Bone loss was in the past treated by several methods, such as bone distraction and the use of nonvascularized or tissue-bank bone grafts. With the advent of modern microsurgical techniques, the vascularized bone flap has been used with good results; it resolves local nutritional problems, repairs soft tissue that is often damaged by severe trauma, and treats bone loss due to tumors, pseudarthroses, and osteomyelitis. This paper reports the authors' experience with the use of vascularized iliac-crest flaps to treat orthopedic pathologies in five patients with traumatic bone loss (<10 cm), three with osteomyelitis, and three with atrophic nonunion. In all cases, the same surgeon obtained a vascularized iliac-crest flap with a pedicle based on the deep iliac circumflex artery. All flaps consolidated within a mean period of 3 months. These findings demonstrate that the use of an iliac-crest flap is a treatment option in cases of bone loss and that it is associated with good functional results and minimal donor-site morbidity.

<sec><title>OBJECTIVE:</title><p> To evaluate interobserver agreement of Glassman classification for posterolateral lumbar spine arthrodesis.</p></sec><sec><title>METHODS:</title><p> One hundred and thirty-four CT scans from patients who underwent posterolateral arthrodesis of the lumbar and lumbosacral spine were evaluated by four observers, namely two orthopedic surgeons experienced in spine surgery and two in training in this area. Using the reconstructed tomographic images at oblique coronal plane, 299 operated levels were systematically analyzed looking for arthrodesis signals. The appearance of bone healing in each operated level was classified in five categories as proposed by Glassman to the posterolateral arthrodesis: 1) bilateral solid arthrodesis; 2) unilateral solid arthrodesis; 3) bilateral partial arthrodesis; 4) unilateral partial arthrodesis; 5) absence of arthrodesis. In a second step, the evaluation of each operated level was divided into two categories: fusion (including type 1, 2, 3, and 4) and non fusion (type 5). Statistical analysis was performed by calculating the Kappa coefficient considering the paired analysis between the two experienced observers and between the two observers in training.</p></sec><sec><title>RESULTS:</title><p> The interobserver reproducibility by the kappa coefficient for arthrodesis consolidation analysis for the classification proposed, divided into 5 types, was 0.729 for both experienced surgeons and training surgeons. Considering only two categories kappa coefficient was 0.745 between experienced surgeons and 0.795 between training surgeons. In all analyzes, we obtained high concordance power.</p></sec><sec><title>CONCLUSION:</title><p> Interobserver reproducibility was observed with high concordance in the classification proposed by Glassman for posterolateral arthrodesis of the lumbar and lumbosacral spine.</p></sec>

Study Design Cross-sectional observational study in a prospective cohort. Objective To analyze the cervical alignment characteristics and their chain of correlation in a sample of asymptomatic individuals. Methods Asymptomatic adults who had full spinal radiographs performed. Cervical radiographic parameters were measured, including upper cervical curvature (McGregor line-C2), lower cervical curvature (C2-C7), McGregor slope, and sagittal vertical axis from C2-C7 (CSVA) and T1-slope (T1S). Subjects were stratified by age into 3 groups (18-39 years, 40-59 years, and >60 years), and radiographic parameters were compared across age groups and based on sex. Results 102 asymptomatic subjects (mean age, 50 years) were included. The T1S significantly increased with age, accompanied by an increase in C2-C7 lordosis. The cervical sagittal alignment, represented by CSVA, did not significantly differ based on age. There was a close correlation among the cervical sagittal parameters, such that the CSVA may be predicted based on the T1S and C2-C7 lordosis. Comparisons of the normative values identified in the present study with those reported in previous studies demonstrate variability in what constitutes normal in different populations. Conclusion This analysis of cervical alignment in a sample of asymptomatic volunteers revealed that with increasing age there is an observed increase in the sagittal inclination of the base of the cervical spine (T1S) that is accompanied by an increase in cervical lordosis as a means of maintaining cervical sagittal alignment (CSVA). The variability in what constitutes normal values for cervical parameters suggests that further study is warranted using standardized methodologies across diverse populations.

Objective: To evaluate the quality of life related to the spine in patients with proximal femoral fractures. Methods: Study conducted in a tertiary public hospital in patients with proximal femoral fractures caused by low-energy trauma, through the Oswestry Disability Index questionnaire to asses complaints related to the spine at the time of life prior to the femoral fracture. The thoracic and lumbar spine of patients were also evaluated applying the radiographic index described by Gennant (Spinal Deformity Index), which assesses the number and severity of fractures. Results: Seventeen subjects completed the study. All had some degree of vertebral fracture. Patients were classified in the categories of severe and very severe disability in the questionnaire about quality of life. It was found that the higher SDI, the better the quality of life. Conclusion: There is a strong association of disability related to the spine in patients with proximal femoral fracture, and this complaint must be systematically evaluated in patients with appendicular fracture.Objetivo: Avaliar a qualidade de vida relacionada com a coluna vertebral em pacientes com fratura da parte proximal do fêmur. Métodos: Estudo realizado em um hospital público terciário em pacientes com fraturas do fêmur proximal causado por trauma de baixa energia, por meio de aplicação do questionário Oswestry Disability Index, para avaliar as queixas relacionadas com a coluna vertebral no momento de vida prévio à fratura femoral. Avaliaram-se também as colunas torácica e lombar dos pacientes aplicando-se o índice radiográfico descrito por Gennant (Spinal Deformity Index), que avalia o número e a gravidade das fraturas. Resultados: Dezessete sujeitos concluíram o estudo. Todos apresentaram algum grau de fratura vertebral. Os pacientes enquadraram-se nas categorias de incapacidade severa e muito severa do questionário de qualidade de vida. Verificou-se que quanto maior o SDI, melhor a qualidade de vida. Conclusão: Há forte associação de incapacidade relacionada à coluna vertebral em pacientes e fratura do fêmur proximal, devendo esta queixa ser avaliada sistematicamente em pacientes com a fratura apendicular. Descritores: Fratura do fêmur; Qualidade de vida; Osteoporose; Fraturas da coluna vertebral. RESUMENObjetivo: Evaluar la calidad de vida relacionada con la columna vertebral en pacientes con fracturas de la parte proximal del fémur. Métodos: Estudio realizado en un hospital público terciario en pacientes con fracturas femorales proximales causadas por un traumatismo de baja energía, a través del cuestionario Oswestry Disability Index para evaluar las quejas relacionadas con la columna vertebral en el momento de la vida antes de la fractura femoral. También se evaluaron columna torácica y lumbar de los pacientes por el índice radiográfico descrito por Gennant (Índice de deformidad de la columna), que evalúa el número y la gravedad de las fracturas. Resultados: Diecisiete sujetos completaron el estudio. Todos tenían algún grado de fractura vertebral. Los pacient...