Spine
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Comparative Study
Discrimination validity of the scoliosis research society-22 patient questionnaire: relationship to idiopathic scoliosis curve pattern and curve size.
Prospective observational study. ⋯ The SRS-22 HRQL questionnaire successfully discriminated among persons with no scoliosis or moderate scoliosis and large scoliosis. It did not discriminate among patients with single, double, or triple curves. Self-image and, to a lesser extent, pain and function domain scores correlated with radiographic and trunk asymmetry severity. The SRS-22 HRQL questionnaire may be useful in choosing nonsurgical versus surgical treatment in borderline cases.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.