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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The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and factors associated with the development of metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) after cervical cancer (CC). ⋯ Our findings revealed the incidence and factors associated with MSCC, indicating a subset of patients who may be potential targets for the prevention and early treatment of this condition, indicating unprecedented and relevant data for the Brazilian epidemiological scenario due to the high CC incidence rates.
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To investigate whether (1) there is a difference between patients with normal or sagittal spinal and spinopelvic malalignment in terms of their paraspinal muscle composition and (2) if sagittal malalignment can be predicted using muscle parameters. ⋯ Significant differences in the muscle composition between normal and malalignment groups with respect to FIPPM in both sagittal spinal and spinopelvic alignment were found. This work underlines the imminent impact of the paraspinal musculature on the sagittal alignment.
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Fat infiltration (FI) of the paraspinal muscles (PSMs) measured using MRI is an aspect of muscle quality and is considered to be worse in chronic low back pain (cLBP) patients. However, there is not a clear association between paraspinal muscle FI and cLBP, leaving the clinical importance of paraspinal muscle composition unestablished. The spatial distribution of FI in the PSMs may inform mechanistic understanding of non-specific cLBP as it relates to degenerative intervertebral disc (IVD) pathology. We hypothesized that paraspinal muscle fat-mapping would reveal distinct FI distribution patterns in relation to cLBP symptoms and proximity to symptomatic IVD degeneration. ⋯ Our study identified spatial distribution patterns of FI in the PSMs as a potential diagnostic biomarker that may also provide granular mechanistic insights into spine biomechanics related to cLBP, as well as advancing the use of prior summary measures limited to overall muscle FI.
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Low back pain (LBP) is a common health problem in the global population. This study aims to assess whether smoking initiation, alcohol consumption, and coffee consumption are causally with an increased risk of LBP. ⋯ Smoking is casually associated with an increased risk of LBP. Smoking control should be recommended in LBP patients to avoid worsening the disease. The safety of LBP with moderate alcohol and coffee consumption merits more study.
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The aim of this study is to evaluate the levels of chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), and titanium (Ti) after instrumented fusion for scoliosis. ⋯ The use of stainless steel and titanium implants in spinal fusion surgery is associated with elevated metal ion concentrations several years after surgery.