Long-term outcome after surgical treatment of Scheuermann's Kyphosis (SK).

Study Design: A retrospective observational cohort study with a minimum follow-up of 10 years of patients who underwent surgery for Scheurmann Kyphosis (SK).

Objective: Evaluate the long-term clinical and radiological outcome of patients with SK who either underwent combined anterior-posterior surgery or posterior instrumented fusion alone. There is paucity of literature for long-term outcome studies on SK.

Four direct measurements of the fine-structure constant 13 billion years ago.

Observations of the redshift = 7.085 quasar J1120+0641 are used to search for variations of the fine structure constant, α, over the redshift range 5.5 to 7.

Changes in state legislation and the impacts on elder financial fraud and exploitation.

Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to summarize how state legislators are responding to the increasing incidence of elder financial fraud and exploitation (EFFE) and investigate the impact of new state legislation.

Methods: Our empirical model investigates the impact of recent changes in state legislation, after controlling for relevant state demographics, on the prevalence of EFFE claims reported in the Consumer Sentinel Network database. We use panel data in a fixed effects model with and without time dummy variables.

Are intraspinal anomalies in early onset idiopathic scoliosis as common as once thought? A two centre United Kingdom study.

Purpose: Rates of neural axis abnormalities in infantile and juvenile idiopathic scoliosis may be as high as 50 %. We aimed to determine the rates of neural axis abnormalities in early onset idiopathic scoliosis patients in a British population.

Methods: This retrospective study at two British spinal deformity clinics identified 72 patients satisfying the inclusion criteria of: (1) age at diagnosis of 7 years and younger, (2) idiopathic scoliosis and (3) magnetic resonance imaging of the neuraxis.

Upper arm length model suggests transient bilateral asymmetry is associated with right thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (RT-AIS) with implications for pathogenesis and estimation of linear skeletal overgrowth.

Introduction: In girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) the finding of abnormal extra-spinal bilateral skeletal length asymmetries in upper limbs, periapical ribs, and ilia begs the question whether these bilateral asymmetries are connected in some way with pathogenesis.

Material And Methods: We investigated upper arm length (UAL) asymmetries in two groups of right-handed girls aged 11-18 years with right thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (RT-AIS, n=95) from preoperative and screening referrals (mean Cobb angle 46°) and healthy controls (n=240). Right and left UAL were measured with a Harpenden anthropometer of the Holtain equipment, Asymmetry was calculated as UAL difference, right minus left, in mm.

Spinal Deformity Correction in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD): Comparing the Outcome of Two Instrumentation Techniques.

Study Design: A retrospective matched cohort study.

Purpose: To compare the results of combined Luque rod-sublaminar wiring (thoracic) and pedicle (lower lumbar) instrumentation (SLW) versus those with pedicle screw fixation (PS) for scoliosis correction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Overview Of Literature: PS fixation is gaining popularity.

Congenital scoliosis - Quo vadis?

Congenital spinal vertebral anomalies can present as scoliosis or kyphosis or both. The worldwide prevalence of the vertebral anomalies is 0.5-1 per 1000 live births.

Stringent null constraint on cosmological evolution of the proton-to-electron mass ratio.

We present a strong constraint on variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio mu over cosmological time scales using molecular hydrogen transitions in optical quasar spectra. Using high quality spectra of quasars Q0405-443, Q0347-383, and Q0528-250, variation in micro relative to the present day value is limited to Deltamicro/micro=(2.6+/-3.

Fixed lumbar apical vertebral rotation predicts spinal decompensation in Lenke type 3C adolescent idiopathic scoliosis after selective posterior thoracic correction and fusion.

Retrospective radiographic review of surgically treated double major curves (Lenke type 3C) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. To evaluate the role of selective posterior thoracic correction and fusion in double major curves with third generation instrumentation and to identify preoperative radiographic parameters that predict postoperative coronal spinal decompensation. Traditionally the surgical treatment of double major curves consists of fusion of both the thoracic and the lumbar curve.

Clinical outcome of symptomatic unilateral stress injuries of the lumbar pars interarticularis.

Study Design: A prospective case-series study.

Objective: To evaluate the results of nonoperative and operative treatment of symptomatic unilateral lumbar pars stress injuries or spondylolysis.

Summary Of Background Data: Most patients become asymptomatic following nonoperative treatment for unilateral lumbar pars stress injuries or spondylolysis.

C7 decancellisation closing wedge osteotomy for the correction of fixed cervico-thoracic kyphosis.

Our objective is to report on the clinical and radiological outcome following a decancellisation closing wedge osteotomy for the correction of fixed cervico-thoracic kyphosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The only treatment available for severe fixed flexion deformity of the cervical spine in these patients is an extension osteotomy. Traditionally an anterior opening, posterior closing wedge osteotomy is performed with or without internal fixation.

A segmental radiological study of the spine and rib--cage in children with progressive infantile idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: The role of rib cage in the development of progressive infantile idiopathic scoliosis (IIS) has not been studied previously. No report was found for rib growth in children with IIS. These findings caused us to undertake a segmental radiological study of the spine and rib-cage in children with progressive IIS.

Anterior instrumentation for thoracolumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: do structural interbody grafts preserve sagittal alignment better than morselized rib autografts?

Study Design: This is a retrospective, sequential cohort study of 34 patients treated by anterior instrumented fusion with single solid rod, single screw constructs with at least 2-year follow-up. Sixteen of the patients received structural grafts as interbody spacers in disc levels below T12, while the other 18 patients received only morselized rib autograft.

Objective: To determine if structural interbody grafts preserve sagittal alignment better than morselized rib autograft.

Intraoperative pulmonary embolism of Harrington rod during spinal surgery: the potential dangers of rod cutting.

This is a case report and laboratory-based biomechanics study. The objective is to report the first case of Titanium rod embolisation during scoliosis surgery into the Pulmonary artery. To investigate the potential of an unconstrained cut Titanium rod fragment to cause wounding with reference to recognised weapons.

Is there a role for selective anterior instrumentation in neuromuscular scoliosis?

Our objective was to report on the clinical and radiological outcome from a cohort of patients with neuromuscular scoliosis who underwent selective anterior single rod instrumentation for correction of thoraco-lumbar and lumbar scoliosis. Traditionally combined anterior release with long posterior instrumentation has been advocated for the treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis. Neuromuscular curves tend to be long and may have significant pelvic obliquity.

A prospective, randomised controlled trial of femoral ring allograft versus a titanium cage in circumferential lumbar spinal fusion with minimum 2-year clinical results.

The literature reports on the safety and efficacy of titanium cages (TCs) with additional posterior fixation for anterior lumbar interbody fusion. However, these papers are limited to prospective cohort studies. The introduction of TCs for spinal fusion has resulted in increased costs, without evidence of superiority over the established practice.

Single photon emission computerized tomography and reverse gantry computerized tomography findings in patients with back pain investigated for spondylolysis.

Background: Athletes with low back pain may have sustained a bone stress injury in the lumbar neural arch, including spondylolysis. Single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) and reverse gantry computerized tomography (rg-CT) help localize bone stress response and spondylolyses.

Objectives: To describe the SPECT and rg-CT findings in those patients suspected of suffering from a spondylolysis.

Discitis.

Discitis is not an uncommon condition and can be potentially life threatening if diagnosed late. This article reviews recent publications and discusses the clinical presentation, pathoaetiology, diagnosis, treatment and pitfalls.

Pelvic or lumbar fixation for the surgical management of scoliosis in duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Study Design: This retrospective study evaluates two groups of patients with scoliosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, treated with two different surgical stabilization methods.

Objective: To determine whether fixation to the sacropelvis is always necessary for adequate stabilization of scoliosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Summary Of Background Data: Pelvic fixation is generally recommended for scoliosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.