Spine
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A dissection-based study of 18 embalmed cadavers (7 male, 11 female), mean age 84 (+/-8.4) years. ⋯ Hofmann ligaments are present at most levels between C7 and L5; although most ligaments were limited to a single vertebral segment, some were observed to cross several segments.
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Retrospective analysis of a prospectively accrued series of 213 consecutive patients who underwent intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring with electromyography and somatosensory-evoked potentials during thoracolumbar spine surgery. ⋯ Intraoperative electromyographic activation has a high sensitivity for the detection of a newpostoperative neurologic deficit but a low specificity. In contrast, somatosensory-evoked potentials have low sensitivity but high specificity. Combined intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring with electromyography and somatosensory-evoked potentials is helpful for predicting and possibly preventing neurologic injury during thoracolumbar spine surgery.
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Retrospective review. ⋯ Pediatric sacral fractures are rare (0.16% of pediatric trauma). As is the case in adults, most fractures are not associated with neurologic injury. Diagnosing pediatric sacral fractures requires high clinical suspicion and thorough radiographic evaluation. Correlation of neurologic injury with certain fracture types may be possible, but will require larger studies to be confirmed.
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Comparative Study
Similarities and differences in the treatment of spine trauma between surgical specialties and location of practice.
Questionnaires administered to practicing orthopedic and neurosurgical spine surgeons from various regions of the United States and abroad. ⋯ More commonalities were identified in the management of spinal trauma than previously reported. When found, variability in opinion was related to professional and regional differences.