Spine
-
A retrospective database review. ⋯ 4.
-
This is a retrospective, single-institute, radiographical study. ⋯ 4.
-
Spine research has advanced substantially over the past 25 years through a highly multidisciplinary process. Through early work on fracture healing, osteosynthesis, tissue engineering, and joint biomechanics, researchers discerned 2 main areas of study: musculoskeletal biomechanics and musculoskeletal regeneration. Investigations of the spine continually move from the research bench-through endeavors that incorporate basic science, biology, biomaterials, mechanical testing, finite element analysis, and mathematical modeling-to the bedside-through treatments, devices, and procedures designed to improve patient health while safeguarding quality of life.
-
Spinal cord injury (SCI) can be complete or incomplete. The level of injury in SCI is defined as the most caudal segment with motor function rated at greater than or equal to 3/5, with pain and temperature preserved. The standard neurological classification of SCI provided by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) assigns grades from ASIA A (complete SCI) through ASIA E (normal sensory/motor), with B, C, and D representing varying degrees of injury between these extremes. The most common causes of SCI include trauma (motor vehicle accidents, sports, violence, falls), degenerative spinal disease, vascular injury (anterior spinal artery syndrome, epidural hematoma), tumor, infection (epidural abscess), and demyelinating processes (). (SDC Figure 1, http://links.lww.com/BRS/B91)(Figure is included in full-text article.).
-
Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) and adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) are important causes of reoperation for adult spinal deformity (). Reducing junctional complications can improve outcomes and cost-effectiveness of treatment. ⋯ In lumbar degeneration, semirigid fixation has been associated with implant loosening, nonunion, and revision surgery. Rigid fixation is more reliable than semirigid fixation for management of spinal deformity.