Tissue engineering strategies in spinal arthrodesis: the clinical imperative and challenges to clinical translation.

Skeletal disorders requiring the regeneration or de novo production of bone present considerable reconstructive challenges and are one of the main driving forces for the development of skeletal tissue engineering strategies. The skeletal or mesenchymal stem cell is a fundamental requirement for osteogenesis and plays a pivotal role in the design and application of these strategies. Research activity has focused on incorporating the biological role of the mesenchymal stem cell with the developing fields of material science and gene therapy in order to create a construct that is not only capable of inducing host osteoblasts to produce bone, but is also osteogenic in its own right.

Lumbar spine fusion and stabilization: hardware, techniques, and imaging appearances.

Stabilization and fusion of the lumbar spine may be performed by using various anterior and posterior surgical techniques and a wide range of devices, including screws, spinal wires, artificial ligaments, vertebral cages, and artificial disks. Because spinal procedures are increasingly common, such devices are seen more and more often in everyday radiologic practice. For evaluation of the postoperative spine, radiography is the modality most commonly used.

Plaster cast immobilisation during air travel-analysis of current practice and aircraft-simulated experimental study.

Background: There is an increase in aircraft transportation of patients with lower limb fractures. Current practice is variable. Our aim was to study current practice and to analyse the situation in an experimental simulated aircraft flight.

Measurement of fracture kyphosis with the Oxford Cobbometer: intra- and interobserver reliabilities and comparison with other techniques.

Study Design: Statistical analysis of 3 techniques for measuring thoracolumbar kyphosis secondary to fracture.

Objectives: To determine the reliability of using an Oxford Cobbometer and assess the most reliable measurement technique.

Summary Of Background Data: The reproducibility of Cobb angles for the assessment of saggital plane deformity on spine radiographs has been shown to have significant variability in both intra- and interobserver error.