Preoperative co-application of bevacizumab and tissue plasminogen activator in vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical benefits of the co-application of bevacizumab and tissue plasminogen activator as adjuncts in the surgical treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: Patients who underwent vitrectomy for proliferative dia-betic retinopathy complications were preoperatively given in-travitreal injection with either bevacizumab and tissue plasminogen activator (Group 1) or bevacizumab alone (Group 2). Primary outcomes were surgery time and number of intraoperative iatrogenic retinal breaks.

Health-care costs of conservative management of spine fractures in trauma patients.

Background And Purpose: There is a lack of evidence on the broad health-care costs of treating spine trauma patients without neurological deficits conservatively. The aim of the present study was to estimate the primary and secondary health-care sector costs associated with conservative treatment of spine fractures as well as their determinants.

Methods: Patients were identified between 1999 and 2008 in the hospital's administrative system based on relevant diagnostic codes.

Cost-Effectiveness of Surgical Versus Conservative Treatment for Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures.

Study Design: Historical, register-based cohort study following 85 patients in the course of a time frame extending from 2 years before to 2 years after trauma occurrence.

Objective: To investigate the cost-effectiveness of surgery versus conservative management for thoracolumbar burst fractures.

Summary Of Background Data: Despite the prevalence of thoracolumbar burst fractures, consensus has still not been reached in terms of their clinical management and whereas from a health policy point of view, efficient use of resources is equally important, literature pertaining to this aspect is limited.