Articles: back-pain.
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Community-based cross-sectional analysis of the relation between symptoms of psychopathology and back pain (BP) or neck pain (NP) in rural southwest Ethiopia. ⋯ In the first known study about the relation between psychopathologic symptomatology and BP and NP in a rural context in a developing country, the prevalence of BP and NP were comparable to published data in developed and developing countries. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were correlates of BP and NP, and symptoms of PTS were a correlate of BP. Comparative studies about the relation between psychopathology and chronic pain conditions between rural and urban contexts in the global south are needed.
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Validation study. ⋯ Computerized touch-screen questionnaires virtually eliminates missing values and show good validity and reliability compared to paper forms. The SF-36 tended to produce slightly higher values on touch-screen recordings in questions concerning mental health.
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Nucleoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure for treating pain caused by symptomatic disc herniation that is refractory to conservative therapy. Observational studies have reported differing outcomes for this procedure and thus its effectiveness is yet to be determined. ⋯ Observational studies suggest that nucleoplasty is a potentially effective minimally invasive treatment for patients with symptomatic disc herniations who are refractory to conservative therapy. The recommendation is a level 1C, strongly supporting the therapeutic efficacy of this procedure. However, prospective randomized controlled trials with higher quality of evidence are necessary to confirm efficacy and risks, and to determine ideal patient selection for this procedure.
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To study the alteration to normal biomechanics after insertion of a lumbar interspinous spacer (ISS) in vitro by nondestructive cadaveric flexibility testing. ⋯ The primary biomechanical effect of the ISS was reduced extension with associated reduced facet loads and smaller decrease in foraminal height. The ISS had little effect on sagittal IAR or on motion or facet loads in other directions.