Spine
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Case Reports
Irreducible dislocations of the cervical spine with a prolapsed disc: preliminary results from a treatment technique.
The preliminary results from a treatment technique for irreducible dislocations of the cervical spine with prolapsed disk are reported. ⋯ The reported technique was used successfully in the treatment of four patients with irreducible dislocations of the cervical spine.
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Comparative Study
Biomechanical comparison of cervical spine interbody fusion cages.
An in vitro biomechanical study of cervical spine interbody fusion cages using a sheep model was conducted. ⋯ The biomechanical results indicate that design variations in screw and cylinder design groups are of little importance. In this study, however, cages with a cylinder design were able to control extension and bending more effectively than cages with a screw design.
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A three-dimensional kinematic analysis of lumbar spinal movements with an ultrasonic measuring system was used to distinguish patients with chronic low back pain from those without such pain. ⋯ The phasic patterns and angular spinal displacements of patients with nonspecific low back pain were shown to be within normal limits. However, the patients demonstrated higher degrees of stride-to-stride variability, representing increased fluctuations in dynamic thoracic and pelvic oscillations. These findings, resulting in less than optimal gait patterns, must be considered in the rehabilitation of patients with chronic low back pain.
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A rat model was developed to elucidate the role of excitatory amino acids and spinal subarachnoid block in the genesis of post-traumatic syringomyelia. This excitotoxic model produces intramedullary cavities rather than the dilation of the central canal (canalicular syringomyelia) created by previous animal models. ⋯ In post-traumatic syringomyelia, excitotoxic cell death occurring secondarily to elevated levels of excitatory amino acids may contribute to the pathologic process leading to the formation of spinal cord cysts. Subarachnoid block by arachnoiditis is likely to cause enlargement of the cavity.
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Cineradiography was used to analyze continuous dynamic motion in the lumbar spine. ⋯ Motion analyses using cineradiography helped to explain the phenomena of lumbar spine kinematics. Based on continuous dynamic-motion analysis with cineradiography, large f-e angle and disordered motion pattern during the flexion-backward course in the DS group I was considered to be caused by segmental instability. The decreased translation and disordered motion pattern throughout the flexion course in the DS group II was considered to be caused by restabilization.