Spine
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Seven patients with angular kyphotic deformity of the thoracic or thoracolumbar spine were treated by closing-opening wedge osteotomy using a single posterior approach. ⋯ Satisfactory correction is safely performed by closing-opening wedge osteotomy with a direct visualization of the circumferentially decompressed spinal cord. Although the performance is technically laborious, it offers good correction without jeopardizing the integrity of the spinal cord.
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The case reports of three pregnant patients with lumbar disc herniation causing cauda equina syndrome or severe neurologic deficits are presented to illustrate that disc surgery during gestation is a safe method of management. ⋯ Although extremely rare, cauda equina syndrome and severe and/or progressive neurologic deficit caused by lumbar disc displacement can occur during pregnancy. The prevalence of symptomatic lumbar disc herniation during pregnancy may be on the increase because of the increasing age of patients who are becoming pregnant. These cases showed, and the literature confirms, that pregnancy at any stage is no contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging scan, epidural and/or general anesthesia, and surgical disc excision.
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An experimental study was performed using cadaveric lumbar spines to evaluate the effect of anteriorly or laterally placed interbody distraction implants on the alteration of spinal canal and neuroforaminal dimensions. ⋯ Interbody distraction either by anteriorly inserted plugs or laterally inserted threaded cagescan immediately improve the narrowed canal area and increase spinal canal, as well as foraminal volume for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis or retro- spondylolisthesis.
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A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was performed. ⋯ There is moderate evidence showing that multidisciplinary rehabilitation for subacute low back pain is effective, and that work site visit increases the effectiveness, but because the analyzed studies had some methodologic shortcomings, an obvious need still exists for high-quality trials in this field.