Morphological changes in the human cervical intervertebral disc post trauma: response to fracture-type and degeneration grade over time.

Purpose: In the first 24 h post-intervertebral disc (IVD) trauma, up to 75 % cell death has been reported. In addition, burst fractures cause post-traumatic disc degeneration by elevated pro-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory gene transcription. Moreover, some patients have pre-trauma degenerative disc disease.

Morphological similarities after compression trauma of bovine and human intervertebral discs: Do disc cells have a chance of surviving?

To study the behavior of bovine disc cells and changes in disc matrix following in vitro compression tests; to compare the findings to investigations on human intervertebral discs (IVD) after burst fracture of the cervical spine. Healthy IVDs (n = 21) from three bovine tails were studied at 6 and 12 h post-mortem, with 16 IVDs subjected to impact loading and five as unloaded controls. IVDs (n = 8) from patients with burst fractures were compared to the bovine compression group.

Morphological differences in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a histological and ultrastructural investigation.

Study Design: Histological and ultrastructural evaluation of cell morphologies at the concave and convex side of apical intervertebral discs (IVD) of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Objective: To determine changes in cell morphology, viability, and cell death after asymmetric disc loading in AIS and to compare the findings with the tilt angles.

Summary Of Background Data: The reaction of cells to loading stimuli in the IVD seems to be specific.

Morphological changes in disc herniation in the lower cervical spine: an ultrastructural study.

Introduction: The basis of disc degeneration is still unknown, but is believed to be a cell-mediated process. Apoptosis might play a major role in degenerative disc disease (DDD). The aim of this study was to correlate the viability of disc cells with the radiological degeneration grades (rDG) in disc herniation.

Mid-term results of PLIF/TLIF in trauma.

Treatment of thoracolumbar fractures is still controversial. Several treatment options are reported to yield satisfactory results. There is no evidence indicating superiority of any treatment option.

A biomechanical rationale for C1-ring osteosynthesis as treatment for displaced Jefferson burst fractures with incompetency of the transverse atlantal ligament.

Nonsurgical treatment of Jefferson burst fractures (JBF) confers increased rates of C1-2 malunion with potential for cranial settling and neurologic sequels. Hence, fusion C1-2 was recognized as the superior treatment for displaced JBF, but sacrifies C1-2 motion. Ruf et al.

PLIF in thoracolumbar trauma: technique and radiological results.

Patients with fractures from the 11th thoracic to the 5th lumbar vertebra had a reconstruction of the anterior column with monocortical iliac crest autograft by using a single dorsal approach. The loss of correction was observed using X-rays pre- and post-operatively, at 3 months and after implant removal (IR). Successful fusion was assessed using computed tomography after the implant removal.

Study on accuracy and interobserver reliability of the assessment of odontoid fracture union using plain radiographs or CT scans.

In odontoid fracture research, outcome can be evaluated based on validated questionnaires, based on functional outcome in terms of atlantoaxial and total neck rotation, and based on the treatment-related union rate. Data on clinical and functional outcome are still sparse. In contrast, there is abundant information on union rates, although, frequently the rates differ widely.

Intervertebral disc cell death in the porcine and human injured cervical spine after trauma: a histological and ultrastructural study.

Study Design: Histologic and ultrastructural study of disc cell death after traumatic injury to the human cervical spine and postmortem (p-m) in the porcine cervical spine.

Objective: To determine the changes in disc cell morphology, viability, and manner of cell death after trauma in human discs and p-m in porcine discs.

Summary Of Background Data: Similarities in the morphology of human and porcine spine have been shown in many histologic and biomechanical investigations.

[Acute diagnosis of spinal trauma].

Most traumatic spinal injuries result from a high-energy process and are accompanied by other injuries. Following the CCSPR study, the presence of all low-risk factors (simple trauma mechanism, fully conscious, ambulatory at any time since trauma, neck rotation exceeding 45 degrees bilaterally) obviates the need to acutely image the cervical spine. Imaging is indicated in all other patients.

Anatomical basis for functional treatment of dorsolateral dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint.

Dorsolateral dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint is a common injury to the hand. Closed reduction of the dislocation anatomically realigns the avulsed ligaments; thus patients may be managed non-operatively. Standard treatment involves placement of a dorsal splint to prevent hyperextension and lateral stresses.

Scapholunate ligament reconstruction using a periosteal flap of the iliac crest: a biomechanical study.

Introduction: Advances continue to improve direct reconstruction of the dorsal scapholunate (SL) ligament, which is the strongest part of the entire SL ligament and is known as the turning point between the scaphoid and lunate. This study was designed to compare the biomechanical properties of the dorsal SL ligament with those of a periosteal flap of the iliac crest, which is a new graft candidate for dorsal SL reconstruction.

Materials And Methods: A bone-ligament-bone complex was harvested for biomechanical testing from the iliac crest and the dorsal SL complex.

[Distal radius fractures and concomitant lesions. Experimental studies concerning the pathomechanism].

Since Colles (1814) first described a distal radius fracture and the publication by Dupuytren (1834), the frequency of and problems surrounding these fractures were increasingly recognised. Not only the treatment but also the formation and type of fracture were repeatedly analysed. The various theories concerning the pathomechanism led to names such as: "tear fracture", "bend fracture", "thrust fracture", "compression fracture", "snap fracture" and others.

Danger of damaging the medial branches of the posterior rami of spinal nerves during a dorsomedian approach to the spine.

Postoperative atrophy of the deep back muscles may be caused by denervation during a dorsomedian approach to the thoracolumbar spine; ensuing instability of the spine with poor clinical results, perhaps due to such muscle loss, has been observed in 11.7% of cases (Sihvonen et al., 1993, Spine 18:575--581).

[Dorsal dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joints of the finger. Results after static and functional treatment].

In a follow-up examination of 30 patients who had sustained dorsal dislocations of the PIP joint, the results of two conservative therapy regimens, either immobilisation or early motion were investigated. In Group A, 15 patients were treated by closed reduction and immobilisation with a forearm cast for four weeks. Nine patients showed normal range of motion, whereas a limitation of extension of ten degrees and more was seen in six cases.

[Correction of the leg axis after epiphyseal fracture and progressive abnormal growth of the proximal tibia].

Development of an angular deformity around the knee joint, following a posttraumatic premature epiphyseal closure is a rare but serious complication. We present a case report of this complication following a proximal tibial epiphyseal injury in a 9 year old child initially treated conservatively with plaster immobilization. Subsequently, partial closure of epiphysis on medial side resulted in genu varum of 20 degrees, which was treated with medial open wedge osteotomy of the proximal tibia combined with resection of a segment from the proximal fibula, and a percutaneous epiphysiodesis of the proximal tibia and fibula.

[Management of injuries of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae in children].

Traumatic injuries of the thoracic and lumbar spine are rare in children and differ in pathomorphology, healing process and prognosis from those in adults. Before growth arrest the vertebral epiphysis has an important role in pathomorphology and prognosis; therefore, treatment should recognize the age-dependent potential for growth and remodelling. This study demonstrates the different anatomic and pathomorphologic characteristics of traumatic spinal injuries in 40 children.