Analysis of cervical sagittal alignment change following correction of thoracic and thoracolumbar Scheuermann's kyphosis.

PURPOSE: To analyse pre-operative and post-operative changes of cervical sagittal alignment (CSA) in Scheuermann's kyphosis (SK) patients. METHODS: 64 SK and 33 control patients were retrospectively reviewed. Whole spine X-rays obtained at pre-op, 3 months post-op and at latest follow-up were reviewed and ten separate CSA radiological parameters were measured. Patients were divided in three groups: thoracic SK (TK group, apex T6-T9, n = 40), thoracolumbar SK (TLK group, apex T10-T12, n = 24), and controls. RESULTS: Pre-operative C2-C7 lordosis was 21.1° ± 8.1°(TK), 6.1° ± 5.0°(TLK), and 11.4° ± 8.3° in control group and correlated significantly with T1 slope in both SK groups (r = 0.640, r = 0.772). Pre-operative T1 slope was dependent on deformity type, thoracic kyphosis (TK, ß = 0.445), and lumbar lordosis (LL, ß = -0.354). At final follow-up C2-C7 lordosis decreased to 15.7° ± 5.5° in TK, and increased to 12.1° ± 4.1° in TLK group. C2-C7 lordosis changes linearly correlated with T1 slope changes post-operatively (r = 0.721). Post-operative T1 slope showed linear correlation with post-operative changes in TK (ß = 0.728) and pelvic tilt (PT, ß = 0.539) in TK, and LL (ß = -0.669), thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK, ß = -0.434), and PT (ß = 0.760) in TLK group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that SK is not a homogenous group of patients. Two patterns of pre- and post-operative CSA are demonstrated in TK and TLK groups. T1 slope is the most important parameter in determining pre-operative CSA and correlates with other regional anatomical parameters (TK and LL). Post-operative CSA adaptations also correlate with T1 slope post-operative changes. However, post-surgical T1 slope correlates with different parameters in the two SK groups (TK and PT in TK group; TLK, LL, and PT in TLK group).

Effects of Locally and Systemically Applied n-3 Fatty Acid on Oral Ulcer Recovery Process in Rats.

UNLABELLED:  Introduction. Ulcers are one of the most frequent diseases af- fecting the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of omega-3 fatty acid (topical and systemic) on oral mucosa wound healing in rats. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this study, adult male rats in 5 groups (n = 16 per group) were used (L: local, S: systemic, LB: local blank, SB: systemic blank, and C: control.) A wound (2 mm di- ameter) was punched into the hard palate of each rat. A mucosal de- fect (2 mm in diameter and 0.2 mm in wall thickness) was made to the depth of the periosteum in the palate with a round stainless steel blade designed for punch biopsy. For topical application, a swab was soaked in L omega-3 or LB and packed into the wound. For systemic treatment, 2 cc of the S omega-3 acid or SB was guided into the stom- ach by gastric gavage. The control group was not treated. Histological samples were harvested on post-injury days 2, 4, 6, and 8. RESULTS: The highest amount of polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells was observed on days 2 and 4 in the LB group. The control group had the highest inflammation score on days 2 and 4, and the lowest reepithelialization score on days 2, 4, 6, and 8. The thickest epithelium was observed in the L and S groups on days 6 and 8. CONCLUSION: Omega-3 fatty acid (L and S) increases fibroblast counts and decreases PMN cell counts. Moreover, this compound causes an increase in reepithelialization and epithelial thickness. .