Journal of spinal disorders & techniques
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J Spinal Disord Tech · Jun 2008
ReviewVertebral artery injuries associated with cervical spine injuries: a review of the literature.
Literature review. ⋯ VAIs can occur in association with cervical spine trauma and have the potential for neurological ischemic events. Screening for and treatment of asymptomatic VAIs may be considered, but it is unclear based on the current literature whether these strategies improve outcomes.
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J Spinal Disord Tech · Jun 2008
Internal and external responses of anterior lumbar/lumbosacral fusion: nonlinear finite element analysis.
Determination of external and internal responses of the human lumbosacral spine using a validated 3-dimensional finite element model. ⋯ At the fused level, the caudal fusion imparted additional rigidity under flexion to the lumbosacral joint. Both fusion masses added flexibility to the adjacent segment. Under both fusion masses, increased facet joint pressure in the lumbosacral joint indicates the susceptibility of this transitional joint to long-term biomechanics-induced consequences. Increased facet joint pressures with the rostral fusion indicate that the posterior complex responds with increased load sharing, and may predispose the spine to facet-related arthropathy. Increased stresses in the adjacent disc with the caudal fusion under both modes of loading imply the potential to disc-related changes owing to long-term physiologic loading.