Articles: low-back-pain.
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A prospective observational study of visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain in patients operated at one institution within the framework of a national registry. ⋯ Measuring pain intensity with VAS is a useful tool in describing spine patients. In the search for a standard in the evaluation of pain as an outcome, the differences between the various methods should be taken into account.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Nov 2001
Failure of external spinal skeletal fixation to improve predictability of lumbar arthrodesis.
Whether lumbar arthrodesis can relieve isolated low-back pain in the absence of focal neurological findings or instability is unclear. The results of published studies are also inconsistent with regard to whether temporary back-pain relief with external spinal skeletal fixation can predict lasting back-pain relief after arthrodesis. This report presents the results, with regard to clinical benefit and complications, of more than 100 external spinal skeletal fixation procedures undertaken as a prelude to lumbar arthrodesis. ⋯ On the basis of this analysis, external spinal skeletal fixation should not be used as a predictor of pain relief after lumbar arthrodesis.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Clinical importance of changes in chronic pain intensity measured on an 11-point numerical pain rating scale.
Pain intensity is frequently measured on an 11-point pain intensity numerical rating scale (PI-NRS), where 0=no pain and 10=worst possible pain. However, it is difficult to interpret the clinical importance of changes from baseline on this scale (such as a 1- or 2-point change). To date, there are no data driven estimates for clinically important differences in pain intensity scales used for chronic pain studies. ⋯ The relationship between percent change and the PGIC was also consistent regardless of baseline pain, while higher baseline scores required larger raw changes to represent a clinically important difference. The application of these results to future studies may provide a standard definition of clinically important improvement in clinical trials of chronic pain therapies. Use of a standard outcome across chronic pain studies would greatly enhance the comparability, validity, and clinical applicability of these studies.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Nov 2001
Validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the fingertip-to-floor test.
To evaluate the validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the fingertip-to-floor test to assess total mobility when bending forward in standing position. ⋯ Because the fingertip-to-floor test has excellent validity, reliability, and responsiveness, it can be used in clinical practice and therapeutic trials.
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Case Reports
[Epiduroscopy in patients with chronic low back pain without remarkable findings on magnetic resonance imaging].
Two patients with chronic low back pain and sciatica failed to respond to conservative treatments. In these patients, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed no remarkable findings corresponding to their symptoms. ⋯ One patient got better after two epiduroscopic procedures, and the other did not. Epiduroscopy may be an effective, minimally invasive treatment as well as examination for patients with chronic low back pain without remarkable findings on MRI.