Spine
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Retrospective study of seven cases of ossification of ligamentum flavum from two urban hospitals in a Chinese population. ⋯ Ossification of ligamentum flavum is an uncommon cause of myelopathy in the Chinese population. It can present acutely after minor trauma. Posterior decompression, especially with en bloc dissection of laminae, gives satisfactory results.
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A new way to study pain in experimental animals without handling of the animals and based on registration of spontaneous behavior using video recordings. ⋯ The study demonstrates that it is possible to detect changes in spontaneous behavior after experimental disc herniation. However, such changes may only be seen if disc incision and slight mechanical deformation are combined. This is in agreement with previous clinical and experimental observations. The present model allows for convenient assessment of pain in a way that focuses on spontaneous behavior rather than changes in pain thresholds and that reduces the interference of the researcher and environment on the outcome of the assessment.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Long-term functional outcome of pedicle screw instrumentation as a support for posterolateral spinal fusion: randomized clinical study with a 5-year follow-up.
A prospective randomized clinical study with a 5-year follow-up. ⋯ The long-term functional outcome of posterolateral spinal fusion improved significantly for boththose with and without pedicle screw instrumentation, with a global 70% satisfaction reported by the patients. Patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis Grades 1 and 2 with noninstrumented fusion had superior long-term outcomes after posterolateral spinal fusion in comparison with an instrumented fusion. In contrast, patients diagnosed as having primary degenerative instability improved significantly when the posterolateral fusion was supported by instrumentation. In actuality, pedicle screw instrumentation increased reoperation rate compared with noninstrumented posterolateral fusion.
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Clinical Trial
Activation of back muscles during voluntary abduction of the contralateral arm in humans.
Motor-evoked responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex were recorded from erector spinae and deltoid muscles while the arm was abducted voluntarily in 10 normal subjects. ⋯ Facilitation of erector spinae with arm abduction remains evident in the lying posture when spinal postural stabilization mechanisms are presumably reduced. Similar facilitation profiles have been seen previously with changing voluntary activation of erector spinae in a trunk extension task, supporting the notion that during arm abduction the drive to the contralateral erector spinae has a corticospinal origin.
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A prospective clinical trial to study the radiographic parameters and functional outcome in patients undergoing spinal osteotomy. ⋯ Correction of sagittal and coronal deformity is important in the treatment of spinal deformity. A significant association was found between outcomes and radiographic correction of coronal and/or sagittal deformity if postoperative sagittal lordosis was >25 degrees and if postoperative plumb coronal alignment was <2.5 cm. Therefore, these radiographic parameters should be the goal of a spinal osteotomy. The surgery has a relatively high complication rate.