Are the additional grafts necessary?

The goals of surgery for spinal deformity are to correct or improve the deformity to get a stable, balanced and fused spine. The long-term success of any procedure for scoliosis depends on a solid arthrodesis. Getting fusion of the instrumented segment with the aid of copious autogenous iliac graft has been the most important goal of treatment.

[Treatment of occipitocervical instability by SUMMIT].

The occipitocervical junction with its complex anatomy and biomechanics represents unique anatomical structure difficult for operative treatment. Biomechanics forces in this region need to be resisted with rigid metallic construction to facilitate bone fusion. Surgeon must be careful about close relations of the bone, vascular and neurologic structures and must have good skills and knowledge to avoid serious complications during operations.

Low back pain--differential diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.

From January 2002 to February 2003, 137 patients complaining of low back pain were treated at the Institute for Orthopedic Surgery "Banjica", Belgrade, Serbia. There were 89 male and 48 female patients aged 13 to 77, mean age 42.2.

[Paralytic hip dislocation in cerebral palsy--soft tissue surgical procedures].

Results of a combination of soft tissue procedures performed for the first time in treating paralytic dislocation of the hip in cerebral palsy are presented. All hip flexors and adductors release, along with possible transposition or elongation of knee flexors on the side of the dislocation (if knee contracture exceeded 20) were peformed. 75 hips in 57 patients were operated on.

Combined salter innominate osteotomy with femoral shortening versus other methods of treatment for Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.

The results of treatment of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease in 357 patients at the Institute for Orthopaedic Surgery "Banjica," Belgrade, from January 1963 to December 1987 with > or = 10 years of follow-up are summarized. The advantages of combined Salter innominate osteotomy with femoral shortening, as a one-step operation, are emphasized. Male predominance was found in a ratio of 4.