The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Diffusion tensor fiber tractography is an emerging tool for the visualization of spinal cord microstructure. However, there are few quantitative analyses of the damage in the nerve fiber tracts of the myelopathic spinal cord. ⋯ The quantitative analysis of fiber tractography is a reliable approach to detect cervical spondylotic myelopathic lesions compared with healthy spinal cords. It could be employed to delineate the severity of CSM.
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Although lumbar interbody fusion has long been a common procedure in the practice of spine surgery, focus on the technological development has produced the relatively new procedure of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). This procedure is often available to surgeons as an alternative to anterior-posterior circumferential fusion (AP fusion), and both procedures have been demonstrated to be clinically equivalent at up to 5 years after surgery. In the context of clinical equipoise, it is unknown which procedure is more economically advantageous. ⋯ Our study demonstrates that a single-level AP fusion results in longer operative time, lower blood loss during surgery, higher hospital costs, higher hospital charges, and greater payments received than a single-level TLIF. Although the decision on how best to treat a patient lies solely at the judgment of the attending surgeon, this comparative cost information may be pertinent in cases of clinical equivalence. This study also calls attention to various shortcomings that are found in present spine surgery cost-effectiveness research, as there is an ongoing need for increased standards of quality in the area of health economics research.
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Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) after a minor trauma to the cervical spine has been reported in patients without preceding neurologic symptoms. Spinal canal stenosis may be the reason for the discrepancy between the severity of the injury and that of the trauma. The spinal canal to vertebral body ratio is often used to assess canal stenosis on conventional radiographs. However, the ratio does not appraise soft-tissue stenosis and canal narrowing at the level of the intervertebral disc. Parameters measured on magnetic resonance (MR) images may thus be more meaningful. The relevance of MR image parameters for predicting the risk and severity of acute SCI in patients after a minor trauma to the cervical spine has not yet been established. ⋯ Patients at risk of acute SCI after a minor trauma to the cervical spine can be identified by applying a disc-level canal diameter cutoff value (measured on MR images) of 8 mm. Additional factors to the radiological characteristics of the spinal canal affect the severity of acute SCI after a minor trauma to the cervical spine.
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Acute cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) has been observed in some patients after a minor trauma to the cervical spine. The discrepancy between the severity of the trauma and the clinical symptoms has been attributed to spinal canal stenosis. However, to date, there is no universally established radiological parameter for identifying critical spinal stenosis in these patients. The spinal canal-to-vertebral body ratio (Torg-Pavlov ratio) has been proposed for assessing developmental spinal canal stenosis. The relevance of the Torg-Pavlov ratio for predicting the occurrence and severity of acute cervical SCI after a minor trauma to the cervical spine has not yet been established. ⋯ Developmental cervical spinal canal stenosis assessed by the Torg-Pavlov ratio was characteristic for patients suffering from acute cervical SCI after a minor trauma to the cervical spine. Patients at risk of SCI after a minor trauma to the cervical spine can be identified by applying a Torg-Pavlov ratio cutoff value of 0.7. Other factors in addition to the spinal canal-to-vertebral body ratio affect the severity and course of symptoms as a result of cervical SCI.
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Cervical arthroplasty theoretically reduces the risk of adjacent level disc degeneration and segmental instability that may be seen after a cervical fusion. An essential argument in confirming the utility of cervical arthroplasty is long-term confirmation that cervical disc replacements can maintain physiological kinematics at the index and adjacent levels. ⋯ The Bryan cervical disc prosthesis provides for a durable solution for functional spinal motion at the operated level and maintained the preoperative kinematics at adjacent levels at the 5-year follow-up.