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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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can reveal a range of degenerative findings and anatomical abnormalities; however, the clinical importance of these remains uncertain and controversial. We aimed to investigate if the presence of MRI findings identifies patients with low back pain (LBP) or sciatica who respond better to particular interventions. ⋯ Although individual trials suggested that some MRI findings might be effect modifiers for specific interventions, none of these interactions were investigated in more than a single trial. High quality, adequately powered trials investigating MRI findings as effect modifiers are essential to determine the clinical importance of MRI findings in LBP and sciatica (PROSPERO: CRD42013006571).
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Coupling motions (CMs) are the motions occurring in different directions around the primary motion. As low back pain (LBP) is known to be associated with lumbar CMs, some studies measured lumbar CMs using the microelectromechanical system inertial measurement unit (MEMS-IMU) because of its low cost and small size. This study aimed to examine the reliability of lumbar CM measurements using the MEMS-IMU and to classify the individual characteristics of lumbar CMs. ⋯ Lumbar CM measurements obtained using the MEMS-IMU are reliable, and identifying the individual variations of lumbar CMs may be helpful for alleviating chronic or recurrent LBP.
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The anterior and lateral cervical muscles (ALCM) are generally considered to be postural, yet few studies have investigated ALCM fiber types to help clarify the function of these muscles. This study aimed to systematically investigate ALCM fiber types in cadavers. ⋯ The ALCM do not share a common functional fiber type distribution, although similar fiber type distributions are shared by longus colli and longus capitis, and by the scalene muscles. Contrary to conventional descriptions, longus colli and longus capitis have type I fiber proportions indicative of postural as well as phasic muscle function.
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To explain the intra-operative transcranial motor evoked potential (MEP) monitoring can work well in patients with neural axis abnormality (NAA). ⋯ Intraoperative MEP monitoring can be used accurately and satisfactorily in NAA patients and show no difference compared with AIS.