Place makers : contemporary Queensland architects

This article reviews Place Makers: Contemporary Queensland Architects held in the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), Brisbane, Queensland.

Secondary curve behaviour in Lenke IC class adolescent idiopathic scoliosis following video assisted thoracoscopic spinal fusion

Introduction. Ideally after selective thoracic fusion for Lenke Class IC (i.e. major thoracic / secondary lumbar) curves, the lumbar spine will spontaneously accommodate to the corrected position of the thoracic curve, thereby achieving a balanced spine, avoiding the need for fusion of lumbar spinal segments1. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the behaviour of the lumbar curve in Lenke IC class adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) following video-assisted thoracoscopic spinal fusion and instrumentation (VATS) of the major thoracic curve. Methods. A retrospective review of 22 consecutive patients with AIS who underwent VATS by a single surgeon was conducted. The results were compared to published literature examining the behaviour of the secondary lumbar curve where other surgical approaches were employed. Results. Twenty-two patients (all female) with AIS underwent VATS. All major thoracic curves were right convex. The average age at surgery was 14 years (range 10 to 22 years). On average 6.7 levels (6 to 8) were instrumented. The mean follow-up was 25.1 months (6 to 36). The pre-operative major thoracic Cobb angle mean was 53.8° (40° to 75°). The pre-operative secondary lumbar Cobb angle mean was 43.9° (34° to 55°). On bending radiographs, the secondary curve corrected to 11.3° (0° to 35°). The rib hump mean measurement was 15.0° (7° to 21°). At latest follow-up the major thoracic Cobb angle measured on average 27.2° (20° to 41°) (p<0.001 – univariate ANOVA) and the mean secondary lumbar curve was 27.3° (15° to 42°) (p<0.001). This represented an uninstrumented secondary curve correction factor of 37.8%. The mean rib hump measured was 6.5° (2° to 15°) (p<0.001). The results above were comparable to published series when open surgery was performed. Discussion. VATS is an effective method of correcting major thoracic curves with secondary lumbar curves. The behaviour of the secondary lumbar curve is consistent with published series when open surgery, both anterior and posterior, is performed.

Computed tomography analysis of sagittal plane parameters in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated by video assisted thoracoscopic spinal fusion and instrumentation

One of the primary treatment goals of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) surgery is to achieve maximum coronal plane correction while maintaining coronal balance. However maintaining or restoring sagittal plane spinal curvature has become increasingly important in maintaining the long-term health of the spine. Patients with AIS are characterised by pre-operative thoracic hypokyphosis, and it is generally agreed that operative treatment of thoracic idiopathic scoliosis should aim to restore thoracic kyphosis to normal values while maintaining lumbar lordosis and good overall sagittal balance. The aim of this study was to evaluate CT sagittal plane parameters, with particular emphasis on thoracolumbar junctional alignment, in patients with AIS who underwent Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Spinal Fusion and Instrumentation (VATS). This study concluded that video-assisted thoracoscopic spinal fusion and instrumentation reliably increases thoracic kyphosis while preserving junctional alignment and lumbar lordosis in thoracic AIS.

A world elsewhere : virtual reality, motion capture and early modern theatre

This paper investigates virtual reality representations of the 1599 Boar’s Head Theatre and the Rose Theatre, two renaissance places and spaces. These models become a “world elsewhere” in that they represent virtual recreations of these venues in as much detail as possible. The models are based on accurate archeological and theatre historical records and are easy to navigate particularly for current use. This paper demonstrates the ways in which these models can be instructive for reading theatre today. More importantly we introduce human figures onto the stage via motion capture which allows us to explore the potential between space, actor and environment. This facilitates a new way of thinking about early modern playwrights’ “attitudes to locality and localities large and small”. These venues are thus activated to intersect productively with early modern studies so that the paper can test the historical and contemporary limits of such research.