Spine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Effectiveness of microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation: a randomized controlled trial with 2 years of follow-up.
Prospective randomized controlled trial. ⋯ Lumbar microdiscectomy offered only modest short-term benefits in patients with sciatica due to disc extrusion or sequester. Spinal level of the herniation may be an important factor modifying effectiveness of surgery, but this hypothesis needs verification.
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A prospective cohort study with 1-year follow-up. ⋯ The incidence, especially for NSP, is much lower than from developed countries. To study prevalence, incidence and recurrence of LBP and NSP simultaneously leads to a better understanding of the natural pattern and distribution of LBP and NSP in a working population.
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Comparative Study
A relook into the association of the estrogen receptor [alpha] gene (PvuII, XbaI) and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a study of 540 Chinese cases.
A genetic association study of estrogen receptor-[alpha] gene (ESR1) with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in Chinese. ⋯ The previously reported association with curve severity could not be replicated in our large series of Chinese AIS patients. The current study also did not show any association of the 2 SNPs with increased risk of having AIS.
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Comparative Study
Sagittal alignment of the spine and pelvis in the presence of L5-s1 isthmic lysis and low-grade spondylolisthesis.
A radiographic study of 82 patients with L5-S1 spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis of less than 50% displacement of L5 on S1. ⋯ These data suggest that differences in the sagittal alignment of the spine and pelvis may influence the biomechanical environment that results in the development of spondylolysis and progressive spondylolisthesis.
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In vivo histologic study of nerve ingrowth in the rabbit anular-puncture disc degeneration model. ⋯ This study indicates that in the rabbit anular-puncture disc degeneration model, disc degeneration associated with a higher nerve growth into the scar tissue was more evident when induced by a 5 mm than a 1 mm puncture. Although nerve ingrowth was observed in the extruded disc tissue, nerve ingrowth into the outer anulus, which has been reported in patients with discogenic pain, was not observed during the short observation period in this disc degeneration model. The limitation in assessing pain by behavior analysis or histologic evaluation of nerve ingrowth should be considered. Further studies to identify a surrogate marker of pain should be encouraged.