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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It is becoming increasingly common for researchers to share scientific literature via social media. Traditional bibliometrics have long been utilized to measure a study's academic impact, but they fail to capture the impact generated through social media sharing. Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) is a weighted count of all the online attention garnered by a study, and it is currently unclear whether a relationship with traditional bibliometrics exists. ⋯ The lack of overlap between these types of metrics suggests that AAS or similar alternative metrics should be used to measure an article's social impact. The social impact of an article should likewise be a factor in determining an article's overall impact along with its academic impact as measured by bibliometrics.
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Review Meta Analysis
How frequently MRI modifies thoracolumbar fractures' classification or decision-making? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
To provide the first meta-analysis of the impact of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on thoracolumbar fractures (TLFs) classification and decision-making. ⋯ MRI can significantly change the thoracolumbar classification and decision-making, primarily due to upgrading type A to type B fractures and changing from conservative to surgery, respectively. These findings suggest that MRI could change decision-making sufficiently to justify its use for TLFs. Type A subtypes, indeterminate PLC status, and spine regions might help to predict a change in TLFs' classification. However, more studies are needed to confirm the association of these variables with changes in treatment decisions to set the indications of MRI in neurologically intact patients with TLFs. An interactive version of our analysis can be accessed from here: https://databoard.shinyapps.io/mri_spine/ .
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Review Meta Analysis
Adult versus adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery: a meta-analysis of clinical and radiographic outcomes.
While the natural history of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and adult idiopathic scoliosis (AdIS) is well documented in the literature, the impact of age on postoperative outcomes remains an active area of research. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare patients undergoing surgery for AIS and AdIS with respect to: (1) postoperative Cobb correction, (2) perioperative variables, and (3) postoperative complications. ⋯ AIS patients had better radiographic correction compared to AdIS. Though no difference was found in perioperative outcomes and complications, these findings emphasize the importance of counseling patients regarding the optimal timing of surgical correction.