The described approach can yield data for use in face animation

and other simulation systems and for elucidating the functional components related to contraction and relaxation of muscles during mastication.”
“The traditional surgical treatment of severe spinal deformities, both in adult and pediatric patients, consisted of a 360A degrees approach. Posterior-based spinal osteotomy has recently been reported as a useful and safe technique in maximizing kyphosis and/or kyphoscoliosis correction. It obviates the deleterious effects of an anterior approach and can increase the magnitude of correction both in the coronal and sagittal plane. There are few reports in the literature focusing on the surgical treatment of severe spinal deformities in large pediatric-only series (age < 16 years old) by means of a posterior-based spinal osteotomy, with no consistent Bafilomycin A1 results on the use of a single posterior-based thoracic pedicle subtraction osteotomy in the treatment of such challenging group of patients. The purpose of the present study was to review our operative

BI 6727 ic50 experience with pediatric patients undergoing a single level PSO for the correction of thoracic kyphosis/kyphoscoliosis in the region of the spinal cord (T12 and cephalad), and determine the safety and efficacy of posterior thoracic pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) in the treatment of severe pediatric deformities. A retrospective review was performed on 12 consecutive pediatric patients (6 F, 6 M) treated by means of a posterior thoracic PSO between 2002 and 2006 in a single Institution. Average age at surgery was 12.6 years (range, 9-16), whereas the deformity was due to a severe BAY 73-4506 juvenile idiopathic scoliosis in seven

cases (average preoperative main thoracic 113A degrees; 90-135); an infantile idiopathic scoliosis in two cases (preoperative main thoracic of 95A degrees and 105A degrees, respectively); a post-laminectomy kypho-scoliosis of 95A degrees (for a intra-medullar ependimoma); an angular kypho-scoliosis due to a spondylo-epiphisary dysplasia (already operated on four times); and a sharp congenital kypho-scoliosis (already operated on by means of a anterior-posterior in situ fusion). In all patients a pedicle screws instrumentation was used, under continuous intra-operative neuromonitoring (SSEP, NMEP, EMG). At an average follow-up of 2.4 years (range, 2-6) the main thoracic curve showed a mean correction of 61A degrees, or a 62.3% (range, 55-70%), with an average thoracic kyphosis of 38.5A degrees (range, 30A degrees-45A degrees), for an overall correction of 65% (range, 60-72%). Mean estimated intra-operative blood loss accounted 19.3 cc/kg (range, 7.7-27.27). In a single case (a post-laminectomy kypho-scoliosis) a complete loss of NMEP occurred, promptly assessed by loosening of the initial correction, with a final negative wake-up test.