European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
A meta-analysis of autograft versus allograft in anterior cervical fusion.
We performed a metaanalysis of one- and two-level anterior cervical interbody fusion (ACDF) on data derived from published, peer-reviewed journal articles to determine whether there is a difference in fusion rate, graft complications, or clinical outcome in patients undergoing ACDF according to whether autograft or allograft was used. ACDF is a common procedure for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Most published studies comparing autograft and allograft have not demonstrated any difference between grafts. ⋯ It was not possible to ascertain whether autograft is clinically superior to allograft. Although autograft has a higher fusion rate than allograft, clinical results do not depend solely on radiographic results. The risk of graft site morbidity and patient preference should be considered when choosing the type of graft for this operation.
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Review Case Reports
Traumatic vertical atlantoaxial instability: the risk associated with skull traction. Case report and literature review.
Traumatic overdistraction between C1 and C2 may occur when all the ligaments connecting C2 to the skull are ruptured, and may be manifested when an attempt to reduce C1-C2 subluxation is made by means of traction. We describe here the case of a patient with traumatic anterior atlantoaxial dislocation, who developed atlantoaxial vertical dissociation after skull traction using a Gardner-Halo with lb 4.02 (1.5 kg) of weight. ⋯ In this case, it might have been prevented by avoiding spinal traction. The aim of this report was to show that vertical dissociation may occur in C -C2 anterior dislocation submitted to spinal traction, and that other forms of reduction must be considered to treat these pathologies and avoid this potentially fatal complication.
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Spinal haemangioblastomas are rare, accounting for only about 7% of all central nervous system cases. The case of a 40-year-old woman with a haemangioblastoma arising solely from a cervical sensory nerve root is presented. ⋯ The patient has Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome and a history of multiple solid tumours. The possible role of the Von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor gene in the pathogenesis of these neoplasms is discussed.
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Metastatic spine lesions frequently require corpectomy in order to achieve decompression of the spinal cord and restoration of spinal stability. A variety of systems have been developed for vertebral body replacement. In patients with prolonged life expectancy due to an improvement of both systemic and local therapy, treatment results can be impaired by a loosening at the implant-bone interface or mechanical failure. ⋯ Follow-up (median 15 months) using CT and MRI revealed progressive osseous integration of the PU-C spacer in four patients surviving more than 6 months. Results obtained from imaging methods were confirmed following autopsy by biomechanical investigation of an explanted device. From these data, it can be concluded that implantation of the new radiolucent system provides sufficient long-term stability for the requirements of selected tumour patients with improved prognosis.