Journal of spinal disorders
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In this retrospective study, we investigated 50 patients who had undergone primary lumbar microsurgical multiple laminotomy without spinal fusion for degenerative spinal stenosis. There were 31 men and 19 women with a median age of 66 years (35-85 years). Thirteen patients had grade I spondylolisthesis, most at L4-L5 levels (11 of 13). ⋯ Among the parameters analyzed, the presence of neurogenic claudication (p = 0.008), coexisting disease (p = 0.04), and the absence of motor deficit (p = 0.03) were associated with lower total scores. In addition, longer duration of symptoms (p = 0.04) was associated with less improvement of back pain score, whereas the absence of motor deficit (p = 0.004) was associated with less improvement of leg pain score. The presence of spondylolisthesis did not affect outcomes.
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The purpose of this study was to analyze changing etiologies for admission to a spinal cord injury center. This study was designed to retrospectively analyze the etiology of admissions to a spinal cord injury center during a 15-year period, specifically gunshot versus nongunshot wound injuries. Gunshot wounds are a well-recognized cause of spinal cord injury. ⋯ Cost attributed to treating gunshot wound injuries at our center for 1993 was 5.4 million dollars. Gunshot wounds as a cause of spinal cord injury are increasing at an alarming rate. The demographics of the gunshot wounds and nongunshot wound spine cord injuries differ significantly.