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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We present 120 patients (37 males, 83 females) affected by thoracic lumbar scoliosis, treated by posterior instrumented arthrodesis with the insertion of pedicle screws by "free hand technique", without any image guided system, radioscopy use during insertion or intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring. ⋯ In our experience pedicle screws is the method that leads to best correction and balance on vertebral bodies, with best results at distance concerning correction maintaining. Our experience shows that even at thoracic level, pedicle screws insertion by free-hand technique is safe and reliable.
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The purpose of this study is to report clinical outcome and imaging changes of percutaneous Aperius stand-alone implant in patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and neurogenic intermittent claudication, which did not respond to conservative treatment. ⋯ Despite of the brief follow up, the preliminary results are encouraging, showing a significantly decrease of the disability parameters, a marked improvement of the function with the vanishing of the claudicatio spinalis and the following increase of the free interval during the walk. Aperius PercLID system seems to offer an alternative to the traditional decompression surgery.
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Comparative Study
Ex vivo observation of human intervertebral disc tissue and cells isolated from degenerated intervertebral discs.
Disc degeneration, and associated low back pain, are a primary cause of disability. Disc degeneration is characterized by dysfunctional cells and loss of proteoglycans: since intervertebral tissue has a limited capacity to regenerate, this process is at present considered irreversible. Recently, cell therapy has been suggested to provide more successful treatment of IVD degeneration. To understand the potential of cells to restore IVD structure/function, tissue samples from degenerated IVD versus healthy discs have been compared. ⋯ The tissue disorganization in degenerate discs and the paucity of cells out of cluster/chondron association, make the IVD-derived cells an unreliable option for disc regeneration.
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Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) are effective procedures to alleviate pain caused by osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). New vertebral compression fracture (NVCF) has been noted as a potential late sequela of the procedures. The incidence of NVCFs and affecting risk factors were investigated. ⋯ The most important risk factors affecting NVCFs were osteoporosis and intervertebral discal cement leakage.
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Comparative Study
The effectiveness of poloxamer 407-based new anti-adhesive material in a laminectomy model in rats.
In the laminectomy model in rats, to verify anti-adhesive effectiveness of the new material, a mixture composed of poloxamer 407, calcium chloride, and xanthorrhizol, we compared it with that of commercially used solution form anti-adhesive agent GUARDIX-SL, Biorane. ⋯ The new anti-adhesive material showed similar or improved effectiveness with the existing agents for commercial use. This result suggests that the new anti-adhesive material will be a successful candidate as a future product for clinical use.