for 12.7% of all injuries. Significant increases in pickleball injuries were seen over time ( P < .001) and across all age groups ( P < .05). Conclusion: There was a significant increase in pickleball-related injuries presenting between 2013 and 2022, with most injuries arising from a fall. Notably, injuries decreased by 14% between 2019 and 2020 but rose again by 41% between 2020 and 2021 during the coronavirus 2019 pandemic. Older players disproportionately presented to the emergency department with pickleball-related injuries. Increased awareness and comprehensive injury prevention initiatives may be warranted to address the considerable prevalence of fractures and overuse/strain injuries.

Objective: Despite growing interest in cervical disc replacement (CDR) for conditions such as cervical radiculopathy, limited data exists describing the impact of obesity on early postoperative outcomes and complications. These data are especially important as nearly half of the adult population in the United States is expected to become obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m2) by 2030. The goal of this study was to compare the demographics, perioperative variables, and complication rates following CDR.Methods: The 2005–2020 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program datasets were queried for patients who underwent primary 1- or 2-level CDR. Patients were divided into 3 cohorts: Nonobese (BMI: 18.5–29.9 kg/m2), Obese class-I (BMI: 30–34.9 kg/m2), Obese class-II/III (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2). Morbidity was defined as the presence of any complication within 30 days postoperatively. Rates of 30-day readmission, reoperation, morbidity, individual complications, length of stay, frequency of nonhome discharge disposition were collected.Results: A total of 5,397 patients were included for analysis: 3,130 were nonobese, 1,348 were obese class I, and 919 were obese class II/III. There were more 2-level CDRs performed in the class II/III cohort compared to the nonobese group (25.7% vs. 21.5%, respectively; p < 0.05). Class-II/III had more nonhome discharges than class I and nonobese (2.1% vs. 0.5% vs. 0.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). Readmission rates differed as well (nonobese: 0.5%, class I: 1.1%, class II/III: 2.1%; p < 0.001) with pairwise significance between class II/II and nonobese. Class II/III obesity was an independent risk factor for both readmission (odds ratio [OR], 3.32; p = 0.002) and nonhome discharge (OR, 2.51; p = 0.02). Neither 30-day reoperation nor morbidity rates demonstrated significance. No mortalities were reported.Conclusion: Although obese class-II/III were risk factors for 30-day readmission and nonhome discharge, there was no significant difference in reoperation rates or morbidity. CDR procedures can continue to be safely preformed independent of obesity status.