Spine
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Comparative Study
Determining the lumbar vertebral segments on magnetic resonance imaging.
A study to test the ability of an additional cervicothoracic localizer scan to decrease interobserver discrepancy in the identification of vertebral segments in magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine. ⋯ The addition of a cervicothoracic localizer scan in magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbosacral spine is highly recommended.
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Laboratory experiment. ⋯ Somewhat improved fixation of the head to the fracture board can be achieved by placing wedges under the head; however, the benefits of any fixation method, in terms of cervical spine immobilization, are likely to be limited unless the motion of the trunk is also controlled effectively. Future research and development should address techniques to better control head and trunk motion.
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Comparative Study
Vertebral centroid measurement of lumbar lordosis compared with the Cobb technique.
An observational study in which vertebral centroid measurement of lumbar lordosis, developed in this study, was used to examine lumbar curvature. The intra- and interobserver reliability of the vertebral centroid measurement of lumbar lordosis and the Cobb technique were compared. ⋯ The findings from this study indicate that the vertebral centroid measurement of lumbar lordosis is more reliable than the Cobb method for assessing lumbar lordosis. The vertebral centroid measurement of lumbar lordosis also can be used to evaluate the actual lumbar curvature in outline at various angles of trunk flexion.
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An observational study of the relation between disability and psychological distress in patients with no on-going compensation claim who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion for chronic low back pain. ⋯ Postoperative improvement in disability was not found to be related to preoperative psychology as measured by the Distress and Risk Assessment Method score. Change in disability is significantly related to change in distress.
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An analysis of proteoglycans of the intervertebral disc using immunoblotting of tissue extracts. ⋯ Growth, aging, and degeneration of the intervertebral disc are associated with changes in the abundance and structure of fibromodulin and lumican, which presumably influence the functional properties of the tissue.