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
-
With progression of cervicothoracic kyphosis (CTK), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients suffer functional disability. Surgical correction still poses neurologic risks, while evidence of an ideal technique preventing its complications is weak. ⋯ With the non-instrumented HTC-based technique, average CBVA correction of 25° was achieved and all patients were ambulatory at follow-up. However, regarding translation at the osteotomy, loss of correction, morbidity of the HTC and lack of control at the osteotomy instrumentation-based correction and instrumented fusion seem to be preferable.
-
To better understand cervical kinematics following cervical disc replacement (CDR), the in vivo behavior of a minimally constrained CDR was assessed. ⋯ The COR is an important parameter for assessing the ability of non-constrained CDRs to replicate the normal kinematics of a FSU. CDR size and location, both of which can impact shell angle, may influence the amount of translation by affecting the location of the COR. Future research is needed to show how much translation is beneficial concerning clinical outcomes and facet loading.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Antibiotic treatment in patients with chronic low back pain and vertebral bone edema (Modic type 1 changes): a double-blind randomized clinical controlled trial of efficacy.
Modic type 1 changes/bone edema in the vertebrae are present in 6 % of the general population and 35-40 % of the low back pain population. It is strongly associated with low back pain. The aim was to test the efficacy of antibiotic treatment in patients with chronic low back pain (>6 months) and Modic type 1 changes (bone edema). ⋯ The antibiotic protocol in this study was significantly more effective for this group of patients (CLBP associated with Modic I) than placebo in all the primary and secondary outcomes.
-
The objective of this prospective innovative treatment is to section the pain pathways carried by sympathetic lumbar rami communicantes to achieve lasting pain relief of refractory low back pain. ⋯ Section the pain pathways carried by sympathetic lumbar rami communicantes for refractory low back pain improved 22 % of patients at the last follow-up of 29 months.
-
Comparative Study
Disk degeneration of the upper lumbar disks is associated with hip pain.
A possible cause of hip pain is the presence of radiating pain from the higher lumbar spine. Identification of factors associated with hip pain arising from the lumbar spine would aid the physician. The first step in identifying possible factors is to look at the association between hip pain and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. ⋯ Our data provide evidence for an association between hip pain and disk space narrowing at disk level L1/L2 and L2/L3. In case of uncertainty of the cause of hip pain, evaluation of lumbar radiographs may help to identify those hip pain patients who might have pain arising from the lumbar spine.