Surgical treatment of anterior cervical osteophytes causing dysphagia.

Purpose: Dysphagia due to anterior cervical osteophytes is a rare condition. However, it can become serious enough to permanently impair the quality of life up to making normal food intake impossible. If conservative treatment fails, there is the option of surgical resection of the osteophytes.

The full-endoscopic uniportal technique for decompression of the anterior craniocervical junction using the retropharyngeal approach: an anatomical feasibility study in human cadavers and review of the literature.

Objective: Acute or progressive myelopathy may necessitate direct anterior decompression of the craniocervical junction and odontoidectomy. Different techniques with individual advantages and disadvantages can be used. In addition to the gold standard-the transoral approach-there is also increasing experience with the endoscopic transnasal technique.

Full-endoscopic uniportal retropharyngeal odontoidectomy for anterior craniocervical infection.

Background: Infections of the anterior craniocervical junction may require surgery. There are various techniques with individual advantages and disadvantages. This study evaluates the full-endoscopic uniportal technique via the anterior retropharyngeal approach for odontoidectomy, decompression, and debridement.

Operation of Soft or Calcified Thoracic Disc Herniations in the Full-Endoscopic Uniportal Extraforaminal Technique.

Background: Surgery for thoracic disc herniation and stenosis is comparatively rare and often demanding. The goal is to achieve sufficient decompression without manipulating the spinal cord and to minimize surgical trauma and its consequences. Individual planning and various surgical techniques and approaches are required.

Surgical treatment of cervical subaxial intraspinal extradural cysts using a full-endoscopic uniportal posterior approach.

Purpose: Symptomatic intraspinal extradural cysts of the cervical subaxial spine are rare, but usually require surgery. Conventional posterior decompression is the gold standard. However, there is increasing experience with endoscopic surgical techniques.

Decompression of the anterior thoracic spinal canal using a novel full-endoscopic uniportal transthoracic retropleural technique-an anatomical feasibility study in human cadavers.

Surgery for thoracic disc herniation and spinal stenosis is comparatively rare and often demanding. The goal is to achieve sufficient decompression without manipulating the spinal cord. Individual planning and various surgical techniques and approaches are required.

Full-endoscopic Uniportal Odontoidectomy and Decompression of the Anterior Cervicomedullary Junction Using the Retropharyngeal Approach.

Study Design: A study of a series of consecutive full-endoscopic uniportal decompressions of the anterior craniocervical junction with retropharyngeal approach.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the direct anterior decompression of the craniocervical junction in patients with bulbomedullary compression using a full-endoscopic uniportal technique via an anterolateral retropharyngeal approach.

Summary Of Background Data: Acute or progressive myelopathy may necessitate direct anterior decompression of the craniocervical junction and odontoidectomy.

Risk factors for fear of falling in elderly patients with severe knee osteoarthritis before and one year after total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: To evaluate the regression of fear of falling (FOF) and identify its risk factors in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis before and one year after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: 11 men and 57 women with a mean age of 73 years and a mean body mass index of 30.36 kg/m2 who had severe (grade 3 or 4) knee osteoarthritis and knee pain of ≥1 year were included.

Reduction of Falls and Factors Affecting Falls a Year After Total Knee Arthroplasty in Elderly Patients with Severe Knee Osteoarthritis.

Background: Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is a common surgical treatment for severe knee Osteoarthritis (OA), which generally improves pain, physical function, quality of life and possibly fall risk. Fall risk increases for older adults with severe knee OA; however it has not been studied extensively whether this parameter is improved after TKA.

Objective: To investigate: a) the history and frequency of falls, including mechanism or causes of falls, injuries sustained from falls reported, activity during falling and location of falls and, b) the factors affecting falls, a year after TKA in elderly patients with severe knee OA.

Analyzing the History of Falls in Patients with Severe Knee Osteoarthritis.

Background: One out of three adults over the age of 65 years and one out of two over the age of 80 falls annually. Fall risk increases for older adults with severe knee osteoarthritis, a matter that should be further researched. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the history of falls including frequency, mechanism and location of falls, activity during falling and injuries sustained from falls examining at the same time their physical status.

A New Electromagnetic Navigation System for Pedicle Screws Placement: A Human Cadaver Study at the Lumbar Spine.

Introduction: Technical developments for improving the safety and accuracy of pedicle screw placement play an increasingly important role in spine surgery. In addition to the standard techniques of free-hand placement and fluoroscopic navigation, the rate of complications is reduced by 3D fluoroscopy, cone-beam CT, intraoperative CT/MRI, and various other navigation techniques. Another important aspect that should be emphasized is the reduction of intraoperative radiation exposure for personnel and patient.

Navigation of pedicle screws in the thoracic spine with a new electromagnetic navigation system: a human cadaver study.

Introduction: Posterior stabilization of the spine is a standard procedure in spinal surgery. In addition to the standard techniques, several new techniques have been developed. The objective of this cadaveric study was to examine the accuracy of a new electromagnetic navigation system for instrumentation of pedicle screws in the spine.

Bilateral spinal decompression of lumbar central stenosis with the full-endoscopic interlaminar versus microsurgical laminotomy technique: a prospective, randomized, controlled study.

Background: Extensive decompression with laminectomy, where appropriate, is often still described as the method of choice when operating on degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. Nonetheless, tissue-sparing procedures are becoming more common. Endoscopic techniques have become the standard in many areas because of the surgical advantages they offer and the benefits for rehabilitation.

Immediate Effects of Core-Stability Exercises and Clinical Massage on Dynamic-Balance Performance of Patients With Chronic Specific Low Back Pain.

Context: Previous studies showed improved dynamic-balance (DB) performance after core-stability (CS) exercises in populations with chronic low back pain. Although clinical massage plus exercise is likely to better enhance analgesia than exercise alone, its efficacy on balance remains unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the immediate effects of CS exercises plus myofascial trigger-point (MTrP) therapy in comparison with CS exercises alone on DB performance, pressure-pain threshold (PPT), and cross-sectional area of active MTrPs in patients with clinical instability of the lumbar spine and chronic myofascial pain syndrome.

Endoscopic repair of tears of the superficial layer of the distal triceps tendon.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results after endoscopic repair of partial superficial layer triceps tendon tears.

Methods: Fourteen patients treated surgically between July 2005 and December 2012 were studied prospectively for 12 months. Indication for surgery was a partial detachment of the triceps tendon from the olecranon that was proved by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in all cases.

Operation of lumbar zygoapophyseal joint cysts using a full-endoscopic interlaminar and transforaminal approach: prospective 2-year results of 74 patients.

In appropriate situations, extensive decompression with laminectomy often continues to be described as the method of choice for operations involving lumbar zygoapophyseal joint (z-joint) cysts. Tissue-sparing procedures are nevertheless becoming more common. Endoscopic techniques have become the standard procedures in many areas because of the advantages they offer in terms of surgical technique and in rehabilitation.

Analysis of the chronic lower limb injuries occurrence in step aerobic instructors in relation to their working step class profile: a three year longitudinal prospective study.

Background: There is limited information on injury patterns in Step Aerobic Instructors (SAI) who exclusively execute "step" aerobic classes.

Objective: To record the type and the anatomical position in relation to diagnosis of muscular skeletal injuries in step aerobic instructors. Also, to analyse the days of absence due to chronic injury in relation to weekly working hours, height of the step platform, working experience and working surface and footwear during the step class.

Arthroscopic versus conservative treatment of first anterior dislocation of the shoulder in adolescents.

Background: Conservative treatment of posttraumatic antero-inferior shoulder instability leads to a high failure rate in a young and active population. However, treatment in an adolescent age group is not well documented.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study with adolescent patients (age 15 to 18 y) who suffered a first traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder.

Typical balance exercises or exergames for balance improvement?

Background And Objectives: Balance training is an effective intervention to improve static postural sway and balance. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of the Nintendo Wii Fit Plus exercises for improving balance ability in healthy collegiate students in comparison with a typical balance training program.

Methods: Forty students were randomly divided into two groups, a traditional (T group) and a Nintendo Wii group (W group) performed an 8 week balance program.

Arthroscopic reconstruction of isolated subscapularis tears: clinical results and structural integrity after 24 months.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical results of arthroscopic repair of isolated subscapularis tears at 24 months' follow-up.

Methods: We prospectively followed up 20 patients with isolated subscapularis tears treated with arthroscopic repair with suture anchors in a 3-year period (January 2006 to December 2008) at our institution. Clinical examination of the patients and functional scores (Constant and University of California, Los Angeles [UCLA] scores) were obtained preoperatively and at 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months postoperatively.

[Differential diagnosis of back pain in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: instable cervical spine fracture].

History And Admission Findings: A 65-year-old patient with longstanding ankylosing spondylitis (AS) complained of persistent pain in the right shoulder and the neck; elevation of the shoulder was impaired. The symptoms had started a week before admission after a fall. Physical examination revealed generally decreased mobility of an already hyperkyphotic cervical spine (CS) and decreased thoracic excursion.

Proprioception and functional deficits of partial meniscectomized knees.

Background: The partial meniscectomy leads to proprioceptive knee deficits in a short period after the arthroscopic procedure; however, to our knowledge, a limited number of studies have investigated the long-term outcomes of partial meniscectomy on the knee joint proprioception.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the proprioception and muscle function of the partial meniscectomized knee through balance and functional tests 1-2 years posterior to arthroscopic surgery.

Design: This was an observational study.

Assessment of patients with neck pain: a review of definitions, selection criteria, and measurement tools.

Objective: The purpose of this literature review was to synthesize the existing literature on various definitions, classifications, selection criteria, and outcome measures used in different studies in patients with neck pain.

Methods: A literature search of MEDLINE and CINAHL through September 2008 was performed to gather articles on the reliability, validity, and utility of a wide variety of outcome measurements for neck pain.

Results: Different types of definitions appear in the literature based on anatomical location, etiology, severity, and duration of symptoms.