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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Augmentation of pedicle screws is recommended in selected indications (for instance: osteoporosis). Generally, there are two techniques for pedicle screw augmentation: inserting the screw in the non cured cement and in situ-augmentation with cannulated fenestrated screws, which can be applied percutaneously. Most of the published studies used an axial pull out test for evaluation of the pedicle screw anchorage. However, the loading and the failure mode of pullout tests do not simulate the cranio-caudal in vivo loading and failure mechanism of pedicle screws. The purpose of the present study was to assess the fixation effects of different augmentation techniques (including percutaneous cement application) and to investigate pedicle screw loosening under physiological cyclic cranio-caudal loading. ⋯ Augmentation of pedicle screws in general significantly increased the number of load cycles and failure load comparing to the nonaugmented control group. For the augmentation technique (cement first, in situ augmented, percutaneously application) no effect could be exhibited on the failure of the pedicle screws. By the cranio-caudal cyclic loading failure of the pedicle screws occurred by screw cut through the superior endplate and the characteristic "windshield-wiper effect", typically observed in clinical practice, could be reproduced.
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The objective of this study was to identify and review the most-cited articles on spinal cord injury (SCI). Citation analyses showcase the relative influence of individual articles in a given field. In addition to distinguishing publications of particular quality and impact and well-developed areas of the literature, citation analyses allow for an understanding of the direction in which a field of research is headed. ⋯ This comprehensive review provides a cross-sectional summary and bibliometric analysis of some of the most influential literature in SCI, and compliments existing systematic reviews and meta-analysis in the field by establishing which areas of the literature are growing and which have been well developed.
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To evaluate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in cervical compressive myelopathy (CCM), by both quantitative and qualitative analyses, using 3T cine phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (cine MRI). ⋯ Maximal CSF velocity and CSF waveform score on cine MRI decreased in CCM and was correlated with the JOA score. Thus, both quantitative and qualitative analyses using cine MRI could effectively demonstrate CSF flow alterations in CCM.
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To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new type of titanium mesh cage (NTMC) in hybrid anterior decompression and fusion method (HDF) in treating continuously three-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy (TCSM). ⋯ For cases with TCSM, HDF with the NTMC and TTMC can provide comparable radiological and clinical improvements. But application of the NTMC in HDF is of advantages in decreasing the subsidence incidence, losses of lordosis correction, VAS and NDI.
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To evaluate the spatial distribution and signal intensity changes following spinal cord activation in patients with spinal cord injury. ⋯ Spinal SEEP fMRI is a powerful noninvasive method for the study of local neuronal activation in the human spinal cord, which may be of clinical value for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions aimed at promoting recovery of function using electrical stimulation.