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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Comparative Study
Experimental in vivo acute and chronic biomechanical and histomorphometrical comparison of self-drilling and self-tapping anterior cervical screws.
Self-drilling screws (SDS) and self-tapping screws (STS) allow for quicker bone insertion and are associated with increased anchorage. This is an experimental in vivo comparison of anterior cervical SDS and STS in the post-insertion acute and chronic phases. ⋯ SDS had higher insertion torque and better anchorage than STS in both phases. SDS percent bone-screw contact and inside area bone density were higher in both phases.
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The objective of this study was to evaluate the overall incidence and total burden of successful litigation relating to the management of spinal disease across the National Health Service (NHS) in England. ⋯ Spinal litigation remains a source of significant cost to the NHS. The complexity of resolving these cases is reflected in the associated legal costs.
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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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Vertebroplasty and more recently kyphoplasty are recognized as techniques in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures and in case of pathological fracture like in secondary tumors. The recent introduction of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) that offers, at least theoretically, an osteointegrative capacity, absent in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), has generated interest for its use in the treatment of traumatic fractures (type A) even in young patients. ⋯ While kyphoplasty with the use of CPC in the treatment of type A traumatic fractures was effective in the treatment of pain, it has not been so far effective concerning the maintenance of the reduction obtained intra-operatively and its osteointegrative effect.
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Case Reports
Intra-operative localisation of thoracic spine level: a simple "'K'-wire in pedicle" technique.
To describe a simple and reliable method of intra-operative localisation of thoracic spine in a single surgical setting. Intra-operative localisation of thoracic spine levels can be difficult due to anatomical constraints, such as scapular shadow, patient's size and poor bone quality. This is particularly true in cases of thoracic discectomies in which the vertebral bodies appear normal. There are several methods described in recent literature to address this. Many of them require a separate procedure which was performed often the previous day. We report a technique which addresses the issue of localising thoracic level intra-operatively. ⋯ We routinely used this technique in all our thoracic discectomies (four cases in 2 years). There were no intra-operative complications. This method is simple, avoids the patient undergoing two procedures and requires no more ability than placing an implant in the pedicle under fluoroscopy. Placing the 'K' wire into a fixed point like the pedicle facilitates rapid intra-operative viewing of the level of interest and is removed easily at the conclusion of surgery.