OBJECTIVE Spinal fusion operation is an effective treatment in the spinal pathology, but it could change the physiological distribution of load at the instrumented and adjacent segments. This retrospective study compared the radiological and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing lumbar fusion with semirigid rods versus rigid rods system. METHODS Using transpedicular fixation and posterior ...

I In nt tr ro od du uc ct ti io on n: : Spinal fusion with instrumentation is an essential component in the management of degenerative condition in the spinal motion segment. It is performed to improve initial stability with simplified external fixation for early ambulation1)2). The solid fixation, however, often induces an adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) above or below the fusion 3). ASD c...

Pedicle screw loosening has been implicated in recurrent back pain after lumbar spinal fusion, but the degree of loosening has not been systematically quantified in patients. Instrumentation removal is an option for patients with successful arthrodesis, but remains controversial. Here, we quantified pedicle screw loosening by measuring screw insertion and/or removal torque at high statistical p...

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study. PURPOSE To assess treatment outcomes of snowboarding-related spinal and spinal cord injuries. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE Snowboarding-related spinal or spinal cord injury have a great impact on social and sporting activities. METHODS A retrospective review of 19 cases of surgically treated snowboard-related injury was done. Analyzed parameters included site o...

BACKGROUND The early experience with thoracoscopy in children has involved the diagnosis and treatment of pleural and pulmonary diseases. Recent advances have allowed surgeons to perform more complex procedures through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), potentially decreasing the pain and pulmonary impairment associated with an open thoracotomy. The authors report their initial experi...

Over the past few decades, remarkable advancements in the understanding of the origin of low-back pain and lumbar spinal disorders have been achieved. Spinal fusion is generally considered the "gold standard" in the treatment of low-back pain; however, fusion is also associated with accelerated degeneration of adjacent levels. Spinal arthroplasty and dynamic stabilization technologies, as well ...

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study. PURPOSE To determine if posterior surgery alone can satisfactorily treat post-traumatic kyphosis (PTK). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE One of the worst complications of vertebral fractures is PTK. The type of surgery and approach to treat a symptomatic and refractory PTK is a challenging issue in spinal surgery, and yet, there is no specific treatment algorithm. ...