Does a medial retraction blade transmit direct pressure to pharyngeal/esophageal wall during anterior cervical surgery?
We suggest that a medial retraction blade does not transmit direct pressure on P/E wall due to minimal wall exposure and intervening thyroid cartilage. Our result should be considered when measuring retraction pressure during anterior cervical surgery or designing novel retractor systems.
Long-term survivors of chondrosarcoma appear to be at greater risk for having low BMD develop than the healthy population. Although these results are preliminary and based on a very small sampling of patients, if they can be confirmed in larger studies, BMD assessment by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry might be considered as these patients are followed posttreatment by sarcoma care units. The reasons for low BMD still must be elucidated.