Spontaneous regression and near disappearance of a calcified herniated thoracic disc in a 44-year-old male: illustrative case.

Background: Herniation of an intervertebral disc (IVD) is found predominantly in the lumbar and cervical spine of both children and adults, but herniated IVDs of the thoracic spine are a rare occurrence. However, approximately 40% of herniated thoracic disc cases are calcified. Approximately 0.

Transverse connectors providing increased stability to the cervical spine rod-screw construct: an in vitro human cadaveric study.

Object: The object of this study was to determine if the addition of transverse connectors (TCs) to a rod-screw construct leads to increased stabilization of the cervical spine.

Methods: Eleven human cadaveric cervical spines (C2-T1) were used to examine the effect of adding connectors to a C3-7 rod-screw construct in 3 models of instability: 1) C3-6 wide laminectomy, 2) wide laminectomy and 50% foraminotomy at C4-5 and C5-6, and 3) wide laminectomy with full medial to lateral foraminotomy. Following each destabilization procedure, specimens were tested with no TC, 1 TC between the C-5 screws, and 2 TCs between the C-4 and C-6 screws.

Video fluoroscopic analysis of the effects of three commonly-prescribed off-the-shelf orthoses on vertebral motion.

Study Design: Fluoroscopic assessment of the effects of commercially available spinal orthotics on lumbar vertebral motion as subjects performed flexion and extension maneuvers.

Objective: To quantitate the effects of 3 commonly available, off-the-shelf, soft, and semirigid spinal orthoses on lumbar spinal motion.

Summary Of Background Data: Commercially available soft and semirigid orthoses are widely prescribed for patients with low back pain and, at times, following surgery.

Pathologic correlation of posterior ligamentous injury with MRI.

This article describes 2 cases of spinal trauma in which diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was correlated with histopathology for diagnosis of a posterior ligamentous complex injury. Spine fractures are common and represent up to 16% of traumatic fractures. Diagnostic imaging currently involves plain films and computerized tomography, but MRI is being used with increasing frequency.

Appendicitis after appendectomy.

Appendectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States. Residual appendiceal tissue left at the time of appendectomy may predispose to the rare development of stump appendicitis. Patients typically are seen with signs and symptoms similar to appendicitis; however, the diagnosis is often delayed owing to the low index of suspicion, which may result in perforation.

Stereotactic radiosurgery provides equivalent tumor control to Simpson Grade 1 resection for patients with small- to medium-size meningiomas.

Purpose: To compare tumor control rates after surgical resection or stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with small- to medium-size intracranial meningiomas.

Materials And Methods: Between 1990 and 1997, 198 adult meningioma patients treated at our center underwent either surgical resection (n = 136) or radiosurgery (n = 62) as primary management for benign meningiomas <35 mm in average diameter. Tumor recurrence or progression rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method according to an independent radiographic review.