Basic science study, cadaver study.

No abstract

Purpose The sensitivity of Gram staining is known to be suboptimal for the diagnosis of native joint septic arthritis. We lack information about the accuracy of Gram compared to other microscopic staining techniques for predicting infection in different patient populations. Methods This was a cohort study with cost evaluations at the

Aim: Patient-specific 3D-printed guides for pedicle screw insertion in spinal deformity surgery offer an alternative to image-guided, robotic and free-hand methods. Different design features can impact their accuracy and clinical applicability. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of three different guide designs with the nonguided free-hand technique. Materials & methods: 3D-printed guides were design and tested using anatomical models of human spines and porcine cadaveric specimens. Three different guided groups (low, medium and full contact) and one nonguided group was formed. Results & conclusion: The design approach affected level of accuracy of screw placement. A variability in terms of accuracy of screw insertion between surgeon’s experience using nonguided/guided techniques was also observed, suggesting benefit for junior surgeons in improving surgical accuracy.