Spine
-
Comparative Study
Factors associated with improved neurologic outcomes in patients with incomplete tetraplegia.
Retrospective review of 412 patients with traumatic, incomplete, cervical spinal cord injuries, and an average follow-up period of 2 years. ⋯ The most important prognostic variable relating to neurologic recovery in a patient with a spinal cord injury is the completeness of the lesion. When an incomplete cervical spinal cord lesion exists, younger patients and those with either a central cord or Brown-Sequard syndrome have a more favorable prognosis for recovery. In this study, no evidence was found to support high-dose steroid administration, routine early surgical intervention, or surgical decompression in stenotic patients without fracture.
-
Comparative Study
Pseudoarthrosis of the cervical spine: a comparison of radiographic diagnostic measures.
A retrospective review was conducted. ⋯ Measurement of the change in distance between spinous processes is more reproducible and accurate than the Cobb method for making the diagnosis of pseudarthrosis. The authors believe that the measurement of distances between spinous processes on lateral flexion-extension radiographs should be used as a method for evaluating radiographic fusion in patients with pseudarthrosis.
-
A cross-sectional survey using patient questionnaires was conducted. OBJECTIVE To assess whether the Roland Disability Questionnaire satisfies the Rasch model including unidimensionality and item separation. ⋯ The Roland Disability Questionnaire largely satisfies the Rasch model for unidimensionality. However, the instrument could be improved through the removal of poorly fitting items and the addition of items at the upper and lower points of the scale hierarchy. The distribution of Roland Disability Questionnaire scores should be carefully considered before statistical testing is undertaken. Rasch transformed scores can be used to deal with deficiencies in the scale hierarchy.
-
A retrospective review was performed of a single surgeon's experience with partial corpectomy over a 9-year period. The measures evaluated included fusion rate, complications, and neurologic symptoms. ⋯ Partial corpectomy is an effective strategy for treating multilevel cervical disc disease. It is associated with a high fusion rate. In addition, partial corpectomy facilitates a complete decompression by providing excellent visualization of the dural interface.
-
Outcome study to determine response distribution, internal consistency, reproducibility, and concurrent validity of the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) questionnaire. ⋯ The SRS-22 HRQL questionnaire is reliable with internal consistency and reproducibility comparable to SF-36. In addition, it demonstrated concurrent validity when compared to SF-36. It is shorter and more focused on the health issues related to idiopathic scoliosis than SF-36.