The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Review Practice Guideline
An evidence-based clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical radiculopathy from degenerative disorders.
The North American Spine Society (NASS) Evidence-Based Clinical Guideline on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cervical Radiculopathy from Degenerative Disorders provides evidence-based recommendations on key clinical questions concerning the diagnosis and treatment of cervical radiculopathy from degenerative disorders. The guideline addresses these questions based on the highest quality clinical literature available on this subject as of May 2009. The guideline's recommendations assist the practitioner in delivering optimum efficacious treatment of and functional recovery from this common disorder. ⋯ A clinical guideline for cervical radiculopathy from degenerative disorders has been created using the techniques of evidence-based medicine and best available evidence to aid both practitioners and patients involved with the care of this condition. The entire guideline document, including the evidentiary tables, suggestions for future research, and all references, is available electronically at the NASS Web site (www.spine.org) and will remain updated on a timely schedule.
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Needle puncture of the intervertebral disc (IVD) is required for delivery of therapeutic agents to the nucleus pulposus and for some diagnostic procedures. Needle puncture has also been implicated as an initiator of disc degeneration. It is hypothesized that needle puncture may initiate IVD degeneration by altering microscale mechanical behavior in the annulus fibrosus (AF). ⋯ Needle puncture results in a drastic alteration of microscale strain behavior in the AF under load. This alteration may directly initiate disc degeneration by being detrimental to tissue-cell mechanotransduction.
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Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the management of patients with acute mechanical low back pain (AM-LBP) have been defined on an international scale. Multicenter clinical trials have demonstrated that most AM-LBP patients do not receive CPG-based treatments. To date, the value of implementing full and exclusively CPG-based treatment remains unclear. ⋯ This is the first reported randomized controlled trial comparing full CPG-based treatment, including spinal manipulative therapy administered by chiropractors, to family physician-directed UC in the treatment of patients with AM-LBP. Compared to family physician-directed UC, full CPG-based treatment including CSMT is associated with significantly greater improvement in condition-specific functioning.
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Deliberate or traumatic dural fistulas are typically augmented by a "sealant" or "fibrin glue" to enhance the strength of dural closure. ⋯ Despite the lack of FDA approval, Tisseel (fibrin glue) has seen wide adoption in "off-label" use. DuraSeal, which is FDA approved, was associated with two instances of paralysis. Alternatively, BioGlue was described as neurotoxic even by the manufacturer.
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Individuals with high spinal cord injury (SCI) are prone to significant fluctuation in blood pressure with episodes of very high and low blood pressure during autonomic dysreflexia (AD) and orthostatic hypotension, respectively. We do not know how such blood pressure lability affects the vasculature. ⋯ Injury-induced changes within the vasculature may contribute to the development of AD after SCI. Here, we provide evidence that AD itself has significant and long-lasting effects on vascular function. This finding has implications for the medical management of AD and provides an impetus for maintaining stable blood pressure.