Aging is known to increase the risk of falling. In older people, whose share in the total population is rising sharply, the Sensory Organization Test (SOT, Equitest NeuroCom) is a useful tool during rehabilitation and in clinical research for assessing postural stability, risk of falling, and balance improvement. Normative data for the SOT in the healthy population older than 79 years have not been previously published. We recruited 53 recreationally active healthy subjects aged 80 years and older from the general population in a cross-sectional study. We presented the normative data for SOT for the 80–84 and 85–89 years groups. Our results showed that the “vestibular” balance control tended to be affected by aging more than the vision and proprioception-based systems. A striking reduction in performance after the age of 85 years was observed. These findings will be useful for clinical and research purposes.

Introduction With increasing rate of spinal fusion, the problem of pseudarthrosis which contributes to recurrent pain with patient disability is considered to be the most common cause of revision lumbar spine surgery. Intensive research is being performed to develop an alternative source of bone grafting and improve the spinal fusion rate. Purpose Was to evaluate the long-term clinical and radiological outcome of the use bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell concentrate obtained with selective cell retention technology using Cellect (Depuy Spine, USA) with a particular collagen scaffold, Healos (Depuy Spine, USA) for posterolateral spinal fusion. Patient and Methods Retrospective review of the hospital records was performed. Then, the identified patients were contacted to have a clinical and radiological evaluation follow-up visit. Demographic data were reported. Preoperative diagnosis, surgical procedure report, previous spine surgery, postoperative complications and any re-operations were registered. Clinical outcome was evaluated using visual analog scales for the back pain (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, and quality of life (EQ-5D) questionnaire. Radiological outcome was evaluated by performing plain radiographs including anterior-posterior and dynamic flexion/extension lateral views. Segmental Cobb angle of the fused segment was calculated in the flexion/extension lateral views. Any implant associated complication, development of adjacent segment degeneration and any alteration of normal spinal curvature were reported. Computed tomography (CT) scans were also performed. Results All patients (100%) achieved successful fusion. The mean difference of the segmental Cobb angle was 0.5°, ranging from 0.3°-0.7°. CT scans showed solid bilateral fusion with bridging bone (Grade I) in all patients but solid unilateral fusion with bridging bone (Grade II) was detected at 1 patient at one level. Patients started to resume working activities within a mean period of 3.5 months. The VAS score for the residual back pain was 4.2 ±2 while the ODI was 10.7± 5.6 points with the mean disability index was 21.4%. Conclusion The use of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells concentrate obtained with selective cell retention technology is shown be an effective mean for augmentation of spinal fusion.