Journal of spinal disorders & techniques
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J Spinal Disord Tech · Feb 2008
Comparative StudyRaster stereography versus radiography in the long-term follow-up of idiopathic scoliosis.
Raster-stereographic and radiographic evaluation of idiopathic scoliosis without braces in a retrospective longitudinal long-term follow-up study. ⋯ Using the parameters of lateral vertebral deviation and vertebral rotation, raster stereography accurately reflects the radiographically measured progression of idiopathic scoliosis during the long-term follow-up, but these parameters are not directly comparable with the Cobb angle. In the follow-up of scoliosis patients, the authors would recommend a raster-stereographic examination every 3 to 6 months and a radiographic examination every 12 to 18 months only, provided that raster stereography does not show rapid deterioration of the scoliosis. The patient's radiation exposure can be reduced using this approach.
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J Spinal Disord Tech · Feb 2008
Clinical TrialViscosupplementation in lumbar facet joint arthropathy: a pilot study.
Degeneration of the spine is a prevalent problem that generally advances with age, although its occurrence is not restricted to the elderly. Chronic low back pain is a common problem with several treatments, but rigorous evaluation of many interventions is still lacking. One of the most common methods of treating lumbar facet arthropathy is intra-articular injection of local anesthetic and steroid. However, in large joints, such as the knee, viscosupplementation has been shown to compare favorably to steroid in terms of symptom relief and duration of benefit. It is suggested that viscosupplementation may supersede steroid in treatment of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Hyaluronic acid (HA) therapy is still in its infancy in joints outside the knee, although some preliminary results are promising. ⋯ Preliminary results from this pilot study do not demonstrate any benefit of viscosupplementation in the management of symptomatic lumbar facet arthropathy.
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J Spinal Disord Tech · Feb 2008
Case ReportsIntraoperative localization of thoracic spine level with preoperative percutaneous placement of intravertebral polymethylmethacrylate.
To evaluate the safety and utility of preoperative vertebroplasty for intraoperative localization of thoracic spinal levels. ⋯ Preoperative placement of PMMA into thoracic vertebral bodies using standard vertebroplasty technique provides a safe, efficient, and reliable method of localizing thoracic spine levels intraoperatively. Such procedures can be performed in the outpatient setting and can be associated with extremely low morbidity when done by experienced practitioners. This procedure should be reserved for patients in whom a surgeon anticipates difficulty using standard radiographs or fluoroscopy to localize thoracic spinal levels intraoperatively.
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J Spinal Disord Tech · Feb 2008
Pedicle screw placement with a free hand technique in thoracolumbar spine: is it safe?
Computerized tomography (CT) analysis of in vivo pedicle screw placement to determine their exact position in relation to the pedicle in thoracolumbar region (T10-L3). ⋯ Pedicle screw placement with a free hand technique after reviewing preoperative imaging seems to be accurate, reliable, and safe adjunct for the placement of thoracolumbar spine screws.
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J Spinal Disord Tech · Feb 2008
Anterior lumbar interbody fusion for lumbosacral junction in steep sacral slope.
Retrospective study of surgical technique and clinical outcome. ⋯ In selected cases, a steep sacral slope may not be an absolute contraindication of ALIF. Moreover, the C-arm-guided reduction and cage insertion method is a reliable way of treating spondylolisthesis in those with a steep sacral slope.