Spine
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A retrospective review. ⋯ Percutaneous vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty have been reported to be safe options for the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Although complications are infrequent, there remains the potential for catastrophic neurologic injury. Physicians performing these procedures need to be aware of these potential complications and be prepared to respond in an emergent manner (surgically) if a need arises.
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Prospective imaging study of patients undergoing surgery for cervical compressive myelopathy. OBJECTIVES.: To investigate whether the classification of increased signal intensity (ISI) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with cervical compressive myelopathy reflects the severity of symptoms and surgical outcome. ⋯ Preoperative ISI on T2-weighted sagittal MRI was correlated with patient age, duration of disease, postoperative JOA score, and postoperative recovery rate. Patients with the greatest ISI had the worst postop erative recovery. Classification of ISI can be a predictor of surgical outcome.
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A case report. ⋯ This case confirms the existence and clinical relevance of the fourth column of the thoracic spine and its role in providing added spinal stability in the patient with ankylosing spondylitis. As such, it is still possible to achieve a favorable clinical outcome in a select subpopulation of patients with ankylosing spondylitis that sustain three-column flexion-distraction injuries who are neurologically intact and are not candidates for surgical stabilization.
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Prospective cohort follow-up study. ⋯ A longer duration of the current episode is the worst detected prognostic factor for response to NRT, but prognostic models are inaccurate for predicting the clinical outcome of a given patient. In order to improve the success rate of this technology, these results only support earlier referral for patients complying with current indication criteria.
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A retrospective study. ⋯ The thoracic pedicle screw placement in scoliosis patients requires utmost caution. The mini-laminotomy technique was beneficial in increasing safety of the procedure with an acceptable incidence of complications.