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Study Design: Retrospective cohort. Objectives: We aimed to compare a large cohort of patients with vertebral compression fractures (VCF) treated in 2 centers using different protocols (conservative vs BKP) and compare mortality rates on a long-term follow-up. Methods: Retrospective cohort held in 2 medical centers (W and AH). All patients admitted with VCF from November 2008 to January 2015 were enrolled in the study. Exclusion criteria were patients admitted with non-osteoporotic pathological fractures (such as metastatic or MM). Results: Our study included 208 patients treated for VCF, 127 were treated with BKP (88 females, 69.3%) and 81 were treated conservatively (59 females, 72.8%). Patients from Centre W were older and frailer compared to the patients from AH center (Average age 75.12 ± 11.16 vs 69.13 ± 9.61 years and Frailty score of 0.16 ± 0.1 vs 0.12 ± 0.1 respectively, T-test, p < 0.01 for both). Hazard ratios (HR) for age, female gender and frailty were significant for increased mortality, frailty had the highest HR of 182.42 (CI 29.05-1145.33, p < 0.01). Multivariate Cox model was fitted and after accounting for Gender, Age and Frailty, no significant difference was found between the 2 medical centers mortality rates (p = 0.59), thus no difference in mortality rates between BKP and conservative treatment in our study. Conclusion: long-term follow-up following BKP treatment for VCF did not show a reduced mortality rate compared to conservative treatment after accounting for frailty, age and gender. Frailty was the most important factor in predicting mortality. Further RCTs are needed to compare the quality of life differences between the 2 treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gender differences in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) have been documented in curve progression, response to bracing, and outcomes of surgical treatment. However, limited information is available about the relation between gender and scoliosis curve patterns and radiographical characteristics., Objectives: To evaluate the effect of gender on curve pattern and compare clinical and radiographical characteristics between male and female patients with AIS., Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of prospectively collected data that compared clinical and radiographical characteristics between male and female surgical candidates. Demographic and clinical data including age at presentation, gender, family history of scoliosis, brace treatment history, clinical coronal balance, shoulder asymmetry, and hump size were recorded. All patients graded their pain with the use of a visual analogue scale (VAS) on a scale from 0 to 10. Radiographs of the spine were reviewed to determine the type of curve according to the Lenke classification, Cobb angle, thoracic kyphosis angle, and the Risser sign. Radiologic coronal balance was recorded. Curve flexibility was determined by measuring the thoracic and lumbar curves magnitude on side bending radiographs., Results: The study included 163 patients with AIS including 35 males and 128 females patients. Although a trend toward more flexible major thoracic curves in females was noticed, there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups., Conclusions: In this study we were not able to demonstrate any clinical nor radiological statistical differences between male and female patients who are candidate for surgical treatment.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a multi-organ disorder affecting many types of connective tissues, including bone and cartilage. Certain skeletal changes are more prevalent in diabetic patients than in non-diabetic individuals. A possible association of diabetes mellitus and lumbar spinal stenosis has been raised., Objectives: To compare the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in patients with spinal stenosis, degenerative disk disease or osteoporotic vertebral fractures., Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed of 395 consecutive patients diagnosed with spinal stenosis, degenerative disk disease or osteoporotic vertebral fractures. All the patients were examined by one senior author in the outpatient orthopedic clinic of a large general hospital between June 2004 and January 2006 and diagnosed as having lumbar spinal stenosis (n=225), degenerative disk disease (n=124), or osteoporotic vertebral fractures (n=46)., Results: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the three groups (spinal stenosis, osteoporotic fracture, degenerative disk disease) was 28%, 6.5% and 12.1%, respectively, revealing a significantly higher prevalence in the spinal stenosis group compared with the others (P=0.001). The higher prevalence of diabetes in the stenotic patients was unrelated to the presence of degenerative spondylolisthesis., Conclusions: There is an association between diabetes and lumbar spinal stenosis. Diabetes mellitus may be a predisposing factor for the development of lumbar spinal stenosis.

Synovial plicae are membranous inward folds of the synovial lining of the knee joint capsula. Such folds are regularly found in the human knee, but most are asymptomatic and of little clinical consequence. However, they can become symptomatic and cause knee pain. In this review, we will discuss medial plica syndrome. Medial plica irritation of the knee is a common source of anterior knee pain. The main complaint is an intermittent, dull, aching pain in the area medial to the patella above the joint line and in the supramedial patellar area. Pain increases with activity, especially when knee flexion and extension are required. Treatment includes physiotherapy, reducing activity, and rest. In cases that do not respond initially to an exercise program, corticosteroid injections and non-steroidal antiinflammatory medication are given. Results of conservative treatment seem to be more appropriate in young patients with a short duration of symptoms. If conservative treatment fails, surgical treatment using arthroscopy is appropriate. During arthroscopy, excision of the whole plica should be achieved.