Tubular Spines Research Articles

Advanced Visualization in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: The Ergonomics, Economics, and Evolution of Camera-Based Tubes and Retractors.

Tubular spine surgery has emerged as a hallmark of minimally invasive spine (MIS) procedures. In recent years, thanks to technological advances, tubular dilators and retractors have been integrated with digital cameras to allow for ergonomic, high-definition visualization of the surgical field. To detail the evolution, ergonomics, economics, and outcomes of camera-based tubular spine surgery, spanning the origins of MIS tubular techniques to the current use of operative microscopes and tube-mounted digital cameras (TMDCs). This is a narrative review of studies examining the evolution of tubular spine surgery as well as its most recent advances, with a particular emphasis on advances in visualization of the surgical field. Despite early resistance to tubular techniques due to a steep learning curve, minimally invasive tubular approaches are being increasingly adopted by the mainstream spine surgical community, which has resulted in an expansion of both indications and procedural modalities. This can largely be attributed to the increased quality of visualization, as evidenced by improvements in microscopes as well as emerging technologies like exoscopes and TMDCs. Tubular MIS procedures have also achieved superior efficacy compared with open surgical approaches for the treatment of several spinal pathologies while allowing for improved ergonomics, which may have lasting consequences on surgeon longevity. Advances in visualization technologies have allowed tubular surgery to become an effective, ergonomic, and muscle-sparing alternative to open spine surgery. Further research is necessary to quantify the true costs and outcomes associated with nascent TMDC technology. This work elucidates developments in visualization for tubular spine surgery.

Lumbar Tubular Decompression: Barriers and Limitations Hampering the Technique's Dissemination Across Latin America

ObjectivesTo explore the barriers and limitations preventing the widespread use of tubular lumbar spine decompressions in Latin America. MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed using a survey specifically designed by the authors. This survey was mailed to all spine surgeons who are members of AO Spine Latin America. Eighty-seven surgeons spanning 15 Latin American countries answered the survey. Results31% of participating surgeons claimed they needed to adapt their technique to perform minimally-invasive tubular surgeries. Meanwhile, though 70.5% answered they do not consider tubular surgery expensive, 32.8% lacked access to standard equipment like a complete set of retractors or curved high-speed drill. ConclusionSeveral barriers limit the development of tubular spine surgery in Latin America. The most important discrepancies between surgeons’ preferred equipment and their availability for such operations are high-speed drills, bayoneted instruments, and hemostatic agents.

A new Altivasum Hedley, 1914 (Turbinellidae, Vasinae) from the coast of southern Western Australia

This paper presents a new Altivasum found off Jurien Bay, Western Australia at 60 m. This new species expands our understanding of the distribution, and in particular extends the northern range of Altivasum, in the South-west Marine Region. Altivasum pauladellaboscae n. sp. is more rhomboidal than A. hedleyi Maxwell and Dekkers, 2019, which is elongated, and has the formation of tubular spines on the shoulder of axial fold on the later whorls of the spire; these spines are not formed in A. pauladellaboscae n sp. Altivasum pauladellaboscae n sp. differs from A. profundum Dekkers and Maxwell, 2018 in having acute shoulder nodules. The South Australian, A. flindersi Verco, 1914 lacks the fibriated subsutural band found in A. pauladellaboscae n. sp. Altivasum clarksoni Maxwell and Dekkers, 2019 is geographically isolated and morphologically distinct, being more elongated and fibriated. This paper brings the number of described Altivasum species to five

New species of Acasta and Balanus (Balanoidea: Acastinae, Balaninae) from the Early Miocene (Burdigalian) of the Aquitaine Basin, France

Two new species of spiny barnacles (Balanoidea: Acastinae, Balaninae) are described from the lower Burdigalian (Early Miocene) of the Aquitaine Basin, southwest France. The first, Acasta martillacensis sp. nov., from Martillac, is characterised by a shell with internal longitudinal ribs, a cellular space between the sheath and wall, a carinal sheath which adheres to the wall in the centre of its basal edge, a cup-shaped basis and a scutum with radial striae externally and a less than prominent adductor ridge internally. The second, Balanus aculeatus sp. nov., from Saucats (Le Péloua), has paries exteriorly with strong, tubular spines. An overview of outcrops of Burdigalian strata in the area, within a palaeogeographic context, is added.

Tip growth in plant cells may be amoeboid and not generated by turgor pressure

Cellular growth in higher plants is generated (powered) by internal turgor pressure. Basic physics shows that the pressure required to deform a plastic tube by elongation is inversely proportional to the tube9s diameter. Accordingly, the turgor required to drive tip growth of very narrow cylindrical plant cells becomes very high, probably too high to be realized in living cells. The non–involvement of turgor in tip growth is demonstrated directly in living diatoms secreting fine tubular spines of silica. In some species, the membrane at the tip of the rigid tube is deformed inwards into its lumen during normal extension, whereas in other species, many cells are partly plasmolysed during normal, active spine (‘seta’) extension. Evidence from other cells is consistent with the general conclusion that turgor is not significant in tip growth. We support the alternative hypothesis proposed by M. Harold and colleagues that extension in tip cells can be amoeboid, driven by cycling of the actin cytoskeleton. Actively growing setae display an internal, fibrous, collar–like sleeve, probably of actin at the tip; it is visualized as a molecular treadmill (‘nanomachine’) that uses as its support–base the rigid tube that has just been secreted. This scenario can thereby explain how the perfectly even diameter of very long, fine setae is maintained throughout their extension, even when their tips are far distant from the cell body.

Compression-destruction osteosynthesis for fractures of long bones

In the treatment of fractures of long tubular spines, transosseous compression-distraction osteosynthesis (TCDO) has become widespread in recent years. We would like to share our own experience of using this method in the conditions of the Central District Hospital. We observed 64 people with fresh fractures of long bones, who underwent CHKDO in the trauma department of the Central District Hospital. Most of them were people of the most working age - from 14 to 60 years old.

VI. On a Peculiar Structure—Spines within Spines—in Carboniferous Species of the Productidæ

The purposes for which the external tubular spines on the shells of the Productidae existed have long been a source of conjecture to those palaeontologists who have taken up this group for investigation, but in spite of all that has been written on the subject, we are still ignorant, in a great measure, as to what were their several functions. As the spines are seen to be very variable, in the different species, both as to length, diameter, and numbers, it is probable that their uses may not have been the same in all cases, and future investigators may be able to show that some of the theories previously held may be correct only as regards certain forms. In 1876, Mr. Robert Etheridge, jun., F.G.S., read a paper on an adherent form of Productus from the Lower Carboniferous Limestone strata of the East of Scotland ( Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. , p. 454), which was found attached, chiefly by its spines, to small stems of crinoids, polyzoa, &c. In describing his species— Products complectens —Mr. Etheridge stated the opinions of those palaeontologists who had expressed their views as to the functions of the spines, and tabulated their conclusions, as follows:—“The spines were considered— 1. “To be for the passage of tendons of attachment, by von Buch.” 2. “To be for the introduction of water into the interior of the shell, by de Verneuil.” 3. “To be for simply retaining the shell in position in fine sediment, by d'Orbigny.” 4. “To be without essential functions, This 250-word extract was created in the absence of an abstract

XXXVIII. Note on Favosites (?) ( Calamopora ) dentifera, Phillips

Prof. Phillips, in his description of the fossils from the Carboniferous limestone of Yorkshire and the North of England, published in 1836, briefly describes (at pp. 200, 201) six species of Calamopora, one of which, found at Bolland, he names C. dentifera, (Pl. I. figs. 58-60), and gives it the following characters—“Incrusting, apertures of the cells with spicular edges.” Phillips’ species of Calamopora have all now been removed to other genera, Prof. Morris placing C. dentifera amongst the Favosites in his Catalogue of British fossils. Milne Edwards and Haime, in their Monograph of Carboniferous Corals for the Palaeontographical Society, while referring to Carboniferous Favosites, express doubts as to Favosites dentifera (Phillips) really belonging to that genus, and state (p. 153)—“But in the present state of palaeontological science cannot be characterised.” The rough figures which Phillips gives show an incrusting organism, forming a thin patch about three-fourths of an inch in diameter, with numerous small, round-mouthed cells, the walls of which are spinose or toothed. For several years a somewhat similar organism, which forms thin crusts upon shells, stems of crinoids, the spines of Archaeocidaris and Productus, has been known to me as occurring in the Carboniferous limestone strata of the West of Scotland. In this organism the cells are mostly of a polygonal form, having thin walls, which in young and unworn specimens are denticulated, there being a short tubular spine generally placed at each angle of the cell, with sometimes smaller tubercular spines between. In tangential sections of the This 250-word extract was created in the absence of an abstract

The Carboniferous System in Scotland Characterized by its Brachiopoda

This species appears to vary somewhat in appearance, but is usually transversely semi-cylindrical, the hinge-line being at the same time the widest portion of the shell. The ventral valve is very much vaulted, and usually longitudinally divided by a median depression or sinus of variable depth. The beak is small, and does not overlie the hinge-line, while the ears are of moderate dimensions and clearly defined. Exteriorly the surface is ornamented with numerous longitudinal ribs, which increase in number by means of occasional intercalations; certain ribs will also disappear before having attained the margin; while again two will sometimes unite, so as to constitute but a single rib. The costæ are very often of unequal width, rounded, or flattened, and sometimes will rapidly increase in width as they extend towards the margin: concentric wrinkles are also observable upon the auriculate portions of the valve, and a row of long tubular spines may be seen close to the cardinal edge, as well as upon the lateral portions of the beak; spines of smaller proportions project likewise here and there from the ribs themselves, while the longitudinal costæ are closely intersected or decussated to some distance from the extremity of the beak by numerous undulating concentric lines.