Articles: back-pain.
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The author reports on 223 patients who underwent lumbar percutaneous facet rhizotomy for chronic low-back or chronic back and leg pain. The overall success rate was 69%. The procedure is very safe and can offer relief for many patients in whom organic pathology, most commonly a herniated lumbar disc, has been eliminated. The procedure, screening and results are discussed.
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Scand J Rehabil Med · Jan 1990
Chronic low-back pain: intercorrelation of repeated measures for pain and disability.
Subjective experience of pain and disability was assessed for 4-5 weeks on a weekly basis in 14 consecutive out-patients complaining of low-back pain and/or leg pain that had lasted for at least 6 months. The following measures were used for assessment: a visual analogue scale (VAS) (present pain and worst pain during preceding 2 weeks), a short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), the Pain Disability Index (PDI) and the pain drawing. ⋯ The Spearman correlation showed statistically significant intercorrelation for present pain assessed with the VAS score, for the sensory word score of the SF-MPQ and for the PDI. Especially the PDI, which represents a global score for disability, showed very little test-retest variability and a high intercorrelation with the other methods of assessment, i.e. the pain drawing, the VAS scale for pain and the SF-MPQ.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 1990
Spinal cord stimulation in 112 patients with epi-/intradural fibrosis following operation for lumbar disc herniation.
A total of 112 patients with epi-/intradural fibrosis following operation for lumbar disc herniation were treated by spinal cord stimulation. Lumbosacral spinal fibrosis is seen particularly often after extensive and repeated operations. Radicular pain responds better to stimulation than back pain. ⋯ Among about 5,000 patients who underwent surgical treatment for lumbar disc herniation, an indication for spinal cord stimulation was found in 1.5%. By comparison, the frequency of the "last resort" procedure of microsurgical cordotomy was 0.3%. We no longer use other ablative methods like extirpation of spinal ganglia.
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The aim of the investigation was to study the frequency of pain, ache and discomfort in the musculoskeletal system among dentists, above all concerning headache, cervical and shoulder pain and further, to find possible correlations between these symptoms and various working positions and different working actions. A questionnaire was answered by 359 dentists (90.8%). Of those who answered the questionnaire 72% had pain and discomfort from either the neck, shoulders or headaches. ⋯ The results showed that dentist who positioned the patient carefully so that a direct view gained had a significantly lower frequency of headaches. Of the 359 dentists 55% mostly used the mirror to facilitate a direct view. From the answers it was clear that those dentists who did not have discomfort in the upper locomotor system used the mirror more often than those who did suffer discomfort.
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Spinal cord compression is a true medical emergency. This article outlines clues in the history and physical examination that may lead to the diagnosis of spinal cord compression. ⋯ The advantages and disadvantages of magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation are detailed. Treatment options, including surgery, are presented.