Spine
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A questionnaire survey. ⋯ The majority (90.5%) of responding surgeons used the steroid protocol; however, only 24.1% used the steroid protocol due to a belief in improved clinical outcomes.
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Biomechanical study, using human cadaveric spines, of two types of posterior fixation in the thoracolumbar spine. ⋯ This method offers a firm construct without sacrificing a normal motion segment.
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Cochrane systematic review. ⋯ The evidence base to support the common practice of superficial heat and cold for low back pain is limited, and there is a need for future higher-quality randomized controlled trials. There is moderate evidence in a small number of trials that heat wrap therapy provides a small short-term reduction in pain and disability in a population with a mix of acute and subacute low back pain, and that the addition of exercise further reduces pain and improves function. There is insufficient evidence to evaluate the effects of cold for low back pain and conflicting evidence for any differences between heat and cold for low back pain.
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Comparative Study
Outcome of local bone versus autogenous iliac crest bone graft in the instrumented posterolateral fusion of the lumbar spine.
Retrospective, comparative study of clinical and radiologic outcome with independent, blinded observer. ⋯ Use of local bone graft alone achieved a similar fusion rate in single-level fusion but a much smaller fusion rate in multilevel fusion compared with the ICBG group. Local bone graft alone achieved a similar clinical outcome but less morbidity irrespective of number of fusion level.
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Retrospective study. ⋯ This clinical study showed that patients with thoracolumbar osteomyelitis can successfully undergo anterior surgery with insertion of titanium mesh cage and posterior instrumented fusion performed sequentially on the same day under one anesthesia. The presence of the mesh cage anteriorly at the site of spondylitis had no negative influence on the course of infection healing, and additionally it stabilized the affected segment maintaining sufficient sagittal profile.