Spine
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Calculate the apparent pseudarthrosis rate for anteriorly plated cervical spine fusions using different threshold levels of intervertebral rotation. ⋯ The apparent pseudarthrosis rate was highly dependent on the threshold of motion used to define a pseudarthrosis.
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Retrospective study of large-magnitude thoracic curves (> or =90 degrees ) treated with pedicle screw constructs. ⋯ Thoracic pedicle screw constructs can be safely used for large-magnitude curves. Curve correction (68%) is powerful for these curves, which are stiff and difficult to manage. Correction should be performed carefully with consideration given to convex compression for cases with concomitant hyperkyphosis for these "at risk" spinal cords. Screw accuracy (96.3%) was excellent in this review. The authors found that screws can consistently be placed according to the preoperative plan even in these large-magnitude curves.
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Video observation study. ⋯ Effort level can be determined validly by means of visual observation.
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A retrospective study on the correlation between preoperative pulmonary function tests, preoperative pulmonary symptoms, and postoperative pulmonary complications. ⋯ The incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications increased with the deterioration of pulmonary function tests. The posterior procedure had a very low incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications, but a transthoracic procedure increased the complications significantly. Preoperative pulmonary symptoms usually predicted abnormal results of pulmonary function tests but had no correlation with postoperative pulmonary complication.
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A retrospective comparison of postoperative continuous epidural analgesia and patient-controlled analgesia following surgical treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. ⋯ Although both continuous epidural analgesia and patient-controlled analgesia provide effective pain control following surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, patients with continuous epidural analgesia had significantly better pain scores for all time periods, less fluctuations in pain, and lower maximum pain levels during the postoperative period.