The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Interest in systemic and local hypothermia extends back over many decades, and both have been investigated as potential neuroprotective interventions in a number of clinical settings, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, cardiac arrest, and both intracranial and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery. The recent use of systemic hypothermia in an injured National Football League football player has focused a great deal of attention on the potential use of hypothermia in acute spinal cord injury. ⋯ Animal studies of acute traumatic spinal cord injury have not revealed a consistent neuroprotective benefit to either systemic or local hypothermia. Human studies of local hypothermia after acute traumatic spinal cord injury have not been published for over two decades. No peer-reviewed studies describing the use of systemic hypothermia in this setting could be found. Although a cogent biological rationale may exist for the use of local or systemic hypothermia in acute traumatic spinal cord injury, there is little scientific literature currently available to substantiate the clinical use of either in human patients.
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Comparative Study
Biomechanical comparison of different anchors (foundations) for the pediatric dual growing rod technique.
Children with early onset scoliosis benefit from early operative treatment with dual growing rods as they provide an "internal brace" for the spine and allow curve correction and sequential lengthenings to maximize thoracic cage development. The foundations that provide anchor points for the dual growing rods may incorporate hooks, screws, or a hybrid construct. It is unclear how stable different types of foundation constructs are with regard to pullout. ⋯ A foundation composed of four pedicle screws implanted in two adjacent vertebral bodies provides the strongest construct in pullout testing. A cross-link does not seem to enhance fixation. Hook constructs are stronger in lumbar versus thoracic laminae.
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Patient factors (diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiopulmonary problems, previous surgery, smoking, worker's compensation, litigation) and surgeon factors (operative experience, patient selection, technical skill, setting) are known to significantly impact outcomes of spinal surgery. The impact of these factors is difficult to assess clinically given the volume of patients required to obtain statistically significant information, the costs involved, and ethical/equipoise considerations. Computer simulation offers a viable and useful alternative. ⋯ The computer simulation obtains expected outcomes for randomized controlled clinical trials and closely mirrors the range of outcomes seen in available case-series/registry data--a very useful model allowing assessment of the impact of patient/surgeon factors on surgical outcomes. Multiple patient/surgeon combinations are assessed and the implications of findings discussed.
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To date, no study has critically examined the radiographic characteristics of the lumbar curve after selective thoracic fusion for the adult idiopathic scoliosis patient population. ⋯ The lumbar curve response in adult, selective thoracic scoliosis surgery is characterized by 1) moderate correction but less than the bending film Cobb; 2) greater change in LIV tilt and disc angle than apical vertebra disc angle; 3) no change in lumbar apical translation or rotation; 4) more significant disc height preservation at the LIV compared with lumbar apex. Good clinical outcomes can be achieved with posterior translational instrumentation in adult scoliosis patients.
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Case Reports
Catastrophic intramedullary hematoma following Kümmell's disease with large intravertebral cleft.
Kümmell's disease is defined as avascular osteonecrosis and occurs after delayed posttraumatic vertebral collapse. Devastating cord injury with Kümmell's disease is rare except in advanced cases with kyphosis and posterior cortex breakage. ⋯ An increasing awareness of the delayed vertebral collapse with cord injury attached to an osteoporotic spine fracture, as well as a periodic follow-up and treatment are essential for preventing catastrophic neurological impairment.