Spinal Metastatic Disease: Survival Analysis of 146 Patients and Evaluation of 4 Different Preoperative Scoring Systems.

Study Design: This was a retrospective analysis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of the 4 different scoring systems Tomita, Bauer modified, Tokuhashi revised, and Van der Linden and some parameters that are used in these scoring systems.

Summary And Background Data: Prediction of the survival period before treatment for spinal metastasis is extremely important.

Effect of PLIF and TLIF on sagittal spinopelvic balance of patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of PLIF and TLIF on sagittal spinopelvic balance and to compare radiological results of two surgical procedures with regard to spinopelvic parameters.

Methods: Thirty-five patients (34 female and 1 male; mean age: 52.29 ± 13.

Restoration of pull-out strength of the failed pedicle screw: biomechanical comparison of calcium sulfate vs polymethylmethacrylate augmentation.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare calcium sulfate (CAS) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cements used for the augmentation of a failed pedicle screw with biomechanical pull-out strength (POS) testing.

Methods: Thirty lumbar vertebrae were harvested from 6 calves and bone mineral densities (BMD) were measured. Primary polyaxial pedicle screws were randomly inserted and pulled out and the POSs of the specimen were recorded.

The effects of extracorporeal shock waves on carrageenan-induced Achilles tendinitis in rats: a biomechanical and histological analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of low-dose extracorporeal shock waves (ESW) on the healing potential of Achilles tendinitis in the rat.

Methods: The 36 adult Sprague-Dawley rats used in this study were randomly divided into four groups. Group A (n=10) were injected with carrageenan, Group B (n=10) were injected with carrageenan and received ESW, Group C (n=10) received ESW only, and Group D (n=6) was a sham group.

The effect of oophorectomy on epidural fibrosis after laminectomy: an experimental study in rats.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of oophorectomy in the formation of epidural fibrosis in a rat laminectomy model.

Methods: Thirty-six 12-month-old adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Rats were evenly divided into two groups; oophorectomized and sham-operated.

The surgical treatment for a rare case of double-level isthmic spondylolisthesis in L4 and L5 lumbar spine: decompression, reduction and fusion.

An unusual case of a double-level isthmic spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine in a 38-year-old female was described. The patient had been suffering from low back pain for 8 years and did not respond to conservative treatment. Her medical examination revealed that grade II isthmic spondylolisthesis was present both at L-4 to L-5 and at L-5 to S-1.

Revision of the failed pedicle screw in osteoporotic lumbar spine: biomechanical comparison of kyphoplasty versus transpedicular polymethylmethacrylate augmentation.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to compare of kyphoplasty versus transpedicular polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) augmentation biomechanically in the revision of the failed pedicle screw in osteoporotic lumbar spine.

Materials And Methods: Bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar vertebrae collected from four bovines were measured. Each vertebra was decalcified with hydrochloric acid solution to obtain osteoporotic specimens.

[Lumbar epidural steroid injection: Is the success rate predictable?].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the relation between the percent of canal compromise and success rate of epidural steroid injection (ESI) in patients with symptomatic lumbar herniated intervertebral discs.

Methods: Patients with lumbar herniated intervertebral disc suffering from leg pain and treated with ESI were selected. The axial magnetic resonance (MR) image showing the largest canal compromise by the herniated disc was selected for measurements.

Surgical treatment of the spinal stenosis with an interspinous distraction device: do we really restore the foraminal height?

Aim: The aim of implantation of interspinous device is to unload the facet joints, restore foraminal height and provide stability in order to improve the clinical outcome of surgery.

Material And Methods: After microsurgical decompression, Coflex™ device was applied. Patients were evaluated at a month after surgery and last follow-up using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).

Irreducible dislocation of the knee joint: two-stage treatment.

Closed reduction attempts may be unsuccessful after traumatic knee dislocations on rare occasions. The interposition of the soft tissues on the medial aspect of the joint into the femoral condyle and tibial plateau is shown to be the cause of an unsuccessful reduction. In such cases, open reduction is the recommended method of treatment.

Extracorporeal shock waves in articular cartilage defects in the rats.

Thirty adult Sprague-Dawley rats were used to assess the nature of healing tissues in hyaline cartilage defects and to compare the healing in defects treated with shock waves, with those in defects without treatment. A 2 × 2 mm cartilage defect with exposed cancellous bone was created in a nonweight-bearing area of each medial femoral condyle. Each right knee defect was received extracorporeal shock waves (Swiss Dolorclast) of 500 impulses in 5 min at 2 bar (comparative to 0.

Tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis with posterior blade plate in diabetic neuroarthropthy.

Background: To prevent amputation, achieving successfull ankle artrodesis in diabetic Charcot arthropaty patients is very important. As a salvage procedure, we have used a 95-degree-angled blade plate via a posterior approach to achieve tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis.

Materials And Methods: Between 2006 and 2008, four diabetic patients with hindfoot Charcot arthropathy underwent talectomy and tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis with an AO 95-degree-angled blade plate via a posterior approach.

Bone pulsating metastasis due to renal cell carcinoma.

Pulsation on the bone cortex surface is a rare condition. Pulsative palpation of the superficial-located bone tumors can be misperceived as an aneurysm. Fifty-eight-year-old man is presented with pulsating bone mass in his proximal tibia.

Non-tuberculous thoracic and lumbar spondylodiscitis: single-stage anterior debridement and reconstruction, combined with posterior instrumentation and grafting.

Debridement is warranted for the treatment of nontuberculous spondylodiscitis in case of neurological compromise, deformity, instability, abscess formation, extensive destruction, intractable pain or failure of medical management. The additional use of instrumentation is still controversial, but might fight infection and yield stability. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the outcome of 16 cases of non-tuberculous thoracic or lumbar spondylodiscitis treated with anterior debridement and reconstruction (tricortical graft or titanium mesh cage), combined with single-stage posterior instrumentation and grafting.

[The effects of two different fixation methods on femoral bone tunnel enlargement and clinical results in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring tendon graft].

Objectives: We investigated the effects of anatomic and non-anatomic tunnel fixations on femoral tunnel widening and clinical results in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 35 patients who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with quadrupled hamstring tendon graft. Fixation was performed in the tunnel using the transcondylar RigidFix pin (group 1) in 18 patients (mean age 32 years), and from outside the tunnel using the EndoButton-CL device (group 2) in 17 patients (mean age 30 years).

Magnetic resonance imaging in the visualization of benign tumors and tumor-like lesions of hand and wrist.

The differential diagnosis of benign tumors and tumor-like lesions of the hand and wrist region is important with regard to choosing the therapy (medical versus surgical), or to decide to just follow-up the lesion. In most of the cases the proper analysis of MRI findings in correlation with the patient's history is sufficient to meet a specific diagnosis. However, diagnostic confusion is not uncommon as there are numerous lesions affecting the hand and wrist region.

[Elastofibroma dorsi: an unusual cause of shoulder pain].

Objectives: We evaluated patients who underwent surgical treatment for elastofibroma dorsi (ED).

Methods: The study included 13 patients (11 women, 2 men; mean age 54 years; range 43 to 74 years) who were treated surgically for ED that caused persistent symptoms. Involvement was on the right in six patients, on the left in five patients, and bilateral in two patients.

Posterior epidural mass: can a posteriorly migrated lumbar disc fragment mimic tumour, haematoma or abscess?

A 60-year-old woman complained of low back pain radiating to both buttocks and to the anterior aspect of the left thigh. MRI showed a left posterolateral epidural mass at the L1-L2 level. An epidural abscess was suspected, but the biochemistry was normal.

Comparison of arthroscopic capsular release in diabetic and idiopathic frozen shoulder patients.

Introduction: The clinical results of arthroscopic capsular release for frozen shoulder in diabetic (group 1) and idiopathic (group 2) patients were compared. Surgery was performed on 28 shoulders of 26 patients (24 women, 2 men) with frozen shoulder unresponsive to conservative treatment. The mean age was 50 (range 40-65).

Interlaminar discectomy in lumbar disc herniation: shorten postoperative return to work period in recruits undergoing military training.

The operative treatment of lumbar disc disease has long challenged spine surgeons. In this study, we aimed to show that recruits with lumbar disc herniation managed by the interlaminar approach could return to work after 6 weeks. Forty male recruits were included in this study and interlaminar discectomy was adequate in 40 cases.

Degeneration of non-fused segments after floating lumbar fusion.

Degeneration of the disc or discs between two fused spinal segments has been termed "floating disc disease". The purpose of this retrospective study was to show the radiological evolution of the floating disc(s) and the relationship between floating disc degeneration and segmental lordosis, lumbar lordosis and pelvic incidence. Twenty patients, with a mean age of 49.

Discography: can pain in a morphologically normal disc be due to an adjacent abnormal disc?

Symptomatic patients who had Magnetic Resonance Imaging findings of degenerative disc disease and who failed conservative treatment were identified. As a preoperative test, these patients underwent discography. The patients, who experienced pain with injection into a morphologically normal disc adjacent to a morphologically abnormal disc, were included in the study.

In vitro comparison of bioresorbable and titanium anterior cervical plates in the immediate postoperative condition.

Bioresorbable plates have recently been used with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Compared with metallic plates, bioresorbable plates provide segmental stabilization with minimal imaging artifact, eventual resorption, and increased load sharing. The objectives of the present study were to determine whether a bioresorbable plate can withstand simulated physiologic static and cyclic loading, to compare the reduction in flexibility provided by bioresorbable and titanium plates, and to quantify load sharing between the plate and spine with graft.

Biomechanical comparison of anatomic trajectory pedicle screw versus injectable calcium sulfate graft-augmented pedicle screw for salvage in cadaveric thoracic bone.

Many salvage options for failed thoracic pedicle screws exist including the use of a different trajectory or the augmentation of the screw with polymethylmethacrylate cement. Although polymethylmethacrylate immediately increases the construct stiffness and the pull-out strength, it may cause bone necrosis, toxin relaxation, and/or neural injury. On the other hand, calcium sulfate bone grafts have a high potential for biologic incorporation and no thermal damage effect.

In vitro, biomechanical comparison of an anterior lumbar interbody fusion with an anteriorly placed, low-profile lumbar plate and posteriorly placed pedicle screws or translaminar screws.

Study Design: An in vitro biomechanical comparison of anteriorly placed lumbar plates, pedicle screws, and translaminar screws in the anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) setting.

Objectives: To determine whether an anteriorly placed lumbar plate reduces the flexibility in terms of neutral zone and range of motion of a simulated ALIF, and to compare this reduction in flexibility to that provided by posteriorly placed pedicle screws and translaminar screws.

Summary Of Background Data: Pedicular and translaminar facet fixation add stability and increase fusion rates, compared with ALIF alone.