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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Despite modern fixation techniques, spinopelvic fixation failure (SPFF) after adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery ranges from 4.5 to 38.0%, with approximately 50% requiring reoperation. Compared to other well-studied complications after ASD surgery, less is known about the incidence and predictors of SPFF. ⋯ The aggregate rate of SPFF after ASD surgery is 22.1%. The most common mechanisms of failure were pseudarthrosis, rod fracture, and iliac screw loosening. Studies of SPFF remain heterogeneous, and a consistent definition of what constitutes SPFF is needed. This study may enable surgeons to provide patient specific constructs with pelvic fixation constructs to minimize this risk of failure.
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Dural ectasia (DE) may significantly impact Marfan syndrome (MFS) patients' quality of life due to chronic lower back pain, postural headache and urinary disorders. We aimed to evaluate the association of quantitative measurements of DE, and their evolution over time, with demographic, clinical and genetic characteristics in a cohort of MFS patients. ⋯ Our study shed further light on the relationship between genotype, dural pathology, and the overall clinical spectrum of MFS. The identification of protein-truncating variants and those impacting cysteine content may therefore suggest closer patient monitoring, in order to address potential complications associated with DE.
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Vertebral body tethering (VBT) has become an alternative option for select patients with idiopathic scoliosis. However, studies have shown a high number of tether breakages, specifically after thoracolumbar (TL) VBT, that can have a negative impact on the outcome, when the breakage occurs within the first year after surgery. In order to overcome this problem, we have started to apply an apical fusion (AF) in combination with TL VBT for select patients. This study aims to analyze the outcome after AF plus VBT. ⋯ The preliminary data shows a significant reduction of early tether breakages when TL VBT is applied in combination with AF.
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The purpose of the study was to assess the changes in flexibility during night-time bracing in skeletally immature adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with curves in the surgical range. ⋯ This is the first study to describe that curve flexibility decreases during bracing in severe AIS. However, this had only a modest impact on the surgical strategy. Bracing as a holding strategy can be applied, but the risk of losing flexibility in the lumbar spine should be outweighed against the risks of premature fusion surgery.
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Aerobic exercise produces beneficial outcomes in patients with low back pain and partially attenuates the fibrotic changes to the multifidus in a model of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. More targeted exercise might be required to fully attenuate these fibrotic alterations. This study aimed to investigate whether activation of the multifidus induced by neurostimulation could reduce fibrosis of the multifidus in a model of IVD degeneration in sheep. ⋯ These data reveal that targeted activation of the multifidus muscle attenuates IVD degeneration dependent fibrotic alterations to the multifidus.