Utility of somatosensory- and motor-evoked potential change thresholds in surgical treatment for thoracic spinal stenosis based on different pathologies.

Background Context: Thoracic spinal stenosis (TSS) is secondary to different pathologies that differ in clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the optimal warning thresholds for combined somatosensory-evoked potentials (SSEP) and motor-evoked potentials (MEP) for predicting postoperative neurological deterioration in surgical treatment for TSS based on different pathologies. Additionally, we explored the correlation between SSEP/MEP monitoring and postoperative spinal neurological function.

Exosomes derived from M2 macrophages prevent steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head by modulating inflammation, promoting bone formation and inhibiting bone resorption.

Inflammatory reactions are involved in the development of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head(ONFH). Studies have explored the therapeutic efficacy of inhibiting inflammatory reactions in steroid-induced ONFH and revealed that inhibiting inflammation may be a new strategy for preventing the development of steroid-induced ONFH. Exosomes derived from M2 macrophages(M2-Exos) display anti-inflammatory properties.

Effects of smoking on the retina of patients with dry age-related macular degeneration by optical coherence tomography angiography.

Background: The macula of the retina is analysed using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to provide clinical basis and explain the mechanism of smoking as a risk factor in dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 49 normal control nonsmokers, 12 normal control smokers, 38 dry AMD nonsmokers and 35 dry AMD smokers. The foveal avascular zone (FAZ), foveal density (FD) in a 300 μm region around FAZ, vessel densities of the superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexuses and central fovea retinal thickness (FRT) were compared using OCTA.

Retracted: Modified Closing-Opening Wedge Osteotomy to Correct Kyphosis in Ankylosing Spondylitis.

An Editorial decision has been made to retract the manuscript, Feng C, et al. Modified Closing-Opening Wedge Osteotomy to Correct Kyphosis in Ankylosing Spondylitis. Med Sci Monit.

Surgical management of sacral meningeal cysts by obstructing the communicating holes with muscle graft.

Background: The surgical indication and treatment of sacral meningeal cyst have not been well established and current methods are usually accompanied by complications and recurrence. The aim of this study is to discuss the treatment of symptomatic sacral meningeal cyst, by investigating the surgical results of our surgically treated patients, and minimize the complications and recurrence.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with symptomatic sacral meningeal cysts who were surgically treated by a single surgeon in the same institution from 2002 to 2017.

Modified Closing-Opening Wedge Osteotomy to Correct Kyphosis in Ankylosing Spondylitis.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical and radiological outcomes of modified closing-opening wedge osteotomy (mCOWO) for correcting kyphosis in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS From April 2012 to April 2017, records of consecutive patients who underwent mCOWO were reviewed. The clinical and radiological outcomes were analyzed preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the most recent follow-up.

Is It Possible to Correct Congenital Spinal Deformity Associated With a Tethered Cord Without Prophylactic Intradural Detethering?

Background: Patients who have a congenital spinal deformity with a tethered cord generally are treated with prophylactic intradural detethering before deformity correction. However, the detethering procedure carries substantial risk, and it is not clear whether deformity correction can be performed without detethering.

Questions/purposes: To determine the (1) correction rate, (2) proportion of patients who experienced complications after surgery, and (3) neurological status after recovery from surgery in a group of patients with congenital spinal deformity and a tethered cord who were treated either with posterior spinal fusion only (PSF), pedicle-subtraction osteotomy (PSO), or a vertebral column resection (VCR), based on an algorithmic approach.

Postoperative pulmonary complications following posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion for congenital scoliosis.

Background: Congenital scoliosis (CS) may lead to more serious pulmonary complications compared with idiopathic scoliosis after spinal fusion surgery. However, little has been reported about postoperative pulmonary complication events in patients with CS after spinal fusion surgery.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of and predictive factors of postoperative pulmonary complications following posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion surgery for the treatment of CS.

A novel recombinant RANKL vaccine prepared by incorporation of an unnatural amino acid into RANKL and its preventive effect in a murine model of collagen-induced arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammatory synovitis, bone atrophy, and subsequent progressive destruction of articular tissue. Targeted inhibition of receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) has been highly successful in preventing RA-mediated bone erosion in animal models and patients, suggesting that development of a RANKL vaccine might be of therapeutic value. Our previous study has shown that the recombinant RANKL vaccine YpNOPhe, generated by replacement of a single tyrosine residue (Tyr) in murine RANKL (mRANKL) with p-nitrophenylalanine (pNOPhe), induces a high titer antibody response and prevents ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss in mice.

Prevalence of Recurrent Herniation Following Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is a minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with a smaller incision, decreased damage to soft tissues, faster recovery, and fewer postoperative complications. However, the exactly epidemiological prevalence of recurrent herniation after PELD remains unclear.

Objectives: To investigate the epidemiological prevalence of recurrent herniation in patients following PELD and to analyze the potentially related risk factors.

A new vaccine targeting RANKL, prepared by incorporation of an unnatural Amino acid into RANKL, prevents OVX-induced bone loss in mice.

Bone homeostasis is maintained by a dynamic balance between osteoblastic bone formation and osteoclastic bone resorption. The receptor activator of nuclear-κB ligand (RANKL) is essential for the function of the bone-resorbing osteoclasts, and targeting RANKL has been proved highly successful in osteoporosis patients. This study aimed to design a novel vaccine targeting RANKL and evaluate its therapeutic effects in OVX-induced bone loss model.

Neurological complications of thoracic posterior vertebral column resection for severe congenital spinal deformities.

Purpose: The risk of neurological injury during vertebral column resection is high. In this study, we investigated the incidence and risk factors for neurological complications when treating spinal deformities by thoracic posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR).

Methods: Between 2008 and 2013, there were 62 consecutive patients (34 female patients and 28 male; the mean age: 16.

Safety and Efficacy of Single-Stage Surgical Treatment for Congenital Scoliosis Associated with Intraspinal Mass.

For congenital scoliosis associated with intraspinal anomaly, surgical treatment is often advocated. However, the safety and efficacy of single-stage intraspinal mass resection and scoliosis correction remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the feasibility and risk factors of single-stage surgical treatment for congenital scoliosis associated with intraspinal mass.

[Neurological complications of posterior vertebral column resection for severe rigid congenital spinal deformities].

Objective: To analyze the risk factors of neurological complications of posterior vertebral column resection in the treatment of severe rigid congenital spinal deformities.

Methods: The clinical data of 88 patients with severe rigid congenital spinal deformities who underwent PVCR in Department Of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University from June 2007 to November 2012 were collected. There were 39 males and 49 females at the average age of 16.

Safety and Efficacy of One-stage Spinal Osteotomy for Severe and Rigid Congenital Scoliosis Associated with Split Spinal Cord Malformation.

Study Design: Retrospective clinical study.

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of one-stage spinal osteotomy in the treatment of severe and progressive congenital scoliosis (CS) associated with split spinal cord malformation (SSCM).

Summary Of Background Data: For severe and rigid spinal deformity, spinal osteotomies are often advocated for correcting the deformity.

Surgical Treatment of Congenital Scoliosis Associated With Tethered Cord by Thoracic Spine-shortening Osteotomy Without Cord Detethering.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of spine-shortening osteotomy for congenital scoliosis with tethered cord.

Summary Of Background Data: Conventional surgery for congenital scoliosis associated with tethered cord risks the complications of detethering.

[One stage surgical treatment of congenital scoliosis associated with split cord malformation].

Objective: To investigate the clinical results of one stage surgical treatment in congenital scoliosis (CS) patients associated with split cord malformation (SCM).

Methods: Between January 2007 and December 2010, 50 patients underwent one stage surgical treatment for CS associated with SCM. Among of them, 38 patients (13 male and 25 female) with an average age of (15 ± 6) years, who were followed up in the clinic at least 2 years longer, were include in the study.