Influence of posture during gliding flight in the flying lizard.

The agamid lizards of the genusare undoubtedly the most renown reptilian gliders, using their rib-supported patagial wings as lifting surfaces while airborne. Recent investigations into these reptiles highlighted the role of body posture during gliding, however, the aerodynamics of postural changes inremain unclear. Here, we examine the aerodynamics and gliding performances ofusing a numerical approach focusing on three postural changes: wing expansion, body camber, and limb positioning.

Surgical treatment of scoliosis in neurofibromatosis type I: A retrospective study on posterior-only correction with third-generation instrumentation.

Background: Scoliosis is the most common orthopedic complication of neurofibromatosis type I. Scoliosis can be occurred with two patterns: dystrophic or idiopathic-like. In adolescence, in consideration of bone dystrophy, osteopenia, and often associated hyperkyphosis, most of the authors recommend an anterior-posterior approach.

Over 70° thoracic idiopathic scoliosis: Results with screws or hybrid constructs.

Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is the most common type of scoliosis. High degrees curve can be treated with the anterior, posterior, or combined anterior-posterior approach. Contrarily to the anterior approach, the posterior one is widely used nowadays for its good correction outcomes and relatively low-complication rate.

Thoracic-lumbar-sacral spine sagittal alignment and cranio-mandibular morphology in adolescents.

Purpose: The relationship between thoracic-lumbar-sacral spine sagittal alignment and craniofacial morphology is still controversial. Evidence-based results are difficult to obtain and scientific studies are inhomogeneous. The aim of this study was to investigate the difference of thoracic-lumbar-sacral spine posture and cephalometric values comparing two groups of subjects with different cranial structure in the sagittal plane.

Is cast an option in the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebral fractures?

Background: Thoracolumbar vertebral fractures are common in high-energy trauma and often are associated to other concomitant injuries. Currently, brace and Closed Reduction and Casting (CRC) are the two conservative treatments proposed by literature. Despite CRC was widely used in the past, today brace is preferred.

Clinical comparison between simple laminectomy and laminectomy plus posterior instrumentation in surgical treatment of cervical myelopathy.

Background: Posterior stabilization in patients treated with laminectomy for spondylotic cervical myelopathy is still a debate. Despite both being reported in literature by several authors, some controversies still exist. The aim of this study is to compare clinical and radiological outcomes in patients treated with laminectomy or laminectomy with posterior stabilization.

Different pedicle osteosynthesis for thoracolumbar vertebral fractures in elderly patients.

Introduction: Pedicle screws' stability, especially in osteoporotic fractures, is a really problem for spinal surgeons. Nowadays, little is known about the influence of different screw types and amount of cement applied. This single-center retrospective observational study has the aim of evaluating the middle- to long-term mechanical performances of different types of screws in elderly patients with thoracolumbar fractures.

Surgical treatment of osteoporotic thoraco-lumbar compressive fractures: the use of pedicle screw with augmentation PMMA.

Introduction: The osteoporosis prevalence in population is age related. The aim of this single-center observational study was evaluate the middle- to long-term performance of cement (PMMA) augmented fenestrated pedicle screws in elderly patients with thoraco-lumbar compressive fractures by osteoporosis.

Materials And Methods: From 2011 to 2015 we treated 52 patients (20 males and 32 females) suffering from somatic osteoporotic fractures (T10-L2).

Spinal fusion with Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation for neuropathic scoliosis in patients with cerebral palsy.

Study Design: Retrospective.

Objective: To report on the treatment of patients with cerebral palsy and neuropathic scoliosis with third-generation instrumented spinal fusion by Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation.

Summary Of Background Data: Second-generation instrumented spinal fusion is considered the standard for progressive neuropathic scoliosis in cerebral palsy, despite high complication rates.

Posterior endoscopic discectomy (and other procedures).

Percutaneous approaches to lumbar discectomy were somewhat controversial, because of their limited indications. They have not proven to be as effective as standard open lumbar disc surgery, because of longer operating times and some technical problems in addressing all the different aspects of lumbar disc herniations. New percutaneous posterior procedures for lumbar disc disease have been described in the last few years, but the MicroEndoscopic Discectomy (MED) introduced by Foley and Smith in 1997 seems to be the most promising one.