The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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To assess whether a focused magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) limited to the region of known acute traumatic thoracic or lumbar fracture(s) would miss any clinically significant injuries that would change patient management. ⋯ A focused MRI protocol of three levels above and below known thoracolumbar spine fractures would have missed radiological abnormality in 15% of patients. However, the pathology, such as vertebral body edema not appreciated on CT, was not clinically significant and did not alter patient care. Based on these findings, the investigators conclude that a focused protocol would decrease the imaging time while providing the information of the injured segment with minimal risk of missing any clinically significant injuries.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of a prototype lumbar spinal stenosis belt versus a lumbar support on walking capacity in lumbar spinal stenosis: a randomized controlled trial.
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) can impair blood flow to the spinal nerves giving rise to neurogenic claudication and limited walking ability. Reducing lumbar lordosis can increases the volume of the spinal canal and reduce neuroischemia. We developed a prototype LSS belt aimed at reducing lumbar lordosis while walking. ⋯ A prototype LSS belt demonstrated significant improvement in walking ability in degenerative LSS but was no better than a lumbar support.
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Observational Study
Spinal epidural lipomatosis is a previously unrecognized manifestation of metabolic syndrome.
Spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) is a condition in which excess lumbar epidural fat (EF) deposition often leads to compression of the cauda equina or nerve root. Although SEL is often observed in obese adults, no systematic research investigating the potential association between SEL and metabolic syndrome has been conducted. ⋯ This is the first study to demonstrate that metabolic syndrome is associated with SEL in a relatively large, unbiased population. Our data suggest that metabolic-related conditions are potentially related to EF deposition and that SEL could be a previously unrecognized manifestation of metabolic syndrome.