Spine
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Retrospective clinical and laboratory data analyses were performed on hemodialysis (HD) patients with bacterial spondylodiscitis. ⋯ The presence of bacterial spondylodiscitis must be considered when treating back pain of HD patients even when they are afebrile. Careful observation of general status in addition to local conditions is essential. Indication of operation should be considered carefully because of the poor general status and bone quality of HD patients. MRI, in addition to plain radiographs, was necessary to differentiate destructive spondylarthropathy from bacterial spondylodiscitis.
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Case Reports Comparative Study
New technique in congenital scoliosis involving fixation to the pelvis after hemivertebra excision.
The authors conducted a retrospective study involving description of a new surgical technique. ⋯ This prospective study demonstrates a successful surgical technique for spinal stabilization after congenital hemivertebra excision in infants and young children with relatively small and soft bones when standard constructs like pedicle screws may not be optimal devices. Coronal and sagittal balance (restoration with improvement of lordosis) was successfully achieved in all cases.
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This is a case report. ⋯ Epidural emphysema secondary to traumatic pneumomediastinum is benign and self-limiting. However, the life-threatening causes should be considered and ruled out.
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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.
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Multicenter Study
Sensitivity and specificity of outcome measures in patients with neck pain: detecting clinically significant improvement.
Prospective, single-cohort study. ⋯ The present findings will assist in the choice of outcome measures in trials on neck pain. The study also illustrates a methodologic framework for interpreting change scores in terms of clinical improvement, facilitating the process of making sense of research data in the clinical setting.