Spine
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A coculture of synovium-derived stem cells (SDSCs) and nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) in a serum-free pellet system was treated with varying doses of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). Cultures of either SDSCs or NPCs alone served as controls. ⋯ SDSCs may act as a potential mesenchymal stem cell candidate for NP regeneration. Further studies are needed to evaluate the in vivo effect of SDSCs on disc regeneration.
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Morphologic study of 500 human adult atlases, 256 atlases of nonhuman adult primates representing 37 genera, and 25 human atlases of newborns and young individuals from birth to 3 years of age. ⋯ The anteriorly unclosed transverse foramen of the atlas seems to be the result of an evolutionary tendency characteristic of hominoids within primates and could be interpreted as a shared derived character (i.e., synapomorphy) and as the persistence in adults of a juvenile pattern (i.e., paedomorphosis). It must not be interpreted as a pathologic erosion or destruction but as being a simple normal variant.
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The risk for transection of the medial branch nerve (MBN) after minimally invasive insertion of pedicle screws was evaluated in a human cadaver model. ⋯ Using a percutaneous technique for pedicle screw insertion significantly reduces the risk of injury to the MBN. We therefore recommend using this technique especially at the most cephalic levels to minimize the risk of denervating the multifidus muscle fascicles that originate from the adjacent mobile level.
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A prospective study. ⋯ The results suggest that the loss of cervical ROM is time-dependent and plateaus by 18 months after surgery, with no further decreases thereafter.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
A prospective randomized study of clinical outcomes in patients with cervical compressive myelopathy treated with open-door or French-door laminoplasty.
A prospective randomized clinical study. ⋯ Perioperative complications occurred more frequently in open-door laminoplasty than in French-door laminoplasty. JOA scores and recovery rates suggested that both open-door and French-door laminoplasties could be similarly effective in decompressing the spinal cord. Axial pain was improved in French-door laminoplasty but became worse in open-door laminoplasty. SF-36 suggested that French-door laminoplasty could be more beneficial than open-door laminoplasty for patients with cervical compressive myelopathy.