Can Over Six Months of Teriparatide Treatment Prevent the Progression of Osteoporotic Thoracolumbar Compression Fracture?

Objective: Osteoporosis is one of the most common causes of thoracolumbar compression fractures. Teriparatide is an anabolic agent used to treat osteoporosis. This study aimed to determine whether teriparatide treatment for over 6 months could be effective in patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures.

Bone Substitute Options for Spine Fusion in Patients With Spine Trauma-Part II: The Role of rhBMP.

In Part II, we focus on an important aspect of spine fusion in patients with spine trauma: the pivotal role of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2). Despite the influx of diverse techniques facilitated by technological advancements in spinal surgery, spinal fusion surgery remains widely used globally. The persistent challenge of spinal pseudarthrosis has driven extensive efforts to achieve clinically favorable fusion outcomes, with particular emphasis on the evolution of bone graft substitutes.

Bone Substitute Options for Spine Fusion in Patients With Spine Trauma-Part I: Fusion Biology, Autografts, Allografts, Demineralized Bone Matrix, and Ceramics.

Spinal trauma accounts for a large portion of injuries to the spine area, particularly as societies are entering an era of aging populations. Consequently, spine fractures accompanied by osteoporosis are becoming more prevalent. Achieving successful fusion surgery in patients with spine fractures associated with osteoporosis is even more challenging.

Development of a novel PLDLA/β-TCP composite-based biodegradable anterior cervical plate and screw system.

We investigated the effectiveness and safety of a new composite-based biodegradable anterior cervical plate/screw (ACPS) system for the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) fixation. A biocomposite in combination with 30 wt% β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP; a biodegradable ceramic having osteoconductive ability) and 70 wt% poly-l/d-lactide copolymer (PLDLA; a biodegradable polymer) was developed and used in the ACPS device, comprising one plate and four screws for fixation. Based on a literature review, a clinically required period of performance maintenance was set as 16 weeks, and to verify the performance for a period of 16 weeks or more, the test was conducted for 26 weeks.

Is it true that treatment in patients with Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Classification System (SLICS) 4 is the surgeon's choice?

Background: The Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Classification System (SLICS) is a commonly used algorithm for diagnosing and managing subaxial cervical spine trauma. A SLIC score 4 suggests either surgery or non-surgically treatment depending on the surgeon's experience and patient's conditions.

Objective: Prognosis and treatment results were analyzed in patients with SLIC score 4.

Comparative Analysis of Radiologic Outcomes Between Polyetheretherketone and Three-Dimensional-Printed Titanium Cages After Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

Objective: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is performed worldwide with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and titanium (Ti) cages for the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases. The aim of this study was to compare radiologic outcomes between a PEEK and three-dimensional-printed titanium (3DP-Ti) cage after TLIF with >1 year of follow-up.

Methods: A total of 140 patients with degenerative lumbar diseases who underwent TLIF operation were included in this study.

Electron Microscopic Study in the Rat Model of Electrically Injured Myelopathy: Preliminary Report.

Objective: The patient with electrically injured myelopathy showed mild motor weakness without somatosensory pathway abnormalities. Few reports have been reported on the pathophysiological mechanisms of electrically injured myelopathy, and there is controversy about the exact pathological causes. This study aimed to investigate the ultrastructural changes in the electron microscopic findings of electrical spinal cord injury.

A composite of polymethylmethacrylate, hydroxyapatite, and β-tricalcium phosphate for bone regeneration in an osteoporotic rat model.

The purpose of this study was to test several modifications of the polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement by incorporating osteoconductive and biodegradable materials for enhancing bone regeneration capacity in an osteoporotic rat model. Three bio-composites (PHT-1 [80% PMMA, 16% HA, 4% β-TCP], PHT-2 [70% PMMA, 24% HA, 6% β-TCP], and PHT-3 [30% PMMA, 56% HA, 14% β-TCP]) were prepared using different concentrations of PMMA, hydroxyapatite (HA), and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). Their morphological structure was then examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and mechanical properties were determined using a MTS 858 Bionics test machine (MTS, Minneapolis, MN, USA).

Characterization of Fecal Microbiomes of Osteoporotic Patients in Korea.

An imbalanced gut microbiome has been linked to a higher risk of many bone-related diseases. The objective of this study was to discover biomarkers of osteoporosis (OP). So, we collected 76 stool samples (60 human controls and 16 OP patients), extracted DNA, and performed 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene-based amplicon sequencing.

Erratum: Validation of the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions, 3-Level Version (EQ-5D-3L) in Patients With Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture and Comparing Their Health-Related Quality of Life with That of the General Population in Korea.

[This corrects the article on p. 64 in vol. 18, PMID: 35557648.

Early Decompression in Acute Spinal Cord Injury : Review and Update.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) has a significant negative effect on the quality of life due to permanent neurologic damage and economic burden by continuous treatment and rehabilitation. However, determining the correct approach to ensure optimal clinical outcomes can be challenging and remains highly controversial. In particular, with the introduction of the concept of early decompression in brain pathology, the discussion of the timing of decompression in SCI has emerged.

Validation of the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions, 3-Level Version (EQ-5D-3L) in Patients With Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture and Comparing Their Health-Related Quality of Life With That of the General Population in Korea.

Objective: This study examined the validity of the European Quality of Life-5 dimensions, 3-Level version (EQ-5D-3L) in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) and compared the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of these patients with that of the general population in Korea.

Methods: Study participants completed several questionnaires, such as the EQ-5D-3L, 12-item short-form health survey version 2.0 (SF-12v2), Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMQ), and Pain Numeric Rating Scale (Pain NRS).

Review: Steroid Use in Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury and Guideline Update.

Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that causes enormous damage to a patient's physical, mental, and economic situation and requires a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. Research on SCI has been performed for a long time, and the management of SCI has developed dramatically in recent decades as a mechanism of injury and the pathophysiology of SCI have been revealed from the primitive stage in the past. In the treatment of patients with acute SCI, there is a lot of debate regarding surgical treatment strategies and pharmacological management, such as steroid use.

Effectiveness of nasotracheal intubation in anterior cervical surgery including C3 lesions.

Objective: Anterior approach cervical surgery is widely used for accessing C3 lesions. When operating with an anterior approach, the surgical field is obstructed by mandible. Neck extension is popular method to secure better surgical field but risk devastating neurological damage.

Clinical Outcomes after Spinal Cord Stimulation According to Pain Characteristics.

Objective: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective treatment for chronic neuropathic pain. However, its clinical efficacy in regard to specific types of pain has not been well studied. The primary objective of this study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical outcomes of paddle-type SCS according to the type of neuropathic pain.

Sudden bilateral foot drop due to dorsally unilateral migration of the herniated lumbar disc: A case report.

Background: Due to the anatomical characteristics of the anterior epidural space, dorsal migration of material from herniated lumbar disc is quite rare. Also, bilateral foot drop due to unilateral dorsal migration of disc herniation is extremely rare. This report presents a case of sudden bilateral foot drop caused by the unilateral dorsal migration of material from a herniated lumbar disc.

The Effect of Genetically Modified Lactobacillus plantarum Carrying Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 Gene on an Ovariectomized Rat.

Objective: Osteoporosis result from age-related decline in the number of osteoblast progenitors in the bone marrow. Probiotics have beneficial effects on the host, when administered in appropriate amounts. This study investigated the effects of probiotics expressing specific genes, especially the effects of genetically modified bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2-expressing Lactobacillus plantarum CJNU 3003 (LP) on ovariectomized rats.

Bone formation effect of highly concentrated tricalcium phosphate biocomposite screws in a rabbit osteoporosis model.

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of highly concentrated tricalcium phosphate (TCP) biocomposite screws on local bone formation in a rabbit model of osteoporosis induced by bilateral ovariohysterectomy (OHE). Fourteen 24-week-old female New Zealand rabbits (weight, 3-3.5 kg) were divided into two groups: (1) OHE and biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) without ß-TCP plate or screw insertion (OHE/Bio ScRew [BSR]) group and (2) OHE and biocomposite PLGA with highly concentrated ß-TCP plate and screw insertion (OHE/highly concentrated ß-triCalcium phosphate [HCCP]).

Rotational vertebral artery syndrome treated via an anterior approach and selective decompression only.

We present the case of a 38-year-old male who complained of repeated dizziness and syncope. Rotational vertebral artery syndrome (RVAS) was diagnosed via videonystagmoraphy (VNG), computed tomography angiography (CTA) and three-position digital subtraction angiography (DSA). In the neutral position, CTA and DSA revealed left vertebral artery (VA) stenosis at the C2 transverse foramen and right VA hypoplasia.