Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Reduce Cellular Damage after Experimental Spinal Cord Injury in Rats.

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition without an effective therapy. Cellular therapies are among the promising treatment strategies. Adult stem cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells, are often used clinical research for their immunomodulatory and regenerative potential.

Comparison Between Surgical and Conservative Treatment for AOSpine Type A3 and A4 Thoracolumbar Fractures without Neurological Deficit: Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

 To compare the clinical results between conservative (CS) and surgical treatment (CXS) of A3 and A4 fractures without neurological deficit.  Prospective observational study of patients with thoracolumbar fractures type A3 and A4. These patients were separated between the surgical and conservative groups, and evaluated sequentially through the numeric rating scale (NRS), Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ), EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) quality of life questionnaire, and Denis work scale (DWS) up to 2.

International and Multicenter Prospective Controlled Study of Dysphagia After Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery.

Background: In the context of anterior approach to the cervical spine, dysphagia is a common complication and still without a clear distinction of risk factors.

Objective: To analyze the risk factors of dysphagia after cervical spine surgery.

Methods: Multicenter prospective study evaluated patients who underwent anterior cervical spine surgery for degenerative pathologies, studying surgical, anesthesia, base disease, and radiological variables (preoperatively, 24 hours, 1 and 3 weeks, and 6 months after surgery), with control group matched.

Correlation Between Cage Positioning and Lumbar Lordosis in Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF).

 The present study evaluates radiographic outcomes and the lumbar lordosis achieved with a transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) arthrodesis technique according to the positioning of an interbody device (cage) in the disc space.  This is a retrospective radiographic analysis of single-level surgical patients with degenerative lumbar disease submitted to a TLIF procedure and posterior pedicle instrumentation. We divided patients into two groups according to cage positioning.

Ceramic bone graft substitute vs autograft in XLIF: a prospective randomized single-center evaluation of radiographic and clinical outcomes.

Purpose Of The Study: The objective of this prospective, parallel, randomized, single-center study is to evaluate the clinical success of a commercial ceramic bone graft substitute (CBGS) for autograft in eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF) procedures. Please confirm if the author names are presented accurately and in the correct sequence (given name, middle name/initial, family name). Author 1 Given name: [Cristiano Magalhães], Last name [Menezes].

Assessment of Interobserver Variability for CT Scan-Based Evaluation of Posterior Ligament Complex Injury in Thoracolumbar Fractures: An International Multicenter Pilot Study.

Study Design: A multicenter, pilot study, for radiological assessment of thoracolumbar spine fractures was performed with the participation of 7 centers in Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America as a part of the AO Foundation network.

Objectives: To determine the interobserver variability for computed tomography (CT) scan-based evaluation of posterior ligament complex (PLC) injury in thoracolumbar fractures.

Methods: Forty-two observers including 1 principal investigator at each participating center performed variability assessment.

Influence of mononuclear cell therapy on disc degeneration in rabbits.

Objective: The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of autologous mononuclear stem cells injections on histological changes of collagen in the fibrous annulus of the intervertebral disk after experimental injury.

Methods: 32 New Zealand rabbits were submitted to intervertebral disk puncture, followed by intradiscal injection of mononuclear cells from the iliac crest saline injection in the following time periods: two months after the injury (SC2M and SS2M), two weeks (SC2W and SS2W) immediately after injury (SCCP and SSCP), and without inducing degeneration (SCSP and SSSP). Two months after cell therapy, the animals were euthanized and collagen changes in the intervertebral discs were histologically evaluated.

Histomorphometric analysis of experimental disc degeneration.

Symptomatic disc degeneration is a complex pathological condition that involves a cascade of events and is not totally understood. In this context, animal models gain an important role, allowing for better understanding of the degenerative process and therapeutic interventions. There are several models with different methods of evaluation of experimental disc degeneration (EDD), including imaging, biochemical, genetics, and histological approaches, but no real gold standard has been set.

RADIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF EXPERIMENTAL DISC DEGENERATION IN RABBITS.

Objective: To validate radiographic evaluation of a rabbit model for disc degeneration.

Methods: Lumbar intervertebral discs of New Zealand rabbits were stabbed three times with a 18G needle at a limited depth of 5mm, through lateral approach. Serial radiographic images were taken on the early pre-and postoperative periods, and after four, eight and 12 weeks of the procedure, with subsequent analysis of disc height, osteophyte formation, endplate sclerosis, and presence of disc degeneration.