Comparison of the Rigid Rod System with Modular Plate with the Finite Element Analysis in Short-Segment Posterior Stabilization in the Lower Lumbar Region.

Aim: Many studies are available in the literature on posterior spinal instrumentation, though the use of a rod and a plate is still controversial in the literature. In this study, a finite element analysis of the strength and superiority of modular rigid plate and rod systems, which are used in the lower lumbar region, in comparison with each other was used.

Material And Methods: A Ti6Al4V (Grade 5) titanium biocompatible alloy anterior plate was used for the lumbar spine fixation device, and a finite element analysis was conducted on the human lumbar spine model.

Management of Type II Odontoid Fracture for Osteoporotic Bone Structure: Preliminary Report.

Aim: Anterior transodontoid screw fixation technique is generally chosen for the management of type II odontoid fractures. The nonunion of type II odontoid fractures is still a major problem especially in elderly and osteoporotic patients. Eleven osteoporotic type II odontoid fracured patients were presented in this article.

Surgical treatment of a Malgaigne fracture.

Sacral fractures are generally accompanied by pelvic ring fractures. They rarely develop in an isolated form. Sacroiliac dislocation without sacral fracture is extremely rare.

Resection of a large spinal intradural ependymoma using a limited unilateral laminectomy approach in the lumbosacral region.

Ependymomas are the most common gliomas of the lower spinal cord, conus medullaris and filum terminale. Although there are several surgical modalities indicated in the removal of spinal tumors, total laminectomy is the conventional method used. However, surgical complications, such as spinal deformities and instability are more common with this approach compared to limited unilateral hemilaminectomy.

Thoracoscopic surgery for thoracic disc herniation.

Technical improvements in endoscopy have had a major effect in the practice of minimally invasive surgery, which is preferable to more invasive surgical procedures for central and hard thoracic disc herniation. Eleven patients underwent surgery between 2002 and 2008. Data was collected from self-reporting questionnaires completed by the patient at each visit before surgery and after surgery at 3,6,12 and 24 months.

Nonfusion stabilization of the degenerative lumbar spine.

Object: The goal of this study was to assess whether a stable but nonrigid nonfusion implant can stabilize the spine in degenerative diseases and also prevent instability following decompression. Instrumented spondylodesis is a recognized surgical treatment in degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. However, pain can develop at the bone graft donor site and the operative trauma can be very stressful in elderly patients, and it is suspected that there may be increased degenerative changes in the adjacent segments.

The major complications of transpedicular vertebroplasty.

Object: Vertebroplasty is a well-known technique used to treat pain associated with vertebral compression fractures. Despite a success rate of up to 90% in different series, the procedure is often associated with major complications such as cord and root compression, epidural and subdural hematomas (SDHs), and pulmonary emboli, as well as other minor complications. In this study, the authors discuss the major complications of transpedicular vertebroplasty and their clinical implications during the postoperative course.

Total disc replacement in the treatment of lumbar discogenic pain with disc herniation: a prospective clinical study.

Background: Biomechanical benefits of Total Disc Replacement (TDR) including both the restoration of normal segmental range of motion and the prevention of physiological lumbar lordosis encourage spine surgeons to perform TDR for lumbar disc disease.

Methods: A total of twenty patients (mean age: 39.5) who had degenerative disc disease with unilateral disc herniation were operated on between 2003 and 2006.

A new transodontoid fixation technique for delayed type II odontoid fracture: technical note.

Background: A different transodontoid screw fixation technique was studied in delayed type II odontoid fractures. This study presents observations on a different transodontoid fixation technique to remove and decrease the amount of sclerotic layers to accelerate the fusion process after the operation.

Methods: Ten cases of chronic type II odontoid fractures were operated on via transodontoid screw fixation between 2000 and 2007 which were admitted 6 weeks or later after the trauma.

Excision of an asymptomatic cervical intradural neurenteric cyst through the anterior approach: a study of two cases and a review of the literature.

Background: Spinal neurenteric cysts are very rare lesions, especially after the second decade of life. They account for 0.3% to 0.

Recurrent radiculopathy caused by epidural gas after spinal surgery: report of four cases and literature review.

Study Design: The article presents and discusses 4 cases in which symptomatic epidural gas developed after different surgeries on the lumbar spine.

Objective: To raise spinal surgeons' awareness of this potential problem.

Summary Of Background Data: Vacuum phenomenon (gas accumulation in an intervertebral disc) is relatively common.

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis: a rare and devastating complication of cancer--two case reports.

Two cases of very rare intramedullary spinal cord metastasis from colon carcinoma and renal carcinoma were treated primarily by microsurgical excision. A 44-year-old female presented with colon carcinoma metastasis manifesting as complete neurological deficit. She had undergone colon resection 2 years previously for colon carcinoma.

G protein mutations in pituitary tumors: a study on Turkish patients.

Activating mutations of the G proteins, Gsalpha (gsp) and Gi2alpha (gip) have been reported in subsets of pituitary tumors. The objective of the study was to assess the frequency of gsp and gip mutations in pituitary tumors from Turkish patients and to investigate the possibility of mutations of protein kinase A catalytic subunit (PKAC) that activates the downstream effectors of adenylyl cyclase. PCR-amplified genomic DNA was analyzed for the presence of mutations in codons 201 and 227 of Gsalpha, codon 179 and 205 of Gi2alpha and codon 196 of PKAC, by single strand conformation polymorphism analysis, allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization and DNA sequencing.

Radiofrequency lesioning using two different time modalities for the treatment of lumbar discogenic pain: a randomized trial.

Study Design: A prospective randomized trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous intradiscal radiofrequency thermocoagulation by modifying the duration of heating, using two different time methods, for relieving pain and improving functional disability.

Summary Of Background Data: Lumbar discogenic pain is the major problem in lumbar degenerative disc disease that percutaneous intradiscal radiofrequency thermocoagulation has been suggested for as a nonsurgical invasive treatment technique for lumbar discogenic pain.