METHODS: 89 AIS Lenke 1 and 2 cases were assessed prospectively using the new clinical neck tilt grading. Shoulder imbalance and neck tilt were correlated with coracoid height difference (CHD), clavicle\rib intersection distance (CRID), clavicle angle (CA), radiographic shoulder height (RSH), T1 tilt and cervical axis.
RESULTS: Mean age was 17.2 ± 3.8 years old. 66.3 % were Lenke type 1 and 33.7 % were type 2 curves. Strong intraobserver (0.79) and interobserver (0.75) agreement of the clinical neck tilt grading was noted. No significant correlation was observed between clinical neck tilt and shoulder imbalance (0.936). 56.3 % of grade 3 neck tilt, 50.0 % grade 2 neck tilt patients had grade 0 shoulder imbalance. In patients with grade 2 shoulder imbalance, 42.9 % had grade 0, 35.7 % grade 1, 14.3 % grade 2 and only 7.1 % had grade 3 neck tilt. CHD, CRID, CA and RSH correlated with shoulder imbalance. T1 tilt and cervical axis measurements correlated with neck tilt.
CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, neck tilt is distinct from shoulder imbalance. Clinical neck tilt has poor correlation with clinical shoulder imbalance. Clinical neck tilt grading correlated with cervical axis and T1 tilt whereas clinical shoulder grading correlated with CHD, RSH CRID and CA.
PURPOSE: To compare patients' and parents' perceptions of physical attributes (PAs) of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients and to report any correlations between their perceptions and Scoliosis Research Society-22r (SRS-22r) scores.
OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Few studies have looked into the differences between patients' and parents' perceptions of their appearance.
METHODS: AIS patient-parent pairs (n=170) were recruited. The patients' and parents' perceptions of six PAs were evaluated: waist asymmetry (WA), rib hump (RH), shoulder asymmetry (SA), neck tilt, breast asymmetry (BrA), and chest prominence. These PAs were ranked, and an aggregate PA (Agg-PA) score was derived from a score assigned to the attribute (6 for the most important PA and 1 for the least important). The patients also completed the SRS-22r questionnaire.
RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients (58.2%) and 71 patients (41.8%) had thoracic and lumbar major curves, respectively. WA was ranked first by 54 patients (31.8%) and 50 parents (29.4%), whereas RH was ranked first by 50 patients (29.4%) and 38 parents (22.4%). The overall Agg-PA scores were similar for patients and parents (p>0.05). However, for thoracic major curves (TMCs) >40°, a significant difference was noted between the Agg-PA scores of patients and parents for SA (3.5±1.6 vs. 4.2±1.6, p=0.041) and BrA (3.0±1.6 vs. 2.2±1.3, p=0.006). For TMCs <40°, a significant difference was found between the Agg-PA scores of patients and parents for WA (3.7±1.6 vs. 4.4±1.5, p=0.050). BrA was negatively correlated with total SRS-22r score.
CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences between patients and parents in their ranking of the most important PAs. For TMCs >40°, there were significant differences in the Agg-PA for SA and BrA. Pa¬tients were more concerned about BrA and parents were more concerned about SA. Patients' perception of the six PAs had weak correlation with SRS-22r scores.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chondrocytes were isolated from the costal cartilage of newborn rats using 0.15% collagenase solution in DMEM. The cells was characterized by glycosaminoglycan staining with alcian blue. Chondrocyte scaffolds were obtained from 4% type I porcine atelocollagen and 10% GelMA by micromolding and then implanted subcutaneously into the withers of two groups of Wistar rats. Histological and immunohistochemical studies were performed on days 12 and 26 after implantation. Tissue samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, alcian blue; type I and type II collagens were identified by the corresponding antibodies.
RESULTS: The implanted scaffolds induced a moderate inflammatory response in both groups when implanted in animals. By day 26 after implantation, both collagen and GelMA had almost completely resorbed. Cartilage tissue formation was observed in both animal groups. The newly formed tissue was stained intensively with alcian blue, and the cells were positive for both types of collagen. Cartilage tissue was formed among muscle fibers.
CONCLUSION: The ability of collagen type I and GelMA hydrogels to form hyaline cartilage in animals after subcutaneous implantation of scaffolds was studied. Both collagen and GelMA contributed to formation of hyaline-like cartilage tissue type in animals, but the chondrocyte phenotype is characterized as mixed. Additional detailed studies of possible mechanisms of chondrogenesis under the influence of each of the hydrogels are needed.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in a tertiary referral cen re using the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire during the patients' annual follow up, betwee February to April 2014. Thirtyseven patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled.
RESULTS: The mean pre-operative Cobb's angles were 57.8o ± 12.7o and mean post-operative angle of 20.0o ± 10.4o, resulting in average correction of 65.9 ± 14.4%. Mean preoperative rib hump was 61.1 ± 15.4 mm with mean postoperative rib hump of 15.8 ± 17.8 mm, resulting in average reduction of 77.7 ± 23.7%. Mean of post-operative total SRS score was 4.1 ± 0.5. Using Spearman rank correlation, the percentage of Cobb's angle correction versus the SRS-22 score showed correlation of 0.17 (P=0.33) while the percentage of rib hump reduction versus SRS-22 score showed a correlation of 0.11 (P=0.53).
CONCLUSION: In this study, the average total SRS-22 score was 4.1 ± 0.5 (range, 3.1-4.9) post-operatively indicating very high satisfaction rate overall. Despite attempts at greater curve correction and rib hump reduction, there is no direct correlation between patient satisfaction and radiographic parameters.