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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The revised Tokuhashi score has been widely used to evaluate indications for surgery and predict survival in patients with metastatic spinal disease. Our aim was to analyse the actual survival time of patients treated for metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) in comparison with the predicted survival based on the revised Tokuhashi score. This would thereby allow us to determine the overall predictive value of this scoring system. ⋯ We would conclude that although the predictive value of the Tokuhashi score in terms of survival time is at best modest (66 %), the fact that there were statistically significant differences in survival between the groups looked at in this paper indicates that the scoring system, and the components which it consists of, are important in the evaluation of these patients when considering surgery.
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The purpose of this study was to provide the readers with a reliable source of animal models currently being utilized to perform state-of-the-art scoliotic research. ⋯ All these different animal models compel us to believe that the clinical phenotype of what we call idiopathic scoliosis may well be caused by a variety of different underlying pathologies.
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The purpose of this study was to review the preliminary results of an original fusionless method of treatment for progressive scoliosis in young children. ⋯ Preliminary results from these series of patients show that the presented fusionless single growing rod technique allows to maintain correction of progressive early onset scoliosis while permitting spinal growth, with low complication rate. With this technique, lengthening procedures are used only once in every 10 months and patients are more comfortable as no brace is needed in most cases. This technique does not require any specific spine device. The procedure is simple and efficacious as long as some guidelines are respected.
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Surgeons' interest in image and/or robotic guidance for spinal implant placement is increasing. This technology is continually improving and may be particularly useful in patients with challenging anatomy. Only through careful clinical evaluation can its successful applications, limitations, and areas for improvement be defined. This study evaluates the outcomes of robotic-assisted screw placement in a consecutive series of 102 patients. ⋯ Of the 960 screws that were implanted using the robot, 949 (98.9 %) were successfully and accurately implanted and 11 (1.1 %) were malpositioned, despite the fact that the majority of patients had significant spinal deformities and/or previous spine surgeries. "Tool skiving" was thought to be the inciting issue with the misplaced screws. Intraoperative anteroposterior and oblique fluoroscopic imaging for registration is critical and was the limiting issue in four of the seven aborted cases.
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To review and summarize the current knowledge regarding the outcome measures used to evaluate scoliosis surgery. ⋯ Evaluation of scoliosis treatment should include the patient's perspective, which can be obtained with the use of patient-reported outcome measures.