====== Wolfhard Caspar ======
 

Dr. Wolfhard Caspar was born on December 29, [[1938]] in Ventspils, [[Latvia]], and passed away on December 31, [[2019]] in [[Bamberg]], [[Germany]], just 2 days after his 81st birthday. Dr. Caspar grew up in Germany, having lived here since 1939.

Dr. Wolfhard Caspar presented his scientific and surgical work with eloquent passion. He usually attracted his listeners with his ‘‘unique” way of reporting his experiences. Additionally, he never reached out for presidential honors from different societies. He preferred to pursue achievable perfection in his fields of surgical interest. His goal: Spinal microsurgery tailored to the patient‘s need. His pioneering work in spine surgery is honored by the spine community.

===== Caspar distractor =====

[[Caspar distractor]]

===== Caspar retractor =====

[[Caspar retractor]]

1: Caspar W, Papavero L, Nabhan A, Loew C, Ahlhelm F. Microsurgical excision of
symptomatic sacral perineurial cysts: a study of 15 cases. Surg Neurol. 2003
Feb;59(2):101-5; discussion 105-6. PubMed PMID: 12648906.


2: Caspar W, Nabhan A, Kelm J, Loew C, Ahlhelm F. [Operative treatment of
symptomatic nerve root cysts]. Z Orthop Ihre Grenzgeb. 2001
Nov-Dec;139(6):496-501. German. PubMed PMID: 11753769.


3: Caspar W, Papavero L, Dietz S. Lumbar stenosis surgery: the experience of the 
neurosurgeon. Chir Organi Mov. 1992 Jan-Mar;77(1):31-7. English, Italian. PubMed 
PMID: 1587158.


4: Caspar W, Papavero L. The trapezial plate osteosynthesis: an advanced
technology for anterior internal stabilization in cervical spine injuries and for
the treatment of neck instability due to non traumatic causes. Chir Organi Mov.
1992 Jan-Mar;77(1):87-99. Review. English, Italian. PubMed PMID: 1587167.


5: Caspar W, Pitzen T, Papavero L, Geisler FH, Johnson TA. Anterior cervical
plating for the treatment of neoplasms in the cervical vertebrae. J Neurosurg.
1999 Jan;90(1 Suppl):27-34. PubMed PMID: 10413122.


6: Pitzen T, Wilke HJ, Caspar W, Claes L, Steudel WI. Evaluation of a new
monocortical screw for anterior cervical fusion and plating by a combined
biomechanical and clinical study. Eur Spine J. 1999;8(5):382-7. PubMed PMID:
10552321; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3611197.


7: Papavero L, Caspar W. The lumbar microdiscectomy. Acta Orthop Scand Suppl.
1993;251:34-7. PubMed PMID: 8451981.


8: Caspar W, Papavero L, Sayler MK, Harkey HL. Precise and limited decompression 
for lumbar spinal stenosis. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 1994;131(1-2):130-6. PubMed
PMID: 7709775.


9: Caspar W, Pitzen T. Anterior cervical fusion and trapezoidal plate
stabilization for re-do surgery. Surg Neurol. 1999 Oct;52(4):345-51; discussion
351-2. PubMed PMID: 10555839.


10: Caspar W, Campbell B, Barbier DD, Kretschmmer R, Gotfried Y. The Caspar
microsurgical discectomy and comparison with a conventional standard lumbar disc 
procedure. Neurosurgery. 1991 Jan;28(1):78-86; discussion 86-7. PubMed PMID:
1994285.


11: Faubert C, Caspar W. Lumbar percutaneous discectomy. Initial experience in 28
cases. Neuroradiology. 1991;33(5):407-10. PubMed PMID: 1749470.


12: Schwerdtfeger K, Caspar W, Alloussi S, Strowitzki M, Loew F. Acute spinal
intradural extramedullary hematoma: a nonsurgical approach for spinal cord
decompression. Neurosurgery. 1990 Aug;27(2):312-4. PubMed PMID: 2385352.


13: Pitzen T, Matthis D, Caspar W, Müller-Storz H, Steudel WI. [Initial stability
of two PLIF-techniques. A biomechanical comparison using a finite element model].
Orthopade. 2000 Jan;29(1):68-72. German. PubMed PMID: 10663249.


14: Pitzen T, Matthis D, Müller-Storz H, Ritz R, Caspar W, Steudel WI. [Effect of
spongiosa density on load bearing of the lumbar spine.A finite element analysis].
Z Orthop Ihre Grenzgeb. 2000 Jan-Feb;138(1):17-21. German. PubMed PMID: 10730358.


15: Geisler FH, Caspar W, Pitzen T, Johnson TA. Reoperation in patients after
anterior cervical plate stabilization in degenerative disease. Spine (Phila Pa
1976). 1998 Apr 15;23(8):911-20. PubMed PMID: 9580959.


16: Caspar W, Barbier DD, Klara PM. Anterior cervical fusion and Caspar plate
stabilization for cervical trauma. Neurosurgery. 1989 Oct;25(4):491-502. PubMed
PMID: 2797387.


17: Pitzen T, Caspar W, Steudel WI, Barbier D. [Dens fracture in elderly patients
and surgical management]. Aktuelle Traumatol. 1994 Apr;24(2):56-9. German. PubMed
PMID: 8197902.


18: Pitzen T, Caspar W, Matthis D, Müller-Storz H, König J, Georg T, Wurm EM,
Steudel WI. [Primary stability of 2 PLIF (posterior lumbar interbody fusion)--a
biomechanical in vitro comparison]. Z Orthop Ihre Grenzgeb. 1999
May-Jun;137(3):214-8. German. PubMed PMID: 10441825.


19: Caspar W, Geisler FH, Pitzen T, Johnson TA. Anterior cervical plate
stabilization in one- and two-level degenerative disease: overtreatment or
benefit? J Spinal Disord. 1998 Feb;11(1):1-11. PubMed PMID: 9493763.


20: Pitzen T, Matthis D, Müller-Storz H, Caspar W, Steudel WI, Harms J. [Primary 
stability of 2 PLIF (posterior lumbar interbody fusion) techniques--a
biomechanical and finite element analysis]. Zentralbl Neurochir.
1999;60(3):114-20. German. PubMed PMID: 10726333.


21: Iwa H, Caspar W. [A microsurgery operation for lumbar disc herniation
(author's transl)]. No Shinkei Geka. 1978 Jul;6(7):657-62. Japanese. PubMed PMID:
683447.


23: Caspar W. [Actovegin in myelopathies. Clinical experiences with actovegin in 
spinal cord disorders due to compression and circulation problems]. Fortschr Med.
1978 Apr 27;96(16):887-8. German. PubMed PMID: 648994.


24: Palleske H, Caspar W, Kivelitz R. [Craniocerebral injuries. Part II:
indications for surgery and surgical technics]. Monatsschr Unfallheilkd. 1975
Nov;78(11):493-9. German. PubMed PMID: 1207677.


25: Kivelitz R, Palleske H, Caspar W. [Craniocerebral injuries. Part I:
diagnosis]. Monatsschr Unfallheilkd. 1975 Nov;78(11):485-92. German. PubMed PMID:
1207676.