Treatment of spinal fractures in ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory spondyloarthropathy with the potential for progressive spinal stiffness that ultimately makes patients susceptible to spinal fractures with traumatic spinal cord injury from even low-energy trauma. Treatment of patients with AS and spinal fractures (AS+FX) is controversial because, although these patients need especially rigorous stabilization, surgery has been associated with an increased risk of complications and persistent neurological deficits. The purpose of this retrospective case series was to profile patients with AS+FX from a 19-year period within the authors' county hospital system, including differences of neurological status in patients treated operatively vs nonoperatively.

Pedicle screw instrumentation of thoracolumbar burst fractures: Biomechanical evaluation of screw configuration with pedicle screws at the level of the fracture.

Background: Posterior fixation alone may not be adequate to achieve and maintain burst fracture reduction. Adding screws in the fractured body may improve construct stiffness. This in vitro study evaluates the biomechanical effect of inserting pedicle screws in the fractured body compared with conventional short- and long-segment posterior fixation.

A comparison of film and computer workstation measurements of degenerative spondylolisthesis: intraobserver and interobserver reliability.

Study Design: A comparison of measurements of degenerative spondylolisthesis made on film and on computer workstations.

Objective: To determine whether the 2 methodologies are comparable in some of the parameters used to assess lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Summary Of Background Data: Digital radiology has been replacing analog radiographs.

Degenerative spondylolisthesis of the cervical spine: analysis of 58 patients treated with anterior cervical decompression and fusion.

Background Context: Degenerative spondylolisthesis has been well described as a disorder of the lumbar spine. Few authors have suggested that a similar disorder occurs in the cervical spine. To our knowledge, the present study represents the largest series of patients with long-term follow-up who were managed surgically for the treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis of the cervical spine.

One- and two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: the effect of plate fixation.

Background Context: The success of arthrodesis for anterior cervical fusion depends on several factors, including the number of surgical levels. Internal fixation putatively improves the arthrodesis rate and outcome.

Purpose: To provide medium-term follow-up data on the surgical success and patient outcome of one- and two-level anterior cervical discectomies and fusions and to determine the effect that plate fixation has on results.