Articles: low-back-pain.
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Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot · Jan 1997
[Long-term outcome at adjacent levels of lumbar arthrodesis].
Posterolateral lumbar fusion is commonly recognized to have a significant effect upon the more proximal unfused segments. Wether these effects are clinically significant remains unclear. Long term studies with standardized follow-up are scarce. ⋯ Degenerative changes were significantly more frequent in group III's patients. However, no significant correlation was found between the roentgenographic findings and the final functional results and only 8 patients required a new surgery. These results may suggest that posterolateral fusion accelerates the development of degenerative changes in adjacent discs if the fusion is performed on a degenerative spine.
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The evaluation of continued pain after a technically successful posterolateral lumbar spine fusion is often challenging. Although the intervertebral disc is often a source of low back pain, abnormal endplates may also be a focus of pain, and possibly a source of continued pain after a posterolateral fusion. MRI allows noninvasive evaluation for disc degeneration, as well as for abnormal endplates and adjacent vertebral body marrow. ⋯ We conclude that posterolateral lumber fusion has a less predictable result for the subset of degenerative disc patients with abnormal endplates and associated marrow inflammation. More research is needed to determine the biological and biomechanical effects of posterolateral fusion upon the endplate within the fused segments. If indeed further study supports the hypothesis that abnormal endplates associated with inflammation are a source of pain, then treating the endplates directly by anterior fusion may be a preferred treatment for this subset of degenerative patients.
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Fortschritte der Medizin · Dec 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial[Flupirtine in comparison with chlormezanone in chronic musculoskeletal back pain. Results of a multicenter randomized double-blind study].
The analgesic and muscle-relaxing properties of flupirtine maleate, chlormezanone and placebo were compared in a total of 184 patients. Of these patients, 164 met the criteria of the treatment plan (intention to treat), and the data of 140 patients were finally evaluated in accordance with the test protocol. A positive response was defined as a reduction in pain intensity and muscle tension by 2 categories on the 5-category verbal scale "very severe/severe/moderate/mild/ none" on the seventh day of treatment. ⋯ In the per-protocol-analysis the responder rate was 60.9% for flupirtine, 47.8% for chlormezanone, and 43.8% for placebo, the difference between drugs and placebo not being significant. The overall assessment of the physicians involved was very good/ good in 47.8% and satisfactory in 37.0% of the flupirtine group, very good/good in 45.6% and satisfactory in 17.4% of the chlormezanone group, the corresponding figures for the placebo group being 33.4% and 20.6%, respectively. Flupirtine was thus superior to placebo (p = 0.007). The incidence of adverse drug reactions was 14.8% (8/54) for flupirtine, 19.3% (11/57) for chlormezanone, and 7.3% (4/55) for placebo.
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The majority of authors agree today that psychosocial factors have more influence on a successful treatment of chronic back pain than other variables, in particular medical findings. Therefore treatments aim to integrate psychotherapeutic intervention in order to lessen emotional impairment, to change behavioral patterns (which advocate rest and the avoidance of physical activity), and to change cognitive attitudes and fears concerning exercise and work ability. Nevertheless, the interplay of cognitive measures and disability in treatment programs still remains an unclear issue. ⋯ An analysis of coping dimensions demonstrated that current cognitive measures might be too general to explain low back disability adequately. In addition, the results indicate that the use of the 'catastrophizing' factor as a separate variable is questionable, since it may simply be a symptom of depression. The relevance of coping as a sensitive parameter for change is also addressed. It is suggested that an alteration in coping strategies may be an important treatment effect, but is subject to individual prerequisites to maximize treatment response. Thus, future research must focus on the complex interactions between personality variables, environmental factors, and the coping demands posed by the specific nature of pain problems. A more lengthy evaluation of so-called 'fear-avoidance beliefs' in combination with 'disability' and coping dimensions could possibly lead to further treatment on the development of chronicity in chronic low back pain patients.