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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This study aimed to establish biomarkers to predict the progression of ossification by examining ossification volume and bone metabolism dynamics in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). ⋯ Younger age, hypophosphatemia, and high serum sclerostin are risk factors for OPLL progression. Serum phosphorus and sclerostin could serve as important biomarkers for predicting ossification progression.
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The present study aimed to estimate the trunk muscles moment-arms in low back pain (LBP) patients and compare this data to those of healthy individuals. This research further explored whether the difference of the moment-arms between these two is a contributing factor to LBP. ⋯ There was a significant difference in muscle moment-arms of the lumbar spine's prime stabilizer (psoas) and primary locomotors (rectus abdominis and obliques) between LBP patients and healthy individuals. This difference in the moment-arms leads to altered compressive forces at intervertebral discs and may be one of the risk factors for LBP.
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In 1994, the technique of transdiscal screws fixation in spondylolisthesis was introduced but did not gained popularity as it failed to address problems with spinal sagittal imbalance, retroverted pelvis, pseudoarthrosis, implant failure and neural injury. Majority of problems were due to lack of clear indications; hence, in this study, with modification of traditional technique and use of O-arm navigation for selected group of patients, we have addressed the above problems and given good to excellent functional outcomes. ⋯ LIMO delta technique is a newly modified version of conventional transdiscal screw technique. Minimal incision, decreased blood loss & operative time with in situ 3-column rigid fixation and solid fusion minimizing risk of complications makes this novel technique safer, simpler & effective in osteoporotic HGS.
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Recently, competing risk nomograms were widely applied to predict prognosis in numerous tumors other than chordoma. Here, we aimed to construct and validate a competing-risk-based prognostic nomogram to predict 3- and 5-year cancer-specific death (CSD) in patients with spinal and pelvic chordoma. ⋯ We successfully built the first competing-risk-based nomogram to predict clinical outcomes in patients with spinal and pelvic chordoma. This well-established nomogram hopes to help clinicians with precise prognostic assessment and thus improve clinical outcomes.