Spine
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A retrospective assessment of 12 patients with pyogenic spondylitis accompanied by iliopsoas abscess treated by continuous irrigation with our new method between March 2003 and July 2005. ⋯ This treatment is minimally invasive and useful in carefully selected patients with pyogenic spondylitis complicated by iliopsoas abscess.
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Cadaveric biomechanical study and retrospective chart review. ⋯ Segmental fixation of burst fractures with screws at the level of the fracture offers improved biomechanical stability. Theoretically, segmental fixation provides for additional fixation points that may aid in fracture reduction and kyphosis correction. This specific parameter is not evaluated in this study but will be an important outcome measure for a planned randomized controlled trial.
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Prospective case-control study testing a new diagnostic method. ⋯ The study demonstrates that it is feasible and safe to measure NO with a real time-sensor in or around the facet joints. The findings of higher concentrations of NO in the perifacetal region in chronic low back patients compared with healthy controls indicate that the degenerative process of the joints in these patients may cause increased NO production. The observation of higher NO concentrations in the perifacetal region in patients responding to corticosteroid/local anesthetic infiltration indirectly suggest a more pronounced inflammatory process in these patients.
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Retrospective radiographic/imaging study. ⋯ There is a close linear association between the facet fluid index and the amount of radiographic instability at L4-L5. Facet fluid on MRI should raise high suspicion of lumbar instability.
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A retrospective review of children with neuromuscular scoliosis treated at our institution with posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation including iliac screws. ⋯ The use of screw fixation in the ilium as a means of spinopelvic anchorage is safe and effective in the treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis. The use of 2 screws in each iliac wing provides more stable fixation with fewer implant-related complications than using a single screw.