Spine
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Clinical Trial
Superiority of multilevel cervical arthroplasty outcomes versus single-level outcomes: 229 consecutive PCM prostheses.
Class 2 level of evidence: This is a prospective, consecutive series of 229 prosthetic implantations that were concurrently enrolled between single-level versus multilevel cervical arthroplasty comprising an FDA Pilot Study. ⋯ This prospective study of cervical arthroplasty is the first report to date showing significantly improved clinical outcomes for multilevel cervical arthroplasty compared with single-level cervical disc replacement using an FDA validated outcome instrument.
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An immunohistological study of surgical specimens of human intervertebral disc. ⋯ Pleiotrophin is present in pathologic human intervertebral discs, and its prevalence and distribution suggest that it may play a role in neovascularization of diseased or damaged disc tissue.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Results of the prospective, randomized, multicenter Food and Drug Administration investigational device exemption study of the ProDisc-L total disc replacement versus circumferential fusion for the treatment of 1-level degenerative disc disease.
A prospective, randomized, multicenter, Food and Drug Administration-regulated Investigational Device Exemption clinical trial. ⋯ ProDisc-L has been found to be safe and efficacious. In properly chosen patients, ProDisc-L has been shown to be superior to circumferential fusion by multiple clinical criteria.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Erector spinae muscle changes on magnetic resonance imaging following lumbar surgery through a posterior approach.
Prospective randomized study of patients undergoing lumbar arthrodesis. ⋯ Erector spinae muscle alterations mainly occur distal to posterior lumbar surgical procedures.
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Narrative review. ⋯ Transparency in research methods and clear communication can avoid many of the described pitfalls in outcomes assessment, allowing researchers to advocate appropriately for improvement in patient care.