Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages for anterior column reconstruction in pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis.

The objective of study was to evaluate a case series of patients in whom polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages were used for anterior column reconstruction in vertebral osteomyelitis. Fifteen patients underwent clinical and radiological evaluation with average follow-up of 26 months. Parameters assessed were time of surgery, blood loss, segmental kyphosis or lordosis angle, time to solid bony fusion, ambulatory status, and functional outcome.

Vertebral End-Plate Perforation for Intervertebral Disc Height Preservation After Single-level Lumbar Discectomy: A Randomized-controlled Trial.

Study Design: Pilot single-centre, stratified, prospective, randomized, double-blinded, parallel-group, controlled study.

Objective: To determine whether vertebral end-plate perforation after lumbar discectomy causes annulus reparation and intervertebral disc volume restoration. To determine that after 6 months there would be no clinical differences between the control and study group.

Long-term Results of Surgical Treatment for Symptomatic Anterior Cervical Osteophytes: A Case Series With Review of the Literature.

Purpose: Presentation of a case series (10 patients) with surgical treatment of symptomatic anterior cervical osteophytes, a review of the latest literature and discussion of surgical methods.

Objective: To present our results of the surgical treatment and compare them with the existing literature. On the basis of the gathered data, we aim to propose an optimal choice of surgical treatment.

The influence of postoperative epidural analgesia on postoperative pain and stress response after major spine surgery--a randomized controlled double blind study.

Major spinal surgery is associated with severe postoperative pain and stress response, bowel dysfunction, and a potential for chronic pain development. Epidural analgesia has been shown to be advantageous compared to intravenous analgesia alone. The aim of the study was to investigate whether postoperative addition of epidural levobupivacaine to intravenous opioid analgesia offers advantage over intravenous opioid analgesia alone.

Cluster nucleation and growth from a highly supersaturated adatom phase: silver on magnetite.

The atomic-scale mechanisms underlying the growth of Ag on the (√2×√2)R45°-Fe3O4(001) surface were studied using scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory based calculations. For coverages up to 0.5 ML, Ag adatoms populate the surface exclusively; agglomeration into nanoparticles occurs only with the lifting of the reconstruction at 720 K.