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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Wound infection after spine surgery is a debilitating complication. Local placement of vancomycin powder into the surgical wounds prior to closing of the fascia has been introduced as a method to reduce deep infection rates. ⋯ In conclusion, the use of vancomycin reduces the rate of deep wound infections and irrigation and debridement procedures after spine surgery in a referral center among surgeons with a high surgical volume.
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Review Case Reports
Antepartum surgical management of Pott's paraplegia along with maintenance of pregnancy during second trimester.
The existing literature is limited and inconclusive regarding management of spinal tuberculosis with neurological deficit during advanced pregnancy. None of the previously published case series concerning this problem during the second trimester of pregnancy have explored the option of simultaneous surgical intervention for it along with maintenance of pregnancy. ⋯ Although this is only a single case but being the first to our knowledge, the good results highlight the point that both surgical management and maintenance of pregnancy during second trimester complicated by Pott's paraplegia are possible, involving a multi-disciplinary team approach for optimal maternal and fetal outcome.
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Observational Study
The added prognostic value of MRI findings for recovery in patients with low back pain in primary care: a 1-year follow-up cohort study.
Information on the prognostic value of MRI findings in low back pain patients in primary care is lacking. The objective of this study is to investigate the added prognostic value of baseline MRI findings over known prognostic factors for recovery at 12-month follow-up in patients with low back pain referred to MRI by their general practitioner. ⋯ At 12-months follow-up, only 53% of these patients with low back pain referred for MRI in general practice reported recovery. Five clinic baseline characteristics were associated with recovery at 12-months follow-up; adding the MRI findings did not result in a stronger prediction of recovery.
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The aims of this study were (1) to demonstrate the AOSpine thoracolumbar spine injury classification system can be reliably applied by an international group of surgeons and (2) to delineate those injury types which are difficult for spine surgeons to classify reliably. ⋯ In a worldwide sample of spinal surgeons without previous exposure to the recently described AOSpine Thoracolumbar Spine Injury Classification System, we demonstrated moderate interobserver and substantial intraobserver reliability. These results suggest that most spine surgeons can reliably apply this system to spine trauma patients as or more reliably than previously described systems.