Vertebral Bone Quality Score as a Predictor of Subsequent Fractures After Cement Augmentation for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture.

Background And Objectives: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) T-scores have been shown to predict fragility fractures in population-based studies. Recently, a novel MRI-based vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score has been proposed, showing better predictability for fragility fractures compared with DXA T-scores. The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between VBQ scores and DXA T-scores and to determine the impact of VBQ scores on the risk of subsequent fragility fractures after cement augmentation for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).

The footprint mismatch of cervical disc arthroplasty comes from degenerative factor besides ethnic factor.

A mismatch in footprints of cervical total disc arthroplasty (CTDA) implants occasionally occurred in Asian population and it had been attributed solely to ethnic factor. Yet, cervical degeneration process may play a role. Our purpose was to compare the cervical vertebra morphometric data with and without degeneration.

Development of a Biodegradable PLGA Carrier to Provide Wnt Agonists and Antibiotics to Meet the Requirements for Patients with Bone Infections.

Antibiotic beads can be used to treat surgical infections. In this study, polylactide-polyglycolide (PLGA) was mixed with vancomycin, the osteogenic enhancer lithium chloride (LiCl), and hot compression to form PLGA-vancomycin-LiCl delivery beads to treat bone infection. An elution method was used to characterize in vitro release characteristics of vancomycin and Li over a 42-day period.

Teriparatide alone versus vertebroplasty on pain control and radiographic outcomes after osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture.

Purpose: To investigate efficacy of 3-month teriparatide(TPD) and compare this treatment with vertebroplasty in terms of clinical and radiographic outcomes after osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs).

Methods: This is a retrospective matched cohort study. Patients who received conservative treatment with at least 3-month TPD treatment for acute OVCF with at least 6 months follow-up were included.

Impact of osteoporosis and Cement-Augmented fusion on adjacent spinal levels Post-Fusion Surgery: Patient-Specific finite element analysis.

Cement-augmentation is a technique commonly used during posterior lumbar instrumented fusion (PLIF) to reinforce compromised osteoporotic vertebral bone, minimize the risk of loosening screws, enhance stability, and improve overall surgical outcomes. In this study, we introduce a novel segmented vertebral body regional modeling approach to investigate the effects of osteoporosis and cement-augmented lumbar fusion on disc biomechanics at spinal levels adjacent to the fused vertebrae. Using our previously validated personalized-poroelastic-osteoligamentous FE model of the spine, fusion was simulated at L4-L5, and the biomechanics of adjacent levels were studied for 30 patients (non-osteoporotic patients (N = 15), osteoporotic patients (N = 15)).

The impact of over-distraction on adjacent segment pathology and cage subsidence in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

Over-distraction has been shown to be a risk factor for cage subsidence and postoperative neck pain after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Biomechanical studies have demonstrated increased adjacent segment intradiscal pressure after ACDF. The purpose of this study is to determine if over-distraction of the index disc has an effect on adjacent segment pathology.

The influence of over-distraction on biomechanical response of cervical spine post anterior interbody fusion: a comprehensive finite element study.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) has been considered as the gold standard surgical treatment for cervical degenerative pathologies. Some surgeons tend to use larger-sized interbody cages during ACDF to restore the index intervertebral disc height, hence, this study evaluated the effect of larger-sized interbody cages on the cervical spine with ACDF under both static and cyclic loading. Twenty pre-operative personalized poro-hyperelastic finite element (FE) models were developed.

Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Intervention on the Degenerated Intervertebral Disc: From Molecular Mechanisms to Animal Models.

MicroRNA (miRNA) 107 expression is downregulated but Wnt3a protein and β-catenin are upregulated in degenerated intervertebral disc (IVD). We investigated mir-107/Wnt3a-β-catenin signaling in vitro and in vivo following hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) intervention. Our results showed 96 miRNAs were upregulated and 66 downregulated in degenerated nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) following HBO treatment.

Anatomical parameters alter the biomechanical responses of adjacent segments following lumbar fusion surgery: Personalized poroelastic finite element modelling investigations.

While the short-term post-operative outcome of lumbar fusion is satisfying for most patients, adjacent segment disease (ASD) can be prevalent in long-term clinical observations. It might be valuable to investigate if inherent geometrical differences among patients can significantly alter the biomechanics of adjacent levels post-surgery. This study aimed to utilize a validated geometrically personalized poroelastic finite element (FE) modeling technique to evaluate the alteration of biomechanical response in adjacent segments post-fusion.

Use of biphasic calcium phosphate versus demineralized bone matrix: retrospective clinical and CT analysis of posterolateral fusion results.

Purpose: Bone graft extenders have been developed to prevent donor site morbidity associated with iliac crest bone graft, but few studies compared the efficacy of various substitutes. Our purpose was to determine fusion rate and clinical outcome in patients undergoing lumbar arthrodesis using demineralized bone matrix (DBM) and biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP).

Methods: Patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis undergoing one-level or two-level arthrodesis of lumbar spine were retrospectively reviewed.

Novel MRI-based vertebral bone quality score as a predictor of cage subsidence following transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

Objective: Decreased bone mineral density as measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) has been reported to be associated with cage subsidence following transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). However, DEXA is not often available or routinely performed before surgery. A novel MRI-based vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score has been developed and reported to be correlated with DEXA T-scores.

ProDisc-C versus anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for the surgical treatment of symptomatic cervical disc disease: two-year outcomes of Asian prospective randomized controlled multicentre study.

Purpose: Our study aimed to evaluate non-inferiority of ProDisc-C to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in terms of clinical outcomes and incidence of adjacent segment disease (ASD) at 24-months post-surgery in Asian patients with symptomatic cervical disc disease (SCDD).

Methods: This multicentre, prospective, randomized controlled trial was initiated after ethics committee approval at nine centres (China/Hong Kong/Korea/Singapore/Taiwan). Patients with single-level SCDD involving C3-C7-vertebral segments were randomized (2:1) into: group-A treated with ProDisc-C and group-B with ACDF.

The surgical outcome of multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in myelopathic elderly and younger patients.

The elderly population has an increased risk of degenerative cervical myelopathy due to multilevel disease, causing motor and sensory dysfunctions and a poor quality of life. Multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is an alternative surgical treatment option, but has a perceived higher risk of complications. The goal of this study is to report the outcome.

Minimal invasive fixation following with radiotherapy for radiosensitive unstable metastatic spine.

Background: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has become a feasible option for patients with spinal metastasis, but the effectiveness of percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) without decompression in patients with severe cord compression remains unknown. We compared PPSF without decompression with debulking surgery in patients with radiosensitive, unstable, metastatic thoracolumbar spinal cord compression.

Methods: A retrospective study of surgically treated spinal metastasis and spinal cord compression patients was conducted between October 2014 and June 2019.

Corrigendum: Biomechanical Investigation Between Rigid and Semirigid Posterolateral Fixation During Daily Activities: Geometrically Parametric Poroelastic Finite Element Analyses.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.

Cement bridging phenomenon in percutaneous vertebroplasty for adjacent vertebral compression fracture.

In some cases of vertebroplasty for adjacent fractures, we observed a cement bridging phenomenon, in which the injected cement flowed from the newly fractured vertebra to the previously cement-augmented vertebra through the space between the abutting anterior longitudinal ligament and the vertebral column. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate this phenomenon. From January 2012 to December 2014, patients who sustained new-onset adjacent vertebral compression fracture and who were again treated with vertebroplasty were enrolled.

Biomechanical Investigation Between Rigid and Semirigid Posterolateral Fixation During Daily Activities: Geometrically Parametric Poroelastic Finite Element Analyses.

While spinal fusion using rigid rods remains the gold standard treatment modality for various lumbar degenerative conditions, its adverse effects, including accelerated adjacent segment disease (ASD), are well known. In order to better understand the performance of semirigid constructs using polyetheretherketone (PEEK) in fixation surgeries, the objective of this study was to analyze the biomechanical performance of PEEK versus Ti rods using a geometrically patient-specific poroelastic finite element (FE) analyses. Ten subject-specific preoperative models were developed, and the validity of the models was evaluated with previous studies.

Mir-573 regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis by targeting Bax in human degenerative disc cells following hyperbaric oxygen treatment.

Background: MicroRNA (miRNA) plays a vital role in the intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. The expression level of miR-573 was downregulated whereas Bax was upregulated notably in human degenerative nucleus pulposus cells. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of miR-573 in human degenerative nucleus pulposus (NP) cells following hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment.

Comparisons of Lumbar Muscle Performance Between Minimally-Invasive and Open Lumbar Fusion Surgery at 1-Year Follow-Up.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Objective: Minimally-invasive lumbar fusion surgery (MIS) is a viable alternative to conventional open surgery (COS) for spinal disorders. Although MIS seems to be associated with less para-spinal muscle trauma, the actual back muscle performance after MIS and COS remain controversial.

Degenerative cervical myelopathy presenting as subjective lower limb weakness could be a trap towards misdiagnosis.

When patients presenting with subjective lower limb weakness (SLLW) are encountered, it is natural to suspect a lumbar pathology and proceed with related clinical examination, investigations and management. However, SLLW could be a sign of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) due to an evolving cord compression. In such circumstances, if symptoms are not correlated to myelopathy at the earliest, there could be potential complications over time.

A Retrospective Analysis in 1347 Patients Undergoing Cement Augmentation for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture: Is the Sandwich Vertebra at a Higher Risk of Further Fracture?

Background: Multiple percutaneous vertebral cement augmentation may create sandwich vertebrae. Whether the sandwich vertebra is at higher risk of further fracture remains unknown.

Objective: To compare the incidence of further fractures of sandwich vertebrae and adjacent vertebrae and to identify potential risk factors for sandwich vertebral fractures.

Comparison of paraspinal muscle degeneration and decompression effect between conventional open and minimal invasive approaches for posterior lumbar spine surgery.

Laminotomy and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is usually used to treat unstable spinal stenosis. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) can cause less muscle injury than conventional open surgery (COS). The purpose of this study was to compare the degree of postoperative fatty degeneration in the paraspinal muscles and the spinal decompression between COS and MIS based on MRI.

Use of longer sized screws is a salvage method for broken pedicles in osteoporotic vertebrae.

Screw loosening due to broken pedicles is a common complication resulting from the insertion of screws either with inadequate diameters or into an osteoporotic pedicle. In this novel in vitro study, we tried to clarify the contribution of the pedicle to screw fixation and subsequent salvage strategies using longer or larger-diameter screws in broken pedicles. Sixty L4 fresh-frozen lumbar vertebrae harvested from mature pigs were designed as the normal-density group (n = 30) and decalcified as the osteoporosis group (n = 30).