Skeletal radiology
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Injury to a tendon leads to alterations in the mechanical properties of the tendon. Axial-strain sonoelastography and shear-wave elastography are relatively new, real-time imaging techniques that evaluate the mechanical properties of tendons in addition to the existing morphological and vascular information that is obtained with traditional imaging tools. Axial-strain sonoelastography displays the subjective distribution of strain data on an elastogram caused by tissue compression, whereas shear-wave elastography provides a more objective, quantitative measure of the intrinsic tissue elasticity using the acoustic push-pulse. ⋯ Possible barriers to the dissemination of axial-strain sonoelastography technique include operator dependency, technical limitations such as artefacts and lack of reproducibility and quantification of sonoelastography data. Shear-wave elastography may improve the reproducibility of elastography data, although there is only one published study on the topic to date. Large-scale longitudinal studies are needed to further elucidate the clinical relevance and potential applications of axial-strain sonoelastography and shear-wave elastography in diagnosing, predicting, and monitoring the progress of tendon healing before they can be widely adopted into routine clinical practice.
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Multicenter Study Controlled Clinical Trial
Pain course in conservatively treated patients with back pain and a VCF on the spine radiograph (VERTOS III).
Little is known about the natural course of pain from vertebral compression fractures (VCF). In this study we evaluated the pain course in conservatively treated patients with back pain and a VCF on the spine radiograph. ⋯ More than half of conservatively treated patients with back pain and VCF had sufficient pain relief at 12 months with most pain decrease in the first 3 months. However, a substantial proportion of patients still reported disabling pain. There were no predictors for the development of chronic pain. Patients with continuing pain ≥3 months after diagnosis of VCF may be candidates for vertebroplasty.
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Review Meta Analysis
Access routes and reported decision criteria for lumbar epidural drug injections: a systematic literature review.
To review lumbar epidural drug injection routes in relation to current practice and the reported criteria used for selecting a given approach. ⋯ The most commonly used access routes for epidural drug injection are the interlaminar and transforaminal pathways at the level of the pathology. Transforaminal routes are being performed with increasing frequency in recent years.
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Peer-reviewed abstracts presented at the 2013 Society of Skeletal Radiology (SSR) Annual Meeting were reviewed following oral presentation. Topics felt to be of potential interest to musculoskeletal investigators and practicing clinicians are highlighted in this compilation and analysis of the meeting. New concepts regarding musculoskeletal and spine imaging and intervention, musculoskeletal protocols and techniques, radiology education, and quality improvement are included. ePoster highlights are also presented.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Do more MRI findings imply worse disability or more intense low back pain? A cross-sectional study of candidates for lumbar disc prosthesis.
To examine whether combined magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings are related to the degree of disability and low back pain (LBP) in candidates for lumbar disc prosthesis surgery. ⋯ The combined MRI findings were not related to the degree of disability or the intensity of LBP. These degenerative MRI findings cannot explain variation in pre-treatment disability and pain in patients with chronic LBP accepted for disc prosthesis surgery.