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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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of titanium and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages in the surgical treatment of multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a prospective, randomized, control study with over 7-year follow-up.
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with titanium- or polyetheretherketone (PEEK)-cage reconstruction is widely used in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). This study was to compare outcomes of titanium and PEEK cages in the treatment of multilevel CSM. ⋯ In surgical treatment of multilevel CSM, PEEK cage is superior to titanium cage in maintenance of intervertebral height and cervical lordosis, resulting in better clinical outcomes in the long-term follow-up.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Predictors for long-term disability in women with persistent postpartum pelvic girdle pain.
The majority of prognostic studies on postpartum lumbopelvic pain have investigated factors during pregnancy. Since the majority of women recover within the first few months of delivery, it is unknown if the same predictors are valid for long-term consequences. It is also important to investigate predictors within subgroups of patients with pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain due to their different clinical courses. The aim of this study was to identify predictors for disability 15 months postpartum in women with persistent postpartum pelvic girdle pain (PGP). ⋯ Age, muscle function and disability seem to influence the long-term outcome on disability in women with persistent postpartum PGP. It may be important to consider the possibility of different variables impact on each other when predicting long-term disability. In addition, further studies are needed to investigate the impact of interaction effects on long-term consequences in women with persistent postpartum PGP.
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Normal progression of osteoporosis or the rigid reinforcement of the fractured vertebral body with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) cement is being discussed as a cause for adjacent-level fractures after vertebroplasty. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether augmentation with low stiffness cement can decrease the risk of adjacent-level fractures in low-quality bone. ⋯ A possible method to reduce adjacent-level fractures after vertebroplasty in patients with reduced bone quality could be the use of a lower modulus cement. Therefore, mixing cement with biocompatible fluids could prove useful to tailor cement properties in the operating theater.
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To investigate the feasibility of mini-open anterior approach to the cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) in cadaveric specimens. ⋯ It is feasible to expose the CTJ through this mini-open anterior approach.
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Factors impacting surgical options and outcomes in patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) were explored. ⋯ Preoperative assessment of cervical curvature, MRIT2 signal, and occupying ratio can be used to guide clinical surgical approach selection to potentially produce better long-term outcomes in patients with OPLL.