Thoracic Spinal Stability and Motion Behavior Are Affected by the Length of Posterior Instrumentation After Vertebral Body Replacement, but Not by the Surgical Approach Type: An Study With Entire Rib Cage Specimens.

Spinal tumors and unstable vertebral body fractures usually require surgical treatment including vertebral body replacement. Regarding primary stability, however, the best possible treatment depends on the spinal region. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of instrumentation length and approach size on thoracic spinal stability including the entire rib cage.

In vitro comparison of personalized 3D printed versus standard expandable titanium vertebral body replacement implants in the mid-thoracic spine using entire rib cage specimens.

Background: Expandable titanium implants have proven their suitability as vertebral body replacement device in several clinical and biomechanical studies. Potential stabilizing features of personalized 3D printed titanium devices, however, have never been explored. This in vitro study aimed to prove their equivalence regarding primary stability and three-dimensional motion behavior in the mid-thoracic spine including the entire rib cage.

Routine Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Parameters in Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Treated With Nusinersen.

Nusinersen is an antisense-oligonucleotide (ASO) approved for treatment of 5q-spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Since the drug cannot cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), it must be administered into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space repeatedly by lumbar puncture. However, little is known whether ASOs have an impact on CSF routine parameters that may yield information on CSF flow and/or intrathecal inflammation.

Evaluation criteria for the assessment of occupational diseases of the lumbar spine - how reliable are they?

Background: In 2005, the German Association of Occupational Accident Insurance Funds (DGUV) defined radiological evaluation criteria for the assessment of degenerative occupational diseases of the lumbar spine. These include the measurement of intervertebral osteochondrosis and classification of vertebral osteosclerosis, antero-lateral and posterior spondylosis, and spondyloarthritis via plain radiography. The measures currently remain in daily use for determining worker compensation among those with occupational diseases.

Neurochemical markers in CSF of adolescent and adult SMA patients undergoing nusinersen treatment.

Background: There is limited information on neurochemical markers being used to support and monitor the affection of motoneurons in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The objective of this study was to examine neurochemical markers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) under treatment with the antisense-oligonucleotide (ASO), nusinersen.

Methods: We measured markers of axonal degeneration [neurofilament light chain (NfL) and phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (pNfH)] along with basic CSF parameters in 25 adolescent and adult SMA type 2 and 3 patients at baseline and after four intrathecal injections of nusinersen.

Intrathecal administration of nusinersen in adolescent and adult SMA type 2 and 3 patients.

Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic motor neuron disease that leads to progressive muscular atrophy and muscle weakness. In December 2016, the Food and Drug Administration, and in June 2017, the European Medicines Agency approved the antisense oligonucleotide nusinersen for treatment of spinal muscular atrophy. Nusinersen has to be repeatedly administered intrathecally.

Eosinophilic granuloma of the spine involving C1 and pulmonary infiltration in young children - Presentation of two cases with a follow-up over 10 years including review of the literature.

Objectives: The incidence of spinal eosinophilic granuloma in children is low.

Methods: Clinical case presentation of two children (♀ 18 months old, ♂ 16 months old) complaining of acute torticollis. Follow-up period was 11 years in the female patient and 13 years in the male patient.

Modified technique of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for segmental correction of lumbar kyphosis: a safe alternative to osteotomies?

Background: Sagittal rebalancing of a fixated lumbar hypolordosis (kyphosis) is very important to gain satisfactory results. To correct a misalignment vertebral column resection or pedicle subtraction osteotomies are favored, disregarding the relatively high complication rates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and safety of a new modified transforaminal lumbar fusion technique as an alternative.

A survey on patients' knowledge and expectations during informed consent for spinal surgery: can we improve the shared decision-making process?

Background: The informed medical consent in surgery requires to some point basic medical knowledge. The treating physicians while explaining the details and risks of the recommended procedure often imply this. We hypothesized, that patients do not have adequate medical understanding to decide about the ongoing therapy and its potential complications based on knowledge jeopardizing the patients' safety.

Preliminary investigations on intradiscal pressures during daily activities: an in vivo study using the merino sheep.

Purpose: Currently, no studies exist, which attest the suitability of the ovine intervertebral disc as a biomechanical in vivo model for preclinical tests of new therapeutic strategies of the human disc. By measuring the intradiscal pressure in vivo, the current study attempts to characterize an essential biomechanical parameter to provide a more comprehensive physiological understanding of the ovine intervertebral disc.

Methods: Intradiscal pressure (IDP) was measured for 24 hours within the discs L2-L3 and L4-L5 via a piezo-resistive pressure sensor in one merino sheep.

Radiographic risk factors for labral lesions in femoroacetabular impingement.

Background: Tears of the acetabular labrum can lead to pain, disability, and osteoarthritis. Several pathomechanisms have been proposed, including femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Labral tears have been reported to occur in the presence of even subtle deformities of the acetabulum and femoral head-neck junction.

Can femoroacetabular impingement and hip dysplasia be distinguished by clinical presentation and patient history?

Purpose: Hip dysplasia and femoroacetabular impingement may both lead to disability and hip osteoarthritis. The purpose of the current study was to compare the two entities in order to define differences in their clinical presentation.

Methods: The clinical presentation and WOMAC items, subscales and overall sum score were compared between 37 patients with femoroacetabular impingement and 37 patients with hip dysplasia.

Reliability of radiographic signs for acetabular retroversion.

Acetabular retroversion may contribute to femoroacetabular impingement and lead to osteoarthritis of the hip. Retroversion has been measured on computed tomography scans. In recent years, assessment of acetabular version on anteroposterior pelvic views has gained increasing attention.