Aims. Scoliosis is a lateral curvature of the spine with associated rotation, often causing distress due to appearance. For some curves, there is good evidence to support the use of a spinal brace, worn for 20 to 24 hours a day to minimize the curve, making it as straight as possible during growth, preventing progression. Compliance can be poor due to appearance and comfort. A night-time brace, worn for eight to 12 hours, can achieve higher levels of curve correction while patients are supine, and could be preferable for patients, but evidence of efficacy is limited. This is the
Background. Osteopathy has been shown to be effective in the management of chronic low back pain. Guidelines recommend biopsychosocial care for chronic, complex musculoskeletal conditions, including non-specific low back pain but there is a lack of evidence comparing standard osteopathic care, which has traditionally been based on dated and disputed biomechanical theories of dysfunction, with more contemporary biopsychosocial approaches. Methods and results. A multiple baseline single case experimental design trial with 11 UK osteopaths and 60 patients is currently assessing effectiveness of osteopathic treatment for patients with non-specific low back pain of more than 12 weeks’ duration. Patients are randomised to early, middle, or late treatment start dates to increase the validity of inferences about the effects of treatment. Osteopaths have participated in one course on the study
Aim of Study. To highlight the absence of an important pitfall in the Advanced Trauma Life Support
Background and purpose. Investigating inter-vertebral biomechanics in vivo using end-of-range imaging is difficult due to high intra subject variation, measurement errors and insufficient data. Quantitative fluoroscopy (QF) can reliably measure continuous motion but may suffer from contamination from uncontrolled loading and muscle contraction which compromises comparisons between studies and limits interpretation of results. This study presents the methods used to overcome these limitations. Methods and results. Forty chronic, non-specific low back pain (CNSLPB) patients and 40 matched controls underwent QF using a passive recumbent
Pain is an expected and appropriate experience following traumatic musculoskeletal injury. By contrast, chronic pain and disability are unhelpful yet common sequelae of trauma-related injuries. Presently, the mechanisms that underlie the transition from acute to chronic disabling post-traumatic pain are not fully understood. The aim of this study is to identify prognostic factors for risk of developing chronic pain and disability following acute musculoskeletal trauma. A prospective observational study will recruit two temporally staggered cohorts (n=250 each cohort; 10 cases per candidate predictor) of consecutive acute musculoskeletal trauma patients aged ≥16 years, who are emergency admissions into a Major Trauma Centre in the United Kingdom, with an episode inception defined as the traumatic event. The first cohort will identify prognostic factors to develop a screening tool to predict development of chronic and disabling pain, and the second will allow evaluation of the predictive performance of the tool (validation). The outcome being predicted is an individual's absolute risk of poor outcome measured at 6-months follow-up using the Chronic Pain Grade Scale (poor outcome ≥Grade II). Candidate predictors encompass the four primary mechanisms of pain: Introduction
Methods
Purpose and Background. Patients with low back pain are increasing globally. Physical dysfunction and psychosocial factors such as stress, anxiety, and fear of movement, often referred to as yellow flags, play a role in the persistence of low back pain. What is not known is the extent to which yellow flags are screened for and treatment adjusted accordingly by Physiotherapists in India. The aim was to determine the current knowledge and awareness of physiotherapists in India regarding psychosocial factors for managing patients with low back pain. Methods. Semi-structured interviews gathered data from of six physiotherapists, The interviews were conducted online. The data was transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Results. The main finding was that the physiotherapists in India had a limited knowledge regarding psychosocial factors for management of low back pain. They were not supportive of adding yellow flag screening into their routine treatments due to lack of t awareness of such screening tools Physical elements of low back pain were focused on during treatment by the therapists and recommended by management. The physiotherapists noted that high daily patient volume left them with limited time to alter treatment
Background. Our current research aims to develop technologies to predict spinal loads in vivo using a combination of imaging and modelling methods. To ensure the project's success and inform future applications of the technology, we sought to understand the opinions and perspectives of patients and the public. Methods. A 90-minute public and patient involvement event was developed in collaboration with Exeter Science Centre and held on World Spine Day 2023. The event involved a brief introduction to the project goals followed by an interactive questionnaire to gauge the participants’ background knowledge and interest. The participants then discussed five topics: communication, future directions of the research, concerns about the research
Background and study purpose. A recent systematic review with meta-analysis of eight randomised controlled trials concluded that Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT) for low back pain might be effective in reducing disability, pain and fear-avoidance beliefs. However, the descriptions of a CFT intervention are not always clear. This study aimed to rate the replicability of the CFT interventions and control groups in the systematic review. Methods. Two reviewers independently extracted data from the study articles,
Purpose and background. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders, particularly back pain, are a significant issue for healthcare workers, with patient handling being the most frequently reported risk factor. Patient handling is often performed without assistive devices or equipment, which can cause healthcare staff to maintain awkward postures or experience high loads. This review aimed to comprehensively map the literature surrounding manual patient handling (without assistive devices) by healthcare practitioners to identify the current evidence-base on moving and handling of patients and explore what primary research had been conducted. Methods and results. JBI methodology for scoping reviews and an a priori registered
Purpose and Background. Guidelines recommend biopsychosocial care for chronic, complex musculoskeletal conditions, including non-specific low back pain. The aims were: 1/ to assess how patients with low back pain respond to osteopathic treatment, both before and after an osteopath has completed a Biopsychosocial Pain Management (BPM) course; and 2/ to assess if it is feasible and acceptable for osteopath participants to receive weekly SCED data and use it to guide patient management. Methods and Results. A multiple baseline single case experimental design trial (. clinicaltrials.gov. , on 18/10/2021, ID number NCT05120921) with 11 UK osteopaths was conducted. Patients were randomised to early, middle or late treatment start dates. Statistical analysis assessed the change between baseline, intervention and follow-up periods. Primary outcomes were the Numeric Pain Rating (NPR) and Patient Specific Function Scales (PSFS), measured during the baseline, the 6-week intervention, and during a 12-week follow-up period. At baseline, the osteopaths reported stronger biopsychosocial attitudes to pain, compared to biomedical beliefs (PABS: 34 behavioural scale; 29 biomedical scale). Overall, patient participants showed daily increases in symptoms during the pre-treatment phase (+0.24/day, p<0.001), and daily decreases during treatment (−2.94 over the treatment phase, p<0.001), which continued post-treatment (−3.36 over 12 weeks, p=0.04). Similar improvements were observed for function. Conclusion. Osteopathic care was shown to help patients with persistent low back pain. Patient recruitment was challenging because of the randomisation. With further development, the method shows feasibility as a means of enhancing research activity among practising clinicians. Previous presentations or publications of the work. The
Thermal sensors have been used in bracing research as self-reported diaries are inaccurate. Little is known about new low-profile sensors, optimal location within a brace, locational thermal micro-climate and effect of brace lining. Our objective is to Determine an optimal temperature threshold for sensor-measured and true wear time agreement. Identify optimal sensor location. Assess all factors to determine the best sensor option for the Bracing AdoleScent Idiopathic Scoliosis (BASIS) multicentre RCT. Seven Orthotimer and five iButton (DS1925L) sensors were synchronised to record temperature at five-minute intervals. Three healthy participants donned a rigid spinal brace, embedded with both sensors across four anatomical locations (abdomen/axilla/lateral-gluteal/sacral). Universal-coordinated-time wear
Aims. The current pandemic caused by COVID-19 is the biggest challenge for national health systems for a century. While most medical resources are allocated to treat COVID-19 patients, several non-COVID-19 medical emergencies still need to be treated, including vertebral fractures and spinal cord compression. The aim of this paper is to report the early experience and an organizational
Introduction. Thoracic wall surgery can cause severe pain and inhibition of coughing with effects. (1) Various local anaesthetic (LA) techniques have been tried successfully to mitigate the use of opioids alone. We believe this is the first time that a serratus plane block using an epidural catheter (SABER)has been studied in anterior spinal fusion (ASF) procedures. Our aim was to ascertain how it would affect ASF compared to gold standard posterior spinal fusion (PSF) surgery. Materials and Methods. We identified 43 patients from the years 2017 to 2019. 24 had ASF and 19 had PSF. Detailed data were collected on local anaesthetic infusion (LAI) SaBER, mean pain scores(MPS), morphine, chirocaine usage and hospital length of stay (HLOS). We divided the patients into 4 groups: Short PSF (SPSF), Long PSF (LPSF), Thoracic anterior fusion (TA) and Thoracolumbar anterior fusion (TLA) surgery. 4 patients in the SPSF and 4 in the LPSF group had LAI because they had a costoplasty. All patients in the anterior group had SaBER. Results. Mean morphine usage was higher in the ASF group. Mean LA usage was lowest in the TLA and highest in the LPSF group (see table). 12 and 24 hour MPS were lower in both anterior groups compared to posterior. Mean HLOS was similar in all groups. Conclusion. Despite painful costoplasties in the anterior group, LAI enabled lower MPS overall and similar HLOS between PSF and ASF groups. Consequently, ASF (with fewer fusion levels) can replace equivalent PSF with resultant less stiffness and increased mobility. Reduction in MPS may be further improved by investigating detailed
Aims. Early cases of cauda equina syndrome (CES) often present with nonspecific symptoms and signs, and it is recommended that patients undergo emergency MRI regardless of the time since presentation. This creates substantial pressure on resources, with many scans performed to rule out cauda equina rather than confirm it. We propose that compression of the cauda equina should be apparent with a limited sequence (LS) scan that takes significantly less time to perform. Methods. In all, 188 patients with suspected CES underwent a LS lumbosacral MRI between the beginning of September 2017 and the end of July 2018. These images were read by a consultant musculoskeletal radiologist. All images took place on a 3T or 1.5T MRI scanner at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK, and Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, UK. Results. The 188 patients, all under the age of 55 years, underwent 196 LS lumbosacral MRI scans for suspected CES. Of these patients, 14 had cauda equina compression and underwent emergency decompression. No cases of CES were missed. Patients spent a mean 9.9 minutes (8 to 10) in the MRI scanner. Conclusion. Our results suggest that a LS lumbosacral MRI could be used to diagnose CES safely in patients under the age of 55 years, but that further research is needed to assess safety and efficacy of this technique before changes to existing
The aim of this study was to determine whether early surgical treatment results in better neurological recovery 12 months after injury than late surgical treatment in patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI). Patients with tSCI requiring surgical spinal decompression presenting to 17 centres in Europe were recruited. Depending on the timing of decompression, patients were divided into early (≤ 12 hours after injury) and late (> 12 hours and < 14 days after injury) groups. The American Spinal Injury Association neurological (ASIA) examination was performed at baseline (after injury but before decompression) and at 12 months. The primary endpoint was the change in Lower Extremity Motor Score (LEMS) from baseline to 12 months.Aims
Methods
To systematically evaluate whether bracing can effectively achieve curve regression in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), and to identify any predictors of curve regression after bracing. Two independent reviewers performed a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library to obtain all published information about the effectiveness of bracing in achieving curve regression in AIS patients. Search terms included “brace treatment” or “bracing,” “idiopathic scoliosis,” and “curve regression” or “curve reduction.” Inclusion criteria were studies recruiting patients with AIS undergoing brace treatment and one of the study outcomes must be curve regression or reduction, defined as > 5° reduction in coronal Cobb angle of a major curve upon bracing completion. Exclusion criteria were studies including non-AIS patients, studies not reporting p-value or confidence interval, animal studies, case reports, case series, and systematic reviews. The GRADE approach to assessing quality of evidence was used to evaluate each publication.Aims
Methods
To report the development of the technique for minimally invasive lumbar decompression using robotic-assisted navigation. Robotic planning software was used to map out bone removal for a laminar decompression after registration of CT scan images of one cadaveric specimen. A specialized acorn-shaped bone removal robotic drill was used to complete a robotic lumbar laminectomy. Post-procedure advanced imaging was obtained to compare actual bony decompression to the surgical plan. After confirming accuracy of the technique, a minimally invasive robotic-assisted laminectomy was performed on one 72-year-old female patient with lumbar spinal stenosis. Postoperative advanced imaging was obtained to confirm the decompression.Aims
Methods
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the type of cervical disc herniation influences the severity of symptoms at the time of presentation, and the outcome after surgical treatment. The type and extent of disc herniation at the time of presentation in 108 patients who underwent anterior discectomy for cervical radiculopathy were analyzed on MRI, using a four-point scale. These were dichotomized into disc bulge and disc herniation groups. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), and a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain in the neck and arm at baseline and two years postoperatively. The perceived recovery was also assessed at this time.Aims
Methods
The aims of this study were first, to determine if adding fusion to a decompression of the lumbar spine for spinal stenosis decreases the rate of radiological restenosis and/or proximal adjacent level stenosis two years after surgery, and second, to evaluate the change in vertebral slip two years after surgery with and without fusion. The Swedish Spinal Stenosis Study (SSSS) was conducted between 2006 and 2012 at five public and two private hospitals. Six centres participated in this two-year MRI follow-up. We randomized 222 patients with central lumbar spinal stenosis at one or two adjacent levels into two groups, decompression alone and decompression with fusion. The presence or absence of a preoperative spondylolisthesis was noted. A new stenosis on two-year MRI was used as the primary outcome, defined as a dural sac cross-sectional area ≤ 75 mm2 at the operated level (restenosis) and/or at the level above (proximal adjacent level stenosis).Aims
Methods
Aims. To evaluate the incidence of primary venous thromboembolism (VTE),
epidural haematoma, surgical site infection (SSI), and 90-day mortality
after elective spinal surgery, and the effect of two
