Spine
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An in vivo model was used to investigate the response of degenerated discs to various exogenous growth factors. ⋯ Anular fibrochondrocytes in degenerated discs are responsive to some growth factors in vivo. The results have implications in the early intervention of disc degeneration to arrest or slow the degenerative process.
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Case Reports
Bilateral pedicle stress fractures in a female athlete: case report and review of the literature.
Clinical case report of bilateral stress fractures of the pedicle in a female athlete presenting with back pain. ⋯ In this uncommon case of bilateral stress fractures of the pedicle, circumferential fusion assures full immobilization of the injured motion segment and assures a high probability of successful healing.
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Spinal somatosensory-evoked potentials (SSEPs), elicited by mixed nerve and dermatomal stimulation, and compound evoked muscle potentials (CMAPs), elicited by lower thoracic interspinous space stimulation, were recorded in rats that underwent single nerve root transection. ⋯ Injury to a single lumbosacral nerve root is diagnosed more easily with M-SSEP. With D-SSEP and CMAP, it was possible to differentiate the lesioned nerve root by stimulating the primary dermatome or recording from the innervated muscle. M-SSEP is an easy-sampling and appropriate tool for screening nerve root injury; its poor specificity may be overcome by using D-SSEP and CMAP in addition. Optimal monitoring of the lumbosacral nerve roots during lumbar spinal surgery requires the administration of M-SSEP, D-SSEP, and CMAP to provide independent verification of lumbosacral nerve root integrity and to allow detection of the occasional injuries that selectively affect either the sensory or motor system.
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Cross-sectional study. ⋯ Between-groups differences were observed as lower neck muscle endurance time, reduced left rotation, relatively reduced extension at second test, but greater range of retraction, when the subclinical and normal groups were compared. These data suggest that there are early range changes associated with the development of neck pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Prolotherapy injections, saline injections, and exercises for chronic low-back pain: a randomized trial.
To assess the efficacy of a prolotherapy injection and exercise protocol in the treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain. ⋯ In chronic nonspecific low-back pain, significant and sustained reductions in pain and disability occur with ligament injections, irrespective of the solution injected or the concurrent use of exercises.