Spine
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Retrospective comparative study using prospectively collected data. ⋯ 2.
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Clinical study. ⋯ The endoscopic transoral approach may be a more direct route to C1 and the odontoid than the endoscopic endonasal approach. This approach allows complete resection odontoid to decompress the cervicomedullary junction without increasing the risk of complications such as wound infection, meningitis, and velopharyngeal insufficiency. Usually, the occipitocervical posterior fusion and tracheotomy is less necessary in this approach.
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Retrospective analysis of a population-based database. ⋯ 4.
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The possibility to prevent acute spinal cord injury (ASCI) by selective infliximab combined with methylprednisolone (MP) was assessed in experimental ASCI. ⋯ Infliximab combined with methylprednisolone may be an effective treatment for the recovery of ASCI. Further study is needed to determine if this neuroprotective effect is seen for long-term outcomes especially in human ASCI.
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Observational Study
Scheuermann's Disease: Evaluation of Radiological Criteria and Population Prevalence.
Study Design: Observational population-based studyObjective: Determine the prevalence of radiographic Scheuermann's disease in a Dutch population and evaluate the consistency of diagnostic criteria. Summary of Background Data: Scheuermann's disease is a form of osteochondrosis characterized by increased posterior rounding of the thoracic spine with structural vertebral deformity. Different expert-opinion based radiological criteria exist, yet these have not been validated. ⋯ Adjustment of the kyphosis angle criterion from 45 to 40 or 35 degrees increased the number of cases marginally, corresponding to prevalence estimates not significantly different from the estimates using original criteria (4.2% [3.3-4.7%] and 4.4% [3.6%-5.2%]). Conclusion: Our results revealed a prevalence of 4.0% of radiographic Scheuermann's disease in Dutch individuals aged 45 years and over. Although there is no current gold standard for the radiographic definition, standardized scoring of independent features resulted in substantial inter-observer agreement, and different applications of diagnostic criteria did not significantly alter the classification.