Spine
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Cross-sectional surveys of health-related quality of life (QOL) in subjects with low back pain and knee pain using a population-based cohort. ⋯ This study revealed that low back pain has a larger impact than knee pain on QOL. Furthermore, low back pain with VFx is strongly associated with physical QOL loss.
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Prospective analysis of computed tomographic images of 376 normal pediatric cervical pedicles. ⋯ With growth, there was a gradual increase in PW, PH, and PAL but was mainly before the age of 10 years. Majority of C3 pedicles were thin making screw fixation unsafe. However, at all other levels, the pedicle morphometrics per se were adequate and do not restrict safe application of 3-mm cervical pedicle screw.
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We conducted a cross-sectional, genotyping study in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and controls. ⋯ Although no SNPs in COL9A2 were associated with LSS, a COL9A2 haplotype (HAP2) was significantly associated with LSS in the Korean population, whereas another haplotype (HAP4) may play a protective role against LSS development. However, the genetic functions of COL9A2 haplotypes in LSS remain to be determined.
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Prospective observational study. ⋯ Interspinous process spacer surgery appears associated with a higher rate of early postoperative spinous process fracture than previously reported. In all cases, in this series, plain radiographs were inadequate to identify fractures because all fractures were initially minimal or nondisplaced, many patients were osteopenic, and the metallic wings of the devices often obscured fractures. Moreover, in most patients, fractures were associated with mild or no acute localized pain. This study suggests that unrecognized spinous process fracture may be responsible for a significant number of patients who experience unsatisfactory outcome after IPS surgery. CT imaging is required to identify the vast majority of such fractures.
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A cross-sectional study. ⋯ Greater fat, but not lean tissue mass, was associated with high levels of low back pain intensity and disability. Longitudinal investigation is needed to determine whether fat mass is predictive of low back pain and disability, as this may have important implications for further prevention strategies. Understanding the mechanism for these relationships may provide novel approaches to managing low back pain.