Spine
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Retrospective comparative study of the postoperative subsidence of two interbody devices following posterior or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF/TLIF) for degenerative spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine. ⋯ The load-bearing capabilities of the open box cage are superior to those of the fenestrated tube cage. Since there were no significant differences between the baseline status of the two groups, the larger cross-sectional area and stable framework design of the open box cage appears to bring about a greater load-bearing capability. Therefore, the open box cage seems to be biomechanically more advantageous as an interbody device for PLIF than the fenestrated tube cage.
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Retrospective population-based cohort study. ⋯ Use of intervertebral fusion devices rose rapidly after their introduction in 1996. This increased use was associated with an increased complication risk without improving disability or reoperation rates.
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Cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. ⋯ These findings give evidence that in subjects performing nonheavy work, patterns of lumbar disc degeneration are not associated with the job type and characteristic physical loadings.
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This is a retrospective study of 250 patients who describe low back pain with pain drawings. A computer application using artificial neural networks was designed to analyze pain drawings and evaluate the contribution of pain sensation to drawing classification. ⋯ Patient-reported pain sensation does not improve classification when quantitatively scoring pain drawings.
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Eleven vertebroplasty operations were studied in terms of radiation dose. ⋯ Measures have to be taken to reduce patient's skin dose, which, in extreme cases, may be close to deterministic effects threshold. The highest dose rates, recorded during the procedure, were found for primary operator's hands and chest when no shielding was used.