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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Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is a popular procedure for treating lumbar canal stenosis with spinal instability, and several reports concerning fusion assessment methods exist. However, there are currently no definitive criteria for diagnosing a successful interbody fusion in the lumbar spine. We suggested evaluating fusion status using computed tomography (CT) in extension position to detect pseudoarthrosis more precisely. ⋯ Extension CT could detect pseudoarthrosis more clearly than flexion-extension radiography and flexion CT. The CT images are influenced by body position and dilating anterior disc space in extension CT contributes to detect pseudoarthrodesis. Thus, extension CT was a useful method for assessing fusion status after PLIF.
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Clinical Trial
Thoracolumbar imbalance analysis for osteotomy planification using a new method: FBI technique.
Treatment of spine imbalance by posterior osteotomy is a valuable technique. Several surgical techniques have been developed and proposed to redress the vertebral column in harmonious kyphosis in order to recreate correct sagittal alignment. Although surgical techniques proved to be adequate, preoperative planning still is mediocre. Multiple suggestions have been proposed, from cutting tracing paper to ingenious mathematical formulas and computerised models. The analysis of the pelvic parameters to try to recover the initial shape of the spine before the spine imbalance occurred is very important to avoid mistakes during the osteotomy planification. ⋯ This FBI technique can be used even for small lordosis restoration: it gave a good evaluation of the amount of correction needed and then the surgeon had the choice to use the appropriate technique to obtain a good balance.
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In the elderly population, reported union rates with anterior odontoid screw fixation (AOSF) for odontoid fracture (OF) treatment vary between 23 and 93% when using plain radiographs. However, recent research revealed poor interobserver reliability for fusion assessment using plain radiographs compared to CT scans. Therefore, union rates in patients aged ≥60 years treated with AOSF have to be revisited using CT scans and factors for non-union to be analysed. ⋯ The current study offers an objective insight into the union rates of odontoid fractures treated with AOSF using CT scans in consecutive series of 18 patients ≥60 years. Literature serves evidence that elderly patients with unstable OF benefit from early surgical stabilization. However, although using AOSF for unstable OF yields segmental stability at C1-2 in a high number of patients as echoed in the current study, our analysis stressed that using follow-up CT scans in comparison to biplanar radiographs dramatically reduces osseous union rates compared to those previously reported for AOSF.
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It has become well recognised that sagittal balance of the spine is the result of an interaction between the spine and the pelvis. Knee flexion is considered to be the last compensatory mechanism in case of sagittal imbalance, but only few studies have insisted on the relationship between spino-pelvic parameters and lower extremity parameters. Correlation between the lack of lumbar lordosis and knee flexion has not yet been established. ⋯ Knee flexion as a compensatory mechanism to sagittal imbalance was well correlated to the lack of lordosis and, depending on the importance of the former parameter, the best procedure to correct sagittal imbalance could be chosen.