Spine
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Comparative Study
Cervical spine imaging using standard C-arm fluoroscopy: patient and surgeon exposure to ionizing radiation.
A cadaveric cervical spine specimen is imaged with a standard C-arm fluoroscope during a simulated procedure. Patient and surgeon exposure to radiation is estimated by placing dosimeters at various locations in 3-dimensional space. ⋯ Care should be taken when working on both sides of the imaged subject. Considerable radiation exposure can be encountered when working with a C-arm fluoroscope if appropriate precautions are not observed. All appropriate radiation dose-reducing measures should be strictly enforced by the supervising physician to minimize risk to the patient and the medical team.
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Comparative Study
Hemivertebra resection for the treatment of congenital lumbarspinal scoliosis with lateral-posterior approach.
A retrospective review of patient records was conducted. ⋯ Excision of a lumbar hemivertebra through lateral-posterior approach is safe and provides stable correction when combined with a short-segment fusion.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Cervical medial branch blocks for chronic cervical facet joint pain: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial with one-year follow-up.
A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. ⋯ Therapeutic cervical medial branch nerve blocks, with or without steroids, may provide effective management for chronic neck pain of facet joint origin.
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Sequential cross-sectional analysis. ⋯ Nation-wide vertebroplasty volumes and inflation-adjusted charges doubled from 2001 to 2005 in this Medicare population. Procedure rates varied considerablyby state. Almost all cases involved fluoroscopic guidance; procedures treating multiple vertebral levels were not uncommon. Procedures performed in free-standing facilities are of growing importance. Given the issues surrounding appropriate vertebroplasty use, future practice patterns and outcomes should be closely tracked.
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A case of cervical myelopathy with a severe nape and upper arm pain caused by anomalous bilateral vertebral arteries is reported. ⋯ Anomalous vertebral arteries should be included in the differential diagnosis of the upper cervical lesion of unknown origin. The microsurgical decompression with presented technique has relieved the symptoms for over 6(1/2) years.