The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Little has been reported regarding the patient-centered quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes after en bloc spondylectomy (ES). Despite lower local recurrence rates, it is unknown whether outcomes justify the surgical morbidity. ⋯ Patients may experience more pain interference after surgery as opposed to definitive radiotherapy, but we did not identify a difference for most metrics. Quality of life in our study group was significantly worse than the general population for most metrics. Cervical tumors, lack of mechanical pain, better baseline performance status, and less extensive surgery predict better QOL after surgery.
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Although tuberculous and pyogenic spondylodiscitis are common causes of spinal infections, their protean manifestation complicates differential diagnosis. ⋯ This study provides guidance for clinicians to predict the causative organisms of spondylodiscitis in uncertain situations and before culture or pathologic examinations. Clinical data and single biomarkers combined can be useful for differential diagnoses between tuberculous and pyogenic spondylodiscitis.
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Observational Study
Trunk motor control deficits in acute and subacute low back pain are not associated with pain or fear of movement.
A subgroup of patients with acute to subacute low back pain (LBP) presenting with trunk movement control deficits, pain provocation with segmental testing, and segmental hypermobility have been clinically identified as having movement coordination impairments (MCIs) of the trunk. It is hypothesized that these patients have proprioceptive, postural, and movement control impairments of the trunk associated with LBP. Although trunk control impairments have been identified in patients with chronic LBP, they have not been investigated in this subgroup or closer to symptom onset. ⋯ Patients with clinical identification of trunk MCIs demonstrated decreased trunk motor control, suggesting that impairments in proprioception, motor output, or central processing occur early in the back pain episode. This information may help to guide interventions to address these specific limitations, improving delivery of care.
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There have been no previous studies looking at the outcome of surgical decompression (+/-stabilization) for various grades of epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) due to spinal metastases. ⋯ Surgery can achieve improvements in neurology even in higher grades of cord compression. There is a trend toward more complications and worse survival with spinal surgery in patients with higher grades of compression.
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Short-segment pedicle screw instrumentation constructs for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures gained popularity in the 1980s. The load-sharing classification (LSC) is a straightforward way to describe the extent of bony comminution, amount of fracture displacement, and amount of correction of kyphotic deformity in a spinal fracture. There are no studies evaluating the relevance of fracture comminution/traumatic kyphosis on the long-term radiologic outcome of burst fractures treated by short-segment instrumentation with screw insertion in the fractured level. ⋯ The six-screw construct is effective for treating thoracolumbar junction burst fractures. The medium-to-long-term loss of correction is affected by the amount of bony comminution of the fracture, objectified through the LSC score.