Spine
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Clinical Trial
Effects of epidural steroid injections on blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes mellitus.
A prospective cohort study. ⋯ ESIs were noted to cause a significant increase in the blood glucose levels in diabetics. There was no correlation between preinjection diabetic control, represented by hA(1c) levels, and postinjection response. Diabetics who are candidates for ESI should be counseled that a blood glucose increase may be apparent post intervention, but effects should not last longer than approximately 2 days.
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This is a retrospective review of 49 cases of giant cell tumor (GCT) of the mobile spine treated surgically. ⋯ En bloc resection should be considered for Enneking stage III GCTs of the mobile spine. The choice of en bloc resection must be balanced with the inherent risks of the procedure. Intralesional resection of Enneking stage II tumors provides adequate local control. Patients should be followed for at least 5 years because local relapse can occur late.
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An anatomic study of sacral inclination, pelvic incidence, pelvic lordosis, and disc degeneration in cadaveric lumbar spines. ⋯ The findings of this study show a relationship between the sacropelvic geometry and the degree of L5-S1 disc degeneration as well as L4-L5 facet degeneration in spondylolytic specimens. This relationship may prove useful in predicting the course of disc degeneration in patients with spondylolysis.
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A genetic association study of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) gene with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in a Chinese population. ⋯ The single-nucleotide polymorphism SNP-418G/C (rs8179090) in the promoter region of the TIMP-2 gene was not associated with the occurrence of AIS. However, it may predict curve severity of thoracic AIS. Hence, the TIMP-2 gene is a disease-modifier gene of thoracic AIS.