Journal of neurosurgery. Spine
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The authors evaluated the effectiveness of Lenke Type 2 criteria in scoliosis correction with the segmental pedicle screw (PS) technique, with emphasis on shoulder balance. ⋯ Although Lenke Type 2 criteria were developed wth Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation, they are successfully applied to determining thoracic fusion when segmental PS instrumentation is used.
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There is currently no biologic therapy to repair or restore a degenerated intervertebral disc. A potential solution may rest with embryonic stem cells (ESCs), which have a potential to grow indefinitely and differentiate into a variety of cell types in vitro. Prior studies have shown that ESCs can be encouraged to differentiate toward specific cell lineages by culture in selective media and specific growth environment. Among these lineages, there are cells capable of potentially producing nucleus pulposus (NP) in vivo. In this investigation, the authors studied ESCderived chondroprogenitors implanted into a degenerated disc in a rabbit. For this purpose, a rabbit model of disc degeneration was developed. ⋯ This study illustrates a reproducible percutaneous model for studying disc degeneration. New notochordal cell populations were seen in degenerated discs injected with ESCs. The lack of immune response to a xenograft of mouse cells in an immunocompetent rabbit model may suggest an as yet unrecognized immunoprivileged site within the intervertebral disc space.