Spine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Unilateral enucleation affects the laterality but not the incidence of scoliosis in pinealectomized chicken.
Randomized prospective study using an experimental scoliosis model in a pinealectomized chicken. ⋯ Unilateral visual impairment does not have a significant effect on the overall incidence and magnitude of scoliosis in the pinealectomized chicken. It does affect the laterality of the curves though, visually impaired subjects having a significantly higher likelihood of left thoracic curves, regardless of the side of blindness. It may be worthwhile to see if such an association is present in human beings as well.
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Comment Comparative Study
A review of the 2001 Volvo Award winner in clinical studies: lumbar fusion versus nonsurgical treatment for chronic low back pain: a multicenter randomized controlled trial from the Swedish lumbar spine study group.
The current debate over the efficacy of lumbar fusion for low back pain has not been settled. Fritzell et al published a landmark paper entitled "Lumbar fusion versus nonsurgical treatment for chronic low back pain: a multicenter randomized controlled trial from the Swedish lumbar spine study group." Their goal was to provide objective evidence supporting lumbar fusion. While it was well designed and important to our knowledge base, it has limitations. ⋯ From technical and study design perspectives, Fritzell et al were able to validate the use of lumbar fusion for the treatment of low back pain. However, their use of "usual nonoperative" care and nonspecific definition of low back pain precluded a truly genuine comparison of operative and nonoperative groups. We commend the Swedish lumbar spine study group and their remarkable efforts; they elevated the sophistication of spine research and spawned many more excellent works to help settle the ongoing controversy on the ideal treatment of low back pain.
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A retrospective, comparative follow-up study. ⋯ Circumferential fusion provided significantly better long-term clinical, radiographic, and SRS total score than posterolateral or anterior fusion for high-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis.
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Comparative Study
A prospective study of de novo scoliosis in a community based cohort.
A 12-year prospective study of de novo scoliosis in a community based cohort. OBJECTIVE.: To investigate factors associated with development of de novo scoliosis. ⋯ Incidence of de novo scoliosis was predictable by assessing asymmetric disc degeneration in frontal radiograph. More than 20% decrease in unilateral disc height or more than 5 mm longer osteophyte on one side led to increased incidence of de novo scoliosis, which might also influence long-term results of spinal surgery.
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Comparative Study
An evaluation of image-guided technologies in the placement of percutaneous iliosacral screws.
A surgical simulation study in human cadaver spine specimens was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of 3 different surgical navigation systems compared to standard fluoroscopy in the percutaneous placement of iliosacral screws. ⋯ Computer-assisted fluoroscopy based image navigation appears to be more accurate than standard fluoroscopy in placing these screws. However, errors may occur with all techniques. Further refinement in registration procedures may highly improve the accuracy of percutaneous screw placement in a variety of spinopelvic procedures.