Outcome of traumatic thoracolumbar spine fractures in elderly: A systematic review.

Introduction: Adequate guidelines for treatment of people over 65 years, suffering traumatic thoracolumbar spine fractures without neurologic deficit, are currently lacking.

Research Question: The aim of this study was to systematically review the available literature regarding the outcome of conservative and surgical treatment of thoracolumbar spinal trauma in elderly patients.

Material And Methods: A systematic review according the PRISMA guidelines was performed.

Has the reporting quality of published randomised controlled trial protocols improved since the SPIRIT statement? A methodological study.

Objectives: To determine the reporting quality of published randomised controlled trial (RCT) protocols before and after the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) statement (2013), and any association with author, trial or journal factors.

Design: Methodological study.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL were electronically searched using optimised search strategies.

Quantitative subchondral bone perfusion imaging in knee osteoarthritis using dynamic contrast enhanced MRI.

Objective: Subchondral bone changes, characterized by increased bone turnover and vascularity, are believed to stimulate progression and pain in knee osteoarthritis (OA). The objective of this study was to evaluate the bone perfusion in knee OA using quantitative dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI).

Design: Unicompartmental knee OA patients were included and underwent 3 Tesla DCE-MRI and T2-weighted MRI.

T mapping of the meniscus is a biomarker for early osteoarthritis.

Purpose: To evaluate in vivo T mapping as quantitative, imaging-based biomarker for meniscal degeneration in humans, by studying the correlation between T relaxation time and degree of histological degeneration as reference standard.

Methods: In this prospective validation study, 13 menisci from seven patients with radiographic knee osteoarthritis (median age 67 years, three males) were included. Menisci were obtained during total knee replacement surgery.

Multi-scale imaging techniques to investigate solute transport across articular cartilage.

As articular cartilage is an avascular tissue, the transport of nutrients and cytokines through the tissue is essential for the health of cells, i.e. chondrocytes.