Spine
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This retrospective study was designed to analyze the results of 22 patients treated for postoperative soft tissue defects of the spine. ⋯ Flaps are a useful adjunct in the treatment of patients with complex spine wounds. Sliding paraspinal muscle flaps can effectively close wounds from the high cervical to the low lumbar area in one operative procedure. These patients can go on to successful spine fusion.
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Retrospective radiograph and chart review of 28 patients with adult idiopathic scoliosis undergoing primary corrective surgery. Clinical and radiographic parameters were assessed before surgery, after surgery, and at a 2-year follow-up assessment. A self-perceived outcome questionnaire was administered to the study patients at a minimum 2-year follow-up assessment. ⋯ Surgery for adult idiopathic scoliosis using third-generation instrumentation techniques provides significant clinical improvement, scoliosis correction, maintenance of sagittal alignment, and patient satisfaction, with an acceptable complication rate.
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Multicenter Study
Risk factors for failure and complications of intradiscal electrothermal therapy: a pilot study.
A bi-institutional, retrospective clinical data analysis. ⋯ The only risk factor found to be associated with IDET outcome was obesity, which was a strong predictor of failure. Obesity should be considered a relative contraindication to performing IDET.
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Clinical Trial
Physical impairment index: reliability, validity, and responsiveness in patients with acute low back pain.
Cohort study of patients with acute low back pain undergoing physical therapy. ⋯ The Physical Impairment Index appears to be a reliable and valid measure of physical impairment for patients with acute low back pain and may be useful as an adjunct outcome measure for studies involving these patients. Further research on patients with chronic pain is needed before it can be advocated for outcomes research with this population.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of reliability between the Lenke and King classification systems for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using radiographs that were not premeasured.
Multisurgeon comparison of two radiographic scoliosis curve classification systems was performed. ⋯ In this study, with each investigator performing the radiographic measurements, the King classification was found to be better than had been reported recently. The Lenke classification system for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was found to be less reliable than previously reported when the radiographs were premeasured. This was particularly true when all three parameters of this new classification system were combined. This difference in reliability of the Lenke classification between studies can be attributed to the additional variable of determining the Cobb measurements on each of the unmarked radiographs. Although this new classification system has limitations with respect to interobserver and intraobserver reliability, for planning operative treatment, it offers a more comprehensive radiographic evaluation of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis than previous systems.