Spine
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An evidence-based analysis of published radiologic criteria for assessing spinal canal compromise and cord compression in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury. ⋯ To date, there are few quantitative, reliable radiologic outcome measures for assessing spinal canal compromise or cord compression in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury.
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Case report. ⋯ It is important for the surgeon to be aware of this potential complication and to inform patients who have diplopia that develops from abducens nerve palsy that most of these cranial nerve deficits spontaneously improve.
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A multicenter, retrospective study using computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging data to establish quantitative, reliable criteria of canal compromise and cord compression in patients with cervical spinal cord injury. ⋯ In patients with cervical spinal cord injury, the midsagittal T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging provides an objective, quantifiable, and reliable assessment of spinal cord compression that cannot be adequately assessed by computed tomography alone.
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An outcomes assessment of 14 elite college athletes who had undergone lumbar disc surgery was performed using the SF-36, a validated questionnaire that assesses quality of life. ⋯ All patients were satisfied with their surgeries, were greatly improved, and were pain free in activities of daily living. For a single-level microdiscectomy, the success rate in elite athletes is excellent, with 90% of athletes able to return to a high level of competition. Two-level disease may be associated with a less favorable outcome.
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Thirty-four patients with idiopathic scoliosis who underwent anterior spinal surgery as part of the correction of spinal deformity were studied prospectively. Superior and inferior endplates were harvested and examined histologically for evidence of residual growth activity. This was then correlated with Risser grades, chronologic age, and pubertal status. ⋯ The crankshaft phenomenon is reported to occur only in patients with Risser Grade 2 or less, particularly those with open triradiate cartilages. Our findings of significant endplate growth activity, even in patients with Risser Grade 4, make it unlikely that the crankshaft phenomenon is caused purely by longitudinal spinal growth.