Radioisotopic assessment of bone metabolism of the operated vertebra after inter-process stabilizer implantation in the lumbar segment of the spine.

Introduction: Lack of efficacy of pharmacotherapy and physiotherapy in spinal pain syndrome is an indication for intervertebral stabilizer implantation between the processes in the lumbar segment of the spine.

Material And Methods: The group consisted of 32 patients qualified after radioisotopic single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) examinations with assessment of bone metabolism and mineral density. For comparative purposes, the L2 vertebra was defined as normal.

The antero-lateral approach with corpectomy in the management of the ventral meningioma of the spinal canal.

The authors present the anterior approach to cervical spine, which enabled complete resection of tumor located in the anterior part of the spinal canal. Considering there are not many reports in the literature, the authors present a case of a meningioma at the level C5-C6 resected with good result through anterolateral approach.

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF 2) or schwannomatosis?--Case report study and diagnostic criteria.

Introduction: Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and schwannomatosis are entities that may, due to the similarity of clinical symptoms, cause diagnostic difficulties. Incidence rate of both diseases is similar and estimated between 1:25,000 and 1:40,000. The genes associated with the development of the aforementioned disorders are located on chromosome 22 and lay in proxmity.

Assessing the correlation between the degree of disc degeneration on the Pfirrmann scale and the metabolites identified in HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy.

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the correlation between the degree of degeneration of lumbar discs according to the Pfirrmann classification system and the concentrations of metabolites determined by means of 1H high-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (1H HR MAS NMR) spectroscopy.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-six human intervertebral lumbar discs that were operated on due to degenerative disease were analyzed. Routine preoperative 1.

Characterization of metabolites determined by means of 1H HR MAS NMR in intervertebral disc degeneration.

Object: The objective of this study is the identification of metabolites by means of (1)H high resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H HR MAS NMR) spectroscopy and the evaluation of their applicability in distinguishing between healthy and degenerated disc tissues.

Materials And Methods: Differences between the metabolic profiles of healthy and degenerated disc tissues were studied by means of (1)H HR MAS NMR. Analysis was performed for 81 disc tissue samples (control samples n = 21, degenerated disc tissue samples n = 60).

[Spinal cord diffusion tensor tractography as a diagnostic tool in difficult cases of spinal cord intramedullary tumours].

Diffusion tensor-based spinal cord tractography is a technically complicated but rapidly evolving diagnostic method. The difficulties result from the volume of the spinal cord, the constant pulsing of the cerebrospinal fluid and respiratory movements. The method is being used more and more frequently to examine long spinal tracts in patients with intramedullary tumours.

Unorthodox technique of simultaneous reposition of an odontoid process fracture from a posterior pharyngeal wall approach and direct screw fixation from a submandibular approach.

This paper presents a case of an unorthodox technique of screw fixation of an odontoid process fracture which consisted in simultaneous reposition of an odontoid process fracture from a posterior pharyngeal wall approach and direct screw fixation from a submandibular approach. A 53-year-old patient sustained an injury to the cervical spine. Radiographs and CT scans revealed an Anderson and D'Alonzo type II fracture of the odontoid process.

Balloon kyphoplasty for painful C-7 vertebral hemangioma.

The authors report on the efficacy of balloon kyphoplasty applied to obliteration of symptomatic cervical hemangioma. This 49-year-old woman suffered from progressive neck pain, numbness of the upper extremities, and frequent headaches. Hemangioma of the C-7 vertebral body was diagnosed.

Strategy in the diagnostics and therapy of tumours of the spine.

The authors present the diagnostic methods and basic surgical procedures used in treatment of spinal neoplasms. Both metastatic and primary spinal tumours lead to instability and loss of the protective function. Spinal cord can be damaged by compression or increased mobility of the vertebral column.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty with methyl methacrylate bone cement in the treatment of spinal angiomas and neoplasms.

Background. The authors report their own experience with percutaneous vertebroplasty. Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a technique which allows to inject acrylic surgical cement into the vertebral body.

Evaluation of outcome after surgical treatment of cervical disc disease with DERO C-Disc PEEK cages.

Background And Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of surgical treatment of cervical disc disease using a relatively novel type of cage, to assess the association between changes in cervical spine curvature and pain intensity as well as quality of life, to assess how often implants of different sizes were applied, and to analyze statistically the occurrence of surgical procedures performed on each spinal level.

Material And Methods: The study group included 30 patients (19 [63%] women and 11 [37%] men), with a mean age of 48.8 years.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty with bone cement in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

Background. The authors report their own experience with percutaneous vertebroplasty. This is minimally invasive method indicated in treatment of certain spinal lesions affecting the vertebral bodies, as osteoporotic fractures, angiomas, neoplasms.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty in the treatment of diseases causing vertebral bone loss.

Background. Percutaneous vertebroplasty involves the injection of acrylic surgical cement into the vertebral body. The basic principles of vertebroplasty and the authors' own clinical experiences are described.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in pituitary adenomas: relationship to the endocrine phenotype of adenoma.

The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) correlates to cell proliferation and for this reason it is commonly considered as one of proliferation markers. Since proliferation rate is an important factor determining the tumor aggressiveness, the evaluation of PCNA index (the percentage of PCNA-immunopositive nuclei in the investigated tumor sample) is suggested as useful in predicting pituitary adenoma outcome. Seventy three unselected, surgically removed pituitary adenomas were immunostained with antibodies against the pituitary hormones or their subunits and against the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).

[Middle ear schwannoma--case report].

Schwannoma is one of the common benign middle ear space tumors. The tumors may present with facial nerve paresis or palsy, otologic symptoms and/or parotid mass middle ear schwannomas may originate from the nerves of the tympanic caviti or by extensions from outside the middle ear space. Schwannomas of the facial nerve can occur along any segment, but they frequently involve the geniculate ganglion and extend proximally or distally from there.

Experimental investigations of traction injury of the brachial plexus. Model and results.

Aim: The study was realized in purpose to investigate mechanical properties of the human brachial plexus. Authors present model of experiments and biomechanical results obtained after controlled stretching of specimens. Investigations were supported by Polish Ministry of Education (Grant KBN 3 P05C 072 22), under permission of Committee of Bioethics.

[Minimally invasive percutaneous transpedicular lumbar spine fixation. Operative technique and a case report].

Transpedicular fixation systems are commonly used in lumbar spine surgery for the treatment of a variety of pathologies making the solid fusion of operated spinal segments possible. Recently there has been a big interest in minimally invasive techniques in spinal surgery, including minimally invasive fixation systems. By minimizing the operative trauma minimally invasive techniques allow patients to restore activity faster.

[Direct fixation of the odontoid fracture in a child].

The use of spinal implants in the pediatric population is controversial in terms of skeletal immaturity. The authors present the case of a 12-year-old boy with displaced Type III odontoid fracture, successfully treated by direct screw fixation. Fractures defined as Type II and Type III according to the classification by Anderson and D'Alonzo are instable spinal injuries.

[Atlanto-occipital instability due to the transverse atlas ligament rupture. Report of a case with symptoms persisting for 21 years].

The authors describe a case of a judo sportsman with a cervical spine injury sustained 21 years earlier. The injury initiated characteristic sensations of severe generalized pain with paraesthesias recurring whenever he was hit on the top of the head. In February 2001 the patient fell on his head, which resulted in tetraplegia with a complete sensory loss.

[Post-traumatic unilateral atlanto-axial rotatory subluxation in an adult].

This retrospective single-patient case report deals with a rare form of spinal trauma, i.e. atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation.

Immunohistochemical detection of somatostatin receptor subtypes in "clinically nonfunctioning" pituitary adenomas.

Pituitary tumors diagnosed before surgery as "non-functioning" in fact represent a heterogenous group, the majority of which express glycoprotein hormones or their free subunits. It is known that some of them expresses somatostatin receptors, but the data available until now rarely refer to the receptor subtype. Five different subtypes of somatostatin receptors (sst1-5) have been cloned.

[Brachial plexus tumors].

The brachial plexus is a primary site of tumours originating from peripheral nervous system, such as neurilemmoma and neurofibroma. Moreover, the brachial plexus is affected by various neoplasms spreading from the neighbouring anatomic structures. Surgical treatment of neoplasms provoking plexopathy is often realised by multidisciplinary teams.

[Problems in the selection of surgical approach for the treatment of non-traumatic deformities of the craniocervical junction].

Developmental abnormalities or inflammatory disorders provoke deformations and instability of the craniocervical junction. The most dangerous results of these lesions are: sudden brainstem compression or cervical myelopathy. The authors propose the guidelines for surgical management of non-traumatic deformities caused by: a) rheumatoid arthritis of the spine, b) congenital anatomic changes of the occipit and odontoid.