Core planar cell polarity genes and in predisposition to congenital vertebral malformations.

Congenital scoliosis (CS), affecting approximately 0.5 to 1 in 1,000 live births, is commonly caused by congenital vertebral malformations (CVMs) arising from aberrant somitogenesis or somite differentiation. While Wnt/ß-catenin signaling has been implicated in somite development, the function of Wnt/planar cell polarity (Wnt/PCP) signaling in this process remains unclear.

Using the Proximal Femur Maturity Index at Brace Initiation for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Predicts Curve Progression Risk.

Background: The Proximal Femur Maturity Index (PFMI) can be used to assess skeletal maturity on existing whole-spine radiographs without additional radiation. However, the relationship between the PFMI at the initiation of bracing for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and subsequent curve progression remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the PFMI and curve progression, and the predictability of risks to adulthood curve progression and surgical thresholds based on the PFMI grade at brace initiation.

Impaired glycine neurotransmission causes adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common form of spinal deformity, affecting millions of adolescents worldwide, but it lacks a defined theory of etiopathogenesis. Because of this, treatment of AIS is limited to bracing and/or invasive surgery after onset. Preonset diagnosis or preventive treatment remains unavailable.

Relationship between Fusion Mass Shift and Postoperative Distal Adding-on in Lenke 1 Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis after Selective Thoracic Fusion.

Study Design: This is a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the risk factors for postoperative distal adding-on in Lenke 1 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and validate the relationship between fusion mass shift (FMS) and postoperative distal adding-on.

Overview Of Literature: Postoperative distal curve adding-on is one of the complications in AIS.

The correlation of sacral table angle to spinopelvic sagittal alignment in healthy adults.

Background: The sacrum plays an important role in sagittal balance of the spine, whereas the exact association between sacral parameters, specifically the sacral table angle (STA) and spinopelvic parameters has been only scarcely assessed. It aims to investigate the correlations between the sacral parameters and spinopelvic sagittal alignment parameters in healthy adults.

Methods: A cohort of 142 Northern Chinese healthy adults between 18 and 45 years old were recruited between April 2019 and March 2021.

The Concerns and Experiences of Patients With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Regarding Prehabilitation and Recovery After Spine Surgery: A Qualitative Study.

Objectives: To improve our understanding of patients' perspectives regarding: (1) the decision-making and prehabilitation before lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) surgery and (2) their postoperative experiences.

Design: Qualitative research with semi-structured interviews.

Setting: General community.

The Utility of a Novel Proximal Femur Maturity Index for Staging Skeletal Growth in Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Background: For growing patients, it is ideal to have a growth plate visible in routine radiographs for skeletal maturity assessment without additional radiation. The proximal femoral epiphyseal ossification is in proximity to the spine; however, whether it can be used for assessing a patient's growth status remains unknown.

Methods: Two hundred and twenty sets of radiographs of the spine and the left hand and wrist of patients with idiopathic scoliosis were assessed for skeletal maturity and reliability testing.

Identification of Copy Number Variants in a Southern Chinese Cohort of Patients with Congenital Scoliosis.

Congenital scoliosis (CS) is a lateral curvature of the spine resulting from congenital vertebral malformations (CVMs) and affects 0.5-1/1000 live births. The copy number variant (CNV) at chromosome 16p11.

Cross-cultural adaptation of Cantonese (Hong Kong) Oswestry Disability Index version 2.1b.

Purpose: Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was established by Fairbank in 1989 to assess functional disabilities in low back pain (LBP). It was last updated in 2019 as ODI version 2.1b (ODI AU_2.

Multidisciplinary programme for rehabilitation of chronic low back pain - factors predicting successful return to work.

Background: There are no clear indicators for predicting return to work for patients with chronic low back pain (LBP). We aim to report the outcomes of a 14-week multidisciplinary programme targeting patients with chronic LBP who failed conventional physiotherapy to provide functional rehabilitation. Also, this study will identify factors predicting successful return to work (RTW).

Proper positioning of mice for Cobb angle radiographic measurements.

Background: There is no recommended standard for positioning of a mouse for radiographic assessment of the spine. This is necessary to have reproducible radiographic data and avoid false positive results. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of various postures on Cobb angle measurements and to set up a positioning standard for imaging mouse spines.

A simple method for assessing rotational flexibility in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: modified Adam's forward bending test.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic aptitude of a modified Adams forward bending test (MAFBT), which addresses the coupling phenomenon of axial rotation with reference to the side-bending movement. Also, this evaluation was facilitated by the introduction of our rotational flexibility index (RFI).

Methods: Thirty-two female and eight male AIS patients were included in this study from a single institution.

Genetic variants of TBX6 and TBXT identified in patients with congenital scoliosis in Southern China.

Congenital scoliosis (CS) is a spinal deformity present at birth due to underlying congenital vertebral malformation (CVM) that occurs during embryonic development. Hemivertebrae is the most common anomaly that causes CS. Recently, compound heterozygosity in TBX6 has been identified in Northern Chinese, Japanese, and European CS patient cohorts, which explains about 7%-10% of the affected population.

An insight of how multiple skeletal maturity indices can be used for growth assessment: relationship between the simplified olecranon, simplified digital, and distal radius and ulna classifications.

This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the relationship between the simplified olecranon, simplified digital, and distal radius and ulna (DRU) classifications, and whether they can aid in more comprehensive maturity assessment together. Left hand and wrist and lateral elbow radiographs from pediatric patients were assessed using the three skeletal maturity indices. The association between maturity indices was investigated using Goodman and Kruskal's gamma, and by mapping of individual grades based on chronological age.

Predictability of Coronal Curve Flexibility in Postoperative Curve Correction in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: The Effect of the Sagittal Profile.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To assess how the thoracic kyphosis affects the ability of the fulcrum bending radiograph (FBR) to predict the coronal thoracic curve correction.

Methods: A retrospective study of prospectively collected data was conducted of 107 consecutive patients with thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) treated with a standard screw-fixation protocol.

Selection of the lowest instrumented vertebra in main thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: Is it safe to fuse shorter than the last touched vertebra?

Hypothesis: Fusing shorter than the last touched vertebra (LTV) is a safe approach in flexible main thoracic (MT) adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) curves.

Methods: This was a prospective study on consecutive AIS patients surgically treated with selective fusion of the MT curve. Fusion-level selection was based on the fulcrum-bending radiograph method.

Spinopelvic alignment predicts disc calcification, displacement, and Modic changes: Evidence of an evolutionary etiology for clinically-relevant spinal phenotypes.

Lumbar disc-displacement, Modic changes (MCs), and UTE Disc Sign (UDS) on MRI are clinically relevant spinal phenotypes that can lead to sciatica/LBP. Not all degenerated discs result in disc-displacement, MCs and UDS, suggesting varied etiologies. Spinopelvic parameters have been implicated in various spinal disorders.

Failure mechanisms of pedicle screws and cortical screws fixation under large displacement: A biomechanical and microstructural study based on a clinical case scenario.

Study Design: Cadaveric biomechanical with imaging analysis.

Objective: This study aims to compare the fixation failure between pedicel screws (PS) and cortical screws (CS), thus to investigate their failure mechanisms under vertical migration.

Summary Of Background Data: Due to their minimal invasive nature, CS are gaining popularity.

Lumbar high-intensity zones on MRI: imaging biomarkers for severe, prolonged low back pain and sciatica in a population-based cohort.

Background Context: There is often discrepancy between clinical presentation and lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of high-intensity zones (HIZs) on MRI with low back pain (LBP), sciatica, and back-related disability.

Study Design: Cross-sectional, population-based Southern Chinese cohort study.

The relevance of high-intensity zones in degenerative disc disease.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review the current understanding of high-intensity zones (HIZ) in the lumbar spine with particular attention to its imaging phenotype and clinical relevance.

Methods: A review was conducted of studies related to HIZ. Particular attention was made to imaging phenotypes and classification, and its relationship with discogenic low back pain (LBP).

Genome-wide meta-analysis and replication studies in multiple ethnicities identify novel adolescent idiopathic scoliosis susceptibility loci.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common musculoskeletal disorder of childhood development. The genetic architecture of AIS is complex, and the great majority of risk factors are undiscovered. To identify new AIS susceptibility loci, we conducted the first genome-wide meta-analysis of AIS genome-wide association studies, including 7956 cases and 88 459 controls from 3 ancestral groups.

Biomaterials for intervertebral disc regeneration: Current status and looming challenges.

A biomaterial-based strategy is employed to regenerate the degenerated intervertebral disc, which is considered a major generator of neck and back pain. Although encouraging enhancements in the anatomy and kinematics of the degenerative disc have been gained by biomaterials with various formulations in animals, the number of biomaterials tested in humans is rare. At present, most studies that involve the use of newly developed biomaterials focus on regeneration of the degenerative disc, but not pain relief.

Fulcrum flexibility of the main curve predicts postoperative shoulder imbalance in selective thoracic fusion of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Purpose: To identify preoperative predictors for postoperative shoulder imbalance (PSI) after corrective surgery of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and using the fulcrum-bending radiograph to assess flexibility.

Methods: A consecutive surgical cohort of AIS patients undergoing selective thoracic fusion with alternate-level pedicle screw fixation was prospectively studied. Preoperative anteroposterior, lateral and fulcrum-bending radiographs were analysed.

A Wearable Detector for Simultaneous Finger Joint Motion Measurement.

This paper presents a wearable and stretchable detector for simultaneous finger joint motion measurement, providing the feasible technical solutions to solve the problems existing in the current devices. The sensor array installed in the detector consists of 14 custom-made bending sensors and an inertial measurement unit with high accuracy. The glove support for a sensor array, which is made of three silicone materials with different elasticity, not only overcomes the drawbacks of cloth support, but also addresses the compatibility between the stretch substrate and the inelastic sensing components.