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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Comparative Study
A comparative study of axis-line-distance technique and Cobb method on assessing the curative effect on scoliosis.
To compare the axis-line-distance technique (ALDT) and Cobb method for therapeutic evaluation of scoliosis. ⋯ The ALDT is better than the Cobb method for therapeutic evaluation of scoliosis during treatment and at follow-up visits.
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When the intervertebral disc is removed to relieve chronic pain, subsequent segment stabilization should restore the functional mechanics of the native disc. Because of partially constrained motions and the lack of intrinsic rotational stiffness ball-on-socket implants present many disadvantages. Composite disc substitutes mimicking healthy disc structures should be able to assume the role expected for a disc substitute with fewer restrictions than ball-on-socket implants. ⋯ All device versions altered the coupled intersegmental shear deformations affecting facet joint contact through contact area displacements. Loads in the bony endplates adjacent to the implants increased as the implant stiffness decreased but did not appear to be a strong limitation for the implant biomechanical and mechanobiological functionality. In conclusion, numerical results given by biomimetic composite disc substitutes were encouraging with greater potential than that offered by ball-on-socket implants.
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Comparative Study
Biomechanical comparison of alternative densities of pedicle screws for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
The objective of this computational study was to compare the biomechanical effects of different implant densities in terms of curve reduction and the force levels at the implant-vertebra interface and on the intervertebral elements. ⋯ With the same fusion levels, lower density screws allowed achieving similar deformity correction and it was more likely to have lower screw-vertebra loads.
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Restitution of sagittal balance is important after lumbar fusion, because it improves fusion rate and may reduce the rate of adjacent segment disease. The purpose of the present study was to describe the impact of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) procedures on pelvic and spinal parameters and sagittal balance. ⋯ Single-level circumferential fusion helps patients reducing their pelvic compensation, but the amount of correction does not allow for complete correction of sagittal imbalance.
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Spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) is a rare but well-recognized condition. In general, the onset of its symptoms is insidious and the disease progresses slowly. ⋯ These SEL patients developed neurologic symptoms after less than 5 months; these symptoms were confirmed to be due to SEL by serial MR images. After the debulking of the epidural fat, their symptoms improved.