European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Comparative Study
Transdiscal L5-S1 screws for the treatment of adult spondylolisthesis.
The aim of the study was to evaluate clinical and radiographic outcome of patients treated with a modified Grob technique analysing the advantages related to increased mechanical stability. ⋯ The advantages of this technique are lower incidence of neurologic complications, speed of execution and faster return to normal life.
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Comparative Study
A pilot investigation into the effects of different office chairs on spinal angles.
To investigate the effects of four office chairs on the postural angles of the lumbopelvic and cervical regions. ⋯ In this study, the most appropriate posture for the lumbopelvic region was produced by the Saddle chair and for the cervical region by both the Saddle and Swopper chairs. No chair consistently produced an ideal posture across all regions, although the Saddle chair created the best posture of those chairs studied. Chair selection should be based on individual need.
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Self-rated activity limitations in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (cLBP) do not correlate well with performance in traditional tests of impairment (e.g. back strength, ROM, etc.). Tests using more "functional activities" have therefore been recommended as alternative "objective" outcome measures. We examined the relationship between a battery of such tests and self-reported activity limitations, before and in response to physiotherapy, and the influence of psychological factors on the relationship. ⋯ Moderately high correlations (for both absolute and change scores) were observed between the subjective and observed measures of activity limitation. This indicates that to some extent they are assessing the same underlying construct, but it also suggests that each is delivering a certain amount of unique information. Psychological factors explained some of the discrepancy between the two types of measure. Both were responsive to therapy, and their change scores reflected well the patients' global outcome ratings. The two methods of assessing activity limitations should serve to complement one another in the assessment of treatment outcome.
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Previous studies have shown the existence of either cellular or humoral MBP-reactive elements up to 5 years after spinal cord injury (SCI), but not the presence of both after 10 years. ⋯ This work demonstrates, for the first time, the existence of both cellular and humoral responses against MBP in the chronic stages (>10 years) of injury.
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We report our experience and literature review concerning surgical treatment of neurological burst fractures of the fifth lumbar vertebra. ⋯ The L5 burst fractures are rare and mostly due to axial compression. Cauda and/or nerve root injuries are absolute indications for surgery. If an anterior approach is technically difficult, laminectomy can allow for decompression, and it can be easily combined with transpedicular screw fixation. Posterior instrumented fusion, also performed with the aim to restore sagittal profile, when associated with an accurate spinal canal exploration and decompression, may be looked at as an optimal treatment for neurological L5 burst fractures.