Spine
-
Graded endplate injuries were performed in porcine lumbar discs. The effects of such injuries were compared to control animals in which a sham operation was performed. ⋯ Injuries of vertebral endplates in porcine discs were found to cause degenerative changes in the disc tissue on MRI, histologic, and biochemical investigations. The severity of such degenerative changes was related to the severity of endplate injuries. Injuries of vertebral endplate may be one of the pathomechanisms leading to early changes in the disc matrix and eventually to abnormal biomechanical behavior of the whole disc. The present animal model seems to be a suitable experimental model for disc degeneration.
-
Classic twin study. ⋯ Genetic factors do not play an important role in the liability to neck pain in persons 70 years of age or older.
-
Comparative Study
Biomechanical comparison of unipedicular versus bipedicular kyphoplasty.
A cadaveric study comparing the biomechanics of unipedicular versus bipedicular kyphoplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. ⋯ Unipedicular kyphoplasty is comparable to bipedicular kyphoplasty in the restoration of vertebral body strength, stiffness, and height in experimentally induced vertebral compression fractures. There was no greater risk for lateral wedging in the unipedicular group compared to the bipedicular group. Given the advantages of a unipedicular approach with respect to vertebral pedicle cannulation risk, operative time, radiation exposure, and cost, this study would support the use of a unipedicular approach to kyphoplasty in the treatment of vertebral compression fractures.
-
Video observation study. ⋯ Effort level can be determined validly by means of visual observation.
-
Intervertebral disc degeneration was evaluated by morphologic appearance, magnetic resonance imaging, and by biochemical matrix composition. Caliber and distribution of openings of the adjacent vertebral osseous endplates were measured. ⋯ A high indirect correlation between the density of openings in the osseous endplate (particularly of the size of the capillary buds) and the morphologic degeneration grade of the disc support the hypothesis that occlusion of these openings may deprive the cells of nutrients, leading to insufficient maintenance of the extracellular matrix and disc degeneration.