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J Neurosurg Spine 2019 Feb 15:1-17. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

1Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

OBJECTIVEPredicting neurological recovery following traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is a complex task considering the heterogeneous nature of injury and the inconsistency of individual studies. This study aims to summarize the current evidence on neurological recovery following TSCI by use of a meta-analytical approach, and to identify injury, treatment, and study variables with prognostic significance.METHODSA literature search in MEDLINE and EMBASE was performed, and studies reporting follow-up changes in American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) or Frankel or ASIA motor score (AMS) scales were included in the meta-analysis. Read More

Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Orthopedic and trauma unit, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital, 38000 Grenoble, France.

And Background Data: Many authors have demonstrated the necessity of reconstruction of the anterior column in spinal trauma with vertebral body collapse or nonunion. There is no publication comparing the result depending on the time between trauma and anterior reconstruction of the vertebral body.

Objective: To compare long-term clinical and radiological results between early and late anterior vertebral body reconstruction with expandable cages in patients with thoracic and lumbar spine trauma. Read More

Turk J Med Sci 2019 Feb 11;49(1):258-264. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Background/aim: We aimed to compare the effectivity of percutaneous disc coagulation therapy (PDCT) and navigable ablation decompression treatment (L-DISQ) in patients who were diagnosed with cervical disc herniation.

Materials And Methods: Visual analog scale (VAS) and Neck Pain Index (NPI) scores were recorded initially and at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th months after the procedures. Patient Satisfaction Scale (PSS) scores were recorded 12 months after the procedures

Results: Mean VAS scores were 7. Read More

Mymensingh Med J 2019 Jan;28(1):182-192

Dr Md Kamrul Ahsan, Associate Professor of Spinal Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Bangabandhu Sheikk Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Spine injuries, a common component in Polytrauma are usually affects the young people and is a major cause of morbidity and poses a significant health care expenditure and considerable threats to survival and quality of life. We retrospectively assess the demographics, incidence, mode of trauma, associated spine injuries, complications, neurological improvement and mortality. Records of total 1695 admitted patients, spinal injuries were 262 patients. Read More

Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

St. Vincent Hospital-Metabolic Bone Diseases Unit, The VINFORCE Study Group, Vienna, Austria.

Introduction: Multiple fractures are of high clinical relevance, as a significant increase in mortality rate has been described. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in age and gender distribution in multiple fractures dependent on severity of trauma. Furthermore, affected anatomic regions and frequently associated fracture regions were investigated. Read More

Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Spine and Spinal Cord, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, No.7, the Weft Fifth Road, Jinshui District, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.

Objective: To design a novel prosthesis, a movable artificial lumbar complex (MALC), for non-fusion reconstruction after lumbar subtotal corpectomy and to evaluate the stability, range of motion and load-bearing strength in the human cadaveric lumbar spine.

Methods: Biomechanical tests were performed on lumbar spine specimens from 15 healthy cadavers which were divided in three groups: non-fusion, fusion and intact group. The range of motion (ROM), stability and load-bearing strength were measured. Read More

PM R 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

University of Utah, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Salt Lake City, UT.

Thermal radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN) is used for a variety of indications. Thermal energy is used to thermocoagulate a target structure. Current introduced into the body through the RFN electrode exits the body via an electrical dispersive pad (EDP). Read More

Neuroradiology 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Spine Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.

Purpose: Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation frequently shows spinal canal compression by the remaining annulus, which gradually decreases over time. Transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy (TELD) can remove the herniation with minimal trauma to surrounding soft tissue. We aim to identify this remodeling of annulus fibrosus and the change of disc signal after TELD. Read More

J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

School of Health Jean Piaget Algarve, Piaget Institute, Silves, Portugal.

Background: CrossFit training is performed at high intensity and with limited or no recovery time between sets, being associated to increased injury risk. That is why this study determined injury epidemiology and risk factors for injury in Portuguese CrossFit practitioners.

Methods: The sample included 270 CrossFit practitioners, aged 15 to 53, being 152 (56. Read More

Orthop J Sports Med 2019 Jan 23;7(1):2325967118820046. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

Background: Lumbar spine injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes have not been well studied.

Purpose: To describe the epidemiology of lumbar spine injuries in NCAA athletes during the 2009/2010 through 2014/2015 academic years utilizing the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program (ISP).

Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Read More

Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2019 Feb 4:1-14. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

l Spinal Research Group, Centre for Orthopaedic & Trauma Research, Adelaide Medical School , The University of Adelaide , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia.

There is currently no validated full-body lifting model publicly available on the OpenSim modelling platform to estimate spinal loads during lifting. In this study, the existing full-body-lumbar-spine model was adapted and validated for lifting motions to produce the lifting full-body model. Back muscle activations predicted by the model closely matched the measured erector spinae activation patterns. Read More

Asian Spine J 2019 Feb 30;13(1):173-174. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Spine Surgery, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi, India.

Eur Spine J 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Trauma and Orthopaedics Department, Ipswich Hospital, Heath Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 5PD, UK.

Purpose: To assess the likelihood of persistent postoperative pain (PPP) following reoperation after lumbar surgery and to estimate associated healthcare costs.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study using two linked UK databases: Hospital Episode Statistics and UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Costs and outcomes associated with reoperation were evaluated over a 2-year postoperative period using multivariate logistic regression for cases who underwent reoperation and controls who did not, based on demographics, index surgery type, smoking status, and pre-index comorbidities using propensity score matching. Read More

NMC Case Rep J 2019 Jan 18;6(1):35-37. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of Neurosurgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.

In rare cases, pedicle fracture is associated with spine surgery, spondylolysis, or stress fracture. We report a patient without trauma whose bilateral lumbar pedicle fracture was detected incidentally. A 67-year-old woman reported leg numbness and pain. Read More

Bone Joint J 2019 Feb;101-B(2):198-206

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

Aims: Concurrent hip and spine pathologies can alter the biomechanics of spinopelvic mobility in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study examines how differences in pelvic orientation of patients with spine fusions can increase the risk of dislocation risk after THA.

Patients And Methods: We identified 84 patients (97 THAs) between 1998 and 2015 who had undergone spinal fusion prior to primary THA. Read More

J Orthop Case Rep 2018 Jul-Aug;8(4):74-77

Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece.

Introduction: Sciatic nerve radiculopathy can present as a result of intraspinal or extraspinal causes. Intraspinal disorders can be disk hernia, spinal trauma, tumors, or infection, whereas extraspinal cause representsa disorder outside the lumbar spine. A gluteal artery (GA)false aneurysm can potentially compress the sciatic nerve and causes radiculopathy, with subsequent motor and sensory deficits. Read More

BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2018 27;4(1):e000449. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

The Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.

Background: Athletes who compete in non-weight-bearing activities such as swimming and cycling are at risk of developing low bone mineral density (BMD). Athletes in long-distance running are at risk of low BMD.

Objective: (1) To evaluate the bone health in Norwegian male and female national elite road cyclists and middle-distance and long-distance runners, and to identify cases of low BMD. Read More

Osteoporos Int 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Upper Borough Walls, Bath, BA1 1RL, UK.

Mini Abstract: Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis (PAO) is a rare syndrome affecting women during late pregnancy and the early postpartum period. We set out to review the clinical features of ten cases of PAO from a single UK centre. Patients had attended the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath (RNHRD) between January 2000 and June 2016. Read More

Orthop Rev (Pavia) 2018 Dec 6;10(4):7791. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Clínica Corachán, Barcelona, Spain.

Back pain and diseases of the spine are today a health disorder of outstanding epidemiological, medical, and health economic importance. The cost of care for patients with lumbosciatic complaints are steadily increasing. Accordingly, the guidelines and treatments are constantly renewed. Read More

Spine Deform 2019 Mar;7(2):319-324

Department of Orthopaedics, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.

Study Design: Electronic survey administered to Scoliosis Research Society members.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques for the treatment of adult spinal deformity.

Summary Of Background Data: There is a paucity of data available on the practice pattern, prevalence of minimally invasive spine surgery, and the preferred minimally invasive techniques in the treatment of adult spine deformity. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2019 Jan 17;19(1):58. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Department of Family Medicine, Sengkang Health, SingHealth, 110 Sengkang East Way, Sengkang, 544886, Singapore.

Background: Iliopsoas abscess is a collection of pus in the iliopsoas muscle compartment. It can be primary or secondary in origin. Primary iliopsoas abscess occurs as a result of hematogenous or lymphatic seeding from a distant site. Read More

Neurospine 2018 Oct 15. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

Health Sciences, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in trunk muscle strength 12 months after LSF, compared to preoperative strength.

Materials And Methods: Altogether 194 patients (mean age 61 [SD 21] years) who underwent LSF, participated in this prospective longitudinal study. Participants had physical measurements before surgery and 12 months postoperatively. Read More

Eur Spine J 2019 Jan 16. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 24, 50931, Cologne, Germany.

Purpose: International Standards Organization (ISO) 12189 and American Society for Testing and Materials F2624 are two standard material specification and test methods for spinal implant devices. The aim of this study was to assess whether the existing and required tests before market launch are sufficient.

Methods: In three prospective studies, patients were treated due to degenerative disease of the lumbar spine or spondylolisthesis with lumbar interbody fusion and dynamic stabilization of the cranial adjacent level. Read More

BMC Surg 2019 Jan 15;19(1). Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Clinic for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Center for Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Spinal Cord Injury, Heidelberg University Hospital, Schlierbacher Landstr.200a, 69118, Heidelberg, Germany.

Background: Several studies have emphasized the importance of restoring thoracic kyphosis (TK) in the setting of AIS, but very few have discussed changes in cervical spine alignment following surgery. Aim of this study was to evaluate reciprocal cervical alignment change after modification of global and regional thoracolumbar alignment with surgery in the setting of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Methods: Baseline and 2-yrs follow-up radiographs of AIS patients (n = 81) were analysed measuring cervical parameters (upper cervical: C2-C0, McGregor Slope; lower cervical: C2-C7, C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), C2-T3, C2-T3SVA, C2-T1Harrison (C2-T1Ha), T1 Slope (T1S)), thoracic, lumbar, pelvic and global alignment parameters. Read More

Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi 2019 Jan;33(1):49-55

SectionⅠDepartment of Orthopaedics, the Fourth People's Hospital of Zigong City, Zigong Sichuan, 643000, P.R.China.

Objective: To explore the surgical treatment strategy of the vertebral "shell" after thoracolumbar fracture, and provide clinical reference for the intervention and treatment of "shell".

Methods: Between June 2015 and January 2017, 53 patients with high risk of vertebral "shell" after thoracolumbar fracture surgery were enrolled in a prospective study according to the selection criteria. All patients were randomly divided into two groups according to the order of treatment, 27 cases in the treatment group were treated with short-segment fixation combined with vertebral reconstruction, 26 cases in the control group were treated with short-segment fixation. Read More

Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2019 Feb 7;177:106-113. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Department of Neurosurgery, Wessex Neurological Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, United Kingdom; Division of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Objective: Falls from standing are common, particularly amongst the aging population, due to declining mobility, proprioception and vision. They are often complicated by fragility fractures, including vertebral fractures, that are associated with significant morbidity and may represent a pre-terminal condition with high one-year mortality rates.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review of the Trauma Audit and Research Network database for a major trauma centre was conducted for all patients admitted between January 2011 and December 2016. Read More

Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2019 Jan 9:1-11. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

a Department of Biomedical Engineering , Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zielona Gora , Zielona Gora , Poland.

Malgaigne fractures are the most common and widespread pelvic injuries resulting from the shear forces the action mechanism of which has not been explained in the literature yet. Military accidents with improvised explosive devices (IED) perfectly reflect this type of pelvic fracture. The finite element (FE) model of lumbar-pelvic complex (LPC) was developed based on computed tomography (CT) scans with the seat including steel frame, padding and soft tissue. Read More

Neuromodulation 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Functional Neurosurgery and Stereotaxy, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Introduction: Dorsal root ganglion stimulation is a meanwhile established but rather new technique of neuromodulation to treat chronic pain states of different origin. While being primarily used in the lumbar region, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation also can be used in the upper thoracic and cervical region with slight alterations of the surgical approach. This offers new therapeutic options especially in the treatment of neuropathic pain states of the upper extremities. Read More

J Int Med Res 2019 Feb 8;47(2):1043-1051. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, China.

Traumatic incarceration of the small bowel accompanied by vertebral fractures and dislocation is rare and usually misdiagnosed until laparotomy. This report presents a rare case of jejunum entrapment between lumbar spine fractures. A 43-year-old man was clamped between two railway tracks on the upper abdomen and lower back. Read More

Neurol Neurochir Pol 2019 Jan 7. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Department of Radiology, District Hospital of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Piekary Slaskie, Poland.

Introduction: The association between changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical symptoms in patients with low back pain (LBP) is unclear.

Aim: To evaluate the correlations between combined MRI findings of the lumbar spine (LS) and pain intensity, depressive and anxiety symptoms and quality of life in patients with LBP.

Material And Methods: 200 subjects (93 men, 107 women; mean age 51. Read More

Int Orthop 2019 Jan 5. Epub 2019 Jan 5.

Department of Neurosurgery, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, 21, Namdong-daero 774 beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon, 21565, Republic of Korea.

Purpose: Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy is an effective minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) for soft disc herniations. The objective of this review was to describe the current indications, surgical techniques, and clinical outcomes of endoscopic spine surgery.

Methods: A narrative review was performed with a focus on surgical indication of percutaneous endoscopic discectomy and the clinical outcomes in lumbar and cervical spine. Read More

Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Spine Surgery, Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Zhongshan Road 321, Nanjing, 210008, China.

Introduction: To investigate the relationship between the spinal sagittal alignment and arc of pelvic motion from standing to sitting in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients with thoracolumbar kyphosis following pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO).

Materials And Methods: AS patients who underwent PSO for thoracolumbar kyphosis from January 2016 to July 2018 were recruited. EOS standing and sitting images were obtained pre- and postoperatively. Read More

Stapp Car Crash J 2018 Nov;62:489-513

Survivability/Lethality Analysis Directorate (SLAD).

During Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, improvised explosive devices were used strategically and with increasing frequency. To effectively design countermeasures for this environment, the Department of Defense identified the need for an under-body blast-specific Warrior Injury Assessment Manikin (WIAMan). To help with this design, information on Warfighter injuries in mounted under-body blast attacks was obtained from the Joint Trauma Analysis and Prevention of Injury in Combat program through their Request for Information interface. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(1):e13970

Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka.

Prospective case-control study.This study used a prospective multicenter database to investigate whether dural tear (DT) is associated with an increased rate of other perioperative complications.Few studies have had sufficient data accuracy and statistical power to evaluate the association between DT and other complications owing to a low incidence of occurrence. Read More

J Pediatr Orthop 2018 Dec 26. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee-Campbell Clinic.

Background: Because of concerns about radiation exposure, some centers consider magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) the preferred imaging modality for pediatric thoracic and/or lumbar compression fractures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of computed tomography (CT) and MRI in diagnosing thoracolumbar compression fractures and the utility of MRI in their management.

Methods: Retrospective review identified 52 patients aged 0 to 18 years with 191 thoracic and/or lumbar compression fractures who had both CT and MRI during the initial trauma evaluation. Read More

J Orthop Case Rep 2018 May-Jun;8(3):58-60

Department of Spine surgery, MIOT international hospital, Chennai. India.

Introduction: Bilateral facetal dislocation without facet fracture, although common in cervical spine, is a very rare entity in lumbar spine with <15 cases reported so far. Such injuries are very unstable involving all the three columns. Neurological insult and visceral affection are commonly associated with bilateral facetal dislocation. Read More

Clin Interv Aging 2018 3;13:2465-2472. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Objectives: Osteoporosis is a common skeletal disorder characterized by decreased bone mass and increased susceptibility to fractures, which are associated with pain and decrease in physical function, social function, and well-being, which are all aspects of quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the burden of osteoporosis and fragility fractures in Romanian postmenopausal women from Cluj County using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Quality of life questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO-41) questionnaires.

Materials And Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study on 364 postmenopausal women was carried out between June 2016 and August 2017 in the Clinical Rehabilitation Hospital in Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Injury Prevention Research Office, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Background: Facet dislocations of the lumbar spine, particularly without neurological injury, are rare occurrences following major trauma. While there are documented cases of lumbosacral dislocation in the published literature, strictly lumbar unilateral facet dislocation is rare.

Case Description: We report a case of a unilateral facet dislocation at L4-L5 following a single vehicle motorcycle accident. Read More

Ir Med J 2018 Dec 6;111(10):843. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

National Spinal Injuries Units, Department of Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Introduction Perinatal lumbar discectomy for lumbar disc herniation or cauda equina syndrome is a rare clinical scenario. This case series outlines the surgical management of this clinical scenario at a national tertiary referral centre over a 10-year period Methods A retrospective review of all females who underwent discectomy / decompression for lumbar disc herniation or cauda equina syndrome in the perinatal period at a national tertiary referral centre for spine surgery over a 10-year period between January 2008 to December 2017. Results 6 cases required surgical intervention. Read More

Orthop J Sports Med 2018 Dec 12;6(12):2325967118813083. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA.

Background: Prior to the annual National Football League (NFL) Draft, the top college football prospects are evaluated by medical personnel from each team at the NFL Scouting Combine. On the basis of these evaluations, each athlete is assigned an orthopaedic grade from the medical staff of each club, which aims to predict the impact of an athlete's injury history on his ability to participate in the NFL.

Purpose: (1) To identify clinical predictors of signs, symptoms, and subsequent professional participation associated with football-related injuries identified at the NFL Combine and (2) to assess the methodological quality of the evidence currently published. Read More

Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2018 Nov 23;6(11):2107-2110. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine Udayana University, Sanglah General Hospital, Bali, Indonesia.

Aim: To determine whether elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), as risk factors of symptomatic lumbar osteoarthritis (OA) in estrogen deficiency postmenopausal women.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted between January and June 2017. The inclusion criteria include post-menopausal women with estrogen deficiency with low back pain. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(50):e13374

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Spine Center, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.

Rationale: We report on a patient with a positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans (PET/CT)-negative malignant spine tumor, which had even caused a pathologic fracture, and was eventually confirmed on surgical biopsy.

Patient Concerns: A 67-year-old man visited our emergency department with sudden onset of lower extremities paraplegia after slip down. On examination, gradually increasing paralysis was observed in both lower limbs. Read More

Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2018 Dec 6;61:112-119. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

University of Cologne, Centre for Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Germany.

Background: Posterior dynamic stabilization systems are developed to maintain the healthy biomechanics of the spine while providing stabilization. Numerous dynamic systems incorporate polycarbonate urethane with temperature- and moisture-dependent material properties. In the underlying study, a novel test rig is used to evaluate the biomechanical performance of a system containing polycarbonate urethane. Read More

Traffic Inj Prev 2018 Dec 13:1-7. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

c Department of Public Health , University of Virginia , Charlottesville , Virigina.

Objective: The clinical evaluation of motor vehicle collision (MVC) victims is challenging and commonly relies on computed tomography (CT) to detect internal injuries. CT scans are financially expensive and each scan exposes the patient to additional ionizing radiation with an associated, albeit low, risk of cancer. Injury risk prediction based on regression modeling has been to be shown to be successful in estimating Injury Severity Scores (ISSs). Read More

Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Orthopedic Department, University Hospital Jena, Campus Waldkliniken Eisenberg, Klosterlausnitzer Str. 81, 07607, Eisenberg, Germany.

Introduction: Surgical treatment methods for degenerative spondylolisthesis (decompression versus decompression and fusion) have been critically debated. The medical care situation is almost unknown for either treatment. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to provide information regarding the use of parameters for decision-making and the employment of surgical techniques. Read More

Wideochir Inne Tech Maloinwazyjne 2018 Dec 1;13(4):525-532. Epub 2018 Jun 1.

Department of Orthopedics, Taizhou Hospital, Zhejiang, China.

Introduction: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) has been widely used to treat degenerative lumbar diseases. The PIPELINE Access minimally invasive system allows reduction of the trauma to the patient during TLIF.

Aim: To present our preliminary experience with the minimally invasive TLIF (mTLIF) technique performed on the first 7 patients with dual-segment lower lumbar degenerative disease (DS-LLDD). Read More

Sports Med Int Open 2018 Nov 16;2(6):E179-E184. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Golf Biomechanic Academy, Teaching, Pforzheim, Germany.

In the sport of golf, there is no standard teaching method or swing technique even though golf is known for overuse injuries. This prospective study was to analyze classic swing kinematics in comparison with the Free-Release method and to define a physiological golf swing. Two hundred eighty-three players, age 50-59 years, were included in the study. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Policlinico "G. Rodolico" University Hospital, Via Santa Sofia 86, 95123 - Catania, Italy.

Background: Arachnoiditis ossificans (AO) is a rare condition often associated with previous spine surgery. Here we describe a unique case of a patient affected by ankylosing spondylitis (AS), presenting with progressive neurological deterioration due to AO. We also review the literature on evaluation and management of patients suffering from AO. Read More

Acta Bioeng Biomech 2018 ;20(4):25-30

Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, W. Dega University Hospital, Poznań, Poland.

Introduction: Previous studies have demonstrated that the length of the lumbar spine is decreasing with age. Despite considerable research based on sagittal measurements, little is known about the changes in the volume of vertebrae. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in the volume of either column of the spine with age. Read More

Clin Spine Surg 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine.

Study Design: Case-control study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to reveal the changes of leg muscle strength after lateral interbody fusion (LIF).

Summary Of Background Data: Muscle trauma and damage to intermuscular nerves due to dissection of the psoas are recognized perioperative complications of LIF. Read More