Articles: surgery.
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The science of virtual reality provides an entirely new opportunity in the area of simulation of surgical skills using computers for training, evaluation, and eventually certification. A taxonomy of the types of simulators is proposed based upon the level of complexity of the task which is being simulated. These tasks are precision placement, simple manipulation, complex manipulation, and integrated procedure. ⋯ The importance of a curriculum is to give content to the role of simulators as another advanced tool for education. Simulators must be integrated into a comprehensive curriculum and not considered as a stand-alone system. The current accomplishments as well as challenges are discussed.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[Precision analysis of navigation-assisted implanted thoracic and lumbar pedicled screws. A prospective clinical study].
A prospective clinical trial was performed to study the accuracy of pedicle screw placement of consecutive computer-aided and conventional techniques. Concerning the clinical performance of the navigation system, the average time of matching has been 8.4 minutes per vertebrae. For evaluation of the results, only complete intraosseous placement of the pedicle screw has been defined as correct position. ⋯ No radicular neurologic damage, caused by a malplaced transpedicular screw has been observed in both groups. In the presented study is shown, that the application of the computer-assisted freehand navigation can improve results concerning the precision of spinal screw placement. Although, the spinal navigator has to consider a learning curve for the clinical inauguration of the system and the qualification of the implant system for computer-assisted application.
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To clarify case mix, mode of transport and reasons for interfacility transfer from rural emergency departments (EDs) and to make recommendations for improved emergency health care delivery in rural settings. ⋯ These data suggest that rural family physicians may benefit from increased orthopedic and pediatric training and support. The study also identified a need for increased specialist availability in our rural setting. The high number of transfers for CT scans suggests that some rural health regions should consider acquiring a "regional" CT scanner. The development of a regional hospital, with a CT scanner and specialist resources, especially a general surgery on-call system, would reduce the need for transfer outside the region.
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Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a feared complication of lumbar disc herniation. It is generally accepted that CES requires decompression within 6 hours of symptom onset, but this time goal is rarely met, and the relative benefit of delayed decompression on functional status and quality of life (QOL) remains unknown. The study objective was to describe the functional status and quality of life outcomes for patients who undergo delayed surgical decompression for CES. ⋯ Patients who undergo delayed decompression for CES have increased pain and impaired social and physical function. Longer delays correlate with worse functional outcomes. Beyond 24 hours, decompression delay may be associated with a poorer quality of life but, because of the rarity of CES, the sample size in this study was too small to provide definitive conclusions. Since no patients underwent surgery within 38.4 hours of symptoms, it is not possible to comment on the importance of emergent decompression in early presenters.