Spine
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Survival analyses of a large cohort of published lumbar spine compression fatigue tests. ⋯ A spinal fatigue model which predicts the risk of in vitro lumbar spinal failure within a narrow confidence interval has been developed. Age and sex were found to have significant effects on fatigue strength, with sex differences extending beyond those accounted for by endplate area disparities.
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Experimental, human cadaveric study. ⋯ Polymethylmethacrylate cement augmentation clearly enhances pedicle screw fixation in osteoporotic vertebrae when tested in pure pullout. The technique used for cement injection and choice of specialty screws can have a significant impact on the magnitude of this effect. Fenestrated screws have the capacity to confine cement placement in the vertebral body and may provide enhanced safety from cement extrusion into the spinal canal. It is feasible to inject high-viscosity PMMA through this fenestration geometry, and higher-viscosity cement may enhance the fixation effect.
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A cadaver and clinical study investigated the attachment of the nuchal ligament to the cervical spinous process. ⋯ This study shows that there is an association between the individual anatomical differences of the nuchal ligament and the occurrence of postoperative axial pain after laminoplasty. Careful attention should be paid to the morphology of the attachment of the nuchal ligament to the C6 spinous process to reduce postoperative axial pain.
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A technical note and a retrospective review of cervical osteotomy using an innovative reduction technique. ⋯ Using the sterile-freehand reduction technique, the operator can obtain a safe, controlled reduction with close monitoring of the surgical field. The technique is potentially a simple and effective method to provide stable, 3-dimensional reduction for corrective osteotomies of the cervical spine.