A 38-year-old man had a 10 year history of low back pain and progressive weakness and loss of sensation of the left lower leg and foot during the past 7 months. Plain films of the lumbar spine revealed the effects of chronic bone erosion: (1) scalloping of the posterior surfaces of the vertebral bodies L2-81 (fig. 1 A); (2) increased interpedicular distances with diminished transverse and verti...

In 136 normal growing children between the ages of 1 and 18 yr, bone mineral content (BMC) at the level of the lumbar spine (L2-L4) was determined with a commercial dual-photon absorptiometer. BMC was calculated as BML (BMC per unit length) and BMD (BMC per unit surface). The mean lumbar spine BML of the studied children (2.53 +/- 0.86 gHA/cm) was significantly lower than the spinal mineral con...

BACKGROUND The lumbar spine includes 5 lumbar vertebral bodies, L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5. At each level, there is a disc space defined by the two bones (vertebral bodies) in the back; for example, there is a disc space at the L5-S1 level etc. The normal front to back (anterior to posterior or AP diameter) measurement of the spinal canal is typically 18-20 mm, but some patients have narrowing call...

It has been thought that lumbar intervertebral discs were innervated segmentally. We have previously shown that the L5-L6 intervertebral disc in the rat is innervated bilaterally from the L1 and L2 dorsal root ganglia through the paravertebral sympathetic trunks, but the pathways between the disc and the paravertebral sympathetic trunks were unknown. We have now studied the spines of 17 rats to...

INTRODUCTION Lack of efficacy of pharmacotherapy and physiotherapy in spinal pain syndrome is an indication for intervertebral stabilizer implantation between the processes in the lumbar segment of the spine. MATERIAL AND METHODS The group consisted of 32 patients qualified after radioisotopic single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) examinations with assessme...

A 2-year-old Göttingen miniature pig was presented for elective ovariectomy. After premedication with ketamine 15 mg/kg and azaperone 2 intramuscularly, general anaesthesia induced propofol 1.5 intravenously. With the animal in sternal recumbency, a × cm area on dorsolateral aspect of flank at level second lumbar vertebra (L2) clipped aseptically prepared. Using linear transducer, epaxial muscu...

OBJECTIVE There are differences in the clinical characteristics and surgical results between upper (L1-2 and L2-3) and lower (L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1) lumbar disc herniations. We conducted this study to compare the clinical features and surgical outcomes between the two types of lumbar disc herniations. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the clinical features of patients who underwent microdis...

BACKGROUND Interference with the function of the genitofemoral nerve (GFN) and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) represents a significant complication of lumbar sympathetic blocks (LSBs). The nerve topography of the lumbar sympathetic trunk (LST) was investigated to find a possible morphological reason for this. METHODS A total of 118 cadavers embalmed by Thiel's method were investigated...

Chance fractures by definition are a type of flexion-distraction injury with concomitant vertebral body fracture. Although uncommon in the pediatric population, they are associated with motor vehicle accidents and typically involve the thoraco-lumbar spine. Injury occurs when the spine rotates about a fixed axis, such as a lap belt. Our case reports the management of a five-year-old girl involv...

BACKGROUND Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of osteoporotic fracture. The bilateral pedicular approach is the most frequently used method. However, unilateral PVP is becoming increasingly more attractive for surgeons because of its numerous benefits, including lower radiation exposure, less tissue injury, and less bone cement leakage. The ...