Spine
-
Prospective analysis of a consecutive series of adult patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis of the adult and de novo degenerative scoliosis. ⋯ This quantitative analysis identified several clinically relevant radiographic parameters in adult scoliosis patients. Additionally, excellent predictive formulas for self-reported pain levels were obtained.
-
Cadavers were dissected anatomically to identify the course of the superior laryngeal nerve relative to the spinal column. ⋯ The internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve supplies innervation to the mucosa of the larynx and has an important sensory reflex that serves to protect the lungs from aspiration. Injury to this nerve can predispose the patient to life-threatening pneumonia. It is therefore imperative for the surgeon to recognize the location and course of this nerve to avoid injuring it. Injury most commonly occurs either by excessive retraction in different planes or by accidental ligation of the nerve.
-
A rabbit and rhesus monkey model of posterolateral intertransverse process spine arthrodesis was used. ⋯ The new compression-resistant biphasic ceramic phosphate/collagen sponge matrices were biologically compatible with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 bone formation, resulted in biomechanically stiffer fusion masses than autograft, better space maintenance than plain collagen sponges, and improved handling and radiographic resorption properties over the ceramic carriers previously tested.
-
This article highlights recent and pending United States Supreme Court cases interpreting employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and discusses their implications for spine professionals. The implications include how Spine readers approach evaluations of employees and job applicants with disabilities and workplace accommodations in light of the recent decisions. ⋯ Increasingly, spine professionals will be called on to assist in the analysis of these issues. This article will familiarize Spine readers with the legal interpretations under the Americans with Disabilities Act of "disability," "mitigating measures," "qualified individual," and "reasonable accommodations." It illustrates the ways in which spine professionals may be called on to help interpret and apply qualification and safety standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act to assist individuals, employers, attorneys, and other stakeholders in the employment of people with disabilities.
-
Multicenter Study
Influence of smoking on the health status of spinal patients: the National Spine Network database.
Multicenter, cross-sectional analysis of data from the National Spine Network. ⋯ Smokers and nonsmokers had had spinal symptoms for similar duration, but the smokers reported more severe symptoms, which were present for a greater proportion of time each day. Also, the smokers had lower physical and mental health status scores (based on the SF-36) than did nonsmokers.