Spine
-
Eight patients with a herniated disc after lumbar spinal fusion are reported. Their clinical features, imaging studies, and management are reported. ⋯ Herniated disc after lumbar spinal fusion was found in approximately 1.3% of patients. Although rare, this entity that should be considered when patients complain of recurring back pain after a lumbar spinal fusion.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The association between cervical rib and sacralization.
After determining the normal reference values for the length of the transverse processes of the seventh cervical vertebra, the association between the presence of cervical rib and sacralization was investigated. ⋯ Presence of cervical rib might be a clue to the existence of sacralization or vice versa. In patients with cervical or lumbar pain, this association may be helpful for differential diagnosis before applying sophisticated diagnostic techniques.
-
Comparative Study
Biomechanical analysis of biodegradable interbody fusion cages augmented With poly(propylene glycol-co-fumaric acid).
Three different types of biodegradable poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) cages with and without augmentation of a biodegradable poly(propylene glycol-cofumaric acid) scaffold were compared with autograft and metallic cages of the same design and size by determining the stiffness and failure load of the L4-L5 motion segment of cadaveric human spines. ⋯ By comparison, the in vitro lumbar spinal motion segment stiffness and failure load produced by implantation of a biodegradable interbody fusion cage augmented with an expandable PPF scaffold is similar to that of the titanium BAK cage. This suggests that biodegradable anterior interbody fusion systems could be further developed for clinical applications.
-
Clinical Trial
Low fusion rate after L5-S1 laparoscopic anterior lumbar interbody fusion using twin stand-alone carbon fiber cages.
Prospective study of a cohort of patients who underwent L5-S1 laparoscopic anterior lumbar interbody fusion. ⋯ Two years after endoscopic L5-S1 anterior lumbar interbody fusion using twin stand-alone laparoscopic carbon-fiber cages, the fusion rate was unacceptably low. However, the clinical outcomes of these patients were significantly improved compared with their preoperative status.
-
An analysis of lateral radiographs in the upright, flexion-extension position. ⋯ The results suggest that alterations in the static alignment of the cervical curvature cause alterations in the dynamic kinematics of the cervical spine during cervical flexion-extension. This information should aid in the interpretation of kinematic studies of the cervical spine.