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
-
Destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA) is a serious complication of long-term haemodialysis; it commonly occurs in the cervical spine and has been investigated in cervical lesions. Although DSA of the lumbar spine has been reported, only few studies have investigated this, and the characteristics of patients with lumbar DSA are unclear. The present study aimed to elucidate the prevalence of DSA and its clinical characteristics in patients with DSA in the lumbar spine using computed tomography (CT) images of the patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery. ⋯ Among patients on haemodialysis who underwent lumbar spine surgery, the prevalence of patients with DSA was 31.3%. Classification of DSA using CT showed moderate-to-substantial agreement. Patients with DSA tended to have a longer haemodialysis duration.
-
This study aims to evaluate the accuracy and safety of C1 lateral mass and upper cervical pedicle screw placement assisted by the TiRobot II system. ⋯ The TiRobot II system demonstrates the capability to precisely execute pre-planned trajectories and improves the accuracy and safety of C1 lateral mass and upper cervical screw placement.
-
Limited nutrient transport is hypothesized to be involved in intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. It is widely recognized that the dominant mode of transport of small molecules such as glucose is via diffusion, rather than convection. However, recent findings suggest a role for convection-induced by fast (motion-related) and slow (diurnal) dynamic loading in molecular transport of even such small solutes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether fluid exchange induced by simulated physiological loading (composed of both fast cyclic or slower diurnal loading) can influence the molecular transport of a small molecule through the cartilage endplate (CEP) into the nucleus pulposus (NP) of IVDs. ⋯ Slower diurnal cyclic compression of the IVD might enhance the transport of small molecules into the IVD although it could not be discerned whether this was due to diffusion/convection or a combination.