Spine
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Neurogenic mixed evoked potentials were recorded after thoracoscopic spinal cord stimulation in patients undergoing video-assisted spine surgery. ⋯ Neurogenic mixed evoked potentials evoked by anterior stimulation through thoracoscopy are of interest for spinal cord monitoring when posterior electrical stimulation is impossible, and they provide reliable information regarding spinal motor pathways.
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In 100 consecutive patients who underwent surgery because of soft cervical disc herniation, the sagittal and transverse diameters, the area of the bony cervical spinal canal, the sagittal diameter of the hernia, and the minimal bony intervertebral foramen diameter were measured by computed tomography. The data were compared with measurements from a control group of 35 matched healthy individuals. ⋯ Results from this study strongly suggest that the degree and severity of neurologic symptoms accompanying cervical soft disc herniation are inversely related to the sagittal diameter and the area of the bony cervical spinal canal. The latter area is reduced in cases of developmental stenosis or because of soft disc herniation. Moreover, patients with soft cervical disc herniation have a significantly smaller sagittal diameter of the bony spinal canal, a significantly smaller minimal bony intervertebral foramen diameter, and a significantly smaller cross-sectional area of the bony cervical canal than do healthy matched individuals.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Impact of the type of brace on the quality of life of Adolescents with Spine Deformities.
A group of 102 brace-treated adolescents, aged 10-19 years with spine deformities participated in a cross-sectional study. ⋯ In cases of different orthoses of proven similar effectiveness in controlling the scoliotic curves, the use of bracing with the lowest impact on the quality of life should be recommended.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Randomized trial of radiofrequency lumbar facet denervation for chronic low back pain.
A prospective double-blind randomized trial in 31 patients. ⋯ Radiofrequency lumbar zygapophysial joint denervation results in a significant alleviation of pain and functional disability in a select group of patients with chronic low back pain, both on a short-term and a long-term basis.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Postoperative lumbar microdiscectomy pain. Minimalization by irrigation and cooling.
Seventy patients undergoing de novo lumbar microdiscectomy were prospectively randomized into a control group and a group in which cold intraoperative wound irrigation along with postoperative wound cooling was used. Postoperative analgesia requirements and length of hospital stay were analyzed and correlated. ⋯ Intraoperative and postoperative wound site cooling is a safe, inexpensive, and efficient therapeutic method. It reduces the patients' postoperative pain, promotes earlier ambulation and decreases the length of hospital stay.