Spine
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Temporary external transpedicular fixation of the lumbosacral spine: a prospective, longitudinal study in 330 patients.
In this study, 330 patients with incapacitating low back pain underwent temporary external transpedicular fixation (TETF) of the lumbosacral spine in a prospective trial. ⋯ In this heterogeneous group of chronic patients with low back pain, TETF of the spine (including a placebo trial) does not appear to be of value in selecting suitable candidates for spinal fusion.
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Comparative Study
The TRP2 allele of COL9A2 is an age-dependent risk factor for the development and severity of intervertebral disc degeneration.
Low back pain (LBP) and sciatica are usually caused by degenerative disc disease (DDD). Although they are common, the etiology of these conditions is poorly understood. A large population case-control study in the Southern Chinese was performed to study genetic risk factors to DDD. ⋯ This largest-ever population study using MRI to define DDD demonstrates for the first time that the Trp2 allele is a significant risk factor for the development and severity of degeneration. The association is age- dependent as it is more prevalent in some age groups than in others. The contrasting Trp allele frequencies between the Finns and the Chinese are the first indication that the genetic risk factors for DDD varies between ethnic groups.
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Comparative Study
Does anterior plating of the cervical spine predispose to adjacent segment changes?
In a human cadaveric model, the effects of plate supplementation on the mechanical behaviors of adjacent segments were investigated. ⋯ Intradiscal pressures and intervertebral motion at the adjacent levels are not significantly affected by the instrumented anterior fusion. The clinically observed degenerative change at adjacent segments in the cervical spine is more likely to be attributed to natural progression of the spondylotic process as opposed to biomechanical effect of the instrumentation or fusion.
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Comparative Study
Balloon kyphoplasty is effective in deformity correction of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.
A prospective radiographic analysis of deformity correction during the balloon kyphoplasty procedure. ⋯ The restoration of height in kyphoplasty is attributed to dynamic fracture mobility as well as to the expansion of the inserted balloon tamp.
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Comparative Study
Human anulus fibrosis and nucleus pulposus cells of the intervertebral disc: effect of degeneration and culture system on cell phenotype.
Human intervertebral disc cells were harvested from patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and from donors with degenerative disc disease. Anulus fibrosis (AF) was separated from nucleus pulposus (NP), and cells were cultured separately in two different cell culture models. ⋯ These results provide a better understanding of how the phenotype of human healthy and degenerative disc cells is influenced by in vitro expansion. This may be useful for future tissue engineering purposes.