European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Case Reports
Adjacent level discitis after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF): a case report.
This report describes a case of spondylodiscitis occurring adjacent to levels at which anterior cervical discectomy and fusion was performed. The objective is to describe a rare cause of spondylodiscitis and discuss its successful management. Post-operative discitis involving the same level is a known occurrence. ⋯ Adjacent level discitis is a rare but potentially serious complication of anterior cervical fusion. A high index of suspicion of infection is necessary if the patient complains of new symptoms after anterior cervical fusion. Thorough assessment and aggressive treatment is necessary for successful management.
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We report on the case of a 15-year-old adolescent who presented with a transient paraplegia and hyposensibility of the upper extremities after sustaining a minor hyperflexion trauma to the cervical spine. Neuroimaging studies revealed atlantoaxial dislocation and ventral compression of the rostral spinal cord with increased cord signal at C1/C2 levels caused by an os odontoideum, as well as anterior and posterior arch defects of the atlas. ⋯ We describe the association of an acquired instability secondary to an os odontoideum with an anteroposterior spondyloschisis of the atlas and its functional result after 12 months. The rare coincidence of both lesions indicates a multiple malformation of the upper cervical spine and supports the theory of an embryologic genesis of os odontoideum.
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Thoracoscopic anterior release of stiff scoliotic curves is favored because of its minimally invasive nature. Animal and human cadaveric studies have shown that it can effectively improve spinal flexibility in non-scoliotic spines; however it has not been demonstrated to be effective in actual patients with scoliosis. The fulcrum-bending radiograph has been shown to accurately reflect the post-operative correction. ⋯ This reduced to 33 degrees on the fulcrum-bending radiograph after the release, and highly corresponded to the 30 degrees measured at the post-operative standing radiograph and at the latest follow-up. Previous animal and cadaveric studies demonstrating the effectiveness of thoracoscopic anterior release did not have scoliosis. We are able to demonstrate in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, that thoracoscopic anterior spinal release effectively improves the spinal flexibility.
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The dilemma of how to treat penetrating wound injuries to the neck, which involve a combination of a common carotid artery rupture and a cervical spinal fracture, is presented in this case report.
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The study design was to decrease the damage of spinal cord on the experimentally induced acute spinal cord injury in rats. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO) and methylprednisolone (MPSS) improve neurological function and histopathological changes if systemically administered after traumatic spinal cord injury. This study included 48 rats that underwent experimental SCI. ⋯ A significant decrease in ischemic damage was detected in MPSS + rHu-EPO 3,000 U group (P<0.001). The most significant neurological functional and histopathological improvements were observed after systemical administration of MPSS + rHu-EPO 3,000 U and rHu-EPO 3,000 U. Furthermore, the MPSS + rHu-EPO 3,000 U group provides the most improved neurological functional and histopathological recovery.