Spine
-
A radiographic study of the effect of a modern orthotic device in the treatment of rheumatoid atlantoaxial subluxation. ⋯ The Headmaster collar is an effective and useful tool in the conservative treatment of simple unstable atlantoaxial subluxation, but an ordinary custom-made stiff collar is still often needed. These two collars are complementary, and their selection and use must be determined individually.
-
A retrospective study of patient outcomes after decompression and fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis, using the SF-36 survey and a functional questionnaire. ⋯ Patients treated with decompression and fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis had improved functional outcomes, when measured by a disease-specific questionnaire and by widely used instruments.
-
Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Temporary external transpedicular fixation of the lumbosacral spine.
In this study, 133 patients with incapacitating low back pain underwent temporary external transpedicular fixation of the lumbosacral spine in a prospective trial. Of these patients, 67% had undergone one or more spinal procedures in the past. On the basis of temporary external transpedicular fixation, 55 of 133 patients were treated conservatively. With an average follow-up period of 37 months, the clinical results were analyzed. ⋯ In selecting suitable candidates for spinal fusion, temporary external transpedicular fixation (including a placebo trial) can be a valuable test.
-
Comparative Study
Traumatic instabilities of the cervical spine caused by high-speed axial compression in a human model. An in vitro biomechanical study.
Traumatic injury of the cervical spine was produced on human cadavers and evaluated with instability tests and radiographs. ⋯ The injury patterns of the cervical spine were associated with impact energy, and a high level of impact energy could produce either three-column injury or anterior middle-column injury. Instabilities of the cervical spine caused by compressive trauma increased with the level of impact energy. The neutral zone was more sensitive than the range of motion in representing spinal instability, whereas instability testing was more sensitive than radiographs in evaluating traumatic injury of cervical spine.
-
Case Reports Comparative Study
Can intramedullary signal change on magnetic resonance imaging predict surgical outcome in cervical spondylotic myelopathy?
A retrospective study evaluating magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomographic myelography, and clinical parameters in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. ⋯ Patients with multisegmental areas of high signal intensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images tended to have poorer surgical results. However, the transverse area of the spinal cord at the level of maximum compression was a better prognostic indicator.