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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Patients affected by cerebral palsy often develop progressive scoliosis that can results in trunk instability with an impairment of both coronal and sagittal balance. The aim of this retrospective study was to demonstrate the ability of UC to control the sagittal profile in a consecutive series of patients affected by neurological scoliosis. ⋯ The hybrid construct using UC appears effective in neurological scoliosis treatment, providing a good correction of the deformity in both coronal and sagittal planes. In the present series, physiological thoracic kyphosis has been restored in all patients, providing better sitting tolerance in wheelchair-bound patients, and retaining standing and walking abilities in ambulatory patients.
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To report the results of a cohort of patients treated with this technique high lighting radiological and functional outcomes, discussing also benefits arising from a gradual reduction procedure compared with other techniques. ⋯ This is an effective and safe technique which addresses the lumbosacral kyphosis and cosmetic deformity without the neurological complications which accompany other reduction and fusion techniques for high-grade spondylolisthesis.
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Comparative Study
A comparative evaluation of the small leucine-rich proteoglycans of pathological human intervertebral discs.
Proteoglycans are important to the functioning of the intervertebral disc. In addition to aggrecan there are the small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs). These are less common but in other locations their functions include collagen organisation, sequestering growth factors and stimulating inflammation. We have performed a comparative analysis of the SLRP core protein species present in intervertebral discs with various pathologies. ⋯ In this cohort of pathological intervertebral discs, fragmentation of certain SLRP core proteins was common, indicating that some SLRPs are extensively processed during the pathological process. Identification of specific SLRP fragments which correlate with disc pathology may not only help understand their aetiopathogeneses, but also provide biomarkers which can be used to monitor disease progression or to identify particular disc disorders.
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Comparative Study
Diffusion-weighted MR imaging in differentiation between osteoporotic and neoplastic vertebral fractures.
To assess the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with spin-echo echo-planar diffusion-weighted imaging (SE-EPI-DWI) in differentiation between vertebral osteoporotic fractures and pathological neoplastic fractures. ⋯ DWI provides reliable information to support MRI diagnosis of neoplastic versus osteoporotic fractures. ADC value appears as a useful adjunctive parameter.
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Blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVI) of the extra- or intracerebral vessels are frequently observed lesions which may lead to thrombembolic events with focal neurological deficits, stroke or death particularly in patients <60 years. However, a comprehensive standardised clinical algorithm for screening and management of these secondary injuries is still lacking. ⋯ Our results indicate that implementation of the screening protocol can prevent strokes in patients without primary thrombembolic neurological deficits.