Reirradiation and skull base ORN are strong predisposing factors for carotid blowout syndrome, and therefore they should be mentioned in the informed consent form before treatment.

The Decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method is used to build and analyze a structural model with causal relationships between different criteria. In this paper, it shows that DEMATEL is the specific case of fuzzy decision maps (FDM) when the threshold function is linear. Both FDM and DEMATEL have the same direct and indirect influence matrix. FDM incorporates the eigenvalue method, the fuzzy cognitive maps, and the weighting equation. In addition two numerical examples are illustrated to demonstrate the proposed results. On the basis of the mathematical proof and numerical results, we can conclude that FDM is a generalization of DEMATEL method.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) is an innovative procedure launched in the early 2000s. Compared with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, many studies show that CDA offers equivalent clinical outcomes while reducing secondary procedures and total cost. PURPOSE: We sought to determine the incidence of anterior bone loss after CDA and the related biomechanical effects. STUDY DESIGN/ SETTING: Retrospective chart review. PATIENT SAMPLE: Patients who underwent CDA with one level Bryan Disc (Medtronic Sofa-morDanek, Memphis, TN, USA) at one institution. OUTCOME MEASURES: Radiological measurements, including the extent of anterior bone loss, global alignment angle, shell angle, lordotic angle, mean degree of angle of the endplate with the horizontal line, global range of motion (ROM) and ROM of the index level were recorded. The grading of anterior bone loss of the index level was defined as Grade 0, no remodeling; Grade 1, spur disappearance or mild change in body contour; Grade 2, obvious bone regression with Bryan Disc exposure.

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