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At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Harrington instrumentation and spine fusion for unstable fractures and fracture-dislocations of the thoracic and lumbar spine.

Of forty patients with unstable fractures and fracture-dislocations of the thoracic or lumbar spine treated with Harrington instrumentation and spine fusion, thirty-five had a neural deficit (twenty-three with incomplete or cauda equina lesions and twelve with complete lesions). Laminectomy or posterolateral decompression was performed prior to instrumentation and fusion in twenty-three patients and at the time of stabilization, in thirteen. Solid fusion was obtained in all but one patient. Back pain persisted in four. No patient had residual spinal deformity. Twenty-one patients with incomplete or cauda equina lesions regained some neural function, while all twelve with complete lesions remained unchanged. The advantages of this technique include effective stabilization of the spine, early mobilization and rehabilitation, and prevention of late deformity.

Adolescent↗

Bone mineral density of the lumbar spine in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine.

Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligaments of the cervical spine (OPLL) was measured to elucidate the relation of spinal ossification with systemic hyperostotic condition. BMD in the lateral projection had a statistically significant correlation with that in the anteroposterior projection, and the former was considered to reflect the condition more accurately than was the latter, which may include the ossified spinal ligaments. BMD of patients with continuous and mixed types of OPLL was higher than that of those with the segmental type. Patients with OPLL and ossification of the other spinal ligaments had higher BMDs than did those without ossification. These results suggest that the BMD of the lumbar spine may reflect the systemic hyperostotic tendency and advancement of the ossification.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Multiple noncontiguous injuries of the spine in a child: atlantooccipital dislocation and seat-belt injury of the lumbar spine.

Multiple noncontiguous injuries of nonadjoining regions of the spine in children are rare. Such injuries can be overlooked as the neurological deficit caused by one injury can be masked by the other. The combination of atlantooccipital dislocation and a seat-belt injury of the spine in children is rare. We describe an unusual case of atlantooccipital dislocation in combination with a seat-belt injury of the lumbar spine in a surviving child. Early halo-vest immobilization was an effective treatment in this patient. Although survival with atlantooccipital injuries is becoming common, severe and persistent neurological deficits can result in high morbidity. A brief description of the pathomechanics, diagnosis and treatment of the atlantooccipital dislocation and lumbar seat-belt injury is given.

Atlanto-Occipital Joint↗

[Comparative study of the force of flexors and extensors of the cervical spine in patients with vertebral syndrome of the cervical spine and in healthy persons].

This paper deals with the muscle force of the cervical spine in patients with cervical syndrome compared to the muscle activity in non-patients. It has thus been observed that both the flexors' and the extensors' force of the cervical spine is much greater in non-patients (the flexors' P < 0.01 and the extensors' P < 0.01). The precise measurements having been carried out by a dynamometer. The groups being tested comprised 50 persons each, 25 men and 25 women. The average age of the patients group was 43.1 years, namely between 21 and 57 years, while that of the non-patients group was 42.3 years, between 24 and 56 years. As regards the professional engagement of both groups and, accordingly, the strain on the cervical spine and the corresponding musculature, they were approximately the same.

Adult↗

Surgical decision making for unstable thoracolumbar spine injuries: results of a consensus panel review by the Spine Trauma Study Group.

OBJECTIVES: The optimal surgical approach and treatment of unstable thoracolumbar spine injuries are poorly defined owing to a lack of widely accepted level I clinical literature. This lack of evidence-based standards has led to varied practice patterns based on individual surgeon preferences. The purpose of this study was to survey the leaders in the field of spine trauma to define the major characteristics of thoracolumbar injuries that influence their surgical decision making. In the absence of good scientific data, expert consensus opinions may provide surgeons with a practical framework to guide therapy and to conduct future research. METHODS: A panel of 22 leading spinal surgeons from 20 level I trauma centers in seven countries met to discuss the indications for surgical approach selection in unstable thoracolumbar injuries. Injuries were presented to the surgeons in a case scenario survey format. Preferred surgical approaches to the clinical scenarios were tabulated and comments weighed. RESULTS: All members of the panel agreed that three independent characteristics of thoracolumbar injuries carry primary importance in surgical decision making: the injury morphology, the neurologic status of the patient, and the integrity of the posterior ligaments. Six clinical scenarios based on the neurologic status of the patient (intact, incomplete, or complete) and on the status of the posterior ligamentous complex (intact or disrupted) were created, and consensus treatment approaches were described. Additional circumstances capable of altering the treatments were acknowledged. CONCLUSIONS: Decision making for the surgical treatment of thoracolumbar injuries is largely dependent on three patient characteristics: injury morphology, neurologic status, and posterior ligament integrity. A logical and practical decision-making process based on these characteristics may guide treatment even for the most complicated fracture patterns.

Algorithms↗

A radiolucent spine frame: a modification of the Relton-Hall spine frame.

A radiolucent spine frame for obtaining intraoperative spine radiographs while performing surgery for scoliosis has been designed at the Alfred I. duPont Institute and is described here. This frame, constructed of strong radiolucent plastic compounds, is easy to use and maintain.

Child↗

Cineradiographic study of spine during cycling: effects of changing the pedal unit position on the dorso-lumbar spine angle.

PURPOSE: Low back pain is a frequent pathology among bicyclists, probably due to unappropriate saddle position. This radiographic study was conducted to evaluate dorso-lumbar angular values in two different pedal unit positions; the first one in a bicycle frame type with pedals in front of the saddle axis and the second one with the pedals behind the saddle axis, in order to define the most physiological sitting position. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten voluntary healthy adults, ranging in age between 21 to 45 years, were randomly choosen among a group of cyclist not involved in competition and underwent serial fluoroscopic studies while cyclists sit on two different saddles of a prototype cyclette; dorso-lumbar angles at both different sitting positions were measured on film according to modified Lippmann-Cobb method using as reference the upper somatic limitant of the eleventh or twelth dorsal vertebra and the lower somatic limitant of the third lumbar vertebra. RESULTS: Statistical analysis of the measured angles demonstrates that the differences between the dorso-lumbar spine angle in the different saddle positions are statistically significative with a coefficient correlation equals to 0.64015 and p>0.01; angular values are more physiological in the second position with pedal unit behind the saddle axis. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence and importance of low back pain in cyclists can be reduced with appropriate pedal unit position; the position with pedals behind the saddle axis permits more physiological spine angles in comparison with the classic one having the pedals in front of the saddle axis; this fact is due to a different pelvic position which coincides with lumbar angles.

Adult↗

Instrumentation of the infected and unstable spine: a review of 17 cases from the thoracic and lumbar spine with pyogenic infections.

A retrospective review of 17 consecutive cases of spinal instrumentation for pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO) with follow-up of > 2 years was undertaken, to describe the clinical course and outcomes in patients with instrumentation of actively infected spines. In 17 patients with PVO, instrumentation of the spine was performed during the period of clinical infection. Twelve of 17 patients were immunocompromised because of systemic or iatrogenic factors. Five patients had a history of malignancy and four had had spinal irradiation. In all 17 cases, the infection appeared to clinically be controlled after instrumentation. All patients were mobilized directly after instrumentation. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate returned to normal in 15 patients without rheumatic disease and decreased by more than half in two patients with inflammatory arthritis. Four patients had died at follow-up, and none of these had signs of persistent infection. Eight cases had significant postoperative complications (47%), including two instrumentation failures and one wound dehiscence. Spinal instrumentation in selected cases of PVO allows early mobilization and did not seem to compromise the ability to clear infection. In certain recalcitrant cases, stabilization seemed to promote clinical resolution of the infection.

Adult↗

Frequency and size of ossifications in the caudal attachments of the ligamentum flavum of the thoracic spine. Role of rotatory strains in their development. An anatomic study of 121 spines.

Ossifications in the caudal attachments of the ligamentum flavum were studied on 121 dried thoracic spines. Most of them were aged. Frequency increased in a caudal direction. At T12, frequency depended on the orientation of the zygapophyseal joints of T11-12 which determined the range of rotation. When they were of thoracic orientation, allowing large range of rotation, ossifications were present in 83% of cases. If orientation was lumbar, allowing poor range of rotation, ossifications became much less frequent:33%. The size of ossifications was also studied. The smaller were in T1 and T2. In T11 and T12, size also depended on the orientation of the zygapophyseal joints of T11-12. If it allowed important range of rotation, ossifications were large sized. In the opposite case, they were small sized. Ossifications of caudal attachments of ligamentum flavum appear to be a normal feature of the aged lower thoracic spine. Their frequency in a given motion segment seems to be influenced by rotational strains.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

[Fractures of the lumbar spine and the lower thoracic spine--surgical technic and results].

Improved healing results are achieved by surgical treatment of fractures of the lumbar spine and of the thoracic transition, if the indication is correct, i.e. in case of splintered fracture with severe instability or neurologic troubles, but also in case of luxations occurring rarely in the region of the lumbar spine. The anterior fusion of fractions with bone defects in the region of the vertebral body is more logical with regard to the biomechanical aspect.

Adolescent↗

Calcium in the spine apparatus of dendritic spines in the dentate molecular layer.

With a pyroantimonate precipitation technique, we have demonstrated Ca2+ in the sacs of the dendritic spine apparatus in the SER of dendrites and axon terminals, in synaptic vesicles, multivesicular bodies, mitochondria, and glial processes of the dentate molecular layer. It is speculated that the spine apparatus may be a Ca2+ sequestering organelle which may regulate levels of intraspinal and intradendritic Ca2+ during synaptic activity.

Animals↗

A controlled trial of anterior spinal fusion and débridement in the surgical management of tuberculosis of the spine in patients on standard chemotherapy: a study in two centres in South Africa. Seventh Report of the Medical Research Council Working Party on tuberculosis of the spine.

In 2 centres in South Africa 159 patients with a diagnosis of tuberculosis of the thoracic and/or lumbar spine were allocated at random to operation by radical resection of the spinal lesion and insertion of autologous bone grafts (Rad. series) or by débridement of the spinal focus (Deb. series). All the patients were treated with isoniazid plus PAS daily for 18 months and daily streptomycin for the first 3 months. They have been followed up to 36 months. The main analysis of this report concerns 55 Rad. and 52 Deb. patients. The clinical and radiographic condition of the 2 series on admission was similar. Central nervous system involvement was common; 27% of the patients were paraplegic and 12% paraparetic. The mean period of initial stay in hospital was 179 days for the Rad. and 133 days for the Deb. patients and of strict recumbency 97 and 37 days, respectively. Seven per cent of the Rad. and 12% of the Deb. patients had a sinus and/or clinically evident abscess initially, all of which resolved by 18 months. Of 23 Rad. and 8 Deb. patients with a radiographyically evident mediastinal abscess initially, but never a sinus or clinically evident abscess, the shadow had disappeared by 12 months in 91% and 88%, respectively. It was still present in only 1 patient (Rad.) at 36 months. Radiographically complete bony fusion of the affected vertebral bodies had occurred in 11% of 46 Rad. and 13% of 45 Deb. patients by 6 months, in 39% and 22% by 12 months, in 59% and 33% by 18 months (P = 0.05) and 74% and 69% by 36 months. The mean vertebral loss on admission was 1.0 vertebra in the Rad. and 1.1 in the Deb. series. At 36 months there was a mean loss of a further 0.2 of a vertebra in each series. The mean angulation of the spine at the start of treatment was 33 degrees for the Rad. and 35 degrees for the Deb. series and the mean increase at 3 years was 15 degrees and 8 degrees (P = 0.06), respectively. At 18 months, 64% of the Rad. and 69% of the Deb. patients had a favourable response to treatment and at 3 years 81% and 88%, respectively, non-significant differences. Patients with central nervous system (CNS) involvement on admission stayed in hospital initially for an average of 204 days compared with 129 days for those with no CNS involvement, the period of strict recumbency being 84 days compared with 60 days. The prognosis was also less favourable, 14% compared with 2%, respectively, died (P = 0.03) and 32% compared with 3%, respectively, had an unfavourable response at 36 months (P = 0.0003). At 6 months the paralysis had resolved in 6 (21%) of the 29 paraplegic patients compared with 7 (54%) of the 13 paraparetic patients (P = 0.07). The corresponding proportions at 21 months were 72% and 69%. At 18 months, 28% of the paraplegics responded favourably compared with 62% of the paraparetics (P = 0.08) but at 36 months the proportions were similar, namely 65% and 67%. Specimens from spinal lesions were obtained at operation in 149 patients...

Adolescent↗

Crowded jewel fish show changes in dendritic spine density and spine morphology.

This study demonstrates that neuronal development can be adversely affected by short-term crowding. Compared with uncrowded siblings (15 fish/73-litre), juvenile jewel fish (15 fish/3.6-litre) crowded for 60 days exhibited 50-58% fewer dendritic spines and spines with narrower heads on pyriform interneurons in deep tectal strata. These findings indicate that crowded environments can produce aberrant neuronal development similar to that seen in socially deprived jewel fish.

Aggression↗

Implementation of the Canadian C-spine rule reduces cervical spine x-ray rate for alert patients with potential neck injury.

The objectives of this before-and-after study of alert, stable adult patients presenting to the Emergency Department of Western Hospital with potential neck injuries who were immobilized in hard cervical collars were to determine the impact of implementation of the Canadian C-spine rule on x-ray ordering rates and whether implementation of the rule reduced time in hard collars for patients with potential neck injury. Data collected included demographics, mechanism of injury, x-ray rate, and time in hard collar. Data analysis was by chi-square test for proportions and Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables. There were 211 patients studied. The x-ray ordering rate decreased from 67% to 50% (25% relative reduction, p = 0.0187). Time in hard collar was also reduced from a median of 128 min to a median of 103 min (effect size 25.5 min), but this did not reach statistical significance. Implementation of the Canadian C-spine rule reduced x-ray ordering by 25%.

Adolescent↗

[Pain reduction after cervical spine surgery. Outcome after implantation of a cervical wing cage in degenerative diseases of the cervical spine--a prospective study].

AIM: Surgery in cervical spine disease using titanium cages is a common procedure to reduce the pain and neurological deficits. This study was aimed to evaluate the results in pain reduction using the wing cage intraoperatively. METHOD: In this prospective study demographic data were noted, whereas special emphasis was placed on pain, which was noted using a visual pain scale and the prolo score, neurological deficits and the causing pathology. Furthermore, questions about the use of analgesics and the duration of pain were asked. After operation with insertion of a wing cage instead of the disk, a neurological investigation 6, 12 and 24 months later was done to evaluate the postoperative status. RESULTS: 54 patients underwent a cervical discectomy in 64 segments as therapy for neck pain or a radiculopathy caused by osteochondrosis or disc disorder. Patients with brachialgia profited most from the operation. Less improvement was seen in cases of osteochondrosis or combined pathology. CONCLUSION: Patients with pain caused by discs in the cervical spine, have better improvement than patients with other pathologies. This should be taken into account when choosing the mode of therapy.

Adult↗

National survey of the incidence of cervical spine injury and approach to cervical spine clearance in U.S. trauma centers.

BACKGROUND: The overall incidence of cervical spine injury (CSI) has been estimated from small studies; the incidence of specific injury types is less well established. The approach to screening for CSI has not been well studied; variation may exist based on Trauma Center (TC) level and type (academic vs. nonacademic). We attempted to define the incidence of different types of CSI and determine whether a national standard for cervical spine clearance (CSC) could be identified. We hypothesized a significant variation in incidence of CSI and approach to CSC based on TC level and type. METHODS: In a survey of 615 TC, institutions were asked to describe themselves as academic/nonacademic and provide a Level I-IV. Questions concerned demographics, Injury Severity Score, incidence of CSI, clinical resources, and approach to CSC. Methods of CSC included protocols, use of flexion-extension films, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cervical collars. Clinical scenarios examined indications and technique for CSC. RESULTS: A total of 637 surveys were sent to 615 TC (25 follow-ups), and 165 TC (25%) responded. A total of 156 TC provided data for type: academic 44 (28%), nonacademic 112 (72%). A total of 142 TC provided data for level: 49 (34%) Level I, 75 (53%), Level II, 18 (13%), Level III. A total of 111,219 patients were entered into the trauma registries of these TC. The overall incidence of all types of CSI was 4.3%, CSI without spinal cord injury was 3.0%, spinal cord injury without fracture was 0.70%, and delayed diagnosis of all types of CSI was 0.01%. There was no difference in the incidence of CSI overall or by subtype based on TC level or type. Injury Severity Score correlated with incidence of CSI without cord injury (r = 0.387, p < 0.01). Regarding approach to CSC, differences existed by TC level and type for responsibility for CSC and protocols for CSC (p < 0.05). Level II TC felt early flexion-extension views were potentially harmful (60%); Level I TC did not (39%) (p < 0.05). Regarding indications for CSC, there was agreement on 10 of 11 clinical scenarios. For three of five clinical scenarios examining radiographic approach to CSC there was a broad distribution of approaches to patients with normal radiographs and cervical pain, altered mental status, coma. CONCLUSION: Incidence of CSI is uniform by TC level and type. Incidence of spinal cord injury without fracture is low: 0.7%. Reported rate of missed CSI is very low: 0.01%. There is good agreement (>78%) among TC on indications for CSC but less agreement on radiographic approach to CSC.

Cervical Vertebrae↗

The North American spine society lumbar spine outcome assessment Instrument: reliability and validity tests.

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of lumbar spine patients, with a subsample followed for retest reliability. OBJECTIVES: To assess the instrument's reliability, validity, and acceptability to patients. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Patients with eight diagnoses, four before surgery and four after surgery, were recruited from six orthopedic practices to test the questionnaire. METHODS: One hundred sixty-seven patients were approached through the physician's office, yielding 136 usable questionnaires (84%) and 24-hour retests on 64 patients. RESULTS: The questionnaire took about 20 minutes to administer and was acceptable to patients. The lumbar spine pain and disability and neurogenic symptoms subscales discriminated among patient groups as hypothesized and showed significantly better scores for patients independently judged successful by their physicians after surgery. Test-retest reliability and internal reliability were high (range, 0.85-0.97). Sample sizes of 20-37 would be needed to detect a 20% difference between two groups (alpha, 0.05; beta, 0.20). CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire should be considered for monitoring of individual patient's progress in treatment and for clinical trials.

Adult↗

A system for surgical staging and management of spine tumors. A clinical outcome study of giant cell tumors of the spine.

STUDY DESIGN: This study developed and independently applied a spine tumor classification system, referred to as the Weinstein-Boriani-Biagini system, in a retrospective analysis of a series of patients with spinal giant cell tumors from three institutions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate factors of potential prognostic significance for recurrence of spinal giant cell tumors. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: No prior reviews of patients treated with modern surgical techniques are available. METHODS: Charts and radiographs for 36 cases of spinal giant cell tumors were reviewed by an independent investigator. All patients had had recent clinical follow-up examinations. All patients were classified according to the Enneking system. A subgroup of 24 patients for whom preoperative computed tomography scans were available were classified using the Weinstein-Boriani-Biagini staging system. Outcome measures included pain, neurologic status, and tumor recurrence. RESULTS: Recurrence rates were substantially higher among patients treated with attempted surgical excision before referral to a tertiary care center (83% vs. 18%). There was a higher recurrence rate for tumors that involved the vertebral body and posterior elements in comparison with lesions residing in only anterior elements (24% vs. 0%). Tumors that had extra-osseous extension into the canal and into the paraspinous musculature had a higher recurrence rate than tumors either confined to the osseous compartment or with extension either into the spinal canal or externally into paraspinous planes, but not both (21% vs. 10%). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the Weinstein-Boriani-Biagini system may prove useful in developing treatment algorithms and in assessing outcome for these rare and difficult lesions. At least in the case of giant cell tumors, the musculoskeletal tumor staging system as developed by Enneking for long bones suggests the ideal surgical margin and may provide information relevant to tumor recurrence rates. Additional aspects of tumor extent and location, however, may berelevant to primary tumor recurrence rates when the selesions occur in the spine.

Adolescent↗