Archives: Articles
Abnormal magnetic-resonance scans of the cervical spine in asymptomatic subjects. A prospective investigation.
This classic paper published by Boden et al (1990) is a parallel study to the one investigating abnormal magnetic resonance imaging scans of the lumbar spine in asymptomatic subjects that was published the same year. This study included 63 asymptomatic volunteers who were screened and underwent an MRI scan of the cervical spine. The MRI […]
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The prediction of curve progression in untreated idiopathic scoliosis during growth.
The natural history of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is still not entirely understood despite decades of research. This study by Lonstein and Carlson is truly one of the classic papers published on the subject of idiopathic scoliosis, looking at the prognostic factors related to curve progression. The study population was drawn from a database of juvenile and adolescent […]
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Radiculopathy and myelopathy at segments adjacent to the site of a previous anterior cervical arthrodesis.
This study by Hilibrand et al remains one of the most widely cited studies in regarding adjacent segment disease following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. The study population of 374 consecutive patients (409 fusions) were followed prospectively for the development of adjacent segment disease, as defined by symptomatic radiculopathy or myelopathy, at an adjacent segment […]
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2001 Volvo Award Winner in Clinical Studies: Lumbar fusion versus nonsurgical treatment for chronic low back pain: a multicenter randomized controlled trial from the Swedish Lumbar Spine Study Group.
This multicenter, randomized control trial out of Sweden was the 2001 Volvo Award Winner in Clinical Studies. Fritzell et al randomized 294 patients into a surgical treatment group (n=222) versus a non-surgical group (N=72). Patients were randomly assigned treatment and multiple validated outcome measures were utilized. The overall goal of the study was to define “if lumbar fusion […]
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Accelerated degeneration of the segment adjacent to a lumbar fusion.
The study published by Lee in 1988 was intended to descriptively define conditions and pathomechanics at adjacent segments following a lumbar fusion. This was at a time period where the effectiveness of lumbar fusion for low back pain was one of the foremost questions to be answered and potential complications of the procedure were largely […]
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Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis. A prospective study comparing decompression with decompression and intertransverse process arthrodesis.
This study published by the late Dr. Harry Herkowitz, from William Beaumont Hospital in 1991, is one of the most influential papers of its time. His contributions to the field of degenerative spinal surgery continue to influence current research and treatment of many spinal disorders. This paper in particular, has been referenced over 800 times […]
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Initial outcome and efficacy of “kyphoplasty” in the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.
Kyphoplasty was first described in 1987. This paper by Lieberman et al was a phase I efficacy study looking at the use of kyphoplasty in the treatment of symptomatic osteoporotic compression fractures. The study included 70 consecutive kyphoplasty procedures in 30 patients over the course of 11 months. Based on a review of the study, […]
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Scientific monograph of the Quebec Task Force on Whiplash-Associated Disorders: redefining “whiplash” and its management.
People who received compensation secondary to an automobile accident related cervical sprain in Quebec Province in 1987 were studied for factors associated with the length of time to return back to activities, recurrence rates of neck complaints, and costs to the Quebec Automobile Insurance Society. During that year, 4757 individuals received compensation. 1743 claims did […]
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A prospective, randomized study of lumbar fusion. Preliminary results.
This randomized study published in 1993 was one of the first to compare instrumentation to no instrumentation using the prospective approach. One hundred and twenty four patients were included in this study who underwent surgery for a degenerative lumbar condition that included isthmic and degenerative spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, scoliosis with spinal stenosis and repair […]
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Iliac crest bone graft harvest donor site morbidity. A statistical evaluation.
This paper published in 1995 is a case series of 261 patients that have had either posterior or anterior iliac crest harvesting for spinal fusion. With current utilization of bone graft substitutes including bone marrow aspiration and BMP, many of the more recently trained spine surgeons may not have had the experience of dealing with complications and […]
