Spine
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Cadaver study. ⋯ Transpedicular measurement of peak breakaway torque is technically feasible and predicts reliable local bone strength and implant failure for dorsal spinal instrumentations in this experimental setting.
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A retrospective survey using privacy-conscious questionnaires. ⋯ Lumbar disc herniation largely impacted sexual desire, activity, and satisfaction. Adjustment in sexual position was required in large number of patients to avoid discomfort during sexual activities. Surgical treatment improved quality of sexual activities, but more females did not regain sexual desire, felt sexual discomfort, and thereby resumed sexual activities later than males after surgery.
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Comparative Study
Infective spondylitis in Southern Chinese: a descriptive and comparative study of ninety-one cases.
A retrospective review of infective spondylitis patients assessed at a major, tertiary referral centre in Hong Kong. ⋯ In Southern Chinese, compared to previous reports over the past 3 decades, a changing prevalence of decreasing tuberculous spondylitis was observed. Pyogenic spondylitis was found to be more common among patients hospitalized for infective spondylitis. This has important implications on the method of diagnosis and the need for establishing microbiological diagnosis before commencing treatment. "Best guess" therapy should not be targeted at tuberculous spondylitis only. There are clear distinctions in the biologic and clinical profiles between tuberculous and pyogenic spondylitis that would help to direct therapy.
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A retrospective analysis of 9 patients who underwent a modified surgical procedure for the treatment of far lateral lumbar disc herniations. ⋯ This modified contralateral approach offered a wide exposure of intervertebral foramen region and allowed to remove the herniated disc material with minimal resection of osseous and ligamentous structures. Successful results were achieved in all patients treated by this technique.
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A cadaveric specimen study. ⋯ A large percentages of C2 laminae are of sufficient size to safely accommodate a bicortical 3.5-mm diameter screw. The thickness of the lamina and the height of the spinous process are the 2 limiting factors for safe translaminar screws placement. Using a bicortical technique confirms the position of the screw and thereby helps to decrease the risk of neurologic injury from screw penetration of the inner cortex of the lamina.