Clinical trials

The purpose is to determine how reliably degenerative changes in the facet joints (FJs) and intervertebral discs (IvDs) can be assessed on computed tomography (CT) scans. At least six raters, including neurosurgeons and CT specialists, will independently evaluate anonymized CT scans covering the T9-L3 levels. The study will assess reproducibility of the Pathria grading scale for FJ degeneration and of quantitative measurements such as FJ space width and FJ angulation.

This observational study will evaluate how degenerative changes in the facet joints and intervertebral discs develop over time after treatment of AOSpine type A2, A3, and A4 fractures of the thoracolumbar junction. Patients treated conservatively and patients treated surgically will be compared with each other and with a control group of patients who underwent repeated computed tomography examinations for reasons unrelated to traumatic or degenerative spinal disease. The study will assess computed tomography findings at the injured spinal motion segment and adjacent segments, including facet joint degeneration, intervertebral disc degeneration, signs of ankylosis, facet joint space parameters, and facet joint angle. Clinical outcomes in the fracture cohort will be evaluated using pain scores and validated questionnaires. The purpose of the study is to identify factors associated with progression of degenerative changes after thoracolumbar junction fractures and to clarify whether treatment method is associated with long-term degeneration of the injured and adjacent spinal motion segments.

Long-term clinical results of two methods of surgical treatment (spinal decompression with or without fusion) in patients with single-level lumbar stenosis will be compared. A clear framework for surgical treatment methods and standardized postoperative rehabilitation treatment will be set to obtain the maximum homogeneity of the patient groups. This trial should provide the first level of evidence for the need for spinal fusion in patients with single-level lumbar stenosis, subject to the high homogeneous comparison groups. Additional results will allow comparing the economic aspects of different surgical treatments for 2 years after surgery.

Objective of the study is to determine whether combined use of intraoperative fluorescence with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and sonography can achieve higher rate of gross total resection of contrast-enhancing gliomas and brain metastases compared to intraoperative fluorescence with 5-ALA alone.

The purpose of the study is to calculate magnitude, type of intraoperative brain shift and assess possibility of it's prediction.

Objective of the study is to determine possibilities of intraoperative sonography in detecting of various brain mass lesions, assessing extent of their resection and define indications to use ultrasound-guided needle or ultrasound wire-guided port.