The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The clinical efficacy of short-term steroid treatment in multilevel anterior cervical arthrodesis.
Dysphagia is the most common complication of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), and it is closely related to prevertebral soft-tissue swelling (PSTS). A few studies have found that local or systemic methylprednisolone is effective against laryngopharyngeal edema and airway obstruction. ⋯ The short-term use of systemic methylprednisolone after ACDF appears to be effective in relieving dysphagia and decreasing the PSTS. Furthermore, the short-term use of methylprednisolone was not associated with any adverse effects of short-term IV steroid usage, such as peptic ulcer disease or postoperative infection. The clinical use of methylprednisolone in relieving dysphagia and decreasing PSTS deserves consideration during the early postoperative period.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Outcomes are not different for patient-matched versus nonmatched treatment in subjects with chronic recurrent low back pain: a randomized clinical trial.
Classification schemas for low back pain (LBP), such as the Treatment-Based Classification and the Movement System Impairment, use common clinical features to subgroup patients with LBP and are purported to improve treatment outcomes. ⋯ Providing a matched treatment based on either the Treatment-Based Classification or the Movement System Impairment classification schema did not improve treatment outcomes compared with an unmatched treatment for patients with chronic LBP, except on one secondary disability measure.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Multiple somatic symptoms in employees participating in a randomized controlled trial associated with sickness absence because of nonspecific low back pain.
The prevalence of multiple somatic symptoms is high in primary and hospital outpatient populations. Multiple somatic symptoms may be present in patients sick-listed because of low back pain (LBP) and may be associated with increased risk of not returning to work (RTW). ⋯ A higher level of multiple somatic symptoms was significantly associated with poor health and work ability at baseline and with longer duration of SA and unsuccessful RTW through a 2-year follow-up period.