Influence on Therapeutic Decision-Making of Supine and Standing Radiographs after Traumatic Thoracolumbar Fracture in the Elderly.

Background:  A standing X-ray is recommended for decision-making relative to the therapy for a traumatic thoracolumbar fracture (TLF). However, standing X-ray management can be demanding in elderly patients because of pain. The goal of this study was to determine whether supine radiograph is sufficient for proper therapeutic decision-making in patients older than 65 years with acute stable traumatic TLF.

Elective Lumbar Spine Surgery in Depressed Patients: Is it Worth it?

Background: The objective of this study is to compare surgical results (pain, function, and satisfaction) between a group of depressed patients and a nondepressed group who had been operated on for a degenerative lumbar condition.

Methods: Prospective observational study. Preoperative pain (lumbar and radicular visual analog scale [VAS]), function (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]), and depression (Zung depression scale) data were collected in patients listed to be operated on for a lumbar degenerative condition.

Randomized clinical trial: expanded autologous bone marrow mesenchymal cells combined with allogeneic bone tissue, compared with autologous iliac crest graft in lumbar fusion surgery.

Background Context: Although autogenous iliac crest bone graft (AICBG) is considered the gold-standard graft material for spinal fusion, new bone substitutes are being developed to avoid associated complications and disadvantages. By combining autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) expanded ex vivo and allogenic cancellous bone graft, we obtain a tissue-engineered product that is osteoconductive and potentially more osteogenic and osteoinductive than AICBG, owing to the higher concentration of MSCs.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of implanting a tissue-engineered product consisting of expanded bone marrow MSCs loaded onto allograft bone (MSC+allograft) for spinal fusion in degenerative spine disease, as well as to assess its clinical and radiological efficacy.

Management of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: an evidence-based review.

Lumbar spinal stenosis has become one of the most disabling pathologies in the elderly population.Some additional conditions such as foraminal stenosis or degenerative spondylosis with a history of back pain and leg pain must be considered before treatment.A completely appropriate protocol and unified management of spinal stenosis have not yet been well defined.