Lumbar Spondylolysis After Posterior Corrective Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Report of Two Cases and Literature Review.

After corrective surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), patients can return to sports activities without restrictions. While there have been many reports of long-term disc degeneration between adjacent segments after posterior corrective fusion, the effects of sports activities on adjacent segments after corrective fusion surgery are not well understood. Particularly, cases of acquired spondylolysis after long fusion surgeries for scoliosis are rare.

Knee locking caused by osteochondroma of the proximal tibia adjacent to the pes anserinus: A case report.

Background: Osteochondroma is one of the most common benign bone tumors, and it may cause bone and joint deformities and limited range of motion of an adjacent joint. The pes anserinus region is one of the most frequent sites of osteochondroma, but knee locking caused by osteochondromas in the pes anserinus region is extremely rare.

Case Summary: We describe a 13-year-old Japanese girl's extra-articular knee locking that occurred when the semitendinosus tendon got caught in osteochondroma that had developed in the pes anserinus region.

Throwing distance and competitive performance of Boccia players.

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the relationship between throwing distance and competitive performance in Boccia players in order to establish a training program based on this evidence. [Participants and Methods] In total, 40 athletes, who competed in the Japan Boccia Championships and are certified players of the Japan Boccia Association, participated in the study. Participants threw the Boccia ball as far as possible, and throwing distances were compared between certified players (Group I, n=8), those who participated in the final round (Group II, n=9), and those who lost in the preliminary round (Group III, n=23).

Hounsfield unit of screw trajectory as a predictor of pedicle screw loosening after single level lumbar interbody fusion.

Object: This study aims to clarify the clinical potential of Hounsfield unit (HU), measured on computed tomography (CT) images, as a predictor of pedicle screw (PS) loosening, compared to bone mineral density (BMD).

Methods: A total of 206 screws in 52 patients (21 men and 31 women; mean age 68.2 years) were analyzed retrospectively.

Correction to: Attenuation of cortical activity triggering descending pain inhibition in chronic low back pain patients: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Inadvertently, the Fig. 7 was published incorrectly in the original publication of the article. The correct figure should be as below.

Attenuation of cortical activity triggering descending pain inhibition in chronic low back pain patients: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Purpose: A considerable portion of chronic low back pain (cLBP) patients lack anatomical abnormality, resist conventional therapeutic interventions, and their symptoms are often complicated with psychological and social factors. Such patients have been reported to show cerebral abnormalities both in anatomy and function by neuroimaging studies. Here we examined differences in cerebral reactivity to a simulated low back pain stimulus between cLBP patients and healthy controls by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and their behavioral correlates from a psychophysical questionnaire.

Psychosocial Stress After a Disaster and Low Back Pain-Related Interference With Daily Living Among College Students: A Cohort Study in Fukushima.

Study Design: A cohort study.

Objective: To investigate the association between psychosocial stress and low back pain (LBP)-related interference with daily living among college students.

Summary Of Background Data: Few longitudinal studies have examined the likelihood of developing LBP in the presence of a designated psychosocial stressor.

Sacroiliac joint motion in patients with degenerative lumbar spine disorders.

OBJECT Usually additional anchors into the ilium are necessary in long fusion to the sacrum for degenerative lumbar spine disorders (DLSDs), especially for adult spine deformity. Although the use of anchors is becoming quite common, surgeons must always keep in mind that the sacroiliac (SI) joint is mobile and they should be aware of the kinematic properties of the SI joint in patients with DLSDs, including adult spinal deformity. No previous study has clarified in vivo kinematic changes in the SI joint with respect to patient age, sex, or parturition status or the presence of DLSDs.

The bone morphogenetic protein-2/7 heterodimer is a stronger inducer of bone regeneration than the individual homodimers in a rat spinal fusion model.

Background Context: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are a group of dimeric growth factors that belong to the transforming growth factor super family and are capable of eliciting new bone formation. Previous studies have suggested that the coexpression of two different BMP genes in a cell can result in the production of BMP heterodimers that are more potent than homodimers. However, because of the difficulty in optimizing the level of BMP gene expression, the coexpression of two different BMP genes also produces BMP homodimers as a by-product.

3D morphometric analysis of laminae and facet joints in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Objective: To clarify the three-dimensional (3D) morphometric characteristics of the spine in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS).

Methods: 3D morphometric analyses of laminae and facets were performed and compared for a DS group, an age-matched spinal canal stenosis (LCS) group, and a control group of young persons without spinal disease. 3D facet sagittal angles (3D-FSAs), 3D facet axial angle (3D-FAAs), and 3D-FAA tropism at L3 and at L4 were measured by extracting the 3D inferior articular process.

Intermittent administration of teriparatide enhances graft bone healing and accelerates spinal fusion in rats with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

Background Context: There has been no study regarding the effect of intermittent administration of teriparatide (TPTD [recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-34)]) on spinal fusion in patients with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP).

Purpose: To elucidate the effect of intermittent administration of TPTD on spinal fusion in rats with GIOP.

Study Design: An experimental animal study of rats under continuous glucocorticoid (GC) exposure undergoing spinal fusion surgery and administration of TPTD or saline.

Effect of Intermittent Administration of Teriparatide (Parathyroid Hormone 1-34) on Bone Morphogenetic Protein-Induced Bone Formation in a Rat Model of Spinal Fusion.

Background: Although clinical bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) therapy is effective at enhancing bone formation in patients managed with spinal arthrodesis, the required doses are very high. Teriparatide (parathyroid hormone 1-34) is approved by the U.S.

In vivo 3D kinematic changes in the cervical spine after laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Object: Cervical laminoplasty is an effective procedure for decompressing the spinal cord at multiple levels, but restriction of neck motion is one of the well-known complications of the procedure. Although many authors have reported on cervical range of motion (ROM) after laminoplasty, they have focused mainly on 2D flexion and extension on lateral radiographs, not on 3D motion (including coupled motion) nor on precise intervertebral motion. The purpose of this study was to clarify the 3D kinematic changes in the cervical spine after laminoplasty performed to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Kinematics of the thoracic spine in trunk lateral bending: in vivo three-dimensional analysis.

Background Context: In vivo three-dimensional kinematics of the thoracic spine in trunk lateral bending with an intact rib cage and soft tissues has not been well documented. There is no quantitative data in the literature for lateral bending in consecutive thoracic spinal segments, and there has not been consensus on the patterns of coupled motion with lateral bending.

Purpose: To demonstrate segmental ranges of motion (ROMs) in lateral bending and coupled motions of the thoracic spine.

Kinematics of the thoracic spine in trunk rotation: in vivo 3-dimensional analysis.

Study Design: In vivo 3-dimensional (3D) study of the thoracic spine.

Objective: To demonstrate axial rotations (ARs) and coupled motions of the thoracic spine.

Summary Of Background Data: In vivo 3D kinematics of the thoracic spine in trunk rotation with intact thorax and soft tissues has not been well-known.