Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jul 2003
Relationship between alignment of upper and lower cervical spine in asymptomatic individuals.
The aim of this study was to establish standard values for the normal alignment of the upper cervical spine and to clarify its relationship with the lower cervical spine in terms of alignment ⋯ Such relationships between alignment of the upper and lower cervical spines should be taken into consideration when performing occipitocervical fusion.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jul 2003
Diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging for detecting posterior ligamentous complex injury associated with thoracic and lumbar fractures.
The posterior ligamentous complex (PLC) in the thoracic and lumbar spine is one of the region's important stabilizers. The precise diagnosis of PLC injury is required to evaluate the instability of the injured spine; however, the accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for diagnosing PLC injury has remained unclear. In this study, the authors compared preoperative MR imaging findings with direct intraoperative observation of PLC injury, clarifying the former's diagnostic accuracy regarding detection of PLC injury associated with the thoracic and lumbar fractures. ⋯ This study clarified a high diagnostic accuracy and interobserver reliability of MR imaging for PLC injury. The precise diagnosis of PLC injury is essential to determine the mechanical instability of the injured thoracic and lumbar spine, especially in differentiating unstable (three-column) burst fractures from the relatively stable (two-column) type. The authors conclude that MR imaging is a powerful diagnostic tool to evaluate PLC injury associated with thoracic and lumbar fractures.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jul 2003
Topical mitomycin C-induced inhibition of postlaminectomy peridural fibrosis in rabbits.
The authors conducted a study to determine the effectiveness of mitomycin C in preventing postlaminectomy peridural fibrosis in rabbits. ⋯ Peridural fibrosis can be a devastating condition that develops after laminectomy. Topical application of mitomycin C may be a successful method of preventing postlaminectomy peridural fibrosis.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jul 2003
Sonic hedgehog-induced neural precursor proliferation after adult rodent spinal cord injury.
The glycoprotein molecule sonic hedgehog (Shh) has been shown to play a critical role in neuraxial development. To assess its role in the repair of demyelination following spinal cord injury (SCI), escalating doses of Shh were injected into demyelinated lesions in adult rat spinal cords. ⋯ Exogenous Shh administration promotes nestin-positive cell proliferation after SCI in adult rodents. These cells are believed to be derived from neural precursor cells. The populations of oligodendrocyte precursors and neurons were likewise increased in Shh-treated rats, suggesting that these cells may be derived from neural stem cells.