Spine
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A new stimulus-triggered electromyography (EMG) test for detecting stimulus diffusion to contralateral intercostal muscles during thoracic pedicle screw placement was assessed in a porcine model. ⋯ Stimulus-triggered EMG can identify screws that violate the medial pedicle wall if they are in contact with neural tissues. EMG thresholds could not discriminate screws that violated the medial pedicle wall without neural contact from screws with accurate intraosseous placement. However, recording EMG potentials at the contralateral intercostal muscles (stimulus diffusion phenomenon) proved to be a reliable method for identifying the neural structures at risk.
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Meta Analysis
Percutaneous treatment of vertebral compression fractures: a meta-analysis of complications.
This study performs a meta-analysis to compare complication rates from vertebroplasty (VP) and kyphoplasty (KP). ⋯ VP and KP are 2 minimally invasive procedures that have been shown to be effective in the treatment of symptomatic vertebral compression fractures. Although the incidence of adverse events for both VP and KP are low, it appears that VP is associated with a statistically significant increased rate of procedure-related complications and cement extravasation (symptomatic and asymptomatic). Future prospective studies with large patient enrollment will be needed to further validate the finding of this meta-analysis.
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Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation were performed on the Chinese version of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). ⋯ The results showed that the translation and adaptation were successful. The SCODI has proven to be valid and reliable when used in the simplified Chinese speaking population.
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We conducted an observational study using mailed questionnaires to 3 random samples of general practitioners from Victoria and New South Wales, Australia in 1997, 2000, and 2004. ⋯ A special interest in back pain is associated with back pain management beliefs contrary to the best available evidence. This has serious implications for management of back pain in the community.
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An IACUC-approved study to create a scoliotic deformity representative of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. ⋯ This study establishes a porcine scoliosis model. With placement of a unilateral ligamentous spinal tether combined with concave ribcage ligament tethering a three-dimensional (frontal, sagittal, and axial) spinal deformity can be obtained. The speed of the progressive deformity leaves significant remaining skeletal growth to assess growth modulating therapies for correction. This work forms the basis for a number of investigative efforts at developing new fusionless therapies for patients suffering from adolescent scoliosis.