Spine
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Comparative Study
Multilevel spinal growth modulation with an anterolateral flexible tether in an immature bovine model.
A bovine model was used to evaluate the effects of a multilevel anterolateral flexible tether in a growing spine. ⋯ Given adequate bony fixation, a flexible lateral spinal tether can affect growth modulation. This technique of growth modulation may serve as a future fusionless method of correction in a growing patient with scoliosis.
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Comparative Study
Effect of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in an experimental model of spinal fusion in a radiated area.
An animal model of posterolateral intertransverse process spine fusion was used. ⋯ Use of rhBMP-2 produced a significantly greater rate of fusion compared with ICBG in a previously radiated area in an animal model, without the morbidity of ICBG harvesting and without the risk of inadvertently using autograft contaminated by micrometastases.
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Comparative Study
Reduction of vertebral blood flow by segmental vessel occlusion: an intraoperative study using laser Doppler flowmetry.
During anterior spinal surgery, vertebral perfusion was assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry. Blood flow changes were assessed after unilateral ligation and contralateral compression of the segmental vessels. ⋯ Unilateral ligation of segmental vessels led only to a slight decrease of the vertebral blood flow. Future studies may show whether sparing the segmental vessels during anterior fusion enhances bone graft incorporation, thus decreasing the rate of pseudarthrosis. According to clinical data, the risk of neurologic injury through unilateral ligation is negligible. Bilateral segmental vessel occlusion markedly reduced vertebral bloodflow. Therefore, when treating patients with a higher neurologic risk or in revision cases, the surgeon should always consider sparing the segmental vessels.