The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Comparative Study
Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) for chronic low back pain in active-duty soldiers: 2-year follow-up.
Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) is a new treatment option for chronic discogenic low back pain that is minimally invasive and has demonstrated success rates equal to or better than those for spinal fusion at short-term follow-up. ⋯ IDET is not a substitute for spinal fusion in the treatment of chronic discogenic low back pain in active-duty soldiers. Our reasonable early results diminished with time and up to 20% of patients report worsening of baseline symptoms at final follow-up. IDET will prove its role in the treatment of chronic discogenic low back pain as more outcome data are obtained, but for now we consider it, at best, an antecedent rather than alternative to spinal fusion.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of allograft to autograft in multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with rigid plate fixation.
A relatively high pseudarthrosis rate is associated with multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Anterior plate fixation increases fusion rate in multilevel ACDF. A debate still exists between the effectiveness of allograft versus autograft in plated multilevel ACDF. ⋯ A high fusion rate of 97.5% was obtained for multilevel ACDF with rigid plating with either autograft or allograft. In this study, nonunion occurred in patients with allograft but this difference was not statistically significant. Fusion was obtained in 97.8% of patients with segmental screw fixation and 97.1% with nonsegmental screw fixation. Nonsegmental screw fixation may contribute to less than adequate stability and contribute to a higher rate of nonunion, but such effects could not be discerned from this study. Excellent and good clinical outcome was noted in 88.8% of the patients. Proper patient selection and meticulous operative technique is essential to obtain high fusion rates and optimal clinical outcome, which is more important than graft type.
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Case Reports
Successful surgical management of a case of spontaneous epidural hematoma of the spine during pregnancy.
A spontaneous epidural hematoma of the spine occurring during pregnancy is extremely rare. The development of a significant neurologic deficit may be rapid. Therefore, the neurosurgeon should be aware of the presentation, diagnosis and treatment options available. ⋯ Spontaneous epidural hematoma of the spine should be suspected in the setting of acute back or neck pain with or without an associated progressive neurologic deficit. Spine surgeons and obstetricians should also recognize that a spinal epidural hematoma during pregnancy may also present subacutely, as illustrated in our case. Prompt diagnosis may be made with MRI, and evacuation of the hematoma should be performed, ideally before the onset of neurologic signs or symptoms. The prognosis for return of neurologic function is good after urgent evacuation.
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Spinal deformity surgery, like many other orthopedic procedures, involves significant operative blood loss. In order to avoid the necessity of bank blood transfusions, many blood management strategies have been devised. ⋯ The judicious use of the agents and techniques can significantly reduce the need for blood transfusions in the setting of spinal deformity surgery.