Spine
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Comparative Study
Selective inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha prevents nucleus pulposus-induced histologic changes in the dorsal root ganglion.
The possibility to prevent nucleus pulposus-induced structural changes of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) by selective tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibition was assessed in an experimental model in the rat spine. ⋯ Infliximab may prevent the histologic damage induced by nucleus pulposus. When rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of infliximab at the beginning of disc herniation, the histologic damage seemed to be reduced in comparison with the nontreated rats.
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This is a retrospective review on the application of the authors' technique of atlantoaxial lateral mass plate and screw fixation on a rare subset of patients having mobile and reducible atlantoaxial subluxation in the presence of occipitalized atlas. ⋯ Although lateral mass plate and screw fixation in the presence of occipitalized atlas is technically a relatively difficult and anatomically a precise surgical procedure, the firm and segmental stabilization that it provides offers an optimum situation for bony fusion.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Clinical course in patients seeking primary care for back or neck pain: a prospective 5-year follow-up of outcome and health care consumption with subgroup analysis.
Prospective follow-up. ⋯ In a cohort of individuals of working age seeking primary care for nonspecific back or neck pain, it can be expected that about half of the population will report pain and disability at the 5-year follow-up. A significant proportion will report recurrence or continual pain and health care consumption. Pain and disability were associated with recurrence or continual pain and health care consumption. Further analysis is needed to identify additional predictors for 5-year outcome, taking into account 1-year follow-up results. Since many patients will have recurrence or continual pain, health policies and clinical decision models for long-term outcome must allow for these aspects.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Effectiveness of salmon calcitonin nasal spray in the treatment of lumbar canal stenosis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial.
Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study to assess the effectiveness of calcitonin nasal spray on symptoms and function in patients with lumbar canal stenosis. ⋯ In this first ever largest randomized placebo-controlled parallel group trial of nasal calcitonin in spinal stenosis, nasal calcitonin was not superior to placebo in treating the symptoms of spinal stenosis at 6 weeks. Based on this study, nasal calcitonin does not appear to have a role in nonoperative treatment of lumbar canal stenosis.