Spine
-
This is a follow-up study to skeletal maturity on a cohort of students screened for a 1-year prospective epidemiological prevalence study for scoliosis. ⋯ Initial Cobb angle magnitude is the most important predictor of long-term curve progression and behavior past skeletal maturity. We suggest an initial Cobb angle of 25 degrees as an important threshold magnitude for long-term curve progression. Initial age, gender, and pubertal status were less important prognostic factors in our study.
-
Retrospective population-based cohort study. ⋯ Analgesic-related deaths are responsible for more deaths and more potential life lost among workers who underwent lumbar fusion than any other cause. Risk of analgesic-related death was especially high among young and middle-aged workers with degenerative disc disease.
-
A prospective observational study of patients with sciatica. ⋯ The 3-dimensional DW-SSFP MRI with high spatial and sufficient contrast is an excellent technique to define the nature of sciatica and assists in prognostication and possibly in management.
-
A case of a 3-part fracture of the axis combining an odontoid dens and a hangman fracture is reported. ⋯ This single time procedure was able to achieve primary stability of the fractures of the axis and offers the possibility of an early mobilization of the patient with a good outcome. This approach allowed a better preservation of the cervical range of motion compared with a classic posterior fusion.
-
The authors investigated gait abnormalities and mechanical hypersensitivity associated with invertebral disc herniation in a rat model of radiculopathy. Further evaluation involved assessing how nucleus pulposus (NP) injury affected systemic cytokine expression and molecular changes at the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). ⋯ This model of radiculopathy provides evidence of altered gait in a model of noncompressive disc herniation. Systemic inflammation was absent, but mechanical allodynia, local inflammation, and autoreactive immune activation were observed. Future work will involve therapeutic interventions to rescue animals from the phenotype of inflammatory radiculopathy.