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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Case Reports
Growth hormone supplement treatment reduces the surgical risk for Prader-Willi Syndrome patients.
Many complications have been reported to occur with surgery for scoliosis in Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). However, growth hormone (GH) treatment has contributed to improvements in height, body composition, bone density and breathing functions in PWS patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate patients who underwent surgery for scoliosis in PWS. ⋯ There were no severe complications such as deep infections or neurovascular damage. A few obese patients underwent surgery, but there were no dangerous complications. Overall, we consider that GH treatment before surgery may reduce postoperative complications. The growing rod method was effective for PWS patients who resisted brace treatment owing to mental retardation.
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In order to minimize perioperative invasiveness and improve the patients' functional capacity of daily living, we have performed minimally invasive lumbar decompression and posterolateral fusion (MIS-PLF) with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis. Although several minimally invasive fusion procedures have been reported, no study has yet demonstrated the efficacy of MIS-PLF in degenerative spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine. This study prospectively compared the mid-term clinical outcome of MIS-PLF with those of conventional PLF (open-PLF) focusing on perioperative invasiveness and patients' functional capacity of daily living. ⋯ The MIS-PLF utilizing a percutaneous pedicle screw system is less invasive compared to conventional open-PLF. The reduction in postoperative pain led to an increase in activity of daily living (ADL), demonstrating rapid improvement of several functional parameters. This superiority in the MIS-PLF group was maintained until 2 years postoperatively, suggesting that less invasive PLF offers better mid-term results in terms of reducing low back pain and improving patients' functional capacity of daily living. The MIS-PLF utilizing percutaneous pedicle screw fixation serves as an alternative technique, eliminating the need for conventional open approach.
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Comparative Study
Use of a personalized hybrid biomechanical model to assess change in lumbar spine function with a TDR compared to an intact spine.
Total disc replacements (TDRs) have been employed with increasing frequency in recent years with the intention of restoring natural motion to the spine and reducing adjacent level trauma. Previous assessments of the TDRs have subjectively measured patient satisfaction, evaluated sagittal range of motion via static imaging, or examined biomechanical loading in vitro. This study examined the kinematics and biomechanical loading of the lumbar spine with an intact spine compared to a TDR inserted at L5/S1 in the same spine. ⋯ At levels above the TDR insertion, larger ROM was present during the lifting conditions. Sagittal motions were often greater at the higher lumbar levels, but there appeared to be less lateral and twisting motion. Collectively, this analysis indicates that the insertion of a TDR significantly alters the function of the spine.
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Case Reports
Rhabdomyolysis after heterotopic ossification: an unusual complication in a spinal cord injured patient.
Loss of joint mobility, resulting loss of function peripheral nerve entrapment and pressure sores are the known complications of heterotopic ossification. ⋯ We report the case of our patient to increase awareness among physicians and training staff working with patients with a spinal cord injury to expedite the diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis in the setting of HO and SCI.
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The hypothesis for this study was that the simulated wear behavior of a hydroxyapatite coated, self-mating PEEK cervical disc arthroplasty device would be dependent on the simulated testing environment. ⋯ This study showed that at a time when data from retrieval analyses is deficient, it is important to test the wear resistance of cervical disc arthroplasty devices under various conditions. Long-term clinical results and ongoing implant retrievals are required for validation between clinical performance and simulator inputs.