Bone morphogenic proteins: applications in spinal surgery.

The prospect of predictable and reliable oseteogenesis without the need for secondary bone grafting to treat a wide spectrum of spinal disorders is tremendously appealing. Recombinant human bone morphogenic proteins (rhBMP) have been the subject of extensive basic science, animal, and clinical research as a potential therapeutic modality to promote bony fusion. Animal studies and prospective, randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of rhBMPs as an adjunct or substitute to autogenous bone graft in the specific treatment of certain spinal conditions.

Thromboprophylaxis after hip fracture: evaluation of 3 pharmacologic agents.

We compared the clinical efficacy and side-effect profiles of aspirin, dextran 40, and low-molecular-weight heparin (enoxaparin) in preventing thromboembolic phenomena after hip fracture surgery. All patients admitted with a diagnosis of hip fracture to our institution between July 1, 1987, and December 31, 1999, were evaluated. Study inclusion criteria were age 65 years or older, previously ambulatory, cognitively intact, home-dwelling, and having a nonpathologic intertrochanteric or femoral neck fracture.

A biomechanical comparison of two volar locked plates in a dorsally unstable distal radius fracture model.

Background: This study compares the biomechanical stability of two volar locked plate systems for fixation of unstable, extra-articular distal radius fractures.

Methods: In six matched pairs of fresh frozen cadaveric specimens, a simulated unstable, extra-articular distal radius fracture was created. The fractures were stabilized with one of two types of volar locked plates.

Semiconstrained knee arthroplasty in the setting of a chronic knee dislocation: a case report.

We present the case of a 27-month chronic knee dislocation treated with a semiconstrained, stemmed total knee arthroplasty. The patient was neurovascularly intact preoperatively but had severe functional limitations caused by pain, stiffness, and instability. At 2-year follow-up, the patient remains pain-free with functional range of motion and the ability to ambulate without complication.

"Floating total knee": ipsilateral periprosthetic fractures of the distal femur and proximal tibia after total knee arthroplasty.

Unlabelled: Currently, there are more than 300000 primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) performed annually in the United States. It is estimated that 0.3% to 2.

Total hip arthroplasty in sickle cell hemoglobinopathies.

Advances in medical treatment have led to improved life expectancy in patients with sickle cell hemoglobinopathies. Improved life expectancy has, in turn, led to an increasing number of patients with osteonecrosis requiring total hip arthroplasty. Patient evaluation begins with understanding the extent of the disease process and the patient's musculoskeletal manifestations (ie, pyogenic infection, marrow hyperplasia, osteonecrosis).

A biomechanical comparison of a dorsal 3.5-mm T-plate and a volar fixed-angle plate in a model of dorsally unstable distal radius fractures.

Objectives: To compare the biomechanical stability of internal fixation of extra-articular, dorsally unstable distal radius fractures fixed by 1 of 2 methods, either a standard dorsal nonlocked T-plate or a volar locked fixed-angle plate.

Design: Biomechanical cadaveric study.

Setting: Biomechanical testing laboratory.

An evaluation of two scoring systems to predict instability in fractures of the distal radius.

Background: Various scoring scales have been introduced in the management of patients with multiple injuries and lower extremity injuries. Two scoring systems have been introduced to predict instability in distal radius fractures. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the accuracy of these two models in predicting instability.

Spinal disorders in the elderly.

As life expectancies increase, the geriatric population will increase, and the treatment of spinal diseases in the elderly will become even more commonplace. Treatment of spinal disorders in the geriatric patient population is a difficult challenge and involves numerous surgical, medical, and social issues. This review will provide an overview of the various spinal disorders particular to the geriatric patient population and will highlight certain concepts critical in the treatment of the spine in the geriatric population.

Lumbar intervertebral disc cyst as a cause of radiculopathy.

Background Context: Lumbar radiculopathy is commonly caused by degenerative conditions such as a herniated disc or lumbar spinal stenosis. Less common etiologies include intraspinal extradural masses such as synovial cysts and gas-containing ganglion cysts. Intraspinal extradural cysts that communicate with the intervertebral disc are a rare entity and thus, an uncommon cause of lumbar radiculopathy.