Spine
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Comparative Study
Letting the CAT out of the bag: comparing computer adaptive tests and an 11-item short form of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire.
A post hoc simulation of a computer adaptive administration of the items of a modified version of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire. ⋯ A CAT-based back pain-related disability measure may be a valuable tool for use in clinical and research contexts. Use of CAT for other common measures in back pain research, such as other functional scales or measures of psychological distress, may offer similar advantages.
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Our clinical study design was prospective, concurrently enrolled and single-center trial of the new functional intervertebral cervical disc prosthesis (Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Memphis, TN) in the treatment of patients with single-level and multiple-level degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. ⋯ Arthroplasty using the Bryan disc seemed to be safe and provided encouraging clinical and radiologic outcome in our study. Although early and intermediate results are promising, this is also a relatively new approach, long-term follow up studies are required to prove its efficacy and its ability to prevent adjacent segment disease.
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Comparative Study
Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Argentinean version of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire.
Psychometric testing of a translated, culturally adapted questionnaire. ⋯ The results of the study show that the Argentinean version of the RMDQ is reliable and valid as a lumbar disability measurement tool. The authors recommend this tool for future clinical studies.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Percutaneous lumbar zygapophysial (Facet) joint neurotomy using radiofrequency current, in the management of chronic low back pain: a randomized double-blind trial.
A randomized controlled study of percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy was conducted in 40 patients with chronic low back pain (20 active and 20 controls). ⋯ Our study indicates that radiofrequency facet denervation is not a placebo and could be used in the treatment of carefully selected patients with chronic low back pain.
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Comparative Study
Differences in low back pain behavior are reflected in the cerebral response to tactile stimulation of the lower back.
Two groups of patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP) were scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging during stimulation of the lower back; those showing 4 or 5 positive Waddell signs (WS-H) and those showing 1 or none (WS-L) as an index of pain-related illness behavior. ⋯ Successful adjustment to cLBP is associated with a patient's ability to effectively engage a sensory modulation system. In patients in whom such activation does not occur, subjective lack of control maypredispose to altered affective and behavioral responses with poor adjustment to pain. Pain experience may be furthermodified by reorganization of somatosensory cortex, contributing to maintenance of the chronic pain state.