Effect of osteoporosis on the clinical and radiological outcomes following one-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion.

Background: Cage subsidence or pedicle screw loosening following lumbar fusion surgery is frequently reported in osteoporotic patients. However, few studies have analyzed clinical as well as radiological outcomes after such surgeries as a function of bone mineral density. We aimed to evaluate the impact of osteoporosis on the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients who underwent one-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF).

Referral patterns and patient characteristics at the first visit to a scoliosis center: a 2-year experience in South Korea without a school scoliosis-screening program.

OBJECTIVE The need for scoliosis screening remains controversial. Nationwide school screening for scoliosis has not been performed in South Korea, and there are few studies on the referral patterns of patients suspected of having scoliosis. This study aimed to examine the referral patterns to the largest scoliosis center in South Korea in the absence of a school screening program and to analyze the factors that influence the appropriateness of referral.

Does Additional Uncinate Resection Increase Pseudarthrosis Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion?

Study Design: Retrospective comparative study.

Objective: To investigate whether unilateral or bilateral uncinate resection (UR) combined with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) increases the risk of pseudarthrosis at long-term follow-up.

Summary Of Background Data: Uncoforaminotomy (or UR), performed along with ACDF, facilitates better and faster improvement of arm pain.

Effect of one- or two-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion on global sagittal balance.

Background Context: Sagittal imbalance is associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with degenerative lumbar disease. However, there is no consensus on the impact of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) on local and global sagittal balance.

Purpose: To reveal the effect of one- or two-level PLIF on global sagittal balance.

Association between Sacral Slanting and Adjacent Structures in Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Background: Sacral slanting is a frequent unique phenomenon in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and may be important for selecting the distal fusion level. However, the reason of the phenomenon remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between sacral slanting and adjacent structures in patients with AIS.

A novel technique to correct kyphosis in cervical myelopathy due to continuous-type ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

OBJECTIVE Although posterior decompressive surgery is widely used to treat patients with cervical myelopathy and multilevel ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), a poor outcome is anticipated if the sagittal alignment is kyphotic (or K-line negative). Accordingly, it is mandatory to perform anterior decompression and fusion in patients with cervical kyphosis. However, it can be difficult to perform anterior surgery because of the high risk of complications.

Assembling phenomena of calix[4]hydroquinone nanotube bundles by one-dimensional short hydrogen bonding and displaced pi-pi stacking.

Using the computer-aided molecular design approach, we recently reported the synthesis of calix[4]hydroquinone (CHQ) nanotube arrays self-assembled with infinitely long one-dimensional (1-D) short hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) and aromatic-aromatic interactions. Here, we assess various calculation methods employed for both the design of the CHQ nanotubes and the study of their assembly process. Our calculations include ab initio and density functional theories and first principles calculations using ultrasoft pseudopotential plane wave methods.