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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To report the learning curve of full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy for a surgeon naive to endoscopic surgery but trained in open microdiscectomy. ⋯ The learning curve of the transforaminal approach was steep and easy to learn, while the learning curve of the interlaminar approach was flat and hard to master.
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Comparative Study
HIZ's relation to axial load and low back pain: investigated with axial loaded MRI and pressure controlled discography.
The aims were to investigate if the detection of high-intensity zones (HIZ) is affected by axial load, and to study the correlation between HIZ and discogenic pain provoked with pressure controlled discography (PCD). ⋯ The detection of HIZ was not influenced by axial load. With strict PCD, discogenic pain can neither be confirmed when having HIZ (PPV 39 %) nor ruled out in discs without HIZ (NPV 76 %). Larger PCD studies including quantification of HIZ at conventional and alMRI are needed, before any dynamic component affected by axial load can be ruled out completely.
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Comparative Study
Physical activity level, leisure activities and related quality of life 1 year after lumbar decompression or total hip arthroplasty.
Lumbar decompression surgery (LDS) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) are frequently performed in the elderly population, but very little is known about their subsequent physical capacity and participation in leisure activities. Despite similar demographics and comorbidities, it is questionable whether LDS patients achieve equally high levels of physical capacity and quality of life postoperatively as do THA patients. The aim was to compare the physical activity level, participation in leisure activities and related quality of life 1 year after an LDS and THA procedure. ⋯ Despite being equally physically active and engaged in leisure activities, LDS patients did not achieve a quality of life comparable to that of THA patients 1 year postoperatively.
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The diagnosis of lumbar intraforaminal and extraforaminal stenosis (lumbar foraminal stenosis) is sometimes difficult. However, sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) decreases in amplitude when the lesion is at or distal to the dorsal root ganglion. Therefore, the amplitude of SNAP with lumbar foraminal stenosis should be decreased. In this cohort study, the usefulness of SNAP for the preoperative diagnosis of L5/S foraminal stenosis was assessed. ⋯ Measurement of SNAP could be useful to diagnose a unilateral L5/S foraminal stenosis.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of a postural education program on school backpack habits related to low back pain in children.
Population based studies have demonstrated that children and adolescents often complain of low back pain. A group-randomized controlled trial was carried out to investigate the effects of a postural education program on school backpack habits related to low back pain in children aged 10-12 year. ⋯ The present study findings confirm that children are able to learn healthy backpack habits which might prevent future low back pain.