Twenty

patients (eight males, age 46.5 +/- 12.5 years) diagnosed with AVNRT were randomized to receive CRYO (11) with a 6-mm-tip catheter or RF (nine) with a 4-mm-tip catheter. Patients’ pain perception and operator stress were assessed with a visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0 to 10 at the end of procedure.

Results: There was no selleck products significant difference in acute procedural success (CRYO 100% vs RF 89%, P = 0.257). There was no complication of permanent atrioventricular block in either group. The number of energy applications was significantly higher in the CRYO group (2.8 +/- 1.2 vs 1.6 +/- 0.9, P = 0.02). The fluoroscopic time was significantly reduced in the CRYO group (6.0 +/- 4.9 vs 10.9 +/- 5.4 minutes, P = 0.049) with no difference in procedure time (CRYO 49.3 +/- 12.5 vs RF 54.5 +/- 17.0 minutes, P = 0.462). Patients in the CRYO group experienced significantly less pain than patients in the RF group (VAS 2.3 +/- 2.8 vs 5.4 +/- 3.4, P = 0.024). The operator also experienced significantly less stress during CRYO than RF (VAS 1.9 +/- 0.8 vs 6.2 +/- 1.6, find protocol P < 0.001). There was no recurrence in both groups at 6-month follow-up.

Conclusions: CRYO, as compared with RF, produces less pain in patients and less stress in operator in the treatment of AVNRT. (PACE

2011; 2-7).”
“Study Design. A retrospective clinical study with a long-term follow-up in a single facility.

Objective. The purpose of this study is to compare bone union rate between autologous iliac crest bone graft and local bone graft in patients treated by posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) using carbon cage for single-level interbody

fusion.

Summary of Background Data. Recently, a number of authors have reported on local bone grafting using bone that is obtained from laminectomy, and have indicated that the achieved fusion rate is similar to that of autologous iliac bone grafting. However, there is no report comparing the fusion rates between autologous iliac bone and this website local bone graft with a detailed follow-up of fusion progression.

Methods. The subjects were 101 patients whose course could be observed for at least 2 years. The diagnosis was lumbar spinal canal stenosis in 14 patients, herniated lumbar disc in 19 patients, and degenerative spondylolisthesis in 68 patients. Single interbody PLIF was performed using iliac bone graft in 54 patients and local bone graft in 47 patients. Existence of pseudarthrosis on X-P (anteroposterior and lateral view) was investigated during the same follow-up period.

Results. No significant differences were found in operation time and blood loss. Significant differences were also not observed in fusion grade at any follow-up period or in fusion progression between the 2 groups. Donor site pain continued for more than 3 months in 6 cases (11%). The final fusion rate was 94.5% versus 95.8%.

Conclusion.