Clinical Research Directory

Gait and Paraspinal sEMG in Degenerative Spinal Diseases

This cross-sectional observational study aims to quantitatively compare three-dimensional gait parameters, surface electromyography (EMG) patterns, and radiological parameters among patients with different degenerative spinal conditions-including lumbar disc herniation (LDH), lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), lumbar sagittal imbalance (LSI), degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS), and cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM)-alongside a healthy control group. The analysis focuses on spatiotemporal gait characteristics (step length, stride length, cadence), lower limb kinematics and kinetics (hip/knee/ankle joint angles, moments, and powers during stance and swing phases), and surface EMG amplitudes (thoracic erector spinae, multifidus, gluteus maximus, and rectus abdominis muscles) during standardized walking tasks. Additionally, radiological parameters (e.g., pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch, C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis, coronal Cobb angle) will be correlated with gait and muscle activation deviations. The study employs motion capture systems, force plates, and high-density EMG to objectively differentiate disease-specific movement impairments. Findings from this study may establish biomechanical and neuromuscular signatures for each degenerative condition, providing a framework for personalized rehabilitation strategies, gait retraining, and surgical outcome assessment in spinal disorders. Comparative analysis with healthy controls will further elucidate pathological alterations in gait and muscle recruitment patterns caused by degenerative spinal diseases.

Lumbar Interbody Implant Study

The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and performance of NuVasive interbody implants when used during thoracic and/or lumbar spine surgery as measured by reported complications, radiographic outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes. This study is being undertaken to identify possible residual risks and to clarify mid- to long-term clinical performance that may affect the benefit/risk ratios of these interbody implants.

A Novel Classification of Sagittal Spinal Alignment to Aid Surgical Planning for Adult Spinal Deformity

Surgical outcomes, including radiographic outcomes, patient-reported outcomes, postoperative complications, and revision surgery rates, were compared in patients with adult spinal deformity who underwent correction surgery with reference to our pelvic incidence-dependent (PI-dependent) clustering of sagittal spinal alignment and existing standards (sagittal age-adjusted score \[SAAS\], global alignment and proportion \[GAP\] score, and Roussouly classification). Our findings may provide tangible guidance for surgical decision-making in ASD.