[The morbidity of the posterior iliac crest bone graft harvesting could be an overestimated fact. Study in patients with open posterolateral lumbar fusion].

Introduction: spinal fusion is used to treat, among other pathologies, the degenerative intervertebral disc disease. Autologous iliac crest bone grafting is the golden standard treatment for increasing the rate of fusion; however, it isn't free of complications.

Objectives: to investigate whether patients who have posterior iliac crest graft harvesting and are blinded to the donor site, can identify from which side the graft was harvested, and whether the intensity of this pain is related to the amount of graft obtained.

[Bone revascularization: structural allograft intramedullary vs extramedullary. Experimental work].

Introduction: successful treatment in patients with significant bone defects secondary to infection, non-union and osteoporotic fractures resulting from previous trauma is challenging. In the current literature we did not find any reports that compare the use of intramedullary allograft boards versus the same ones placed lateral to the lesion.

Material And Methods: we worked on a sample of 20 rabbits (2 groups of 10 rabbits each).

[Is the Michigan State University lumbar disc herniation classification reliable among spine surgeons?].

Introduction: there are numerous classifications for herniated discs, such classifications guide professionals about the severity of the lesion, the possible clinical picture of the patient, the most appropriate treatment and are undoubtedly a predictive tool to project the possible results of the therapies used. The main purpose of this work is to validate the inter- and intra-observer reliability of the Michigan State University (MSU) classification among the spine surgeons of our service and also to know the risk factors associated with the patients who underwent lumbar discectomy, the most affected disc level, the clinical presentation and the previous treatments performed in the patients treated by our team.

Material And Methods: 50 nuclear magnetic resonance (MR) images in axial T2 section corresponding to the "maximum disc herniation" level were selected from patients diagnosed and submitted to meningo-radicular release surgery and single level lumbar discectomy retrospectively in the last two years from our database; these images were distributed among three spine surgeons of our institution.

[Thoracolumbar trauma: in situ fixation vs decompression and fixation in neurologically involved burst fractures].

Thoracolumbar burst fractures are a great challenge for spine surgeons and that is why the aim of this study was to perform a systematic review analyzing the current literature regarding the different factors to take into account in their management. Systematic search in PubMed, Cochrane, MedlinePlus sites. "Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures" were the keywords.

[Distal peroneal artery pseudoaneurysm].

Introduction: Aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms of the arteries of the foot and ankle are rare clinical entities. In most cases occur within months or years of the initial trauma, complications in the aforementioned situations are very uncommon, however, they should be ruled out at medical check-ups. We will present a clinical case in which pseudoaneurysm of the Distal Peroneal Artery occurred as a result of a fracture- dislocation of the ankle.

[Application of vancomycin powder on graft. Does the fusion of the rabbits spine is affected?].

Introduction: In vitro studies suggest that vancomycin is highly cytotoxic for osteoblasts. However, several clinical studies in vivo have not provided evidence or determined that effect on osteogenesis. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of topical vancomycin on a lumbar arthrodesis model on New Zealand white rabbits.

[Sensitivity and specificity of three complementary methods in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome].

Introduction: Currently there is no universally accepted standard of reference for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome so it is considered a «latent class» pathology, that is, it lacks any diagnostic tests that absolutely certain the presence of disease.

Methods: Prospective, observational and analytical study evaluating the three diagnostic methods used for carpal tunnel syndrome (clinical examination, ultrasound and electromyography). Normality values were set for each diagnostic method.