Spine
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Recent literature regarding the psychological impact of scoliosis was reviewed. ⋯ Adolescent patients with scoliosis may experience psychosocial difficulties, especially while undergoing treatment for scoliosis. Interventions aimed at managing psychosocial or body image disturbances may help to ameliorate the potentially negative impact of scoliosis on these facets of life.
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To examine changes in substance P receptors on dorsal root ganglion cells innervating the rat lumbar intervertebral discs using immunohistochemistry and a retrograde neurotracing method. ⋯ Substance P-saporin decreased the ratio of neurokinin-1 immunoreactive neurons innervating the disc related to discogenic low back pain. Substance P-saporin may be a useful tool to investigate the mechanism of discogenic low back pain.
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Comparative Study
The impact of disability compensation on long-term treatment outcomes of patients with sciatica due to a lumbar disc herniation.
Prospective, observational study. ⋯ Long-term employment and disability outcomes were favorable for most patients with a disc herniation, regardless of initial workers' compensation status. However, individuals initially receiving workers' compensation had worse disability and quality of life outcomes compared to individuals not receiving workers' compensation. Despite these differences, long-term work outcomes were similarly favorable.
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To determine the effect of cage/spacer stiffness on the stresses in the bone graft and cage subsidence. ⋯ Spacers less stiff than the graft will: (1) provide stability similar to titanium cages in the presence of posterior instrumentation, (2) reduce the stresses in endplates adjacent to the spacers, and (3) increase the load transfer through the graft, as evident from the increase in stresses in graft.