The management of thoracolumbar burst fractures remains challenging. Ideally, it should effectively correct the deformity, induce neurological recovery, allow early mobilization and return to work, and be associated with minimal risk of complication. This article reviews the related studies reporting their clinical data for the management of thoracolumbar burst fractures, discusses the most suitable approach in cases such as these, highlights specific treatment recommendations, and proposes a treatment algorithm. Using PubMed and Scopus databases to search the term thoracolumbar burst fractures, abstracts and original articles in English investigating the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures were searched and analyzed.

Our clinical findings indicate that lateral mass fixation can be used safely with minimal complications and low rate of morbidity for cervical myelopathy treatment.

Fibrosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor originating from fibroblasts. Transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGFb2) has been established to regulate processes correlated to fibrosarcoma tumorigenesis. In this study, we investigated the possible participation of syndecan-2 (SDC-2), a cell membrane heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycan on these TGFb2 functions. Our results demonstrate that the inhibition of SDC-2 expression by short interfering RNA (siSDC2) abolished TGFb2-dependent HT1080 cell adhesion (P 0.01). In parallel, the downregulation of SDC-2 significantly inhibited TGFb2-induced Smad2 phosphorylation (P 0.01). The immunoflourescence signal of TGF receptor III as well as its protein expression was decreased in SDC-2-deficient cells. The enhancement of adhesion molecules integrin b1 (P 0.01) and focal adhesion kinase expression, induced by TGFb2 treatment (P 0.001), was markedly inhibited in SDC-2-defficient cells (P 0.01). Conclusively, the obtained data suggest that SDC-2 modulates TGFb2 transcriptional regulation via Smad signaling to facilitate fibrosarcoma cell adhesion. V C 2013 IUBMB Life, 65(2): [134][135][136][137][138][139][140][141][142][143] 2013

IntroductionQuadratus femoris tear is an uncommon injury, which is only rarely reported in the literature. In the majority of cases the correct diagnosis is delayed due to non-specific symptoms and signs. A magnetic resonance imaging scan is crucial in the differential diagnosis since injuries to contiguous soft tissues may present with similar symptoms. Presentation with sciatica is not reported in the few cases existing in the English literature and the reported treatment has always been conservative.Case presentationWe report here on a case of quadratus femoris tear in a 22-year-old Greek woman who presented with persistent sciatica. She was unresponsive to conservative measures and so was treated with surgical decompression.ConclusionThe correct diagnosis of quadratus muscle tear is a challenge for physicians. The treatment is usually conservative, but in cases of persistent sciatica surgical decompression is an alternative option.

BackgroundChronic expanding haematoma (CEH) is a very infrequent event with imprecise developmental mechanism and is rarely reported in literature.Case PresentationWe present a case of enormous and spontaneous chronic haematoma of the back, expanded from the lower thoracic area to the sacral area, in a young patient without any history of trauma or chronic coagulopathy.ConclusionThe MRI scan is very useful in preoperative diagnosis, however only the histopathological examination is able to perform the differential diagnosis with soft tissue tumors. Careful surgical treatment is important to minimize the haematoma recurrence.