Spine
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Cross-sectional study. ⋯ This study uses preoperative anemia to demonstrate the potential inaccuracies of ICD-9 coding. These results have implications for publications using databases that are compiled from ICD-9 coding data. Furthermore, the findings of the current investigation raise concerns regarding the accuracy of additional comorbidities. Although administrative databases are powerful resources that provide large sample sizes, it is crucial that we further consider the quality of the data source relative to its intended purpose.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Pragmatic Clinical Trial
Costs and cost-effectiveness of epidural steroids for acute lumbosacral radicular syndrome in general practice: an economic evaluation alongside a pragmatic randomized control trial.
A pragmatic, randomized, controlled, single-blinded trial in Dutch general practice. ⋯ The effect on pain and disability of epidural steroids in lumbosacral radicular syndrome is small but significant, and at lower costs with no reported complications or adverse effects. Segmental epidural steroid injections could be considered by policy makers as an additional treatment option.
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Retrospective study of 146 patients with the diagnosis of occipitalization, atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD) and basilar invagination, using a novel surgical treatment strategy. ⋯ Although technically demanding, the C1 lateral mass placement in occipitalization is very useful in the rescue situation where more conventional stabilization alternatives are not technically possible, or as routine occipitocervical stabilization. It provides firm stabilization offering an optimum situation for bony fusion, and meanwhile the effective reduction of fixed AAD and basilar invagination. An extremely high fusion rate can be expected with minimal complications and minimal postoperative immobilization with this technique.
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Retrospective cohort analysis of prospectively collected data. ⋯ Obesity did not affect the amount of deformity correction and did not increase comorbidities and postoperative complication rates. Overweight patients had a greater lumbar lordosis before surgery than normal weight patients. Obese and overweight patients benefited from surgery just as much as normal weight patients at 2-year follow-up.
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A retrospective study of 1162 consecutive patients who underwent spinal deformity surgical procedures at our spine center from January 2010 to December 2013. ⋯ Our study indicates that the appropriate use of MEP monitoring based on our protocol is able to obtain satisfying sensitivity and specificity and thus provide important information for intraoperative decision making.