Preliminary Efficacy Testing of the Disinfectant MicrobeCare XLP for Potential Use in Military Operational Environments.

Introduction: A safe, easy-to-use, permanently bonded antiseptic that does not require post-exposure bioload reduction but maintains effectiveness over time would have far-reaching implications across multiple industries. Health care is one such arena, particularly in austere military settings where resources are at a premium. MicrobeCare XLP (MicrobeCare, Buffalo Grove, IL, USA) is a commercially available spray-on agent that is advertised to covalently bond to surfaces and provide a long-lasting antimicrobial coating inhospitable to >99.

Safe and accurate placement of thoracic and thoracolumbar percutaneous pedicle screws without image-navigation.

Background: Percutaneous pedicle screw placement is now commonly used to treat spinal instability. It is imperative, especially at thoracic levels, to avoid damage to adjacent neurovascular structures. Although more technically demanding when compared with the lumbar spine, we believe that the percutaneous placement of thoracic pedicle screws can be performed safely without image-navigation.

Percutaneous pedicle screw placement in the thoracic spine: A cadaveric study.

Study Design: A cadaveric study to determine the accuracy of percutaneous screw placement in the thoracic spine using standard fluoroscopic guidance.

Summary Of Background Data: While use of percutaneous pedicle screws in the lumbar spine has increased rapidly, its acceptance in the thoracic spine has been slower. As indications for pedicle screw fixation increase in the thoracic spine so will the need to perform accurate and safe placement of percutaneous screws with or without image navigation.

Divided or kissing nevus of the penis.

The divided or kissing nevus is an unusual congenital melanocytic nevus. By definition, these nevi appear on skin that separates during embryological development. These lesions have been reported on the eyelids, fingers, and rarely the penis.

Extreme lateral interbody fusion approach for isolated thoracic and thoracolumbar spine diseases: initial clinical experience and early outcomes.

Study Design: Retrospective review of prospective collected data on 22 patients.

Objective: To describe our initial clinical experience and outcomes with the extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) approach for spinal diseases requiring access to the thoracic cavity.

Summary Of Background Data: Minimally invasive anterior approaches to the thoracic spine have traditionally consisted of thoracoscopic and mini-open thoracotomy techniques.