The use of carbon fiber/polyetheretherketone (CF/PEEK) in pedicle screw fixation for spinal neoplasms-potential advantages in postoperative imaging and radiotherapy planning.

Background: Titanium pedicle screw fixation complicates postoperative care in patients with spinal neoplasms due to postoperative imaging artefacts and dose perturbation. This study aims to measure the benefits of using carbon fiber/polyetheretherketone (CF/PEEK) pedicle fixation compared to titanium in postoperative imaging, radiotherapy planning and delivery for spinal neoplasms treated with conventional external beam radiotherapy with a commercial treatment planning system.

Methods: The properties of CF/PEEK pedicle fixation systems were compared to titanium in radiotherapy dose planning accuracy and postoperative computed tomography (CT) image quality.

Analysing gait patterns in degenerative lumbar spine diseases: a literature review.

Objectives: To collate the current state of knowledge and explore differences in the spatiotemporal gait patterns of degenerative lumbar spine diseases: lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and low back pain (LBP).

Background: LBP is common presenting complaint with degenerative lumbar spine disease being a common cause. In particular, the gait patterns of LSS, LDH and mechanical-type (facetogenic and discogenic) LBP is not established.

Walking orientation randomness metric (WORM) score: pilot study of a novel gait parameter to assess walking stability and discriminate fallers from non-fallers using wearable sensors.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders can contribute to injurious falls and incur significant societal and healthcare burdens. Identification of fallers from non-fallers through wearable-based gait analysis can facilitate timely intervention to assist mobility and prevent falls whilst improving care and attention for high fall-risk patients. In this study, we use wearable sensor-based gait analysis to introduce a novel variable to assess walking stability in fallers and non-fallers - the Walking Orientation Randomness Metric.

Objective falls-risk prediction using wearable technologies amongst patients with and without neurogenic gait alterations: a narrative review of clinical feasibility.

Objectives: The present narrative review aims to collate the literature regarding the current use of wearable gait measurement devices for falls-risk assessment in neurological and non-neurological populations. Thereby, this review seeks to determine the extent to which the aforementioned barriers inhibit clinical use.

Background: Falls contribute a significant disease burden in most western countries, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality with substantial therapeutic costs.

Objectifying clinical gait assessment: using a single-point wearable sensor to quantify the spatiotemporal gait metrics of people with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Background: Wearable accelerometer-containing devices have become a mainstay in clinical studies which attempt to classify the gait patterns in various diseases. A gait profile for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) has not been developed, and no study has validated a simple wearable system for the clinical assessment of gait in lumbar stenosis. This study identifies the changes to gait patterns that occur in LSS to create a preliminary disease-specific gait profile.

Proposed objective scoring algorithm for walking performance, based on relevant gait metrics: the Simplified Mobility Score (SMoS™)-observational study.

Background: Walking is a fundamental part of living, and its importance is not limited by age or medical status. Reduced walking speed (WS), or gait velocity, is a sign of advancing age, various disease states, cognitive impairment, mental illness and early mortality. Activity levels, as defined in the literature as "daily step count" (DSC), is also a relevant measure of health status.

mHealth Apps for Enhanced Management of Spinal Surgery Patients: A Review.

mHealth (mobile health) refers to mobile technologies that aid medical and public health practices. As of February 2019, 81% of Americans own a smartphone, and mHealth applications (apps) have become increasingly common with more than 400,000 mHealth applications currently available. Advancements in mobile technology now allow us to provide personalized up-to-date information, track personal health data, remind and engage patients, and communicate in a cost-effective way.

Assessment and Post-Intervention Recovery After Surgery for Lumbar Disk Herniation Based on Objective Gait Metrics from Wearable Devices Using the Gait Posture Index.

Objective: Surgery for lumbar disk herniation (LDH) presents an option for patients when conservative measures fail. The objective of this clinical study is to investigate a novel, objective outcome measure in patients undergoing lumbar microdiscectomy.

Methods: Twenty-four patients were evaluated pre- and postoperatively using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and a novel objective scoring tool, the Gait Posture index (GPi).

Analysis of Patterns of Gait Deterioration in Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

Objective: Quantitative gait analysis has been established as a valuable tool for functional assessment and evaluation of intervention efficacy in lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). We aimed to bolster the limited evidence on the specific aspects of gait that are altered in LSS.

Methods: Fifteen patients with LSS and 15 healthy subjects performed a 30-m-long walk.