Spine
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A biomechanical human cadaveric study. ⋯ Implant shear stiffness significantly affected the load sharing between the implant and the natural spine in anterior shear ex vivo. Low-stiffness implants transferred significantly greater loads to the spine. This study supports the importance of load-sharing behavior when designing new implants.
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Consecutive case series with prospective data collection. ⋯ Although it is not easy to master the minimally invasive TLIF technique, the surgeon's experience with this operation correlated with reduced operation time and blood loss during surgery. After the initial learning curve, this technique could be an effective and reliable option for the surgical treatment of lumbar degenerative disease.
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Prospective case series. ⋯ We found a significant difference between pre- and postoperative rod contour, particularly for concave rods. Rod overcontouring (by ~20° for concave rod) resulted in high degrees of correction without loss of sagittal alignment. The resulting deformations are likely associated with substantial in vivo deforming forces.
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Development of a dual-tuned proton/sodium radiofrequency (RF) coil for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the rabbit spine and quantification of sodium concentration in intervertebral discs. ⋯ Sodium concentrations of rabbit lumbar discs were reliably measured using our newly developed dual-tuned multichannel proton/sodium RF coil at 3T.
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Bench-top and retrospective radiographical analyses to determine apical vertebral rotation based on differential rod curvature on the postoperative lateral radiograph. ⋯ A technique for measuring apical vertebral rotation based on the inter-rod distance on the lateral and posteroanterior radiographs was developed and validated. This technique is resilient to rotation of the patient within the x-ray machine and can complement measurement of rotation on postoperative posteroanterior radiographs.