The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Clinicians have long hypothesized that gender may be a risk factor in treatment outcomes of patients with chronic disability associated with musculoskeletal disorders. Although the scientific literature shows a higher prevalence of occupational low back injury in men, and a higher rate of repetitive motion and neck injuries in women, few studies have comprehensively investigated the role of gender regarding cost-related outcome variables of significance after work-related injuries. ⋯ The present study represents the first large-scale examination of the relationship between gender and treatment outcomes for a population with CDSD after work injuries. There was a pattern of moderately better 1-year posttreatment socioeconomic outcome for men. On psychosocial measures, men showed lower disability and depression scores than women, with higher levels of physical functioning both before and after treatment. Overall, male patients with CDSD appeared to show somewhat better biopsychosocial outcomes. This leaves the question of identifying gender-specific risk factors to explain these differences.
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Previous clinical studies of interbody fusion cages have generally failed to report sagittal plane alignment. In some cases, parallel-sided cages have contributed to loss of lumbar lordosis. A wedged-shaped carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) cage implant filled with autologous bone was designed to allow surgeons to more easily achieve normal sagittal plane alignment in posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). ⋯ The wedged CFRP cage with pedicle screw fixation allows surgeons to maintain normal sagittal plane alignment. These devices are safe and effective for treatment of spondylolisthesis and are FDA approved in the United States.
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Significant lumbar spinal stenosis and lower extremity arthritis may coexist in the elderly. This combination of lumbar stenosis with radiculopathy and lower extremity arthritis may lead to diagnostic uncertainty. ⋯ Evaluation of the patient with lower extremity pain in consideration for total joint arthroplasty should include functional inquiry of the spinal nerves. Diagnostic tests and injections may allow an informative weighting of the patient's symptoms, leading to a better understanding of the patient's pain syndrome. There is a group of patients who have a total hip arthroplasty and then develop or may continue to have pain of groin and buttock, secondary to sciatica of lumbar spinal stenosis. For the patient undergoing total hip arthroplasty with asymptomatic spinal stenosis, there may be increased neurological risk at surgery, related to the stenosis. The patient with both conditions may require surgical decompression of the lumbar stenosis as well as joint arthroplasty of the arthritic joint.