Reference Standards for Digital Infrared Thermography Measuring Surface Temperature of the Upper Limbs.

(1) Background: although digital infrared thermographic imaging (DITI) is used for diverse medical conditions of the upper limbs, no reference standards have been established. This study aims to establish reference standards by analyzing DITI results of the upper limbs. (2) Methods: we recruited 905 healthy Korean adults and conducted thermography on six regions (dorsal arm, ventral arm, lateral arm, medial arm, dorsal hand, and ventral hand region).

Reference Standard for Digital Infrared Thermography of the Surface Temperature of the Lower Limbs.

Digital infrared thermographic imaging (DITI) is a supplementary diagnostic technique to visualize the surface temperature of the human body. However, there is currently no reference standard for the lower limbs for accurate diagnosis. In this study, we performed DITI on the lower limbs of 905 healthy Korean volunteers (411 males and 494 females aged between 20 and 69 years) to obtain reference standard data.

Differential Screening of Herniated Lumbar Discs Based on Bag of Visual Words Image Classification Using Digital Infrared Thermographic Images.

Doctors in primary hospitals can obtain the impression of lumbosacral radiculopathy with a physical exam and need to acquire medical images, such as an expensive MRI, for diagnosis. Then, doctors will perform a foraminal root block to the target root for pain control. However, there was insufficient screening medical image examination for precise L5 and S1 lumbosacral radiculopathy, which is most prevalent in the clinical field.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery With Midline Cortical Bone Trajectory Screw Fixation for Lumbar Degenerative Disease in a Retrospective Study of 200 Patients.

Objective: Midline lumbar interbody fusion is performed for treatment of various lumbar degenerative diseases, with good clinical outcomes and few complications. However, there are no large-scale or long-term studies regarding midline lumbar interbody fusion. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of midline lumbar interbody fusion and to compare the results according to surgical level.

Predicting Bone Marrow Edema and Fracture Age in Vertebral Fragility Fractures Using MDCT.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether CT features can predict bone marrow edema (BME) on MRI and fracture age in vertebral fragility fractures. A total of 189 thoracolumbar compression fractures in 103 patients (14 men, 89 women; mean age, 76 years) imaged with both spine CT and MRI were retrospectively included. The presence and extent of BME were assessed on MRI to divide fractures into those with and without BME.

Surgical Outcomes of Dysphagia Provoked by Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis in the Cervical Spine.

Purpose: This study aimed to predict the surgical outcomes of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)-related dysphagia (DISH-phagia) and to evaluate the importance of prevertebral soft tissue thickness (PVST).

Materials And Methods: In total, 21 surgeries (anterior osteophytectomy or anterior cervical decompression and fixation) were included in this study for DISH-phagia from 2003 to 2019. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS) preoperatively, at 1 month postoperatively, and last follow up (mean 29.

Paraspinal Lean Muscle Mass Measurement Using Spine MRI as a Predictor of Adjacent Segment Disease After Lumbar Fusion: A Propensity Score-Matched Case-Control Analysis.

The purpose of this study was to compare paraspinal muscle mass between patients with and without adjacent segment disease (ASD) after lumbar fusion. Fifty patients with ASD (mean age, 61.4 years; ratio of male to female patients: 13:37; mean body mass index [BMI; weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters], 25.

Comparison among perfect-C®, zero-P®, and plates with a cage in single-level cervical degenerative disc disease.

Background: We intended to analyze the efficacy of a new integrated cage and plate device called Perfect-C for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) to cure single-level cervical degenerative disc disease.

Methods: We enrolled 148 patients who were subjected to single-level ACDF with one of the following three surgical devices: a Perfect-C implant (41 patients), a Zero-P implant (36 patients), or a titanium plate with a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage (71 patients). We conducted a retrospective study to compare the clinical and radiological results among the three groups.

Decompression alone versus fusion for pyogenic spondylodiscitis.

Background Context: A spinal infection is a serious problem for a spine surgeon, and there is currently much debate regarding how best to treat pyogenic spondylodiscitis using antibiotics and the instrumentations that have been developed to date.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine which method is better for treating pyogenic spondylodiscitis.

Study Design: A retrospective chart review was performed.

Neurilemmoma of Deep Peroneal Nerve Sensory Branch : Thermographic Findings with Compression Test.

We report a case of neurilemmoma of deep peroneal nerve sensory branch that triggered sensory change with compression test on lower extremity. After resection of tumor, there are evoked thermal changes on pre- and post-operative infrared (IR) thermographic images. A 52-year-old female presented with low back pain, sciatica, and sensory change on the dorsal side of the right foot and big toe that has lasted for 9 months.

Box-shape cervical expansive laminoplasty: clinical and radiological outcomes.

Objective: Box-shape cervical expansive laminoplasty is a procedure that utilizes a Miniplate® or Maxpacer® to achieve maximal canal expansion. This method is expected to show much larger canal expansion and good clinical outcome. So we investigated the clinical and radiological outcome of Box-shape cervical expansive laminoplasty.

Diagnosis of Cervical OPLL in Lateral Radiograph and MRI: Is it Reliable?

Objective: Cervical OPLL is a relatively common cause of developing cervical myelopathy or radiculopathy in Asians. Cervical OPLL is sometimes missed in lateral radiography or MRI. In the present study, we analyzed the diagnostic accuracy of cervical OPLL in lateral radiography and MRI compared to CT scan.

Cervical expansive laminoplasty with 90° box-shape double door method.

Objective: The aim of this study is to introduce the surgical method with miniplate and compared the expansion rate of the spinal canal area with other kinds of lamina spacers.

Methods: Between June. 2008 and May 2011, we performed expansive cervical laminoplasty on 61 patients.

New technical tip for anterior cervical plating : make hole first and choose the proper plate size later.

Objective: It is well known that plate-to-disc distance (PDD) is closely related to adjacent-level ossification following anterior cervical plate placement. The study was undertaken to compare the outcomes of two different anterior cervical plating methods for degenerative cervical condition. Specifically, the new method involves making holes for plate screws first with an air drill and then choosing a plate size.

Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion using a single interbody cage and a tubular retraction system : technical tips, and perioperative, radiologic and clinical outcomes.

Objective: A minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF) has recently been introduced. However, MIS TLIF is a technically challenging procedure. The authors performed retrospective analysis about MIS TLIF using a single interbody cage.

The BioFlex System as a Dynamic Stabilization Device : Does It Preserve Lumbar Motion?

Objective: This study examines whether functional motion is present at one or more years after Bioflex System placement. BioFlex System is a flexible rod system which has been used to preserve motion at the area of implantation. There has not been a scientific study showing how much motion is preserved after implantation.

Polymethylmethacrylate-augmented screw fixation for stabilization of the osteoporotic spine : a three-year follow-up of 37 patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy, radiological findings, clinical outcomes and complications in patients with lumbar stenosis and osteoporosis after the use of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) augmentation of a cannulated pedicle screw.

Methods: Thirty-seven patients with degenerative spinal stenosis and osteoporosis (T-score < -2.5) underwent lumbar fusion using the Dream Technology Pedicle Screw (DTPS, Dream Spine Total Solutions, Dream STS, Seoul, Korea) between 2005 and 2007.

Change of lumbar motion after multi-level posterior dynamic stabilization with bioflex system : 1 year follow up.

Objective: This study examined the change of range of motion (ROM) at the segments within the dynamic posterior stabilization, segments above and below the system, the clinical course and analyzed the factors influencing them.

Methods: This study included a consecutive 27 patients who underwent one-level to three-level dynamic stabilization with Bioflex system at our institute. All of these patients with degenerative disc disease underwent decompressive laminectomy with/without discectomy and dynamic stabilization with Bioflex system at the laminectomy level without fusion.

Two-level anterior cervical discectomy versus one-level corpectomy in cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Study Design: A retrospective investigation of clinical and radiologic outcomes after surgical treatment for 2-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

Objective: The study was undertaken to compare the outcomes of 2 different anterior approach types for 2-level CSM. Specifically, 2-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) was compared with 1-level anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF).

Nitinol spring rod dynamic stabilization system and Nitinol memory loops in surgical treatment for lumbar disc disorders: short-term follow up.

Object: The purpose of this study was to analyze the usefulness of the BioFlex, a Nitinol spring rod dynamic stabilization system, and the Nitinol shape memory loop (KIMPF-DI Fixing System) as a posterior dynamic stabilization system in surgery for low-back pain.

Methods: The 103 patients who underwent treatment with the BioFlex system were divided into two groups: Group 1, dynamic stabilization with or without posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF); and Group 2, rigid fixation (PLIF + BioFlex system only). A total of 66 segments were treated with only the BioFlex system; in these the preoperative range of motion (ROM) was 10.

Evaluation of HealosMP52 osteoinductive bone graft for instrumented lumbar intertransverse process fusion in sheep.

Study Design: HealosMP52 was evaluated in a sheep model of instrumented lumbar intertransverse process spine fusion and compared to autogenous bone graft.

Objectives: To determine the long-term efficacy and safety of HealosMP52 as a bone graft substitute in posterolateral instrumented spinal fusion.

Summary Of Background Data: Although the standard intertransverse fusion method employs autogenous iliac crest bone, autograft has certain limitations.

Surgical techniques for total sacrectomy and spinopelvic reconstruction.

The surgical management of sacral tumors requires partial or total sacrectomy and spinopelvic reconstruction. These lesions present a great surgical challenge, because most spine surgeons are unfamiliar with the techniques required for these procedures. The authors describe a step-by-step operative technique and provide several illustrations.

Synovial cyst in the cervical region causing severe myelopathy.

The authors describe a case of an 80-year-old man with a gradual weakness of the lower extremities not linked to any known traumatic episode over the 2 weeks before admission. CT scan and MRI of the spine revealed a cystic formation, measuring about 1 cm in diameter, at C7-T1 at the left posterolateral site at the level of the articular facet. During surgery, the mass appeared to be in the ligamentum flavum at the level of the articular facet and was in contact with the dura mater.

Anterior cervical fusion using dense cancellous allografts and dynamic plating.

Objective: Dense cancellous grafts provide an open matrix for vascular and cellular penetration for early osseous integration. Thus, they provide a better biological fusion substrate than cortical or corticocancellous grafts. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the dense cancellous allografts as a substrate for anterior cervical fusion along with instrumentation.