Minimally invasive lateral occipitocervical fixation: case series and technique description.

Purpose: Occipitocervical junction (OCJ) instability is commonly treated with fixation via open posterior approach. The use of intraoperative navigation allows us to perform occipitocervical fixation via minimally invasive approach. We report a series of patients treated with percutaneous occipitocervical fixation, describing the surgical procedure in detail and discussing the technique.

Video-Based Microsurgical Education versus Stationary Basic Microsurgical Course: A Noninferiority Randomized Controlled Study.

Background:  Repetitive training is essential for microsurgical performance. This study aimed to compare the improvement in basic microsurgical skills using two learning methods: stationary microsurgical course with tutor supervision and self-learning based on digital instructional materials. We hypothesized that video-based training provides noninferior improvement in basic microsurgical skills.

Local infiltration analgesia with bupivacaine and adrenaline does not reduce perioperative blood loss in total hip arthroplasty.

This study evaluates the effect of local infiltration analgesia with bupivacaine and adrenaline on perioperative blood loss in total hip arthroplasty. Patients who had primary total hip arthroplasty were retrospectively assigned to two groups. One group had 100 ml of bupivacaine/adrenaline solution injected into periarticular soft tissues at the end of the procedure.

Cerclage cable augmentation does not increase stability of the fixation of intertrochanteric fractures. A biomechanical study.

Background: Intertrochanteric fractures with a posteromedial intermediate fragment are unstable because of the loss of medial support. Additional fixation with a cerclage is used in subtrochanteric fractures, but not in intertrochanteric fractures. The aim of this biomechanical study is to evaluate whether cerclage fixation improves stability of intertrochanteric fractures.

The cement-bone bond is weaker than cement-cement bond in cement-in-cement revision arthroplasty. A comparative biomechanical study.

This study compares the strength of the native bone-cement bond and the old-new cement bond under cyclic loading, using third generation cementing technique, rasping and contamination of the surface of the old cement with biological tissue. The possible advantages of additional drilling of the cement surface is also taken into account. Femoral heads from 21 patients who underwent a total hip arthroplasty performed for hip arthritis were used to prepare bone-cement samples.

Drill holes decrease cancellous bone strength: A comparative study of 33 paired osteoporotic human and 9 paired artificial bone samples.

This study was designed to compare compressive strength of cancellous bone retrieved from the femoral head in a specimen with and without guide wire hole, with comparison to synthetic bone samples. Femoral heads retrieved from 33 patients who sustained femoral neck fractures and underwent hip arthroplasty were cut into cuboids leaving two matching samples from the same femoral head. Similar samples were prepared from synthetic femurs.

The early failure of the gamma nail and the dynamic hip screw in femurs with a wide medullary canal. A biomechanical study of intertrochanteric fractures.

Background: Intertrochanteric fractures may occur in a bone with a wide medullary canal that may lead to significant mobility of a intramedullary nail, contrary to an extramedullary device. This study evaluates the Dynamic Hip Screw and the gamma nail in AO 31.A2.

Cadaveric biomechanical testing of torque - to - failure magnitude of Bilateral Apical Vertebral Derotation maneuver in the thoracic spine.

It remains unclear what is the real safe limit of torque magnitude during Bilateral Apical Vertebral Derotation (BAVD) in thoracic curve correction. Up to author's knowledge there is no study except this one, to reproduce in-vivo real measurements and intraoperative conditions during BAVD maneuver. The objective of this study was to evaluate the torsional strength of the instrumented thoracic spine under axial rotation moment as well as to define safety limits under BAVD corrective maneuver in scoliosis surgery.

The position and morphometry of the fovea capitis femoris in computed tomography of the hip.

Purpose: The position of the fovea of the femoral head is usually considered to be inferior or inferoposterior, despite the fact that few detailed anatomical studies have been performed. This study was performed to assess the position of the fovea in computed tomography and its correlation with standard radiographic measures of the proximal femur.

Methods: Computed tomography scans of the hip of 107 patients (54 women and 53 men) were evaluated.

The prevalence and ossification pattern of the biphalangeal and triphalangeal lateral toes.

Purpose: Biphalangealism of the toes is an exclusively human phenomenon. The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of the lateral toes in childhood by following the ossification pattern of the phalanges.

Methods: Foot radiographs of 913 adults have been evaluated for biphalangealism of 3rd to 5th toe.

The sensory function of the uninjured nerve in patients after median and ulnar nerve injury.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Some patients after median or ulnar nerve injury report a diminished sensibility in the fingers that are supplied by the uninjured nerve.

Purpose Of The Study: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the function of the uninjured nerve in patients after peripheral nerve injury to assess the presence and degree of its functional impairment.

Transient Monoplegia as a Result of Unilateral Femoral Artery Ischemia Detected by Multimodal Intraoperative Neuromonitoring in Posterior Scoliosis Surgery: A Case Report.

This is to report a case of 16-year-old girl with transient right lower limb monoplegia as a result of femoral artery ischemia detected by multimodal intraoperative spinal cord neuromonitoring (MISNM) during posterior correction surgery of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.A patient with a marfanoid body habitus and LENKE IA type scoliosis with the right thoracic curve of 48° of Cobb angle was admitted for posterior spinal fusion from Th6 to L2. After selective pedicle screws instrumentation and corrective maneuvers motor evoked potentials (MEP) began to decrease with no concomitant changes in somato-sensory evoked potentials recordings.

Direct Vertebral Rotation Versus Single Concave Rod Rotation: Low-dose Intraoperative Computed Tomography Evaluation of Spine Derotation in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery.

Study Design: A comparative clinical study of two main corrective manoeuvres in scoliosis surgery.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of two main corrective manoeuvres: single concave rod rotation (SCRR) and direct vertebral rotation (DVR) in regard to apical vertebral rotation (AVR) and rib hump correction in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: It remains unclear whether SCRR manoeuvre alone causes apical vertebral derotation (AVD) and rib hump correction.

The Thermal Sensitivity Test in Evaluating Outcome after Peripheral Nerve Injury.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability to discriminate temperatures in patients following peripheral nerve injury. Knowing that temperature sensibility is mediated by different receptors, the scores were compared to other functional hand scores in order to determine whether the ability to discriminate temperatures is restored to a different extent compared with other commonly evaluated hand function modalities. The test was performed using the NTE-2 device (Physitemp Instruments Inc.

Intraoperative computed tomography versus Perdriolle and scoliometer evaluation of spine rotation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Numerous indirect methods for apical vertebral rotation (AVR) measurement have been reported and none of them seems to be as accurate as computed tomography evaluation. The aim of this study was to compare spinal rotation changes during innovative technique of intraoperative computed tomography (ICT) evaluation with indirect methods such as Perdriolle and clinical evaluation with scoliometer. We examined 42 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients treated with posterior scoliosis surgery (PSS).

The effectiveness of percutaneous vertebroplasty in the treatment of different aetiology Vertebral Body Fractures.

Percutaneous Vertebroplasty (PV) has gained widespread popularity in the treatment of Vertebral Body Fractures (VBFs). The procedure involves the injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement into the fractured vertebral body via a needle that is placed percutaneously using either a transpedicular or extrapedicular approach. Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) evaluation is a widespread method of measure of the disease severity and the outcome of the treatment.

Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring (INM) in scoliosis surgery.

Even among skilled spinal deformity surgeons, neurologic deficits are inherent potential complications of spine surgery. The aim was to assess the meaning of changes and to evaluate the critical rates of Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SEP) and Motor Evoked Potentials (MEP) for Neurologic Deficit (ND) occurrence associated with scoliosis surgery. A Group of 30 patients with idiopathic scoliosis treated surgically by posterior correction and stabilisation were included.

Operative treatment of isthmic spondylolisthesis with posterior stabilization and ALIF. Cages versus autogenous bone grafts.

In the following study the use of cages and autogenous bone grafts were compared in the operative treatment of isthmic spondylolisthesis with the posterior stabilization and Anterior Lumbosacral Interbody Fusion (ALIF). 55 patients were divided into two groups. Autogenous bone grafts were used in the first group (34 patients) and titanium interbody implants (cages) in the second group (21 patients).

Secondary scoliosis after thoracotomy in patients with aortic coarctation and patent ductus arteriosus.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of lateral thoracotomy on the development of scoliosis in subjects undergoing repair of coarctation of the aorta (CoAo) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). A group of 133 patients with CoAo and PDA was evaluated. Forty-five patients with CoAo and 38 with PDA were operated on using lateral thoracotomy (operative group) while 12 patients with CoAo and 31 with PDA were treated using balloon dilatation and stent or coil implantation (non-operative group).

Tensile strength of a weave tendon suture using tendons of different sizes.

Background: This study compared the maximum load, stress, elongation at failure and the mode of failure of three kinds of tendons most frequently used for tendon grafting and tendon transfers, using the Pulvertaft weave suture.

Methods: Sixty tendons were used from fresh human cadaver upper and lower extremities. The performed repairs included: 9 specimens of flexor digitorum superficialis or profundus tendon with flexor digitorum superficialis or profundus tendon (thick-thick suture), 10 specimens of flexor digitorum superficialis or profundus tendon with palmaris longus tendon (thick-medium thin suture), and 10 specimens of flexor digitorum superficialis or profundus tendon with plantaris tendon (thick-thin suture).

[The effect of lateral thoracotomy on the development of scoliosis in patients with patent ductus arteriosus].

Introduction: Surgery, particularly thoracotomy in the thoracic area in infancy has been implicated in the development of scoliosis of thoracogenic origin. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of lateral thoracotomy on scoliosis development in subjects with patent ductus arteriosus.

Material And Methods: A group of 69 patients with patent ductus arteriosus was evaluated.

Scoliosis in patients with aortic coarctation and patent ductus arteriosus: does standard posterolateral thoracotomy play a role in the development of the lateral curve of the spine?

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of lateral thoracotomy on the development of scoliosis in subjects undergoing repair of coarctation of the aorta (CoA) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). A group of 133 patients with CoA and PDA was evaluated. Forty-five patients with CoA and 38 with PDA underwent surgery using standard posterolateral thoracotomy (operative group), whereas 12 patients with CoA and 31 with PDA were treated using balloon dilatation and stent or coil implantation (nonoperative group).

[The comparison of the use of cages with the use of autogenous bone grafts in the operative treatment of the isthmic spondylolisthesis by the posterior stabilisation and ALIF].

In the following study the use of cages and autogenous bone grafts were comparised in the operative treatment of isthmic spondylolisthesis by the posterior stabilization and anterior lumbosacral interbody fusion. 55 patients were divided into two groups. Patients underwent ALIF with the use of autogenous bone grafts in the first group (34) and with the use of titanium interbody implants (cages) in the second group (21).

[The influence of segmental lumbosacral anatomy restoration on clinical outomes in the operative treatment of the isthmic spondylolisthesis].

The influence of lumbosacral spine segmental anatomy restoration on the outcome of the operative treatment of isthmic spondylolisthesis was taken into evaluation. A series of 55 patients (29 males and 26 females) was examined. The long-term follow up period exceeded 3 years.

[The evaluation of the influence of total hip replacement on health-related quality of life].

Introduction: Total Hip Replacement (THR) is a valuable treatment for severe osteoarthritis of the hip. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of THR on Health-Related Quality of Life of patients with osteoarthritis of the hip.

Material: A group of 24 patients undergoing THR were evaluated (21 women and 3 men).