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) is the established technique for evaluating the spine. Unfortunately, the supine position of the patient during conventional MRI scanning does not truly reflect the physiological forces experienced by the discoligamentous structures during normal upright posture and ambulation. Upright MRI is a relatively new technique that allows the patient to be scanned in several different weight-bearing positions, which may potentially demonstrate occult pathology not visualised in the supine position. The imaging technique and current clinical indications of upright spinal MRI would be discussed.
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Low back pain is a significant problem for school-aged athletes. Although some risk factors relating to sports activities have been reported, the effect of lifestyles on low back pain in school-aged athletes is not clear. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the association between lifestyles, such as wake-up time, bedtime, sleeping time, and TV-viewing or video-game-playing time per day and low back pain of school-aged athletes. ⋯ Unhealthy life-style choices, such as late bedtimes, short sleeping time, and longtime video-game playing, were associated with low back pain in school-aged athletes.
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Although the T1 vertebra is considered as an important factor of cervical balance, little is known about its motion between flexion and extension. The purpose of present study was to analyze the T1 sagittal motion using kinematic magnetic resonance imaging (kMRI), and to identify factors that relate to T1 sagittal motion. ⋯ Based on T1 sagittal motion, 40% of the patients were classified in positive group (the T1 vertebra followed the head motion in flexion and extension), and 20% were classified in the negative group (the T1 vertebra moved in the opposite direction from the head motion). T1 height < 27 mm was a potential predictor of negative group.
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Limited evidence exists on secular trends of analgesics for spinal pain. We investigated general practitioner's (GP) recommendations of analgesic medicines for spinal pain and investigated characteristics associated with their recommendation. ⋯ GP's analgesic recommendations for spinal pain have become increasingly divergent from guideline recommendations over time.
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The accurate diagnosis of spondylolysis is widely made with CT scan considered as the gold standard. However, CT represents significant radiation exposure particularly substantial in a young and sometimes still growing population. Although the role of MRI in identifying edema/inflammation within the pars as an active lesion is proved, its ability to demonstrate and classify pars fracture line as same as CT is still controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to determine sensitivity and specificity of MRI in the direct visualisation of the pars defect. ⋯ This meta-analysis demonstrated a high diagnostic performance of MR imaging for the diagnosis of a pars defect in young adults. This technique may be considered as a first-line imaging technique as it helps to avoid exposure to ionising radiation.