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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Chordomas are rare tumors with an annual incidence of approximately one per million. Chordomas rarely metastasize but show a high local recurrence rate. Therefore, these patients present a major clinical challenge, and there is a paucity of the literature regarding the outcome after revision surgery of cervical spine chordomas. Available studies suggest a significantly worse outcome in revision scenarios. The purpose of this study is to analyze the survival rate, and complications of patients that underwent revision surgery for local recurrence or incomplete resection of chordoma at the craniocervical junction or at the cervical spine. ⋯ With thorough preoperative planning, appropriate surgical techniques, and the addition of adjuvant radiotherapy, results similar to those in primary surgery can be achieved.
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In the present report it is described the design, the manufacturing and the successful surgical implant of one of the first 3D custom titanium vertebra realized with Additive Manufacturing technique and its use for the spinal reconstruction after en-bloc resection for primary osteogenic sarcoma. ⋯ The sharing of these results is very important as they represent the starting point for improving the knowledge starting from the evidence obtained in a challenging clinical condition and with post-operative treatments that could be never reproduced in preclinical model.
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The COVID-19 pandemic and the containment measures such as social distancing, mobility restrictions and quarantine have significantly impacted the delivery of healthcare services, with possible negative effects on low back pain patients. In this study, we used an innovative agent-based model to quantify the effects of COVID-19 on the prevalence and severity of low back pain in the general population. ⋯ "Optimal lockdown parameters" which minimize the impact on low back pain while preserving the effects on infection spread and mortality could not be identified. Policies favouring a prompt resumption of treatments after the lockdown may be effective in shortening the duration of its negative effects.
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This study was designed with an aim to assess the safety and early postoperative outcomes of the combined Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and Balloon Kyphoplasty (BKP) used for the treatment of painful neoplastic spinal lesions palliatively. ⋯ Combined RFA and BKP appears to be a safe, practical, effective and reproducible palliative treatment for painful spinal osteolytic metastasis. In carefully indicated cases, it relieves pain and maintains stability in a minimal invasive way without adding significant surgical trauma or complications.
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Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) is a minimally invasive technique requiring the injection of polymethylmethacrylate cement into a collapsed or weakened vertebral body to stabilize the fracture. The present study aims to determine the trends in PV procedures over the recent years. The longitudinal analysis of national registers may help to understand the yearly trends and the economic burden of PV. The evaluation of the yearly national costs of this procedure is essential to surgeons, policymaker, hospital administrator and the healthcare system. Moreover, to observe possible variation in the trend of hospitalization between countries, the data of the present study were compared to the US population. ⋯ The burden of vertebral fracture is relevant in the Italian population, and PV constitutes a rapid and effective treatment. Compared to other countries, the costs of PV in Italy are relatively lower; however, it is important to define the incidence of this procedure to understand the economic trend of PV.