Spine
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Compression neuropathy of the femoral nerve has been reported as an uncommon complication of bleeding into the iliopsoas muscle. ⋯ Although uncommon, the complication should be kept in mind. It can be avoided by intraoperative hip flexion.
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Comparative Study
Using computed tomography/discography and enhanced magnetic resonance imaging to distinguish between scar tissue and recurrent lumbar disc herniation.
Patients who had lumbar spine surgeries and experienced residual symptoms were prospectively studied using computed tomography/discography and enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. ⋯ Using computed tomography/discography alone or with enhanced magnetic resonance imaging enables surgeons to distinguish between scarring and recurrent disc herniation so they can determine the need to re-enter the spinal canal.
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The authors assessed the clinical and imaging findings and late outcome in 50 patients with whiplash-type neck distortions (17 men, 33 women, mean age 33 years). ⋯ A high incidence of discoligamentous injuries was found in whiplash-type distortions. Most patients with severe persisting radiating pain had large disc protrusions on MRI that were confirmed as herniations at surgery. Neck and radiating pain were alleviated by early disc excision and fusion.
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The current prospective longitudinal study examined the predictive value of psychological, somatic and social variables for the prediction of the short- and long-term follow-up in 111 consecutively selected patients with acute radicular pain and a lumbar disc prolapse or protrusion. ⋯ The results lead to several hypotheses about biopsychosocial interrelations within the chronification of radicular pain and provide the clinician with a short screening instrument for early diagnosis of chronification.
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This study evaluated the incidence of lumbar isthmic spondylolisthesis among subjects permanently disabled because of low back pain syndromes. ⋯ The finding that the incidence corresponds well with the incidence in the normal population may suggest that lumbar isthmic spondylolisthesis does not invariably lead to severe impairment or disability, although location of the defect at the level proximal to L5 may be connected to an increased risk for permanent low back disability.