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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Low back pain (LBP) is the most disabling condition worldwide. Although LBP relates to different spinal pathologies, vertebral bone marrow lesions visualized as Modic changes on MRI have a high specificity for discogenic LBP. This review summarizes the pathobiology of Modic changes and suggests a disease model. ⋯ Modic changes are likely to be more than just a coincidental imaging finding in LBP patients and rather represent an underlying pathology that should be a target for therapy.
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Sarcopenia-related falls and fractures among women with osteoporosis are becoming an emerging problem because of rapid aging worldwide. We aimed to investigate the association between sarcopenia, given by the muscle mass of the arms and legs, and osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) among female patients. ⋯ We found higher prevalence of sarcopenia and lower leg muscle mass among patients with acute OVF compared with patients who did not have an OVF. These results suggest that sarcopenia may be a risk factor for OVF.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A prospective randomized controlled study comparing the pain relief in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with the use of vertebroplasty or facet blocking.
To compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) versus those undergoing facet blocking (FB) for severe pain due to osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). ⋯ PVP produced better pain relief than FB in the short term (≤1 week). However, the difference in pain-relief between these two techniques was insignificant in the long term (follow-up between 1 month and 12 months).
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Extraforaminal entrapment of the L5 nerve root is uncommon, and its management can sometimes be very challenging. ⋯ Literature is sparse on the treatment of extraforaminal entrapment of the L5 nerve root; the current case shows a successful treatment strategy with the use of an anterior approach for direct vision of the lesion and good control of the vessels.
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To investigate the cervical compensation pattern and to clarify relationships between cervical compensation and quality of life (QOL) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients with thoracolumbar kyphosis. ⋯ Notable cervical compensation exists in AS patients with thoracolumbar kyphosis. The cervical compensation responsive to global imbalance was mediated by T1 slope. AS patients with hyperlordotic cervical spine present with better QOL than patients with kyphotic cervical spine.