Clinical characteristics analysis of pediatric spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality in China: a retrospective study.

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the clinical characteristics of Chinese children with spinal cord injury (SCI) without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) and explore their contributing factors and mechanisms of occurrence.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of pediatric patients diagnosed with SCIWORA from January 2005 to May 2020. Epidemiological, etiological, mechanistic, therapeutic, and outcome aspects were analyzed.

Prognostic factors in spinal chordoma: A systematic review.

Objective: Discovering reliable prognostic factors for spinal chordoma remains a challenge. We attempted to identify evidence-based prognostic factors in the literature since its inception and to establish pooled relative risks (RR) of such factors.

Methods: MEDLINE and Embase search (inception to December 2014).

Reduced expression of miRNA-1237-3p associated with poor survival of spinal chordoma patients.

Purpose: Aberrant expression of miRNAs has been demonstrated to contribute to human carcinogenesis. This study was aimed at profiling differentially expressed miRNAs in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues of spinal chordoma and testing the potential for using altered expression of miRNAs as prognostic markers for spinal chordoma patients.

Methods: A miRNA array was used to profile differentially expressed miRNAs in spinal chordoma and nucleus pulposus tissues.

Spinal tuberculosis of the lumbar spine after percutaneous vertebral augmentation (vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty).

Background Context: Spinal tuberculosis occurring after percutaneous vertebral augmentation has rarely been described. To date, only two such cases have been documented in the literature. Vertebral augmentation may reactivate a quiescent tuberculous lesion and promote the infective process in elderly patients with or without immunosuppression, thereby resulting in poor outcomes.

Postoperative initial single fungal discitis progressively spreading to adjacent multiple segments after lumbar discectomy.

Objective: To report multiple cases and investigate etiology of initially single fungal spondylodiscitis that progressively spread to adjacent segments following lumbar discectomy, resulting in multiple spinal involvements.

Methods: From January 2005 to May 2013, ten adult patients were admitted or referred to our institution with postoperative discitis. Fungal infections were confirmed by microbiologic and pathologic examinations.

Identification of miR-140-3p as a marker associated with poor prognosis in spinal chordoma.

Objective: To investigate the expression profile of miR-140-3p in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues of spinal chordoma, and its correlation with the prognosis of spinal chordoma patients.

Methods: Dysregulated miRNAs in FFPE tissues of spinal chordoma were identified by microarray analysis. MiR-140-3p expression in surgically removed spinal chordoma tissues of 42 spinal chordoma patients (27 males and 15 females, aged 29-76 years) and corresponding nucleus pulposus tissues of 14 patients with disc herniation as the healthy control group (8 males and 6 females, aged 24-73 years) was measured by real-time quantitative RT-PCR assay.

Treatment of thoracic or lumbar spinal tuberculosis complicated by resultant listhesis at the involved segment.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to present a singular pathological process of thoracic or lumbar spinal tuberculosis contributing to listhesis at the involved site, with special focus on clinical features and management of this disorder.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 14 patients (5 males and 9 females, including 2 boys) admitted to our institution from April 2007 to March 2010 and were subsequently diagnosed with thoracic or lumbar spinal tuberculosis with resultant listhesis at the involved level. All patients underwent posterior instrumentation and reduction combined with single-stage anterior radical debridement and interbody fusion.

Taurine inhibits serum deprivation-induced osteoblast apoptosis via the taurine transporter/ERK signaling pathway.

Taurine has positive effects on bone metabolism. However, the effects of taurine on osteoblast apoptosis in vitro have not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of taurine on apoptosis of mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells.

[Contrast study of full-endoscopic interlaminar approach for the surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation].

Objective: To evaluate the minimally invasive efficacy and surgical outcome of full-endoscopic discectomy via interlaminar approach for lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Methods: From August 2008 to February 2009, 56 patients with lumbar disc herniation were retrospectively studied. The patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical methods.

[Complications of one stage posterior vertebral column resection for the treatment of severe rigid spinal deformities].

Objective: to summarize the complications of posterior vertebral column resection (pVCR) and pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of rigid thoracic and lumber spinal deformity.

Methods: fifty four patients from a single center from February 2000 to February 2009 were included in this study. There were 23 males and 31 females with an average age of 28.

Surgical treatment of cervical kyphosis.

Cervical kyphosis is an uncommon but potentially debilitating and challenging condition. We reviewed the etiology, presentation, clinical and radiological evaluation, and treatment of cervical kyphosis. Based on the current controversy as to the ideal mode of surgical management, we paid particular attention to the available surgical strategies.

[One-stage combined anterior and posterior strategy in treating active tuberculosis of thoracic and lumbar spine complicated with severe kyphotic deformity].

Objective: To explore an effective and reasonable surgical strategy for active spinal tuberculosis with severe kyphotic deformity (kyphotic angle >or= 45 degrees).

Methods: From January 2004 to January 2008, 30 consecutive patients of active spinal tuberculosis complicated with significant angulation were enrolled in this study, including 8 male and 22 female. The average age was 35 years (range, 7 - 60 years), with average angle of kyphosis of 58 degrees (range, 45 degrees - 70 degrees).

[The assessment of accuracy and safety of thoracic pedicle screws placement with interlaminar fenestration technique in severe kyphoscoliosis treatment].

Objective: To analyze the accuracy and safety of thoracic pedicle screws placement with interlaminar fenestration technique in severe kyphoscoliosis treatment.

Methods: Twenty-three cases of severe kyphoscoliosis between June 1996 and December 2007 underwent pedicle screw placement of thoracic vertebrae by interlaminar fenestration technique. Postoperative CT scan was performed in all cases; there were 9 males and 14 females with the averaging age 17.

Combined anterior and posterior surgery for treatment of cervical fracture-dislocation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: To discuss the pathological characteristics of cervical spinal fracture complicating ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and the effect of combined anterior and posterior operation.

Methods: Eighteen AS patients with traumatic cervical fracture-dislocation were treated operatively from January 2000 to January 2006. The symptom duration of AS was 14.

[One stage posterior vertebral column resection for the treatment of thorciclumbar tuberculosis with kyphotic deformity].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcome of one stage posterior vertebral column resection in patients with spinal tuberculosis combined with kyphotic deformity.

Methods: Thirty-six patients with spinal tuberculosis combined with kyphotic deformity underwent posterior one-stage vertebral column resection reducing tension on the spinal cord from 1998 to 2006. The patients were mobilized with a thoracolumbar orthosis for 3 months.

[Research on complications of thoracoscopic assisted thoracic spine surgery].

Objective: To analyze occurrence, prevention and treatment of the complications of thoracoscopic assisted spine surgery.

Methods: Retrospective review of 182 patients who underwent standard thoracoscopic technique or video-assisted thoracic surgical procedure from October 1998 to August 2004. The treatment of thoracic diseases included debridement, decompression with (or) reconstruction.

[Biomechanical comparative study of lumbosacral fixation and Jackson intrasacral fixation].

Objective: To assess the biomechanical properties of Jackson intrasacral fixation technique and other lumbersacral internal fixation systems, and to provide the basis of biomechanics for the clinical application of Jackson technique.

Methods: The biomechanical properties of Dick, RF, Steffee, CD, and Jackson technique were studied by testing the inflexion, extension, compression, torsion, and lateral bending in 15 calf fresh-frozen specimens and 5 fresh-frozen human cadavaric specimens, which were divided into 5 groups with similar bone density.

Results: Jackson intrasacral fixation device was stiffer than any other devices.