Spine
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Pinch motion between the thumb and the index finger in myelopathy hand was analyzed using micro-reflective markers and the VICON system. ⋯ Overall, the patients with myelopathy hand exhibited a larger flexion angle in the two distal finger joints when pinching small objects.
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Comparative Study
De novo osteogenesis from human ligamentum flavum by adenovirus-mediated bone morphogenetic protein-2 gene transfer.
In vitro and in vivo experiment using degenerated human ligamentum flavum (LF) and Type 5 adenovirus construct with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) cDNA. ⋯ Human LF cells transduced with Ad/BMP-2 exhibited the expression of osteogenic phenotype and bone nodule formation. Additionally, genetically modified human LF with BMP-2 cDNA clearly demonstrated de novo osteogenesis, which supports the concept that biologically modified LF can be a substitute for autogenous bone graft in spinal fusion surgery.
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Comparative Study
The learning curve associated with thoracoscopic spinal instrumentation.
Consecutive case prospective radiographic and medical record review. ⋯ The learning curve associated with thoracoscopic spinal instrumentation appears to be acceptable. Significant differences were noted in operating time and percent curve correction after 28 cases. The complication rates remained stable throughout the surgeon's experience.
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A finite-element study of posterior alone or anterior/posterior combined instrumentation following total spondylectomy and replacement with a titanium mesh cage used as an anterior strut. ⋯ This experiment shows that from the viewpoint of stress shielding, the reconstruction method, using additional anterior instrumentation with posterior pedicle screws (MPAI and SPAI), stress shields the cancellous bone inside the titanium mesh cage to a higher degree than does the system using posterior pedicle screw fixation alone (MPI). Thus, a reconstruction method with no anterior fixation should be better at allowing stress for remodeling of the bone graft inside the titanium mesh cage.