Spine
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Micro-computed tomography (CT) scanning to investigate three-dimensional microstructural properties of L4 vertebral bodies. ⋯ The anterior column in the high-SMI group is more susceptible to vertebral body wedge fracture; and in the low-SMI group, off-axis bone damage is most harmful to the central column of vertebral trabeculae. The data obtained may help to identify the most critical locations of fracture risks at an early stage and provide a microstructural basis for the repair and clinical treatment of vertebral fractures.
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We investigated the mechanical load of the lumbar spine caused by changes of posture and carried load. ⋯ We found that the increase of the actual spinal load during trunk flexion in healthy individuals consisted of the theoretical spinal load and load generated by the back muscle activities.
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MR imaging and multiplanar reconstruction were used to evaluate relative length of the spinal cord to the vertebral column in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). ⋯ There was significantly reduced spinal cord to vertebral column ratios in the AIS patients with severe curve, suggesting a disproportional growth between the skeletal and the neural systems. The relative shortening and functional tethering of spinal cord may play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of AIS.