Spine
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Biomechanical evaluation was performed to investigate the stability of the thoracic spine. Unilateral resection of the intervertebral disc, the rib head joint, and the costotransverse joint were sequentially performed, and nondestructive cyclic loading tests were conducted at each injury stage to examine the roles of the intervertebral disc and the costovertebral joint of the thoracic spine. The effects of each resection were three-dimensionally analyzed as the main motion and the associated coupled motions. ⋯ In this canine spine model, the intervertebral disc regulates the stability of the thoracic spine in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. Moreover, the articulation of the rib head with the vertebral bodies provides stability to the thoracic spine in lateral bending and axial rotation. Unilateral resection of the rib head joint after partial discectomy on the same side produces significant coupled motions in lateral bending and axial rotation, resulting in a significant decrease in thoracic spinal stability, and integrity.
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Multicenter Study
Results of the Scoliosis Research Society instrument for evaluation of surgical outcome in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. A multicenter study of 244 patients.
An outcome questionnaire was constructed to evaluate patient satisfaction and performance and to discriminate among patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. ⋯ This questionnaire addresses patient measures for evaluation of outcome in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery by examining several domains. It also allows for dynamic monitoring of scoliosis patients as they become adults. This is a validated instrument with good reliability measures.
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This case study describes the usefulness of high-resolution 18F-2-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose (18FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) for metabolic neuroimaging of the cervical spinal cord in patients with compressive myelopathy. ⋯ High-resolution 18FDG-PET neuroimaging may provide clinically useful qualitative and quantitative estimation of impaired metabolic activity of the compromised cervical spinal cord in compressive myelopathy. 18FDG-PET images may also offer additional information related to neuronal dysfunction induced by mechanical compression.
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A systematic review of the epidemiologic literature on smoking and low back pain. ⋯ Presently, smoking should be considered a weak risk indicator and not a cause of low back pain.
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Case Reports
Posterior occipitocervical reconstruction using cervical pedicle screws and plate-rod systems.
This retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical results in 26 patients with lesions at the craniocervical junction that had been treated by occipitocervical reconstruction using pedicle screws in the cervical spine and occipitocervical rod systems. ⋯ Occipitocervical reconstruction by the combination of cervical pedicle screws and occipitocervical rod systems provided the high fusion rate and sufficient correction of malalignment in the occipitoatlantoaxial region. Results of this study showed the effectiveness of cervical pedicle screw as a fixation anchor for occipitocervical reconstruction.