The Aging Imageomics Study: rationale, design and baseline characteristics of the study population.

Biomarkers of aging are urgently needed to identify individuals at high risk of developing age-associated disease or disability. Growing evidence from population-based studies points to whole-body magnetic resonance imaging's (MRI) enormous potential for quantifying subclinical disease burden and for assessing changes that occur with aging in all organ systems. The Aging Imageomics Study aims to identify biomarkers of human aging by analyzing imaging, biopsychosocial, cardiovascular, metabolomic, lipidomic, and microbiome variables. This study recruited 1030 participants aged ≥50 years (mean 67, range 50-96 years) that underwent structural and functional MRI to evaluate the brain, large blood vessels, heart, abdominal organs, fat, spine, musculoskeletal system and ultrasonography to assess carotid intima-media thickness and plaques. Patients were notified of incidental findings detected by a certified radiologist when necessary. Extensive data were also collected on anthropometrics, demographics, health history, neuropsychology, employment, income, family status, exposure to air pollution and cardiovascular status. In addition, several types of samples were gathered to allow for microbiome, metabolomic and lipidomic profiling. Using big data techniques to analyze all the data points from biological phenotyping together with health records and lifestyle measures, we aim to cultivate a deeper understanding about various biological factors (and combinations thereof) that underlie healthy and unhealthy aging.

Double approach in thoraco-lumbar malunions.

Thoracolumbar fractures (T11-L2) complicated by malunion often need surgery. In our hands two approaches are necessary for release and fusion. Correction is obtained by posterior bending in situ of a screw rod fixation. When the deformity is flexible, first we perform a posterior reduction and stabilization, and secondly an anterior approach for interbody fusion. When spine is rigid an anterior release with waiting bone graft is performed first followed by a second posterior reduction and stabilization. This strategy allows a real correction without the loss of correction in time. This technique is fast and safe as demonstrated in our series of 20 patients.

Quantitative analysis in outcome assessment of instrumented lumbosacral arthrodesis.

The outcome assessment in instrumented lumbosacral fusion mostly focuses on clinical criteria, complications and scores, with a high variability of imaging means, methods of fusion grading and parameters describing degenerative changes, making comparisons between studies difficult. The aim of this retrospective evaluation was to evaluate the interest of quantified radiographic analysis of lumbar spine in global outcome assessment and to highlight the key biomechanical factors involved. Clinical data and Beaujon-Lassale scores were collected for 49 patients who underwent lumbosacral arthrodesis after prior lumbar discectomy (mean follow-up: 5 years). Sagittal standing and lumbar flexion-extension X-ray films allowed quantifying vertebral, lumbar, pelvic and kinematic parameters of the lumbar spine, which were compared to reference values. Statistics were performed to assess evolution for all variables. At long-term follow-up, 90% of patients presented satisfactory clinical outcomes, associated to normal sagittal alignment; vertebral parameters objectified adjacent level degeneration in four cases (8%). Clinical outcome was correlated (r = 0.8) with fusion that was confirmed in 80% of cases, doubtful in 16% and pseudarthrosis seemed to occur in 4% (2) of cases. In addition to clinical data (outcomes comparable to the literature), quantitative analysis accurately described lumbar spine geometry and kinematics, highlighting parameters related to adjacent level's degeneration and a significant correlation between clinical outcome and fusion. Furthermore, criteria proposed to quantitatively evaluate fusion from lumbar dynamic radiographs seem to be appropriate and in agreement with surgeon's qualitative grading in 87% of cases.

Three-dimensional spinal and pelvic alignment in an asymptomatic population.

STUDY DESIGN: A 3-dimensional (3-D) analysis of asymptomatic spinal and pelvic alignment. OBJECTIVE: To obtain 3-D reference values of spinal and pelvic parameters, vertebral and intervertebral orientations. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Referential values of spine and pelvis alignment are essential for the assessment of posture and balance. However, only 2-D referential values have been reported using standing sagittal radiographs, and, to our knowledge, no 3-D referential values have been reported to date. METHODS: A biplanar radiographic technique was used to obtain the 3-D reconstruction of the spine and pelvis of 34 asymptomatic standing subjects. The 3-D values were calculated for most of the spinal and pelvic parameters. In addition, 3-D vertebral and intervertebral orientations were computed, and the apical and junctional zones were investigated. RESULTS: As reported in 2-D, a large variability and particular correlations were observed for the 3-D spinal and pelvic parameters. However, significant differences were found between 3-D and 2-D values. The 3-D vertebral and intervertebral sagittal rotations showed specific features in the apical and junctional zones of the asymptomatic spine. CONCLUSION: These data may be used as 3-D referential values of spinal and pelvic alignment.

Thoracolumbar fractures surgically treated by "in situ contouring".

This is a retrospective study on a series of 70 patients with thoracolumbar fractures (TL), surgically treated by the in situ bending technique (ISB). Its purpose is to show the performances and limits of the ISB technique for the early correction of post-traumatic spine deformities as well as to estimate the overall outcome in this series and to discuss the indications for anterior grafting. Although the management of limbs fractures is a cleared issue today, spine fractures management is still a matter of debate. Surgical treatment progresses fast, while indications, the fixation techniques, fracture reduction options, and associated grafting are still blurry. Seventy patients with TL fractures, mean age 40.3 years (20-80) were treated by posterior fusion with a standard construct and deformity reduction by means of the ISB technique. Mean follow-up was 30.7 months (12-78). Pre- and post-operative deformity was evaluated and the relative deformity as defined by Farcy's sagittal index (SIF) was analyzed. Thirty-eight patients underwent anterior interbody grafting. The pre-operative SIF decreased from 16.98 to 1.62 degrees (15.36 degrees decrease). Eighty percent of patients were normo- or hyper-corrected. The loss of correction during the follow-up occurred within the disc (SIF: -2.24 degrees , vertebral kyphosis 0.94 degrees , p<0.001), and was lower in patients who underwent secondary anterior grafting (-5.21 degrees vs.-1.18 degrees , p=0.002). Clinical outcome is good (Oswestry=29.75) and seems to be better in cases of double approach (20.71 vs. 37.,4, p=0.001). Sepsis occurred in ten cases, and two patients experienced construct dismounting. One patient had a retroperitoneal hematoma that required embolization. Seventy-one percent of operated patients went back to their previous work after surgery. Spine fractures deserve an efficient treatment. The ISB technique improves post traumatic kyphosis. This results is maintained at long term if the posterior fusion is associated with anterior grafting in cases where the correction within the disc exceeds 50% of the total correction.

Morphometric analysis of one anatomic scoliotic specimen.

Idiopathic scoliosis is a 3-D deformation affecting the position of the spine in space. The regional deformity has been studied extensively but the local changes have not been widely investigated and this being mainly due to the rarity of anatomical specimens. The objective of this study was to identify a deformation pattern for idiopathic scoliosis. We thus studied one complete scoliotic specimen using a digitizing protocol developed by our research group. The anatomical specimen was selected from the Hamann-Todd Osteology Collection at the Cleveland Natural History Museum, which contains over 1,300 skeletons. We were also able to match this scoliotic specimen with one normal specimen for age, sex, race, height and weight. Each vertebra was measured by taking approximately 200 points on each surface. Parameters for each vertebra were then calculated from these sets of points. Each scoliotic vertebra was then compared with a corresponding normal vertebra of the matched specimen. We present the first findings of these measurements, which show pedicle and posterior elements changes that are thought to be secondary to the scoliotic deformation.