Kümmell’s disease: Is ischemic necrosis or vertebral “microcracking” the first step in the sequence?

Molecular interactions between human cartilaginous endplates and nucleus pulposus cells: a preliminary investigation.

Study Design. Conditioned media (CM) of cartilaginous endplates (CEPs) of intervertebral discs were analyzed in a bioassay with regard to their influence on matrix turnover and inflammatory factors on nucleus pulposus (NP) cells of the same patient. CEP tissue underwent further histological and ultrastructural analysis. Objective. To identify possible interactions between the CEP and the disc via molecular factors that may influence disc matrix degradation and to determine degenerative changes of CEP tissue. Summary of Background Data. Impaired endplate perme-ability due to degeneration and calcification is considered to be a key contributor to disc degeneration. An upregulation of metallop…

WHIPLASH INJURIES IN SPORTS ACTIVITIES. CLINICAL OUTCOME AND BIOMECHANICS

Background Cervical whiplash syndrome, or hyperextension-hyperflexion injury, is a common traumatic injury in sports activities. The mechanisms of injury that cause cervical whiplash syndrome vary, but they may be sufficient enough to cause chronic whiplash syndrome. Methods and Patients Over 150 injuries were recorded in sports in our Orthopaedic Departments between the years of 2008 and 2011. Whiplash spine injuries have been reported in most contact sports, including indoor soccer, basketball, and wrestling, and in several non contact sports, such as diving. Whiplash spine injuries are estimated to occur in high percentage of indoor soccer players, and most commonly on defensive players.…