The Thoracic Lordosis Correction Improves Sacral Slope and Walking Ability in Neuromuscular Scoliosis.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objective: To report on neuromuscular patients with preserved walking ability, but forward bending of the body due to thoracic lordosis, and to suggest thoracic lordosis correction as the surgical treatment.

Summary Of Background Data: It is an established fact that lumbar lordosis or pelvic parameter is directly related to thoracic sagittal balance.

Riluzole attenuates neuropathic pain and enhances functional recovery in a rodent model of cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is the commonest cause of spinal cord impairment worldwide and despite surgical treatment, it is commonly associated with chronic neuropathic pain and neurological impairment. Based on data suggesting a key role of sodium and glutamate mediated cellular injury in models of spinal cord compression, we examined whether riluzole, a sodium channel/glutamate blocker, could improve neurobehavioral outcomes in a rat model of CSM. To produce chronic progressive compression of the cervical spinal cord, we used an established model of graded mechanical cord compromise developed in our laboratory.

A novel experimental model of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) to facilitate translational research.

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is the most common form of spinal cord impairment in adults. However critical gaps in our knowledge of the pathobiology of this disease have limited therapeutic advances. To facilitate progress in the field of regenerative medicine for CSM, we have developed a unique, clinically relevant model of CSM in rats.

Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in Korea: for personalized treatment.

Purpose: The incidence of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) has rapidly increased, and with it, physician consultations and expenditures (about one and a half times) in the last 5 years. Recent etiological studies reveal that AIS is a complex genetic disorder that results from the interaction of multiple gene loci and the environment. For personalized treatment of AIS, a tool that can accurately measure the progression of Cobb's angle would be of great use.

Changes in vitamin D status after surgery in female patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and its clinical significance.

Study Design: A prospective cohort study.

Objective: To demonstrate the changes in vitamin D status after surgery in female patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), and its correlation with surgical outcomes.

Summary Of Background Data: In patients with LSS, general health including walking ability and nutritional status can be markedly improved by decompressive surgery.

The biomechanical effect of pedicle screws' insertion angle and position on the superior adjacent segment in 1 segment lumbar fusion.

Study Design: A finite element analysis.

Objective: To investigate the association between the position of an inserted pedicle screw and the corresponding facet contact force or intradiscal pressure.

Summary Of Background Data: Although superior facet joint violation by pedicle screws is not an uncommon occurrence in instrumented lumbar fusion surgery, its actual biomechanical significance is not well understood.

A spinal cord astrocytoma and its concurrent osteoblastic metastases at the time of the initial diagnosis: a case report and literature review.

Bone metastasis from a spinal cord astrocytoma has been reported only twice in the English medical literature. It is generally known that bone metastasis is found after the initial diagnosis with/without intervening surgery rather than being found at the time of the diagnosis of astrocytoma. The purpose of this article is to report for the first time a case of concurrent bone metastasis from a spinal cord astrocytoma at the time of diagnosing the spinal cord astrocytoma.

Surgical outcome of lumbar fusion surgery in patients with Parkinson disease.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objectives: To investigate the overall surgical outcome of lumbar fusion surgery in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). SUMMARY OF BACK GROUND DATA: Poor bone quality and muscular dysfunction are important clinical manifestations connected with musculoskeletal diseases in PD patients.

The quantitative assessment of risk factors to overstress at adjacent segments after lumbar fusion: removal of posterior ligaments and pedicle screws.

Study Design: Finite element method.

Objective: To investigate the changes in the disc stress and range of motion (ROM) at adjacent segments after lumbar fusion based on whether or not pedicle screws are removed and whether or not the continuity of the proximal posterior ligament complex (PLC) is preserved.

Summary Of Background Data: The ablation of proximal PLC continuity and the presence of pedicle screws have been reported to affect the biomechanics at adjacent segments after lumbar fusion.

Value of preoperative pulmonary function test in flaccid neuromuscular scoliosis surgery.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of preoperative pulmonary function test (PFT) for postoperative pulmonary complications and to identify the operability associated with severely decreased forced vital capacity (FVC) (<30%) status in flaccid neuromuscular scoliosis.

Summary Of Background Data: The preoperative PFT, especially more than 30% FVC, is known as a critical factor for the operability of flaccid neuromuscular scoliosis.

The risk assessment of a fall in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Study Design: A prospective case control study.

Objectives: To investigate the risk of a fall by using functional mobility tests in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) via a comparison with patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Summary Of Background Data: LSS is a degenerative arthritic disease in the spine that results in decreasing function, impaired balance, and gait deficit, with increased levels of leg and back pain.

Comparison between Operated Muscular Dystrophy and Spinal Muscular Atrophy Patients in terms of Radiological, Pulmonary and Functional Outcomes.

Study Design: Retrospective comparative study.

Purpose: To study and compare the surgical outcomes of muscular dystrophy (MD) and spinal muscle atrophy (SMA).

Overview Of Literature: There are few reports that have evaluated and compared the surgical outcomes of MD and SMA patients.

Antibiotic Microbial Prophylaxis for Spinal Surgery: Comparison between 48 and 72-Hour AMP Protocols.

Study Design: This is a prospective randomized cohort study.

Purpose: We intended to evaluate the efficacy of a 48 hour antibiotic microbial prophylaxis (AMP) protocol as compared with a 72 hour AMP protocol.

Overview Of Literature: The current guideline for the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) suggests the AMP should not exceed 24 hours after clean surgery like spinal surgery.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery plus lumbar mini-open surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Purpose: The objectives of this study are to describe the outcome of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients treated with Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) plus supplementary minimal incision in the lumbar region for thoracic and lumbar deformity correction and fusion.

Materials And Methods: This is a case series of 13 patients treated with VATS plus lumbar mini-open surgery for AIS. A total of 13 patients requiring fusions of both the thoracic and lumbar regions were included in this study: 5 of these patients were classified as Lenke type 1A and 8 as Lenke type 5C.

Scoliosis imaging: what radiologists should know.

Scoliosis is defined as a lateral spinal curvature with a Cobb angle of 10° or more. This abnormal curvature may be the result of an underlying congenital or developmental osseous or neurologic abnormality, but in most cases the cause is unknown. Imaging modalities such as radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging play pivotal roles in the diagnosis, monitoring, and management of scoliosis, with radiography having the primary role and with MR imaging or CT indicated when the presence of an underlying osseous or neurologic cause is suspected.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for correction of adolescent idiopatic scoliosis: comparison of 4.5 mm versus 5.5 mm rod constructs.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to report the comparative results of thoracoscopic correction achieved via cantilever technique using a 4.5 mm thin rod and the poly-axial reduction screw technique using a 5.5 mm thick rod in Lenke type 1 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Pelvic obliquity in neuromuscular scoliosis: radiologic comparative results of single-stage posterior versus two-stage anterior and posterior approach.

Study Design: retrospective comparative study (Level III).

Objective: to compare the operative results of posterior fusion and a 2-stage anterior L5-S1 fusion followed by posterior fusion in neuromuscular scoliosis patients with significant pelvic obliquity (PO).

Summary Of Background Data: PO in neuromuscular scoliosis is common and a challenging problem that affects proper sitting balance, necessarily addressing the deformity and proper maintenance of the correction.

Analysis of biomechanical changes after removal of instrumentation in lumbar arthrodesis by finite element analysis.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the change in biomechanical milieu following removal of pedicle screws in instrumented single level lumbar arthrodesis. Using a validated finite element (FE) model of the intact lumbar spine (L2-5), two scenarios of L3-4 lumbar fusion were simulated: posterolateral fusion (PLF) at L3-4 using pedicle screws (PLF with pedicle screws; WiP) and L3-4 lumbar posterolateral fusion state after removal of pedicle screws (PLF without pedicle screws; WoP). The WiP model had greater range of motion (ROM) at each adjacent segment than the WoP model.

Multiple levels of lumbar spondylolysis - a case report -.

We report here on an unusual case of multiple levels of asymmetric lumbar spondylolysis in a 19-year-old woman. The patient had severe low back pain of increasing intensity with lumbar instability, which was evident on the dynamic radiographs. MRI demonstrated the presence of abnormalities and the three dimensional CT scan revealed asymmetric complete spondylolysis at the left L2, L3 and L4 levels and the right L1, L2 and L3 levels.

Vascular injury in thoracolumbar spinal surgeries and role of angiography in early diagnosis and management.

Study Design: A retrospective outcomes study.

Objective: To stress on the importance of early diagnosis with the help of angiography and proper treatment of vascular injuries occurring during thoracolumbar surgeries and to report our results.

Summary Of Background Data: Vascular injury is a rare but dangerous complication that can develop during thoracolumbar surgeries and if not treated properly then it can lead to severe complications including the death of the patient.

Association between bone mineral density and metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal Korean women.

Background/aims: We investigated the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) of the femur neck or lumbar spine and metabolic syndrome or its parameters in postmenopausal Korean women.

Methods: This study included 399 postmenopausal women, for whom the BMD of their L2s-L4s and femur necks were examined in association with metabolic syndrome.

Results: Subjects with metabolic syndrome had a higher BMD of the femur neck than those without metabolic syndrome when adjusted for age (0.

Comparison of surgical outcomes in thoracolumbar fractures operated with posterior constructs having varying fixation length with selective anterior fusion.

Purpose: Surgical treatment in the case of thoracolumbar burst fractures is very controversial. Posterior instrumentation is most frequently used, however, but the number of levels to be instrumented still remains a matter of debate.

Materials And Methods: A total of 94 patients who had a single burst fracture between T11 and L2 were selected and were managed using posterior instrumentation with anterior fusion when necessary.

Restoration of bone turnover rate after decompression surgery in patients with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis: preliminary report.

Study Design: Prospective short-term longitudinal study.

Objective: To investigate changes in the bone turnover rate in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) before and after decompression surgery. SUMMARY OF BACK GROUND DATA: Decompression surgery enables elderly patients with LSS to participate in daily activities and physical exercise by reducing or alleviating leg and back pain.

A validated finite element analysis of nerve root stress in degenerative lumbar scoliosis.

Few studies have shown the relationship between the curve pattern and nerve root symptoms in degenerative lumbar scoliosis, and its mechanism remains unclear. We developed a finite element model of two patterns of scoliotic curves (isolated lateral bending curve, lateral bending combined with rotation curve). The stress on the nerve root was calculated on both sides (right and left) of the apex vertebra.