Spine
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Systematic review and meta-analysis. ⋯ There is evidence of short-term efficacy (moderate for pain and small for function) of opioids to treat CLBP compared with placebo. The effectiveness and safety of long-term opioid therapy for treatment of CLBP remains unproven.
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Retrospective study. ⋯ Pedicle screws can be used for infantile or juvenile patients, although complication rates associated with pedicle screws tended to be slightly higher in the younger groups.
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Technical case report. ⋯ Percutaneous endoscopic unilateral intra-annular subligamentous herniotomy was an effective and affordable minimally invasive procedure for patients with large central disc herniations, allowing preservation of nonpathological intradiscal tissue through a concentric outer-layer annular approach.
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Retrospective review of prospectively collected data. ⋯ For Lenke 1 and 2 curve patterns, improved percent correction of major coronal curve was noted in the high-screw density cohort. Although statistical significance was reached, it is unclear whether screw density resulted in clinically significant differences in patient-reported outcomes.
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Retrospective cohort analysis. ⋯ As surgical intervention is associated with a higher rate of neurological complications and lacks a clear benefit, the resection of spinal cord astrocytomas should be reserved for select cases and should be used sparingly.