Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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To examine the impact of lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) on lumbar spine degeneration, disc protrusion, and spondylolisthesis among patients with low back pain. ⋯ Lumbosacral transitional vertebra malformation is related to decreased intervertebral disc height, increased disc degeneration, vertebral endplate degeneration, disc protrusion, and slippage above the level of transition. Patients with type III LSTV revealed the highest percentage of slippage and disc protrusion.
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Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive treatment for chronic refractory pain secondary to spinal compression fracture. This study investigates racial and socioeconomic disparities in kyphoplasty among the Medicare population. ⋯ Our study showed after adjustment for pertinent comorbidities, Medicare/Medicaid dual-eligible patients and Black patients were significantly less likely to receive kyphoplasty than White patients with Medicare.
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Chronic pain is known to be correlated with disability. We aimed to determine the overlap between a general self-reported measure of disability and a measure of disability due to pain problems among adults with chronic pain. ⋯ Among people with chronic pain, most people with disability are experiencing limitations related to pain problems. Assessment of disability without addressing pain interference has likely underestimated the disability burden in this population.