Links

  • Dr Carlo Ammednolia's new publication titled "Non-operative treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis with neurogenic claudication: an updated systematic review" can be found HERE

  • The University of Toronto Spine Program jointly with Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation, Clinic Mobility, and Krembil Research Institut organized a summit in January 2021 to tackle an important and rather underdiagnosed spine pathology - The Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy. The summit brought together a number of representations, namely, from Ontario. It was purposed towards developing an Ontario-Based DCM white paper to inform healthcare challenges, advocate for better care, develop care strategy, and importantly, to create a plan for future DCM knowledge translation activities. A number of priorities and action items arose from this Ontario DCM summit, also derived from the global priorities identified by AO Spine RECODE DCM Project: Raising awareness-being top priority, followed by diagnostic Criteria, assessment and monitoring, and rehabilitation. See the Ontario DCM Summit Executive Summary HERE , and the Full Summit Public Report HERE.

  • Dr. Arjun Sahgal and Dr. Michael Fehlings reported, in a randomized phase II/III study, the Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) was superior to conventional radiation therapy in reducing pain from spinal metastases. Report at the 2020 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) HERE, abstract HERE Breif HERE

  • Dr. Fehlings and his team published their manuscript “GDNF rescues the fate of neural progenitor grafts by attenuating Notch signals in the injured spinal cord in rodents” in Science Translational Medicine. This work represents a major breakthrough in stem cell technologies for regenerative neuroscience, in particular spinal cord injury. The genetic manipulation of neural stem cells to secrete GDNF dramatically enhances the regenerative potential of cell transplantation and is an important step toward clinical trials.  Pub HERE

  • The Shoichet lab invented a significantly more stable and more active form of chondroitinase ABC – a potent enzyme that degrades the glial scar after traumatic injury in the CNS, such as after spinal cord injury or stroke. Moreover, the team demonstrated a strategy for its controlled release. Pub HERE
  • Spine Fellowships Should Include Boot Camps and Simulations in Training: Will Simulation Techniques Replace Cadaveric Training?  Michael G. Fehlings  HERE
  • Congratulations to Dr Michael Fehlings and his research project lead team including co-first authors Spyridon K. Karadimas  and Kajana Satkunendrarajah on their recent publication in NATURE. The publication titled "Sensory cortical control of movement" This study demonstrates a novel pathway for the control of movement, whereby the somatosensory cortex directly influences walking behaviour. HERE
  • Congratulations Dr Michael Fehlings on wining the Ryman Prize Award  which recognizes the world’s best development, advance or achievement that enhances quality of life for older people. Faculty of Medicine Press release HERE
  • Congratulations to Dr Albert Yee and his team of faculty and trainees on the new publication of Phase 1 PDT Trial for Treatment of Vertebral Metastases . The paper was published in the Clinical Cancer Research as a great accomplishment. HERE
  • Time is spine: a review of translational advances in spinal cord injury - JNS Spine - Jetan H. Badhiwala, Christopher S. Ahuja, and Michael G. Fehlings. HERE
  • How to recognize the early signs of degenerative cervical myelopathy - The Globe and Mail. Public awareness by Dr Fehlings HERE
  • Congratulations to Dr Mark Erwin and his team on their recent publication in Scientific Report - NATURE publications. The paper" NTG-101: A Novel Molecular Therapy that Halts the Progression of Degenerative Disc Disease" HERE

  • Congratulations to Dr Michael Fehlings and his research project lead team including co-first authors Kajana Satkunendrarajah and Spyridon K. Karadimas on their recent publication in NATURE -the world's most cited scientific journal. The publication titled “Cervical excitatory neurons sustain breathing after spinal cord injury” demonstrates a strategy to restore breathing after central nervous system trauma by targeting a neuronal subpopulation and can lead to helping hundreds of thousands of Canadian SCI patients. HERE

  • Efficacy and Safety of Surgery for Mild Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Results of the AOSpine North America and International Prospective Multicenter Studies. Jetan H Badhiwala,  Christopher D Witiw, et,al.  HERE

  • Acute Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: Pathophysiology and Treatment Strategies. AOSpine North America webinar led by Dr Michael Fehlings. HERE

  • Guidelines for the Management of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy and Spinal Cord Injury: An Introduction to a Focus Issue. Michael Fehlings, et.al HERE
  • A new AOSpine North America Focus Issue presenting an overview of the state-of the art and anticipated future advances across the breadth of spine. HERE
  • Development of a Competence-Based Spine Surgery Fellowship Curriculum Set of Learning Objectives in Canada. Jeremie Lourche et.al HERE
  • Navigating Orthopaedic Spine Surgery. Drs. Stampe, Guha, Yang, and Yee. HERE
  • Surgical Resection with Radiation Treatment Planning of Spinal Tumors. Raphael Jakubovic, Mark Ruschin, Chia-Lin Tseng, Ana Pejovi´c-Mili´c, Arjun Sahgal, Victor XD Yang, HERE

  • At Spine Surgery Today. Dr Michael Fehlings reflecting on career, life, and beyond...HERE
  • Congratulations to Dr. Arjun Sahgal on publication of his book: Bone and Brain Metastases: Advances in Research and Treatment..HERE