spine is a rare spinal injury often resulting from high-energy trauma. Associated soft-tissue thoracic injuries are common and are compounded by the often-associated paraplegia. Exceptionally, there are some cases of thoracic spine dislocations without neurological injuries. A major challenge in the surgical management of such spinal fractures is achieving reduction and then maintaining it afte...

The initial evaluation and management of cervical spine injuries is of critical importance because of the impact of early treatment and management on the patient's eventual outcome. The devastation and cost of missing even one unstable cervical spine fracture is tremendous. The existence of patients with an unsuspected cervical spine fracture who have few, if any, symptoms and/or signs of an in...

STUDY DESIGN A prospective comparative study. PURPOSE To describe the changes in the spinopelvic parameters on normal Koreans more than 50 years of age. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE There are differing opinions regarding the changes in the thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, C7 plumb with age in the elderly population. METHODS Sagittal standing radiographs of the whole spine including the pelvi...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Vertebroplasty performed in the mid- and upper thoracic spine presents technical challenges that differ from those in the lower thoracic and lumbar region. We herein report results of percutaneous vertebroplasty for treatment of painful, osteoporotic compression fractures in the mid- and upper thoracic spine. METHODS Retrospective chart review identified vertebroplasty ...

The Synthes Spine Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Rib (VEPTR) allows new growth sparing surgical procedures for treatment of spine deformity in early childhood. The prime FDA indication for its use is the presence of thoracic insufficiency syndrome [1], which is the inability of the thorax to support normal respiration or lung growth. This syndrome is most often due to three-dimensional...

Traumatic false aneurysm of the thoracic aorta is not uncommon. But accordingly this case is unusual in its ten year delay between injury and presentation and treatment. A victim of the Iran-Iraq war is presented with a false aneurysm of the thoracic aorta ten years after a bullet injury to the chest and thoracic spine. Penetrating chest wounds, mechanisms of injury and diagnosis are also ...