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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To analyze the clinical and radiographic characteristics of calcified thoracic disc herniation (CTDH) and explore the possible pathogeneses. ⋯ Adult CTDH is a special thoracic disc disease with insidious onset, a long course, and a high spinal canal-occupying ratio. Calcium deposits in the spinal canal originate from the nucleus pulposus. The intraoperative findings and postoperative pathology of subtypes are different, which might indicate different pathological mechanisms.
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To investigate the influence of vertebral endplate defects and subchondral bone marrow changes on the development of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration (DD). ⋯ Our results suggest that TEPS does not unequivocally predict intervertebral DD in patients with LBP, since higher degrees of endplate defects might also develop secondarily to DD, and MC tend to occur late in the cascade of degeneration.
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To evaluate the influence of K-line on the outcome of open-door laminoplasty versus anterior cervical corpectomy decompression and fusion (ACCF) for patients with more than two levels of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). ⋯ For patients with more than two levels of OPLL, preoperative K-line (+) predicates a better outcome than K-line (-). For cases with K-line (-), ACCF provides better neurologic function recovery. For patients with K-line (+), open-door laminoplasty provides the same neurologic function recovery of ACCF.
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Using ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI, we determined prevalence of abnormal cartilaginous endplate (CEP), and the relationship between CEP and disc degeneration in human lumbar spines. ⋯ These results suggest that abnormal CEPs are frequently found, and it associates significantly with disc degeneration, suggesting an insight into pathoetiology of disc degeneration.
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To explore the characteristics of vertebral bone quality (VBQ) scores in patients with vertebral fragility fractures, including VBQ score and single-level VBQ score, and evaluate their effectiveness as predictors. ⋯ MRI‑based VBQ scores are important predictors of vertebral fragility fracture but have no predictive value for the recurrence of fractures in patients with a history of fragility fractures. The VBQ score of 3.22 and single-level VBQ score of 3.16 are optimal thresholds that can be used when using lumbar MRI scans to identify individuals at high risk for fragility fractures.