Long-Term Pathology of Ovine Lumbar Spine Degeneration Following Injury Via Percutaneous Minimally Invasive Partial Nucleotomy.

The focus of this work is to assess the long-term progression of degeneration in the ovine lumbar spine following a minimally invasive model injury comparable to the damage of an intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation. A partial nucleotomy was performed on 18 sheep via the percutaneous dorsolateral approach. The animals were culled at 6 and 12 months to evaluate the damaged and neighboring functional spine units (FSUs) for degenerative characteristics via μ-CT and histology.

Percutaneous posterolateral approach for the simulation of a far-lateral disc herniation in an ovine model.

Purpose: This work describes a minimally invasive damage model for ovine lumbar discs via partial nucleotomy using a posterolateral approach.

Methods: Two cadavers were dissected to analyze the percutaneous corridor. Subsequently, 28 ovine had their annulus fibrosus punctured via awl penetration under fluoroscopic control and nucleus pulposus tissue removed via rongeur.

Micro-CT evaluation of asymmetrical ovine intervertebral disc height loss from surgical approach.

Purpose: The primary goal of this study is to clearly define and evaluate new intervertebral disc height parameters in analysing the morphological pathology of disc degeneration for application in damage model and regeneration therapy development, as well as applying traditional variables to 3-D characterization methods.

Methods: A posterolateral surgical approach was used to induce disc degeneration in an ovine model. At 12-months post-operation, sheep vertebral segments were removed and characterized using micro-CT to evaluate disc height parameters in regard to injury localization.

[Are IT-based clinical pathways superior to hard-copy form?].

Background: Today clinical pathways are established as a basis for the operational and organisational structure of surgical, interventional and conservative treatments in many hospitals.

Question: In our study we have evaluated the establishment and systematic applicability of IT-based clinical pathways in the department of general surgery in comparison with existing clinical pathways. Does the systematic application of IT-based clinical pathways improve the quality of medical treatment?

Methods: In our department of general surgery we evaluated and compared the treatment by laparoscopic surgery before and after establishment of IT-based clinical pathways.