Objective. To analyze economic losses due to acute cervical spine and spinal cord injury in the Republic of Bashkortostan.

Material and Methods. Statistical data on complications after cervical spine injury were analyzed with reference to the Methodology for Estimating Economic Losses due to Mortality, Morbidity and Disability of Population. Calculation was performed for working age people involved in economics.

Results. Economic losses due to cervical spine injury reach 13.5 million roubles per one victim.

Conclusion. To reduce mortality and disability of victims, the need is to develop and implement an effective system for prevention of road accidents as the main cause of spinal cord injury and to introduce a point of external cervical spine fixation in the algorithm of the first aid to the accident victims regarding them as potentially having cervical spine injury. Preoperative period in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury may be reduced through creation of interregional centres with adequate equipment and qualified staff (neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists and reanimatologists). An earlier social adaptation of patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury requires strict adherence to the principle of care continuity: hospital - rehabilitation centre – health resort – outpatient clinic.

Objective. To identify prognostic criteria of congenital spinal deformity progression in children on the basis of clinical and anamnestic data, X-ray, biochemical and molecular genetic studies.

Material and Methods. The study included 154 patients (91 girls, 63 boys) aged 6 months to 18 years with congenital spinal deformities associated with improper vertebra formation, fusion or segmentation, and combined anomalies of the spine. They underwent clinical examination with assessment of orthopedic and neurologic status, X-ray examination of the spine, and their anamneses and family histories were investigated. Special attention paid to identify the signs of connective tissue dysplasia of various organs and systems.

Results. Multivariate analysis applying the method of statusmetry showed that high levels of osteocalcin and vitamin D, and TT genotype of -1997G/T polymorphism in the COL1A1gene are more common in children with a stable course of congenital spinal deformity, then in children with progressive deformity, who have higher level of P1NP (amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen) and more systems involved in the dysplastic process.

Conclusion. Predictive model for progression of congenital spinal deformity was developed, and a group of children at risk of spinal curvature progression associated with vertebral anomalies was identified.

Objective. To analyze long-term results of applying three surgical techniques and dynamics of certain symptoms in patients with vertebrogenic lesion of vertebral arteries.

Material and Methods. Catamnestic and long-term outcomes in 283 patients operated on using decompression and stabilization (n = 103), decompression and plasty (n = 59), and decompression without discectomy and fusion (n = 121) were studied. Criterion for patient inclusion was the absence of clinically significant non-vertebrogenic stenotic and occlusive lesions of vertebral and carotid arteries.

Results. Comprehensive assessment of long-term surgical results revealed recovery in 74 patients (26.1 %), good result in 124 (43.8 %), satisfactory – in 78 (27.6 %), and the absence of dynamics in 5 patients (1.8 %). Two patients (0.7 %) presented with aggravation of neurologic symptoms in the postoperative period due to recurrent stroke. Surgical treatment of patients with recurrent transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and cerebral hypertensive crises was the most effective. Excellent and good results were observed in 91 % of these patients.

Conclusion. Long-term results of decompressive interventions (without discectomy and fusion) showed their substantial advantages over decompression and plasty and over decompression and stabilization.

Objective. To perform histological verification of osseointegration of porous bioceramic granules using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy.

Material and Methods. The experiment was conducted in six mongrel dogs weighing 15 to 18 kg which underwent implantation of hydroxyapatite bioceramic granules in the lumbar vertebral bodies. After 6-month follow-up period specimens were examined histologically using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectrometry.

Results. Histological examination of the implantation zones revealed trabecular bone tissue in spaces between the granules fitting closely to their surfaces. There was no connective tissue capsule on the border between the bone tissue and hydroxyapatite granules.

Conclusion. Morphological studies using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, as well as energy-dispersive spectrometry are basic methods for verification of osseointegration.

Objective. To analyze delivery of high-tech medical care to child population of Siberian Federal District in Novosibirsk Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics over 2007–2012.

Material and Methods. The study involved an analysis of 3782 electronic medical records of patients under the age of 17 admitted to and treated at the Novosibirsk RITO in 2007–2012.

Results. High-tech medical care delivered by Novosibirsk RITO to children residing in Siberian Federal District comprises 78 to 82 % of the whole its care to children. Availability of high-tech medical care for child population is insufficient to meet current demand. In most cases the outcomes of high-tech medical care provided to children at Novosibirsk RITO are improvement (74.4 %) and recovery (19.8 %). Patients require further rehabilitation to achieve recovery or stabilize the achieved improvement. Only 10.8 % of the operated children are referred to a spa treatment after surgery, what is on the average 35 to 38 % of the demand.

Conclusion. The study revealed increased availability of high-tech trauma, orthopedic, and neurosurgical care delivered by Novosibirsk RITO to children residing in Siberian Federal District, though this availability is still insufficient and depending on a place of child’s residence.

Objective. Presentation of the scheme of video signal online translation from cameras installed in the operation room (OR) to stationary and mobile devices.

Material and Methods. The scheme of online webcast translation was implemented in the Institute of Neurosurgery on the basis of the existing system of TV broadcasting of video images from the operation room. Translation scheme using additional software and dedicated server, and translation scheme using IP-based cameras and video servers-encoders were designed.

Results. Realized technical decisions allow chief of the department to get visual control of the operating room from any point worldwide using any device with internet access.

Conclusion. The proposed technology has a low cost of implementation and helps to realize a project “Chief in the OR”, providing the online monitoring of surgeon’s activity regardless of the chief location. It may be used for remote surgery live demonstration with audio feedback (congresses, training courses, conferences, etc), and give opportunity for adjustment of the system parameters and further improvement with functional evolution.