Spine
-
Comparative Study
Reoperation rates following lumbar spine surgery and the influence of spinal fusion procedures.
Retrospective cohort study using a hospital discharge registry of all nonfederal acute care hospitals in Washington state. ⋯ Patients should be informed that the likelihood of reoperation following a lumbar spine operation is substantial. For spondylolisthesis, reoperation is less likely following fusion than following decompression alone. For other degenerative spine conditions, the cumulative incidence of reoperation is higher or unimproved after a fusion procedure compared to decompression alone.
-
Ten cadavers were dissected to describe the cutaneous branches of the dorsal rami nerves that should be identified and protected throughout the thoracoplasty procedure. ⋯ Both branches of the dorsal rami nerves are encountered during the posterior approaches used. Medial branches have the best chance for identification and preservation with the subtrapezial approach. Lateral branches can be identified and protected in each of the 3 posterior exposures.
-
Comparative Study
Senescence in cells of the aging and degenerating intervertebral disc: immunolocalization of senescence-associated beta-galactosidase in human and sand rat discs.
Human intervertebral disc anulus tissue was obtained in a prospective study of cell senescence. Localization of the senescence biomarker beta-galactosidase (senescence associated beta-galactosidase, SA-beta-gal) was used for quantitative determination of the % senescent cells. Discs were obtained from surgical specimens or control donors. Discs were also studied from the lumbar spine of the sand rat. Experimental studies were approved by the authors' Human Subjects Institutional Review Board and animal use committee. ⋯ Quantitative analysis of immunohistochemical localization of SA-beta-gal identified a sizeable population of senescent cells in the aging/degenerating disc. It is important to discover more about the senescent disc cell population because these cells persist and accumulate over time within the disc. Since senescent cells cannot divide, senescence may reduce the disc's ability to generate new cells to replace existing ones lost to necrosis or apoptosis.
-
Comparative Study
Sarpogrelate hydrochloride, a 5-HT2A receptor antagonist, attenuates neurogenic pain induced by nucleus pulposus in rats.
An in vivo study using a rat lumbar disc herniation model. ⋯ Sarpogrelate attenuated pain-related behavior induced by the nucleus pulposus in the animal model. Although further investigation is needed concerning the mechanism of action, this study supported the hypothesis that sarpogrelate is efficacious for treating the pain of lumbar disc herniation.