Spine
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A survey of the prevalence of cervical zygapophysial joint pain was conducted. ⋯ In this population, cervical zygapophysial joint pain was the most common source of chronic neck pain after whiplash.
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Physicians were surveyed regarding their beliefs about treatment efficacy for patients with low back pain. ⋯ The lack of consensus among physicians could be attributable to the absence of clear evidence-based clinical guidelines, ignorance or rejection of existing scientific evidence, excessive commitment to a particular mode of therapy, or a tendency to discount the efficacy of competing treatments.
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This study quantified changes in the size of the stenotic neuroforamen in degenerative lumbar spines. The volume and area of the neuroforamen were measured before and after the application of anterior distraction using the BAK interbody fusion system. ⋯ The results indicated that anterior systems such as the BAK system, which increase disc heights, can significantly increase neuroforaminal volume and area, providing adequate space for the nerve root and improving neuroforaminal stenosis.
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This study analyzed the clinical history, physical examination, diagnostic studies, and operative and histologic findings in 19 patients with lumbar intraspinal synovial and ganglion facet cysts evaluated and treated over a 10-year period. ⋯ Most of the lumbar intraspinal facet cysts were associated with significantly degenerated facet joints. Patients with intraspinal facet cysts may respond to conservative treatments if there is no significant neurologic deficit. Surgical decompression and removal of large facet cysts usually are successful in relieving symptoms.