Journal of spinal disorders & techniques
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J Spinal Disord Tech · Jul 2011
Comparative StudySurgical correction of paralytic neuromuscular scoliosis with poor pulmonary functions.
A retrospective study. ⋯ Although complications are associated with the treatment of paralytic NMS, a good clinical and function outcome suggests that poor PFT should not be considered as a contraindication of scoliosis surgery.
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J Spinal Disord Tech · Jul 2011
Posterior-only approach with selective segmental TLIF for degenerative lumbar scoliosis.
Forty-six patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis, and treated with selective segmental transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), were studied retrospectively. ⋯ Selective segmental TLIF is helpful in correcting lumbar lordosis, segmental deformity, and translation, and thus obtaining satisfactory outcome in the treatment of degenerative lumbar scoliosis.
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J Spinal Disord Tech · Jul 2011
Long-term durability of minimal invasive posterior transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: a clinical and radiographic follow-up.
Both open and minimally invasive lumbar fusion surgeries (MIS) are used to treat patients with symptomatic degenerative spinal pathologies. Open lumbar fusion surgery studies have reported excellent short-term safety and long-term clinical outcomes. MIS has shown excellent safety and short-term clinical success, but there is very little information on its long-term clinical durability. ⋯ The results of this study support the long-term clinical effectiveness of MIS TLIF for varying diagnoses. These results suggest that those undergoing a 1-level or 2-level lumbar fusion improve equally, and that older patients do well with MIS surgery long term. Reoperation rates were acceptable, with excellent surgical durability at 49 months. The benefit of decompression was not assessed in this study, and future studies should assess its impact long term.
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Evaluation of lumbar total disc arthroplasty (TDA) in military patients. ⋯ This study showed clinical success approaching 80% in military patients who underwent lumbar TDA. Furthermore, close to 70% were able to return to their positions within the military. TDA, while more closely reapproximating the normal biomechanics of the spine, may provide patients with an improved alternative to spinal arthrodesis for degenerative disc disease.
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J Spinal Disord Tech · Jul 2011
Review Case ReportsMinimal invasive anterolateral transthoracic transpleural approach: a novel technique for thoracic disc herniation. A review of the literature, description of a new surgical technique and experience with first 12 consecutive patients.
A retrospective review of a case series. ⋯ Anterior decompression using a transthoracic transpleural approach provides excellent exposure and allows consistent decompression of thoracic disc herniations. This study demonstrated that a new minimally invasive, transthoracic transpleural decompression technique can be safely performed for single-level thoracic disc herniations. The early results showed that this technique allows less dissection, along with the advantages of conventional thoracotomy.