Spine
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A prospective follow-up study. ⋯ In addition to neurologic deficits, cervical spondylotic myelopathy also causes sexual dysfunction. Most of these patients had an abnormal psychogenic erection and normal reflexogenic erection. Along with neurologic recovery, most patients had improvement in sexual function after surgery.
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All patients aged 80 years or older, treated surgically for lumbar spine disorders from 1996 to 2001, were analyzed in a retrospective case series. The purpose of this study was to determine if higher than expected morbidity and mortality was observed for patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery in their ninth decade of life, and if any preoperative factors correlated with this outcome. ⋯ The negative effect of age on surgical morbidity and mortality has been established. However, the effect of comorbidity has not been linked to the occurrence of major complications. Comorbidity may predict major complications. Choosing patients with less preoperative comorbidity will help to minimize complications.
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Computerized tomographic study of human cadavers undergoing traction and flexion-extension bending. ⋯ The CTJ, as a transition region between the cervical and thoracic spines, has unique kinematic characteristics. This application of kinematic CT methods is useful for quantifying unreported normative ranges of motion for the CTJ, difficult by other conventional radiologic means.
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Micro-computed tomography (CT) scanning to investigate three-dimensional microstructural properties of L4 vertebral bodies. ⋯ The anterior column in the high-SMI group is more susceptible to vertebral body wedge fracture; and in the low-SMI group, off-axis bone damage is most harmful to the central column of vertebral trabeculae. The data obtained may help to identify the most critical locations of fracture risks at an early stage and provide a microstructural basis for the repair and clinical treatment of vertebral fractures.
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A comparative study of cervical motion performance in chronic whiplash (CW) patients and healthy subjects. ⋯ Using MCV and TCROM adds new insight regarding what should be considered as atypical cervical motion profile in CW patients. Several aspects of this complex clinical entity are discussed.