Impacts of ultrasonic osteotomy devices on bone regeneration and brain activity in a mouse model.

Ultrasonic osteotomy devices (UODs) have emerged as precise bone-cutting instruments with soft tissue-sparing benefits; yet their impact on bone healing and adjacent neural tissue remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of UODs versus conventional rotary high-speed burr (HSB) on bone healing and central nervous functions using mouse split calvarial bone defect models. Bilateral parietal bone defects were created in the skulls of mice using UOD (right) and HSB (left).

Complications of growth-friendly techniques in early onset scoliosis of neurofibromatosis type 1: a case series.

Purpose: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is a genetic disease with many clinical manifestations, including early onset scoliosis (EOS). There has been increasing interest in the use of growing rod constructs in these patients. Our study seeks to understand the complication rates of these procedures in patients with NF-1.

Institution-Based Quality and Safety Improvement Initiatives in Spine Surgery: A Scoping Review.

Background: Improving patient safety and healthcare quality is necessary to advance value-based health care. Spine surgery is complex, entailing joint efforts between different disciplines. This scoping review aimed to map the research on establishing and implementing institution-based quality improvement (QI) initiatives in spine surgery.

Flexibility radiographs in pediatric spine surgery are often used but lack consistency.

Purpose: Despite agreement on the importance of spinal curvature flexibility in surgical decision making, there is no consensus regarding optimal radiographic assessment and how this impacts care. We sought to further understand traction film indications and techniques.

Methods: A nine-question survey was administered to 194 members of the Pediatric Spine Study Group (PSSG).

Long-term follow-up of non‑neurologic and neurologic complications after complex adult spinal deformity surgery: results from the Scoli-RISK-1 study.

Purpose: To report all complications that occurred during the 2 to 5-year postoperative period, describe reoperations during this time period, and compare patients who did and did not have major, surgery-related complications and/or reoperations during this time period.

Methods: The Scoli-RISK-1 study enrolled 272 ASD patients undergoing surgery from 15 centers. Inclusion criteria were Cobb angle of > 80°, corrective osteotomy for congenital/revision deformity, and/or 3-column osteotomy.

Fibrocyte enrichment and myofibroblastic adaptation causes nucleus pulposus fibrosis and associates with disc degeneration severity.

Fibrotic remodeling of nucleus pulposus (NP) leads to structural and mechanical anomalies of intervertebral discs that prone to degeneration, leading to low back pain incidence and disability. Emergence of fibroblastic cells in disc degeneration has been reported, yet their nature and origin remain elusive. In this study, we performed an integrative analysis of multiple single-cell RNA sequencing datasets to interrogate the cellular heterogeneity and fibroblast-like entities in degenerative human NP specimens.

A case series in vertebral body tethering results in improvement in coronal Cobb angle but deterioration in axial rotation: a 3-dimensional analysis.

Background: Vertebral body tethering (VBT) has shown improvements in coronal and sagittal plane correction in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients, but axial correction over time remains unexplored. Three-dimensional (3D) spine reconstruction was used to analyse correctional changes in all spinal planes post VBT surgery.

Case Description: AIS subjects who underwent thoracic VBT surgery with a minimum 2-year follow-up were assessed.

Normative values of spinal and peripheral proprioception in position sense among healthy adolescents and young adults.

Establishing normative values and understanding how proprioception varies among body parts is crucial. However, the variability across individuals, especially adolescents, makes it difficult to establish norms. This prevents further investigation into classifying patients with abnormal proprioception.

Five days of inpatient scoliosis-specific exercises improve preoperative spinal flexibility and facilitate curve correction of patients with rigid idiopathic scoliosis.

Preoperative spine flexibility plays a key role in the intraoperative treatment course of severe scoliosis. In this cohort study, we examined the effects of 5 day inpatient scoliosis-specific exercise (SSE) on the spinal flexibility of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis before surgery. A total of 65 patients were analyzed.

Low-molecular-weight estrogenic phytoprotein suppresses osteoporosis development through positive modulation of skeletal estrogen receptors.

Age-related osteoporosis is a metabolic skeletal disorder caused by estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal women. Prolonged use of anti-osteoporotic drugs such as bisphosphonates and FDA-approved anti-resorptive selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) has been associated with various clinical drawbacks. We recently discovered a low-molecular-weight biocompatible and osteoanabolic phytoprotein, called HKUOT-S2 protein (32 kDa), from Thunb that can accelerate bone defect healing.

Patient-perceived factors on treatment satisfaction in early onset scoliosis treated surgically with a minimum of ten years.

Background: The prognosis of surgically treated subjects with early onset scoliosis (EOS) into adulthood has been lacking. We aimed to investigate the patients' perspectives on satisfaction with surgical treatment.

Methodology: We included all surgical candidates with EOS who had undergone index spinal surgery for scoliosis correction between 2009 and 2013.

Opioid Use Prior to Adult Spine Deformity Correction Surgery is Associated With Worse Pre- and Postoperative Back Pain and Prolonged Opioid Demands.

Study DesignProspective multicenter database post-hoc analysis.ObjectivesOpioids are frequently prescribed for painful spinal conditions to provide pain relief and to allow for functional improvement, both before and after spine surgery. Amidst a current opioid epidemic, it is important for providers to understand the impact of opioid use and its relationship with patient-reported outcomes.

Elasticity and cross-sectional thickness of paraspinal muscles in progressive adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Objectives: (1) Compare the cross-sectional thickness (CST) and shear wave speed (SWS) of paraspinal muscles (PSM) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with and without curve progression; (2) investigate the relationship between CST/SWS and radiographic characteristics in AIS with curve progression; (3) compare the CST/SWS between AIS and non-scoliosis controls.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed the CST and SWS of PSM in 48 AIS with mild to moderate curvature and 24 non-scoliosis participants. Participants with scoliosis greater than 45° of Cobb angles were excluded.

Governing cross-border healthcare in mainland China: a scoping review of national policies from 2002 to 2022.

This study reviews national-level policies regulating cross-border healthcare in mainland China after it acceded to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Policy documents from official websites of the State Council and 19 ministries were screened, from which 487 policy documents were analyzed. WTO's five modes of trade and WHO's six building blocks of healthcare system were used to guide the analysis of policymaking patterns, charting of policy evolution process, identification of key policy areas, differentiation of 29 detailed policy themes, and identification of major countries/regions involved in cross-border healthcare.

Incidence of back pain from initial presentation to 3 years of follow-up in subjects with untreated adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: Although back pain may be present in subjects with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), its natural history is unknown. Therefore, this study evaluated the incidence of back pain in scoliotic adolescents longitudinally.

Methods: This retrospective analysis examined prospectively collected pain subscale data of the Scoliosis Research Society questionnaire between the initial presentation and up to 3 years of follow-up.

Impact of mental health components on the development of back pain in young adults with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: Back pain occurs commonly in adults and is multifactorial in nature. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and intensity of back pain during young adulthood in subjects with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), as well as factors that may be associated with its prognosis.

Methods: Subjects with AIS aged 20-39 treated conservatively were included in this study.

Assessment of reliability and validity of a handheld surface spine scanner for measuring trunk rotation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Purpose: To assess the reliability and validity of a handheld scanner (SpineScan3D) for trunk rotation measurement in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) subjects, as compared with Scoliometer.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with AIS subjects recruited. Biplanar spine radiographs were performed using an EOS imaging system with coronal Cobb angle (CCA) determined.

A solitary osteolytic lesion with pathological fracture in the cervical spine - a case report.

Background: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disorder. The treatment options vary depending on how many organs are involved and how extensive the disease is. In this report, a case of LCH with isolated 6th cervical vertebra (C6) collapse was presented.

Application of silver nanoparticles for improving motor recovery after spinal cord injury via reduction of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) possess anti-inflammatory activities and have been widely deployed for promoting tissue repair. Here we explored the efficacy of AgNPs on functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). Our data indicated that, in a SCI rat model, local AgNPs delivery could significantly recover locomotor function and exert neuroprotection through reducing of pro-inflammatory M1 survival.

Proprioception-related gene mutations in relation to the aetiopathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis: A scoping review.

Since idiopathic scoliosis is a multifactorial disorder, the proprioceptive defect is considered one of its etiological factors. Genetic studies have separately revealed this relationship, yet it remains indeterminate which specific genes that related to proprioception contributed to the initiation, progression, pathology, and treatment outcomes of the curvature. A systematic search was conducted on four online databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Academic search complete.

Independent Prognostic Factors Associated With Improved Patient-Reported Outcomes in the Prospective Evaluation of Elderly Deformity Surgery (PEEDS) Study.

Study Design: Prospective, multicenter, international, observational study.

Objective: Identify independent prognostic factors associated with achieving the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) among adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients ≥60 years of age undergoing primary reconstructive surgery.

Methods: Patients ≥60 years undergoing primary spinal deformity surgery having ≥5 levels fused were recruited for this study.

A new osteogenic protein isolated from Thunb accelerates bone defect healing through the mTOR signaling axis.

Delayed bone defect repairs lead to severe health and socioeconomic impacts on patients. Hence, there are increasing demands for medical interventions to promote bone defect healing. Recombinant proteins such as BMP-2 have been recognized as one of the powerful osteogenic substances that promote mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to osteoblast differentiation and are widely applied clinically for bone defect repairs.