Spine
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An in vitro biomechanical study. ⋯ Extrapolation of the present results indicated dynamic spinal cord compression of up to 88% in those with stenotic canals and 35% in those with normal canal diameters. These results are consistent with the wide range of neurologic injury severity observed clinically due to bilateral facet dislocation.
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Retrospective morphometric population study. ⋯ Achondroplastic pedicle morphology differs markedly from those of the normal spine: chord lengths are substantially shorter, pedicles are inclined cranially, pedicle starting points diverge progressively in the lumbar spine, and pedicle shape transitions from vertically to horizontally oriented ellipsoids along the lumbar spine. Consideration of this variation could maximize the effectiveness and safety of pedicle instrumentation.
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Clinical cohort. ⋯ The results suggest a strong adherence to radiography guidelines for patients with a new episode of low back pain who presented to chiropractic teaching clinics. Although a high proportion of patients had red flags, radiography utilization was lower than rates reported in previous studies suggesting that adherence to guidelines may help prevent unnecessary radiography.
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Descriptive anatomy. OBJECTIVE.: To describe the anatomy associated with the extensive transmuscular paraspinal approach required to perform multiple intercosto-lumbar neurotizations. ⋯ Multiple lumbar roots neurotizations with lower intercostal nerves already have been proposed by other authors. In this strategy, the use of the spinal cord and intercostal nerves above the spinal cord lesion avoids the axonal regrowth required via the injured central nervous system. Rerouting intercostals nerves down to the lumbar roots at their exit from the intervertebral foraminae is less invasive that the same procedure performed down to the vertebral canal at the level of the cauda equina as we used in previous protocols. Our anatomic study confirms the advantage of the paraspinal sacrospinalis splitting approach in multiple intercosto-lumbar neurotizations. The approach is quick and easy and allows a good exposure of the nerve roots at the thoracic and lumbar levels. The L2, L3, and L4 roots could be satisfactorily neurotized with this procedure.
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Retrospective review of cases at a single institution from 1998 to 2005. ⋯ Combined spinal cord transection and spinal fusion allowed an average correction of kyphosis by 81.9 degrees . The complication rate was 89%, with wound concerns being the most significant. Additionally, 22% of patients required shunt revision within 6 weeks of surgery. We attribute this to alteration of CSF dynamics resulting from loss of CSF absorption and flow-buffering capacity below the level of the spinal cord transection.