Spine
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Immature goat spines were instrumented at 5 levels with 2 different fusionless scoliosis implants. Instrumented and subadjacent spinal segments were analyzed to determine the effect on the disc and endplate. ⋯ Fusionless scoliosis implants result in alterations in viable cell density within the disc and reduced vascularity in the vertebral endplates of instrumented but not subadjacent discs. Though obvious disc degeneration was not observed, the implications of the cellular and histologic changes are not known. Additional study will be necessary to better understand various fusionless scoliosis surgery strategies and their effect on surrounding tissues.
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Comparative Study
Biomechanical evaluation of short-segment posterior instrumentation with and without crosslinks in a human cadaveric unstable thoracolumbar burst fracture model.
This study evaluates the biomechanical characteristics of spinal instrumentation constructs in a human unstable thoracolumbar burst fracture model simulated by corpectomy. ⋯ Crosslinks, when added to short-segment posterior fixation, improve stiffness and decrease motion in axial rotation, but do not restore baseline stability in this corpectomy model. Short-segment posterior fixation is also inadequate in restoring stability in flexion with injuries of this severity. Short-segment posterior instrumentation alone can achieve baseline stability in lateral bending, and crosslinks provide even greater stiffness.
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Observational study of a case with a rare complication of lower limb compartment syndrome following total lumbar disc replacement via anterior retroperitoneal approach. ⋯ Total disc replacement in the lumbar spine complicated with an acute compartment syndrome due to the left common iliac vein injury is reported for the first time. A vigilant postoperative work-up in an unconscious patient resulted in the diagnosis and decompression with a successful outcome.