Spine
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The loads acting on a vertebral body replacement (VBR) were measured in vivo. ⋯ High forces may act on a VBR especially in the first postoperative month. Flexion of the upper body and going upstairs cause high implant loads and should be avoided in the first few months after stabilizing the spine.
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Comparative Study
Anterior arthrodesis with instrumentation for thoracolumbar scoliosis: comparison of efficacy in adults and adolescents.
A retrospective review was performed of adult and adolescent patients who underwent anterior spinal fusion for thoracolumbar idiopathic scoliosis; radiographic and clinical outcomes were compared. ⋯ Anterior spinal fusion is an option for both adults and adolescents with flexible, moderate thoracolumbar/lumbar curves. Flexibility significantly decreased with increased age and curve magnitude. This significantly affected curve correction. Adult patients may develop early degeneration at primary curve and compensatory curves. Careful patient selection is critical with this technique.
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A retrospective review. ⋯ Despite circumferential spinal cord decompression through posterior approach for thoracic OPLL providing effective neurologic recovery, there was a high rate of complications such as postoperative neurologic deterioration. Risk factor analysis shows that multiple level circumferential decompression of 5 or more vertebral levels to be associated with unfavorable surgical outcome.
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Review Case Reports
Subaxial positional vertebral artery occlusion corrected by decompression and fusion.
A rare case of subaxial vertebral artery (VA) positional occlusion is reviewed and treatment methods discussed. ⋯ This report demonstrates the condition in the subaxial spine and describes successful treatment by fusion of the affected level combined with decompression of the foramen transversarium-a combination of previously described therapies.
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Comparative Study
Association of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor gene with spinal disc degeneration in postmenopausal Japanese women.
An association study investigating the genetic etiology for spinal disc degeneration. ⋯ We suggest that a genetic variation at the IGF1R gene locus is associated with spinal disc degeneration, in line with the involvement of the IGF1R gene in the cartilage metabolism.