Spine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Reduction in radiation (fluoroscopy) while maintaining safe placement of pedicle screws during lumbar spine fusion.
Prospective, randomized, controlled study. ⋯ In this prospective, randomized trial of a pedicle drilling device that uses electrical conductivity differentiation at the tip for assessing bone versus soft tissue, the number of fluoro shots was reduced by 30% compared with a standard drilling probe while maintaining a 97.5% accurate, safe screw placement.
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Translation and psychometric testing. ⋯ The NDI-J is a valid, reliable, and responsive tool that can be used to assess neck pain in Japanese outpatients.
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Mechanical and microstructural assessment of nucleus-annulus integration. ⋯ The nucleus contains a convoluted but highly structured network of fibers of varying length, which appear to integrate with the inner annulus and confer a significant degree of transverse interconnectivity that can be demonstrated mechanically. This new experimental evidence, together with that from a previous study demonstrating nucleus-endplate connectivity, makes it clear that the nucleus cannot be considered as a separate entity in the disc. We propose that this structural integration provides the nucleus with a form of tethered mobility that supports physiological functions distinct from the primary strength requirements of the motion segment.
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Animal model of intravertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. ⋯ Disc injury in rats produces persistent increases in neuropeptides in DRGs but only transient increases in inflammatory mediators in IVDs. On the contrary, disc compression in rats produces a long-lasting increase in inflammatory mediators in IVDs and neuropeptides in DRGs. Moreover, disc compression induces persistent nerve injury and regeneration of the afferent fibers innervating IVDs.