Lumbar spine arthrodesis. A comparison of hospital costs between 1986 and 1993.

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the hospital costs of one- and two-level spinal arthrodesis and to determine areas where costs may be effectively reduced. The hospital bills of 40 patients (20 each in 1986 and 1993) who had undergone single-level and double-level lumbar arthrodesis were reviewed. Each patients's bill was examined and the specific charge items were assigned to one of seven "service centers.

A correlation of cervical magnetic resonance imaging and discography/computed tomographic discograms.

Study Design: The morphology of sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine was correlated with provocative discography and subsequent computed tomography (CT) discograms in 52 patients with discogenic pain.

Objectives: The authors determined if the morphology of cervical spine discs, as seen on MRI, correlates with discography/CT discograms in patients with discogenic pathology.

Summary Of Background Data: Several studies have demonstrated a correlation between MRI and discography in the lumbar spine.

Clinical use of a syndesmosis screw in stage IV pronation-external rotation ankle fractures.

The purpose of this study was to determine if biomechanical data obtained in studies on cadavers correlates with clinical results in the surgical treatment of stage IV pronation-external rotation (PER-IV) ankle fractures. We surgically treated 20 patients who sustained isolated PER-IV ankle injuries and followed 18 of the patients for an average of 2.5 years.

Posterior occipitoatlantal hypermobility in Down syndrome: an analysis of 199 patients.

We endeavored to determine the prevalence of occipitoatlantal hypermobility in individuals with Down syndrome, to establish objective radiographic criteria for this entity, and to correlate this with neurologic abnormality. In a retrospective analysis, upper cervical spine radiographs of 210 patients with Down syndrome were compared with those of 102 normal individuals. Radiographs were evaluated using the Powers ratio.

Intraoperative arterial occlusion in total joint arthroplasty.

Major arterial occlusion during surgery is an uncommon complication. The authors report on two patients who developed intraoperative arterial occlusion during total joint arthroplasty. Both of the patients were smokers and had significant peripheral vascular disease.