Journal of neurosurgery. Spine
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Despite promising early clinical results, the long-term outcome of the use of expandable titanium cages to reconstruct the anterior column after traumatic burst fractures is still unknown. The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the clinical and radiological outcomes of the use of expandable titanium cages 5 years postoperatively. ⋯ Combined anteroposterior stabilization of thoracolumbar burst fractures with expandable titanium cages is a relative safe procedure with satisfactory radiological and clinical long-term outcome. High fusion rates can be achieved, with only minor loss of correction, typically occurring in the 1st year. However, open thoracotomy carries the risks of additional complications and development of post-thoracotomy syndrome.
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Earlier definitions of acute renal failure are not sensitive in identifying milder forms of acute kidney injury (AKI). The authors hypothesized that by applying the RIFLE criteria for acute renal failure (Risk of renal dysfunction, Injury to the kidney, Failure of kidney function, Loss of kidney function, and End-stage kidney disease) to thoracic and lumbar spine surgery, there would be a higher incidence of AKI. They also developed a model to predict the postoperative glomerular filtration rate (GFR). ⋯ The incidence of AKI in spine surgery is higher than previously reported, with all of the patients classified into either the risk or injury RIFLE categories. Because these categories have previously been shown to be associated with poor long-term outcomes, early recognition, management, and follow-up of these patients is important.
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OBJECT The clinical success rates of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures are substantially reduced as more cervical levels are included in the fusion procedure. One method that has been proposed as an adjunctive technique for multilevel ACDF is the placement of screws across the facet joints ("transfacet screws"). However, the biomechanical stability imparted by transfacet screw placement (either unilaterally or bilaterally) has not been reported. ⋯ However, in lateral bending, significant reductions at the C4-5 and C5-6 levels were observed with the addition of a second facet screw. The untreated, adjacent levels (C2-3, C3-4, and C7-1) did not demonstrate significant differences in range of motion. CONCLUSIONS The data demonstrated that adjunctive unilateral facet screw fixation to an ACDF construct provides significant gains in stability and should be considered a potential option for increasing the likelihood for obtaining a successful arthrodesis for multilevel ACDF procedures.
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of chronic unpredictable stress on the intervertebral discs of rats. ⋯ Taken together, these data demonstrated that chronic stress is most likely to be a risk factor for creating intervertebral disc degeneration and that programmed cell death may be one of the mechanisms of stress-induced disc degeneration.
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Minimally invasive lateral interbody fusion for the treatment of degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, or scoliosis is becoming increasingly popular. The approach at L4-5 carries the highest risk of nerve injury given the proximity of the lumbar plexus and femoral nerve. The authors present 3 cases that were aborted during the approach because of pervasive electromyography responses throughout the L4-5 disc space. ⋯ In all cases, the psoas muscle on axial views was rising away from the vertebral column as opposed to its typical location lateral to it. Preoperative evaluation of psoas muscle anatomy is important. A rising psoas muscle at L4-5 on axial imaging may complicate a lateral approach.