Journal of spinal disorders
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Case Reports
Salvage reconstruction in acute and late sequelae from pyogenic thoracolumbar infection.
Nine patients treated surgically for complicated pyogenic osteomyelitis of the thoracolumbar spine are reported. All patients were treated with anterior debridement and stabilization with nonvascularized autogenous fibular strut grafts. In addition, seven underwent a posterior spinal fusion with instrumentation. ⋯ Seven patients had postoperative improvement or resolution of their back pain. The use of nonvascularized autogenous fibular strut grafts for reconstruction of the spine following debridement for vertebral osteomyelitis is an effective procedure. The advantages of using the fibula for grafting are its strength and length for spanning several vertebral segments, and it can provide multiple grafts.
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We compared the results of two multimodal back treatment programs (program A: n = 134; program B: n = 175) using pain, functional capacity, sickness absence, subjective state of health, depression, and work status as outcome variables. Whereas in program A exercise was guided by pain, in program B a "no pain, no gain" rationale was used as a basis for intensive physical training. Neither of the programs included direct attempts to influence the patient's environment (i.e., to find employment or to modify working conditions). ⋯ In contrast to some earlier results, there was no statistically significant increase in the proportion of those employed after treatment in either group. The results indicate that intensive physical exercise does not, as such, solve the problem of back disability in a country that has a highly developed social security system. More active interventions in work and work-life are needed.
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Thirty-six 45-55-year-old men with healthy low backs were studied with respect to body composition, isokinetic and isometric trunk strength, trunk muscle endurance, and cross-sectional area and radiological density of mm erector spinae. Results were compared to those of men in the same age group with intermittent low back pain (LBP) (n = 91) and with chronic LBP (n = 21). The back healthy group was significantly stronger and had longer trunk muscle endurance times than men with chronic LBP. ⋯ There were no significant differences between any of the groups with respect to body composition and cross-sectional area of mm erector spinae. Radiological density for mm erector spinae was significantly decreased in the chronic LBP group compared to the back healthy and intermittent LBP groups. The deconditioning syndrome and its relationship to intermittent and chronic LBP is discussed.
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Case Reports
Dorsal root entry zone lesions in the treatment of pain related to radiation-induced brachial plexopathy.
Radiation-induced brachial plexopathy (RBP) is a rare (1-2% of irradiated patients) but serious disorder associated with supramaximal irradiation of the brachial plexus. Nerve compression by radiation-induced fibrosis in the absence of tumor recurrence is the hypothesized mechanism of RBP. It appears as severe pain in up to 20% of cases. ⋯ Histologic sections of nerves were taken at surgery and confirmed the diagnosis of radiation-induced injury. Within the immediate postoperative period both patients experienced excellent pain relief and continue to be pain free at 29-48-month follow-up observation. The DREZ lesions provide a safe and effective therapy for the pain associated with RBP.