Management of fixed sagittal plane deformity: results of the transpedicular wedge resection osteotomy.

Study Design: Retrospective review of a consecutive clinical series.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of the transpedicular wedge resection osteotomy as a technique for correction of sagittal and coronal deformity and to assess the clinical value of the procedure as assessed by patient satisfaction.

Summary Of Background Data: The transpedicular wedge resection osteotomy is a well-established procedure for management of fixed sagittal deformity in ankylosing spondylitis.

Patient and physician satisfaction in a clinical study of telemedicine in a hypertensive patient population.

We studied patient and physician satisfaction with telemedicine for the care of a hypertensive population. Once recruited, participants were seen both in person and via telemedicine (in random order) on the same day. After each meeting, patient and physician satisfaction surveys were completed.

Excision of hemivertebrae in the management of congenital scoliosis involving the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine.

We present a study of ten consecutive patients who underwent excision of thoracic or thoracolumbar hemivertebrae for either angular deformity in the coronal plane, or both coronal and sagittal deformity. Vertebral excision was carried out anteriorly alone in two patients. Seven patients had undergone previous posterior spinal fusion.

Effectiveness of second-generation antipsychotics in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia: a review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Objective: The authors conducted a review and meta-analysis of studies that compared the efficacy and tolerability of typical and second-generation antipsychotics for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Method: A systematic search revealed 12 controlled studies (involving 1,916 independent patients), which were included in the review. For the seven studies that compared clozapine to a typical antipsychotic, a meta-analysis was performed to examine clozapine's effects on overall psychopathology, response rate, extrapyramidal symptoms, and tardive dyskinesia.

Anterior and posterior allografts in symptomatic thoracolumbar deformity.

The radiographic and clinical results of 105 patients with symptomatic spinal deformities were categorized retrospectively based on surgical approach and type of bone autograft or allograft used for each patient's fusion surgery into seven different groups and compared with one another. The three bone autograft control groups were posterior autograft only (n = 20), anterior autograft only (n = 6), and combined anterior and posterior autograft (n = 12). The allograft groups were posterior morcellized allograft (n = 7), posterior morcellized allograft and anterior autograft (n = 11), anterior structural interbody allografts and posterior mixture of allograft and autograft (n = 37), and anterior strut allograft with posterior mixture of allograft and autograft (n = 12).

Cellular contribution of bone graft to fusion.

Although a number of studies have examined the fate of graft-derived cells during the process of fusion, there remains no consensus regarding their exact contribution to bone formation within the fusion mass. We developed two chimeric mouse isograft fusion models that allowed us to track the fate of graft cells within the host fusion bed. Cortical/cancellous bone graft (1:1 ratio of pelvic to vertebral body bone) from male mice was placed between (a) the tibia and fibula or (b) the coccygeal spine transverse processes of syngeneic female hosts.

Loss of sagittal plane correction after removal of spinal implants.

Study Design: A retrospective review of a clinical series was performed.

Objectives: To evaluate the incidence of adult patients who experienced spinal collapse after spinal implant removal after a long spinal arthrodesis, and to assess the various factors that may influence the likelihood of collapse after implant removal.

Summary Of Background Data: Published reports describing the benefits or complications of spinal implant removal do not exist.

Effects of gender, body composition and birth size on IGF-I in 7- and 8-year-old children.

We investigated the relationship between IGF-I, gender, height, weight, body composition and birth size in 260 healthy 7- and 8-year-old children (139 females). All children were born term at Nepean Hospital, Western Sydney. Body composition was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

'Candidatus Nostocoida limicola', a filamentous bacterium from activated sludge.

Five strains of 'Candidatus Nostocoida limicola' were isolated by micromanipulation from two activated sludge plants. Two (Ben17 and Ben18) were from Sunbury, Victoria, Australia, and three (Ben67, Ver1 and Ver2) were from Verona, Italy. The near complete 16S rDNA sequences were determined for five strains and the phylogenetic location of this important bulking filament in the actinomycete subphylum is reported for the first time.

Mental disorders and use of cardiovascular procedures after myocardial infarction.

Context: A number of studies have found race- and sex-based differences in rates of cardiovascular procedures in the United States. Similarly, mental disorders might be expected to be associated with lower rates of such procedures on the basis of clinical, socioeconomic, patient, and provider factors.

Objective: To assess whether having a comorbid mental disorder is associated with a lower likelihood of cardiac catheterization and/or revascularization after acute myocardial infarction.

Neuropsychology of Swedenborg's visions.

In 1744, the 56-yr.-old scientist Emanuel Swedenborg underwent a transformative event that could be characterized as convulsive. He subsequently became a visionary and spent the remaining 28 years of his life exploring the spirit world and describing his experiences in an extensive corpus of writings.

Calcium sulfate- and calcium phosphate-based bone substitutes. Mimicry of the mineral phase of bone.

Calcium sulfate and calcium phosphate have provided the orthopedic surgeon a viable alternative to autogenous bone grafting as either an osteoconductive bone void filler or a bone graft extender. These materials mimic the mineral phase of bone and are resorbed at a rate similar to the rate of bone formation. Thus, they are able to provide some structural support and prevent ingrowth of fibrous tissue while facilitating creeping substitution by the host bone.

Thromboembolic complications after major thoracolumbar spine surgery.

Study Design: Adult spinal surgery patients were studied prospectively to determine the incidence of subclinical deep venous thrombosis. An overlapping group of patients was reviewed retrospectively for symptomatic thromboembolism.

Objectives: To determine the incidence of symptomatic and asymptomatic thromboembolism in spinal surgery patients.

Patient outcomes after decompression and instrumented posterior spinal fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Study Design: A retrospective study of patient outcomes after decompression and fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis, using the SF-36 survey and a functional questionnaire.

Summary Of Background Data: In recent studies, patient outcomes have been examined more specifically; however, detailed functional outcomes are not available nor have widely used outcomes instruments been administered.

Methods: Thirty patients aged more than 40 years (average, 60.

Use of a collagen-hydroxyapatite matrix in spinal fusion. A rabbit model.

Study Design: The efficacy of a specially designed mineralized bovine collagen matrix as a carrier for bone marrow stem cells was studied in a rabbit posterolateral spinal fusion model.

Objectives: To determine if bone marrow cells added to Healos matrix will lead to fusion rates, biomechanical properties, and histologic properties comparable with those of fusions using autologous iliac crest bone graft; and to determine if the addition of preservative-free heparin to anticoagulate the bone marrow during harvest will adversely affect the fusion rate.

Summary Of Background Data: Although the development of new preparations of osteoinductive agents has advanced rapidly in recent years, the carrier systems that have been used in their application have received less attention.

CCU patient survey tool: all-out recovery.

Studies show that patients' recall of their CCU stays is extremely limited due to various factors. To monitor patient satisfaction in this area, a team of CCU managers developed a survey and began an "All-Out Recovery Program."

Nutritional depletion in staged spinal reconstructive surgery. The effect of total parenteral nutrition.

Study Design: A prospective randomized study evaluating nutritional depletion in spine surgery patients.

Objective: To determine whether use of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in patients undergoing staged spinal reconstructive procedures could affect their nutritional parameters or decrease their complication rates.

Summary Of Background Data: Several studies have shown that nutritional depletion occurs after major spinal surgery and that patients undergoing staged spinal surgery may be at particular risk of nutritional loss and its complications.

Use of ultrasound in spinal arthrodesis. A rabbit model.

Study Design: The biomechanical and histologic characteristics of posterolateral spinal fusion in a rabbit model with and without the application of low-intensity ultrasound were analyzed.

Objectives: To evaluate the use of ultrasound to improve the spinal fusion rate and biomechanical characteristics of the fusion mass in a rabbit model.

Summary Of Background Data: This is the first study in which the benefits of ultrasound in spinal fusion have been assessed.

Recruitment of African Americans into prostate cancer screening.

Purpose: Both incidence and mortality rates for prostate cancer are significantly higher in African American men than in white men. This report identifies community sites for the optimal recruitment of African American men into prostate cancer screening.

Description Of Study: A descriptive study was conducted, providing an educational program to 1369 African American men, 1264 of whom completed a survey on demographic data, prostate cancer knowledge, and prostate cancer screening history.

Lumbar fusion results related to diagnosis.

Study Design: Pain outcome and functional outcome after primary lumbar fusion surgery were determined by a self-assessment questionnaire. The responses were correlated with various clinical parameters.

Objectives: To determine the result of fusion surgery among patients in various diagnostic groups using semiquantitative outcome scales.