Failure forces of different interspinous vertebropexy techniques.

Background Context: Challenges of vertebropexy such as spinous process fractures and tendon pull-out under high flexion loads need to be further investigated to ensure long-term stability of the construct.

Purpose: Vertebropexy is a technique using a tendon as a posterior tension band to stabilize vertebral segments. Failure modes include pull-out or spinous process fractures under high flexion loads.

Usefulness of a clinical diagnosis of ICU-acquired paresis to predict outcome in patients with SIRS and acute respiratory failure.

Purpose: Neuromuscular abnormalities are common in ICU patients. We aimed to assess the incidence of clinically diagnosed ICU-acquired paresis (ICUAP) and its impact on outcome.

Methods: Forty-two patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome on mechanical ventilation for >or=48 h were prospectively studied.