Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is often disturbed after spine surgical procedures with or without an implant. Artifacts are induced by ferromagnetic or nonferromagnetic implants and devices and by small metallic particles left by surgical instruments. All metallic artifacts can affect the quality and usefulness of postoperative spine MR examinations. The physical effects caused by the introduction of metal or other conductive materials into a magnetic field and their consequences are presented. The application to postoperative spine MR examinations and solutions to reduce artifacts are discussed.
A variant of vertebroplasty known as "kyphoplasty" has been suggested for correcting vertebral compression fractures. A balloon placed inside the vertebral body is inflated to create a cavity, thereby restoring vertebral body height and allowing low-pressure cement injection. This procedure is gaining popularity in the United States. Over 1000 patients had been treated by the end of 2000. However, kyphoplasty is costly (chiefly because the balloon is disposable) and has not been evaluated in carefully designed studies. Although retrospective findings have been reported as highly promising, they are not sufficient to validate this procedure. The principle is innovative and the procedure deserves further investigation as a potentially effective means of correcting loss of vertebral height. Furthermore, use of a bone substitute instead of cement deserves investigation.
Two cases of supernumerary muscles of the leg reported, which were both inserted on the sides of the calcaneus. The accessory soleus m., adductor of the fore-foot, is a variation of the triceps surae which through hypertrophy on the medial side of the leg can become particularly problematic in athletes. The fourth peroneal m. abductor of the fore-foot, is considered to increase the stability of the ankle and is asymptomatic.
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