Spine
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A case study of a patient with Ewing sarcoma of T8 and T9 with paravertebral and chest wall involvement, who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and subsequent multilevel en bloc spondylectomy and chest wall excision using a simultaneous anterior and posterior approach. ⋯ Multilevel en bloc spondylectomy and chest wall excision performed using a simultaneous anterior and posterior approach is a safe and effective technique that may be used to achieve adequate margins in select patients with malignant tumors involving the thoracic spine and chest wall. This technique can eliminate the need for radiation therapy in patients with Ewing sarcoma and probably decreases the risk of local recurrence compared with radiation therapy alone.
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Observational cohort study with computerized tomography (CT) analysis of in vivo pedicle screw placement. ⋯ The clinical pedicle breach rate in this study is comparable to those reported using conventional techniques with or without fluoroscopic assistance. FluoroNav appears to be a safe adjunct for the placement of thoracic and LS pedicle screws.
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An original study was performed evaluating the information presented on existing web sites for the topic of lumbar disc herniation. ⋯ The quality of internet information on lumbar disc herniation is variable. Less than 10% of relevant web sites were determined to be of high-quality. The vast majority of sites were of poor informational value and more than one-third sought secondary commercialgain. The rank list of high quality sites generated from ourinformational quality score should prove useful to patients seeking information on the internet pertaining to lumbar disc herniation.
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A histological evaluation of biopsies obtained from presumed osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCF) to confirm possible osteomalacia after tetracycline labeling. ⋯ The majority of biopsies from this series of patients revealed findings consistent with various stages of fracture healing. Osteoid seams were increased in 30 patients, representing either increased bone remodeling or osteomalacia. More cases with tetracycline labeling will help elucidate the true incidence of osteomalacia in this population. As we confirmed 4 cases of plasma cell dyscrasia, we advocate a biopsy during each first-time vertebral augmentation procedure.
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Case Reports
Surgical management of severe cervical kyphosis with myelopathy in osteogenesis imperfecta: a case report.
A case of a 9-year-old child with Osteogenesis Imperfecta and severe cervical kyphosis associated with wedged vertebrae and progressive neurological deterioration is presented. ⋯ Cervical kyphotic deformity in Osteogenesis Imperfecta is uncommon. Association of this condition with wedged vertebrae is rare. Surgical decompression of the upper cervical spine is a challenging problem in the presence of this deformity. Which surgical approach to use is controversial. There are difficulties exposing wedged vertebrae by a standard anterior approach, and hence we have used a modified anterolateral approach to address this surgical problem, because a posterolateral approach was impossible with the intervening vertebral arteries. Spinal stabilization in children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta and poor bone stock is a challenge. We have used a small diameter MOSS cage ("Harms mesh cage") with maxillofacial plate and screws to achieve stabilization and fusion.