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Our goal was to assess teriparatide's (TP) effectiveness in improving radiographic and functional outcomes after spinal fusion surgery. This meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and comparative cohort studies. The findings provide valuable insights and guidance for surgeons treating osteoporotic patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery. We conducted a systematic review to assess TP's efficacy in spinal fusion surgery for osteoporosis. Through thorough selection, data extraction, and quality assessment, we employed network meta-analysis to evaluate radiographic outcomes (fusion rate, screw loosening, vertebral fracture) and changes in bone mineral density measured by Hounsfield units. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index scales. Our study aims to comprehensively understand TP's impact and effectiveness in spinal fusion surgery. A total of 868 patients were included in the analysis. All patients underwent thoracolumbar internal fixation fusion surgery and were divided into following 2 groups: the TP treatment group and the control group. The results revealed significant differences in radiological outcomes. The fusion rate showed a significant difference, as well as screw loosening, and bone mineral density measured in Hounsfield units. However, there was no significant difference in vertebral fracture. The TP group demonstrated favorable effects with statistical significance. In terms of functional outcomes, there was no significant difference in the assessment of Oswestry Disability Index scores between the 2 treatment groups. The meta-analysis demonstrated that the TP group exhibited significantly better outcomes, particularly in radiological measures, when compared to the control group. The use of TP in spinal fusion surgery shows promise in reducing postoperative complications and providing overall benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Percutaneous endoscopic surgery is a popular surgery to treat lumbar spinal disorders. However, seizure after percutaneous endoscopic surgery is an unpredictable complication. The only prodromal sign for seizure currently known is neck pain. We reviewed the incidence of, and risk factors for, seizure during percutaneous endoscopic surgery and present the cases of 3 patients with seizure and our management. From October 2006 to March 2019, 3 of 816 patients (0.34%) with thoracic lumbar disorders who had undergone percutaneous endoscopic surgery experienced a seizure episode. The cases of those 3 patients were carefully reviewed. Studies of the risk factors for seizure after spinal procedures reported before June 13, 2019 were identified through a PubMed search. We found that infusion fluid containing cefazolin, the infusion rate, a prolonged operative time, the occurrence of a dural tear, and sevoflurane anesthesia might be associated with seizure, both described in the reported data and found in our experience. Three patients who experienced a seizure episode had had general anesthesia with sevoflurane, and the surgical approach used was interlaminar for a herniated disc in L5-S1. We noted a "red flag sign," namely an uncontrollable hypertension episode combined with a decreasing pulse rate, in all 3 patients who had experienced a seizure, which was not observed in the other patients. All 3 patients had received antihypertensive medication (labetalol) ≥3 times without response. Seizure after percutaneous endoscopic surgery is rare, but lethal. Although its cause remains unknown, all risk factors for seizure should be checked and corrected immediately when a red flag sign, uncontrolled hypertension, appears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical interventions for congenital scoliosis are challenging for spine surgeons. The coordination of 3-dimensional (3D), real-time, image-guided navigation with an ultrasonic bone cutter allows surgeons to localize the affected area of the spine accurately and remove the lesion without damaging soft tissue structures. The goal of this technical paper is to report a previously undescribed method of hemivertebrectomy that combines 3D, real-time, image-guided navigation and an ultrasonic bone cutter. We highlight the feasibility and safety of this method in spinal surgery. Three patients with congenital scoliosis were treated with this technique. We present three illustrative cases comprising hemivertebrectomies for congenital scoliosis. Intraoperative photos demonstrating the technique are also provided. All surgeries were completed without complications. The hemivertebrae were completely removed, and marked correction of congenital scoliosis was noted. We believe that the combination of 3D, real-time image navigation and an ultrasonic bone cutter improves hemivertebrectomy by increasing accuracy and avoiding dura laceration, major organ damage, or potential vessel damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A miscible polymer blend of Pluronic F127 and phenol–formaldehyde (PF) resin through the interaction of multiple hydrogen bonds was used as a new template to synthesize a well-ordered p6mm mesostructured PF resin–F127–silica composite. By using that dual-function composite, the mesoporous silica was obtained from calcination, and mesoporous carbon was generated after carbonization and HF-etching. Both the mesoporous silica and carbons have the same morphology of hierarchical micro-fibers and the well-ordered p6mm hexagonal mesostructures. Because of the hydrophobicity of the PF resin, blending with the PF resin can induce a mesophase transformation in the PF resin–F127–silica composite. At PF resin/F127 weight ratio of 0.75, a transformation from Im3m 3D-cubic to p6mm 2D-hexagonal mesostructure occurred. In addition to F127, other block copolymers can also blend well with PF resin and these polymer blends were utilized as well, and these polymer blends were utilized to produce the mesoporous carbons and silicas of different pore sizes. In practice, this polymer blending method can provide an efficient way to synthesize the mesoporous silicas and carbons by the non-volatile and inexpensive polymers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background Context: Cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) is an innovative procedure launched in the early 2000s. Compared with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, many studies show that CDA offers equivalent clinical outcomes while reducing secondary procedures and total cost.Purpose: We sought to determine the incidence of anterior bone loss after CDA and the related biomechanical effects.Study Design/ Setting: Retrospective chart review.Patient Sample: Patients who underwent CDA with one level Bryan Disc (Medtronic SofamorDanek, Memphis, TN, USA) at one institution.Outcome Measures: Radiological measurements, including the extent of anterior bone loss, global alignment angle, shell angle, lordotic angle, mean degree of angle of the endplate with the horizontal line, global range of motion (ROM) and ROM of the index level were recorded. The grading of anterior bone loss of the index level was defined as Grade 0, no remodeling; Grade 1, spur disappearance or mild change in body contour; Grade 2, obvious bone regression with Bryan Disc exposure.Methods: Anatomical measures and ROM were compared by grade of bone loss.Results: Of the 121 patients included in the study, anterior bone loss was found in 53 (43.8%) on the upper adjacent level and 54 (44.6%) on the lower adjacent level. Twenty-nine patients (23.9%) had anterior bone loss in both levels. The majority of cases had Grade 1 anterior bone loss. Grade 2 bone loss was noted in the upper adjacent vertebra in only 5 patients and in 4 patients in the lower adjacent vertebra. Age, sex, operative level, and hybrid surgery had no effect on anterior bone loss. Most radiological assessments, including global alignment angle, lordotic angle, mean degree of angle of the endplate with the horizontal line, global ROM, and ROM of the index level, showed no correlation to anterior bone loss. Shell angle was found to be different in groups with or without remodeling in the upper adjacent level: 5.0 degreesin the Grade 0 group and 7.0 degrees in the Grade 1-2 group, p<.05.Conclusions: Many more patients than predicted had anterior bone loss. Increasing the shell angle of the artificial disc may increase the incidence of anterior bone loss after CDA. Further study of the biomechanics following CDA should help clarify the mechanisms at work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]