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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Observational Study
Responsiveness of the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia in Italian subjects with chronic low back pain undergoing motor and cognitive rehabilitation.
The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) is a commonly used measure for the assessment of kinesiophobia related to spinal diseases. The Italian version showed satisfactory psychometric properties, but its responsiveness has not yet been evaluated. This observational study is aimed at evaluating the responsiveness and minimal important changes (MICs) for the TSK in subjects with chronic low back pain. ⋯ The TSK was sensitive in detecting clinical changes in subjects with chronic low back pain. We recommend taking the MICs provided into account when assessing patients' improvement or planning studies in this clinical context.
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To correct an equation used to estimate height loss in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in a recent European Spine Journal paper.
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The aim of this study was to compare two approaches for the delivery of biomaterials to partially nucleotomised intervertebral discs in whole organ culture under loading. Such models can help to bridge the gap between in vitro and in vivo studies by assessing (1) suitability of biomaterial delivery and defect closure methods, (2) effect of mechanical loading and (3) tissue response. ⋯ Two alternative methods for biomaterial testing in whole organ culture under loading were developed. Such models bring insights on the ability of the biomaterial to restore the mechanical behaviour of the discs. From a clinical perspective, the cavity models can simulate treatment of nucleotomy after disc herniation in young patients, whereby the remaining nucleus pulposus is still functional and therefore at high risk of re-herniation, though the defect may differ from the clinical situation.
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Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a common disabling condition for millions of individuals. Injection of xenogenic juvenile chondrocytes (XJC) into the disc space has been shown to have a therapeutic potential for disc repair. In the current study, XJC were injected extra-discally on neural structures in an in vivo rat hemilaminectomy model to compare the histological and behavioral effects on XJC and fibrin glue carrier. ⋯ While these results need to be confirmed over a larger period of time, they suggest that XJC transplantation into the disc space shows no adverse effect on nerve tissue.