Spine
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Retrospective analysis of our experience with os odontoideum at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. ⋯ Our data supports two separate etiologies for the os odontoideum: post-traumatic and congenital. The data should raise awareness that some children with preexisting syndromes may develop os odontoideum without previous trauma.
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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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Immunohistochemistry for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 in vertebral endplates of patients with discogenic low back pain and Modic Type 1 or Type 2 endplate changes on MRI. ⋯ The results suggest that endplate abnormalities are related to inflammation and axon growth induced by TNF. TNF expression and PGP 9.5-positive nerve in-growth in abnormal endplates may be a cause of low back pain.
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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.