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 case report illustrates three learning points about cervical fractures in ankylosing spondylitis, and it highlights the need to manage these patients with the neck initially stabilised in flexion. We describe a case of cervical pseudoarthrosis that is a rare occurrence after fracture of the cervical spine with ankylosing spondylitis. ⋯ The myelopathic symptoms resolved, and the patient had a good result at 18 months. We conclude that any increased movement of the spine after trauma in ankylosing spondylitis must be considered suspect and fully investigated.
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Case Reports
Multiple myeloma of the thoracic spine developed at the previous trauma site: case report.
The precise nature of the underlying plasma cell dyscrasias is not well understood. Even today, no causative factor has been found for this disease. ⋯ This is a report of a 62-year-old man who initially had a T7 compression fracture and developed a multiple myeloma two years later at that site and at the adjacent vertebral level (T7-T8), respectively. Although the notion that trauma would initiate such a malignancy is speculative, the preceding trauma may be a causative factor in plasma cell dyscrasias.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Correlative radiological, self-assessment and clinical analysis of evolution in instrumented dorsal and lateral fusion for degenerative lumbar spine disease. Autograft versus coralline hydroxyapatite.
This prospective longitudinal randomized clinical and radiological study compared the evolution of instrumented posterolateral lumbar and lumbosacral fusion using either coralline hydroxyapatite (CH), or iliac bone graft (IBG) or both in three comparable groups, A, B and C, which included 19, 18 and 20 patients, respectively, who suffered from symptomatic degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and underwent decompression and fusion. The patients were divided randomly according to the graft used and the side that it was applied. The spines of group A received autologous IBG bilaterally; group B, IBG on the left side and hydroxyapatite mixed with local bone and bone marrow on the right side; group C, hydroxyapatite mixed with local bone and bone marrow bilaterally. ⋯ The incorporation of coralline hydroxyapatite mixed with local bone and bone marrow needs adequate bleeding bone surface. Subsequently, hydroxyapatite was proven in this series to not be appropriate for intertransverse posterolateral fusion, because the host bone in this area is little. However, the use of hydroxyapatite over the decorticated laminae that represents a wide host area was followed by solid dorsal fusion within the expected time.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Single-blinded prospective randomized study comparing open versus needle technique for obtaining autologous cancellous bone from the iliac crest.
One of the most frequent complications of cervical anterior discectomy with fusion is pain at the donor site, usually the iliac crest. Despite the advent of new materials, autologous bone is still the "gold standard" for fusion procedures. A prospective, single blinded, randomized study was performed to evaluate the effect of a minimal invasive technique to obtain autologous bone from the iliac crest on pain. ⋯ Obtaining autologous cancellous bone through a large needle for filling a cervical cage (even multiple cages) is safe and evidently less painful than through a classical open procedure. If pain exists it does not last very long. Generally, the pain is resolved within 2 weeks.