The effect of scoliosis surgery on pulmonary function in spinal muscular atrophy patients: review of the literature and a meta-analysis.

Purpose: To determine the effect of surgical instrumentation on pulmonary function after surgery.

Methods: A literature review was performed to identify articles reporting on the effect of scoliosis surgery on the pulmonary function in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Data for each patient were extracted from included studies, and a meta-analysis was performed using the values of forced vital capacity (FVC) before and after surgery.

Diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for intervertebral disc degeneration: a critical review.

Purpose: To examine to what extent diabetes mellitus (DM) is implicated as a distinct mechanism in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD).

Methods: The published clinical and laboratory data relevant to this matter are critically reviewed. A total of 12 clinical studies evaluate the association between DM and degenerative changes such as IVDD, spinal stenosis (SS) and IVD herniation.

The effectiveness of biodegradable instrumentation in the treatment of spinal fractures.

Introduction: A variety of biodegradable implants (screws, rods, plates and cages) are available which are composed of many different biodegradable polymers with varying characteristics. The present review of animal and clinical studies examines the efficacy and safety of biodegradable implants in spinal fracture intervention.

Methods: A review of the literature through March 2018 was performed using PubMed and Cochrane databases.

Surgical options for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures complicated with spinal deformity and neurologic deficit.

Introduction: This paper describes surgical options for Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) with acute flexible or chronic rigid kyphosis, and pseudarthrosis complicated with pain and neurologic deficit.

Methods: This study has two components. a) A prospective clinical study of surgical treatment of 31 patients (age: 69±11 years) with either acute flexible or progressive pseudarthrotic kyphosis manifested with severe pain or neurological deficit between 2010 and 2014.

Ablation of the basivertebral nerve for treatment of back pain: a clinical study.

Background Content: Lumbar axial back pain arising from degenerative disc disease continues to be a challenging clinical problem whether treated with nonsurgical management, local injection, or motion segment stabilization and fusion.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of intraosseous basivertebral nerve (BVN) ablation for the treatment of chronic lumbar back pain in a clinical setting.

Study Design: Patients meeting predefined inclusion or exclusion criteria were enrolled in a study using radiofrequency energy to ablate the BVN within the vertebral bodies adjacent to the diagnosed level.

Effect of a stress management program on subjects with neck pain: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Studies have shown that stress is implicated in the cause of neck pain (NP).

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of a simple, zero cost stress management program on patients suffering from NP.

Methods: This study is a parallel-type randomized clinical study.

Safety and effectiveness of retrorectal presacral approach for lumbosacral axial instrumentation. A clinical study.

This prospective study aimed to quantify the risks and complications associated with AxiaLIF in a series of 29 patients. AxiaLIF is a fusion technique using a percutaneous retrorectal, presacral corridor approach to access the L5-S1 and L4-L5 intervertebral spaces transaxially, through the body of S1 and L5 vertebrae. The fusion rate in the present series was 92% and the reported results ranged from 68% to 100%.

Quality assessment systems in rehabilitation services for people with a disability in Greece: a critical review.

Background: Despite international interest on quality assessment systems (QAS) and their importance in health care accreditation, implementation of a Rehabilitation Services Quality Measurement System still remains a neglected subject in Greece.

Objective: To identify appropriate tools for researchers and policy makers to assess the quality of rehabilitation services in Greece, within the current active debate on national health care reform.

Methods: A critical review methodology was undertaken, using a systematic approach, aiming to identify the most appropriate tools in the field.

Hematogenous pyogenic spinal infection: current perceptions.

As a result of reading this article, physicians should be able to:1.Understand the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of spinal infection in an effort to avoid devastating and crippling complications such as paralysis, painful deformity, and death.2.

Respiratory effects, hemodynamic changes and cement leakage during multilevel cement balloon kyphoplasty.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of multilevel balloon kyphoplasty (BK) on blood pressure, blood gases and cement leakage.

Methods: This is a prospective study of 63 patients: 31 were treated for osteoporotic vertebral compressive fractures (OVCF) and 32 for osteolytic tumors (OT). Twenty-six patients were treated at 1 level, 15 at 2, 2 at 3, 6 at 4, 3 at 5, 4 at 6, 5 at 7 and 2 at 8.

Lateral mass screw complications: analysis of 1662 screws.

Study Design: Retrospective, consecutive patient series.

Objective: To quantify the risks and the complications associated with screw fixation devices of the cervical spine.

Summary Of Background Data: The usefulness of lateral mass internal fixation has been well documented in the clinical setting.

Studying the association between musculoskeletal disorders, quality of life and mental health. A primary care pilot study in rural Crete, Greece.

Background: The burden of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) on the general health and well-being of the population has been documented in various studies. The objective of this study was to explore the association between MSD and the quality of life and mental health of patients and to discuss issues concerning care seeking patterns in rural Greece.

Methods: Patients registered at one rural Primary Care Centre (PCC) in Crete were invited to complete the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms, together with validated instruments for measuring health related quality of life (SF-36) and mental distress (GHQ-28).

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with a locked plate and wedged graft effectively stabilizes flexion-distraction stage-3 injury in the lower cervical spine: a biomechanical study.

Study Design: An in vitro three-dimensional (3D) flexibility test of human C3-C7 cervical spine specimens.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that anterior cervical fusion with a wedged graft and a locked plate can effectively stabilize the cervical spine after complete anterior and posterior segmental ligamentous release.

Summary Of Background Data: Distraction-flexion Stage 3 injuries of the lower cervical spine (bilateral facet dislocations) are usually reduced under awake cranial traction.

Percutaneous core excision and radiofrequency thermo-coagulation for the ablation of osteoid osteoma of the spine.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation is the treatment of choice for osteoid osteoma of the appendicular skeleton. However, difficulties in localizing the lesion in the spine and its proximity to neural elements have yet to make it the prevalent treatment for spine. This study assesses the safety and effectiveness of two percutaneous techniques for ablating osteoid osteoma of the spine.

Beneficial influence of titanium mesh cage on infection healing and spinal reconstruction in hematogenous septic spondylitis: a retrospective analysis of surgical outcome of twenty-five consecutive cases and review of literature.

Study Design: Single institution, single surgeon retrospective review.

Objective: To investigate if the use of titanium mesh cage on the site of infection could be beneficial for successful outcome of the operative treatment for pyogenic spondylitis.

Summary Of Background Data: There is a controversy concerning the optimal treatment for pyogenic spondylitis regarding approach, instrumentation and staging.

Altered disc pressure profile after an osteoporotic vertebral fracture is a risk factor for adjacent vertebral body fracture.

This study investigated the effect of endplate deformity after an osteoporotic vertebral fracture in increasing the risk for adjacent vertebral fractures. Eight human lower thoracic or thoracolumbar specimens, each consisting of five vertebrae were used. To selectively fracture one of the endplates of the middle VB of each specimen a void was created under the target endplate and the specimen was flexed and compressed until failure.

Intradural tumours of the lumbar spine presenting with low back pain: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Two cases of spinal cord tumours (one schwannoma and one ependymoma) of the lumbar spine are reported. The treatment with radical excision and posterolateral fusion, along with adjuvant radiation therapy in the case with ependymoma was successful, with follow-up of six and seven years respectively. A literature review is presented, and a possible presentation with low back pain is analysed.

An evidence-based medicine approach in determining factors that may affect outcome in lumbar total disc replacement.

Study Design: Literature research.

Objective: To analyze the available evidence about a variety of factors that might affect outcome of lumbar artificial disc replacement.

Summary Of Background Data: Evaluating the scientific merit of new technology is important for a clinician considering incorporating these techniques.

Minimal invasive short posterior instrumentation plus balloon kyphoplasty with calcium phosphate for burst and severe compression lumbar fractures.

Study Design: Prospective consecutive series.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of minimal invasive surgery for acute lumbar fractures by means of balloon kyphoplasty with calcium phosphate plus segmental short posterior instrumented fusion.

Summary Of Background Data: In the surgical treatment of lumbar fractures with short pedicle screw instrumentation, the failure to support the anterior spinal column often results in loss of correction.

Direct reduction of thoracolumbar burst fractures by means of balloon kyphoplasty with calcium phosphate and stabilization with pedicle-screw instrumentation and fusion.

Study Design: Prospective consecutive series.

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of the treatment of acute thoracolumbar burst fractures by transpedicular balloon kyphoplasty with calcium phosphate cement and posterior instrumented fusion.

Summary Of Background Data: In the surgical treatment of thoracolumbar fractures, the major problem after posterior correction and transpedicular instrumentation is failure to support the anterior spinal column, leading to the loss of correction and instrumentation failure.

Vertebral osteomyelitis, epidural and psoas abscess after epidural catheter use.

We report on a patient who developed persistent low back pain, pyrexia and neurological deficit soon after she underwent a laparotomy under combined general and epidural anaesthesia. The diagnosis of lumbar vertebral osteomyelitis, discitis, epidural and psoas abscesses was made one month later when she was referred to our institution. The patient was successfully treated with posterior decompression, drainage of the epidural abscess and fusion in combination with percutaneous, computed tomography-guided needle aspiration of the psoas abscesses.

Congenital posterior atlas defect associated with anterior rachischisis and early cervical degenerative disc disease: a case study and review of the literature.

A rare case of a wide congenital atlas defect is reported. A 25 year-old woman was admitted after complaints of radicular pain in the right arm. Radiographs incidentally revealed aplasia of the posterior arch of the atlas together with anterior rachischisis.