Aims. The presence of facet tropism has been correlated with an elevated susceptibility to lumbar disc pathology. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of facet tropism on chronic lumbosacral discogenic pain through the analysis of clinical data and finite element modelling (FEM). Methods. Retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data, with a specific focus on the spinal units displaying facet tropism, utilizing FEM analysis for motion simulation. We studied 318 intervertebral levels in 156 patients who had undergone provocation discography. Significant predictors of clinical findings were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses. Loading conditions were applied in FEM simulations to mimic biomechanical effects on
Aims. CRP is an acute-phase protein that is used as a biomarker to follow severity and progression in infectious and inflammatory diseases. Its pathophysiological mechanisms of action are still poorly defined. CRP in its pentameric form exhibits weak anti-inflammatory activity. The monomeric isoform (mCRP) exerts potent proinflammatory properties in chondrocytes, endothelial cells, and leucocytes. No data exist regarding mCRP effects in human
Aims. This study aimed, through bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experiment validation, to identify the key extracellular proteins of
Objectives. Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is a regulatory cytokine that degrades the disc matrix. Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) stimulates synthesis of the disc extracellular matrix. However, the combined effects of BMP-2 and IL-18 on human
Aims. Interleukin (IL)-1β is one of the major pathogenic regulators during the pathological development of
Aims. In this investigation, we administered oxidative stress to nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), recognized DNA-damage-inducible transcript 4 (DDIT4) as a component in
It has been proposed that
Antibiotics are often administrated prophylactically in spinal procedures to reduce the risk of infection of the disc space. It is still not known which antibiotics are able to penetrate the
Objectives. The aim of this study was to examine whether asymmetric loading
influences macrophage elastase (MMP12) expression in different parts
of a rat tail
1. The
1. An account of experiences in seventy-five cases with a new method of treatment of low back pain and sciatica caused by
1. The normal anatomy of the
Specific antisera to collagen Types I, II and III and proteoglycan were used to investigate the distributions of these molecules in normal human
It has been thought that lumbar
This article reviews the current knowledge of
the
Posterior fixation of
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine produces images which reflect the chemical composition of the
We attempted to correlate the findings of MRI and discography in patients with low back pain, examining 108 lumbar
1. As a result of degenerative changes in the
One hundred and twenty-seven cases of
The role of antibiotics in the treatment of disc-space infection is controversial. This study assessed the tissue penetration of flucloxacillin and cephradine into the normal
The belief that an
Computerised tomography of the lumbar spine was performed on 22 patients with clinical evidence of prolapse of an
Two groups of
By polarising microscope and x-ray crystallographic techniques the annulus fibrosus has been shown to consist of regularly oriented sheets of collagen fibres. These results have been interpreted in terms of an elastic mechanism whereby thrust from the nucleus causes increased girth in the annulus. It is suggested that this is accomplished by a change in the angle between the axis of the fibres in adjacent uniaxial layers of the annulus. Furthermore, the loss of elasticity of the
Our study establishes a rabbit model of disc degeneration which requires neither a chemical nor physical injury to the disc. Disc degeneration similar to that seen in man was created at levels proximal (L4-L5) and caudal (L7-S1) to a simulated lumbar fusion and was studied for up to nine months after arthrodesis. Loss of the normal parallel arrangement of collagen bundles within the annular lamellae was observed in
We studied degenerative changes in the cervical
A new technique for the transthoracic removal of a prolapsed
We studied the presence of anabolic growth factors in human herniated
Doubt remains as to the safest surgical approach to the prolapsed thoracic
1. The uptake of S. 35. labelled sodium sulphate has been studied autoradiographically in the
We have studied the ability of a range of antibiotics to penetrate
We report the cases of teenage twin girls presenting within months of each other with severe symptoms from lumbosacral disc prolapses, requiring laminectomy in one and chemonucleolysis in the other. CT scans showed similarities in spinal configuration, including the presence of disc bulges at the L4-5 level. This suggests a strong hereditary factor in prolapse of
Herniated
It has been suggested that matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3, stromelysin-1) has an important role in the degeneration of
To clarify the pathomechanisms of discogenic low back pain, the sympathetic afferent discharge originating from the L5-L6 disc via the L2 root were investigated neurophysiologically in 31 Lewis rats. Sympathetic afferent units were recorded from the L2 root connected to the lumbar sympathetic trunk by rami communicantes. The L5-L6 discs were mechanically probed, stimulated electrically to evoke action potentials and, finally, treated with chemicals to produce an inflammatory reaction. We could not obtain a response from any units in the L5-L6 discs using mechanical stimulation, but with electrical stimulation we identified 42 units consisting mostly of A-delta fibres. In some experiments a response to mechanical probing of the L5-L6 disc was recognised after producing an inflammatory reaction. This study suggests that mechanical stimulation of the lumbar discs may not always produce pain, whereas inflammatory changes may cause the disc to become sensitive to mechanical stimuli, resulting in nociceptive information being transmitted as discogenic low back pain to the spinal cord through the lumbar sympathetic trunk. This may partly explain the variation in human symptoms of degenerate discs.
Previous studies on the anatomy of the lumbar spine have not clarified the precise relationship of the origin of the lumbar roots to their corresponding discs or their angulation to the dural sac. We studied 33 cadavers (25 formalin-preserved and eight fresh-frozen) and their radiographs to determine these details. All cadavers showed a gradual decrease in the angle of the nerve root from L1 to S1. The origin of the root was found to be below the corresponding disc for the L1 to L4 roots. In the formalin-preserved cadavers 8% of the L5 roots originated above, 64% below and 28% at the L4/L5 disc. In the fresh cadavers the values were 12.5%, 62.5% and 25%, respectively. For the S1 root 76% originated above and 24% at the L5-S1 disc in the formalin-preserved cadavers and 75% and 25%, respectively, in the fresh cadavers. A herniated disc usually compresses the root before division of the root sleeve. Thus, compression of the thecal sac before the origin of the root sleeve is common for L1 to L5 whereas compression at the root sleeve is common for S1. Our findings are of value in understanding the pathophysiology of prolapse of the disc and in preventing complications during surgery.
We studied 52 patients, each with a lumbosacral transitional vertebra. Using MRI we found that the lumbar discs immediately above the transitional vertebra were significantly more degenerative and those between the transitional vertebrae and the sacrum were significantly less degenerative compared with discs at other levels. We also performed an anatomical study using 70 cadavers. We found that the iliolumbar ligament at the level immediately above the transitional vertebra was thinner and weaker than it was in cadavers without a lumbosacral transitional vertebra. Instability of the vertebral segment above the transitional vertebra because of a weak iliolumbar ligament could lead to subsequent disc degeneration which may occur earlier than at other disc levels. Some stability between the transitional vertebra and the sacrum could be preserved by the formation of either an articulation or by bony union between the vertebra and the sacrum through its transverse process. This may protect the disc from further degeneration in the long term.
The anatomical studies, basic to our understanding of lumbar spine innervation through the sinu-vertebral nerves, are reviewed. Research in the 1980s suggested that pain sensation was conducted in part via the sympathetic system. These sensory pathways have now been clarified using sophisticated experimental and histochemical techniques confirming a dual pattern. One route enters the adjacent dorsal root segmentally, whereas the other supply is non-segmental ascending through the paravertebral sympathetic chain with re-entry through the thoracolumbar white rami communicantes. Sensory nerve endings in the degenerative lumbar disc penetrate deep into the disrupted nucleus pulposus, insensitive in the normal lumbar spine. Complex as well as free nerve endings would appear to contribute to pain transmission. The nature and mechanism of discogenic pain is still speculative but there is growing evidence to support a ‘visceral pain’ hypothesis, unique in the muscloskeletal system. This mechanism is open to ‘peripheral sensitisation’ and possibly ‘central sensitisation’ as a potential cause of chronic back pain.
Although success has been achieved with implantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs) in degenerative discs, its full potential may not be achieved if the harsh environment of the degenerative disc remains. Axial distraction has been shown to increase hydration and nutrition. Combining both therapies may have a synergistic effect in reversing degenerative disc disease. In order to evaluate the effect of bMSC implantation, axial distraction and combination therapy in stimulating regeneration and retarding degeneration in degenerative discs, we first induced disc degeneration by axial loading in a rabbit model. The rabbits in the intervention groups performed better with respect to disc height, morphological grading, histological scoring and average dead cell count. The groups with distraction performed better than those without on all criteria except the average dead cell count. Our findings suggest that bMSC implantation and distraction stimulate regenerative changes in degenerative discs in a rabbit model.
Cadaveric lumbar discs were injected with chymopapain and subjected to a series of mechanical tests over a period of up to 19 hours. Discs from the same spine injected with saline were used as controls. The results showed that chymopapain had no measurable effect on the mechanical properties of the disc apart from the increased height and stiffening caused by fluid injection. Another series of tests on isolated pieces of disc material showed that chymopapain could reduce the size of prolapsed nuclear material by 24% in one hour and by 80% in 48 hours. It is concluded that, in the short-term, chymopapain has a negligible effect on the mechanics of a disc but it can reduce the size of any prolapsed nuclear material with which it comes in contact.
Forty-one cadaveric lumbar intervertebral joints from 18 spines were flexed and fatigue loaded to simulate a vigorous day's activity. The joints were then bisected and the discs examined. Twenty-three out of 41 of the discs showed distortions in the lamellae of the annulus fibrosus and, in a few of these, complete radial fissures were found in the posterior annulus.
Infection of the intervertebral space is a rare complication of operation on the disc (Ford and Key 1955). It occurred in five cases in a series of 650 operations for lumbar disc protrusion done by two of the authors of this paper--an incidence of 0-8%. Symptoms began between seven and twelve days after operation. After initial relief of the original sciatic pain, the patients developed severe back pain and muscle cramps in the legs. Straight-leg raising became much more limited than before operation. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was raised in all cases. The diagnosis was confirmed by rescreening the Myodil, when an indentation was seen opposite the intervertebral space from which the disc had been excised. Early removal of infected material from the disc space resulted in complete relief of pain and cure of the infection.
We investigated the relationship between spinopelvic
parameters and disc degeneration in young adult patients with spondylolytic
spondylolisthesis. A total of 229 men with a mean age of 21 years
(18 to 26) with spondylolytic spondylolisthesis were identified.
All radiological measurements, including pelvic incidence, sacral
slope, pelvic tilt, lumbar lordosis, sacral inclination, lumbosacral
angle (LSA), and sacrofemoral distance, were calculated from standing
lateral lumbosacral radiographs. The degree of intervertebral disc
degeneration was classified using a modified Pfirrmann scale. We
analysed the spinopelvic parameters according to disc level, degree
of slip and disc degeneration. There were significant positive correlations between the degree
of slip and pelvic incidence (p = 0.009), sacral slope (p = 0.003)
and lumbar lordosis (p = 0.010). The degree of slip and the LSA
were correlated with disc degeneration (p <
0.001 and p = 0.003,
respectively). There was also a significant difference between the
degree of slip (p <
0.001) and LSA (p = 0.006) according to the
segmental level of disc degeneration. Cite this article:
Midline prolapse of a disc causing compression of the cauda equina is rare but needs urgent diagnosis and surgical treatment. The onset of bladder and rectal paralysis with saddle anaesthesia should be viewed with a high index of suspicion in a patient with backache and sciatica. Eight cases were seen over a period of five years, and they fell into three clinical groups. Group I patients presented with a sudden onset without any previous symptoms related to the back. Group II patients had a history of recurrent episodes of backache and sciatica, the latest episode resulting in involvement of the cauda equina. The group III patient was indistinguishable from one with a tumour as he presented with backache and sciatica slowly progressing to paralysis of the cauda equina. The prolapse was at the disc between L5 and S1 vertebrae in 50 per cent of the patients, most of whom did not have any limitation of straight leg raising. Urgent myelography and equally urgent removal of the disc within two weeks of the onset of the symptoms resulted in almost complete motor and bladder recovery within five months after the operation in most cases. However, recovery of sensation and sexual function was incomplete even four years after the operation.
1. Eighteen normal discs from cadavers and seventy-five specimens of abnormal disc material obtained at laminectomy have been compared. 2. Imbibition pressure, and not osmotic pressure, is the important factor in maintaining hydration of the nucleus, and the comparison has been based on this finding. The terms "free imbibition index" and "effective imbibition index" are suggested as being readily determinable means of expressing the functional efficiency of a nucleus. 3. A reduction in imbibition pressure was a constant feature of the specimens obtained at operation. No evidence was found to support the theory that hyper-hydration or engorgement of the nucleus plays a part in disc protrusion. A reduction in imbibition pressure can, however, be expected in itself, by a combination of mechanical and hydrostatic effects, to cause disc derangements. 4. The reduced imbibition pressure of abnormal discs is related to abnormal loss of, or deterioration in, the protein/polysaccharide of the nucleus. The premature onset of, or some disturbance in, the normal ageing process is a prime cause of mechanical derangement of the disc.
Aims. Inflammatory response plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiological process of
Mesenchymal stem-cell based therapies have been
proposed as novel treatments for
In our study, the aims were to describe the changes in the appearance of the lumbar spine on MRI in elite fast bowlers during a follow-up period of one year, and to determine whether these could be used to predict the presence of a stress fracture of the posterior elements. We recruited 28 elite fast bowlers with a mean age of 19 years (16 to 24) who were training and playing competitively at the start of the study. They underwent baseline MRI (season 1) and further scanning (season 2) after one year to assess the appearance of the lumbar
In a study on ten fresh human cadavers we examined the change in the height of the
Degenerative cervical spondylosis (DCS) is a common musculoskeletal disease that encompasses a wide range of progressive degenerative changes and affects all components of the cervical spine. DCS imposes very large social and economic burdens. However, its genetic basis remains elusive. Predicted whole-blood and skeletal muscle gene expression and genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from a DCS database were integrated, and functional summary-based imputation (FUSION) software was used on the integrated data. A transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) was conducted using FUSION software to assess the association between predicted gene expression and DCS risk. The TWAS-identified genes were verified via comparison with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in DCS RNA expression profiles in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) (Accession Number: GSE153761). The Functional Mapping and Annotation (FUMA) tool for genome-wide association studies and Meta tools were used for gene functional enrichment and annotation analysis.Aims
Methods
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common skeletal system disease that has been partly attributed to genetic variation. However, the correlation between genetic variation and pathological changes in LSS is insufficient, and it is difficult to provide a reference for the early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. We conducted a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) of spinal canal stenosis by integrating genome-wide association study summary statistics (including 661 cases and 178,065 controls) derived from Biobank Japan, and pre-computed gene expression weights of skeletal muscle and whole blood implemented in FUSION software. To verify the TWAS results, the candidate genes were furthered compared with messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profiles of LSS to screen for common genes. Finally, Metascape software was used to perform enrichment analysis of the candidate genes and common genes.Aims
Methods
This study was performed to explore the effect of melatonin on pyroptosis in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) and the underlying mechanism of that effect. This experiment included three patients diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation who failed conservative treatment. Nucleus pulposus tissue was isolated from these patients when they underwent surgical intervention, and primary NPCs were isolated and cultured. Western blotting, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, fluorescence staining, and other methods were used to detect changes in related signalling pathways and the ability of cells to resist pyroptosis.Aims
Methods
The December 2022 Spine Roundup360 looks at: Deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis protocol on a Level 1 trauma centre patient database; Non-specific spondylodiscitis: a new perspective for surgical treatment; Disc degeneration could be recovered after chemonucleolysis; Three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion versus corpectomy- anterior cervical discectomy and fusion “hybrid” procedures: how does the alignment look?; Rivaroxaban or enoxaparin for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis; Surgical site infection: when do we have to remove the implants?; Determination of a neurologic safe zone for bicortical S1 pedicle placement; Do you need to operate on unstable spine fractures in the elderly: outcomes and mortality; Degeneration to deformity: when does the patient need both?
Cite this article:
This short contribution aims to explain how
Implant-related postoperative spondylodiscitis (IPOS) is a severe complication in spine surgery and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. With growing knowledge in the field of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), equivalent investigations towards the management of implant-related infections of the spine are indispensable. To our knowledge, this study provides the largest description of cases of IPOS to date. Patients treated for IPOS from January 2006 to December 2020 were included. Patient demographics, parameters upon admission and discharge, radiological imaging, and microbiological results were retrieved from medical records. CT and MRI were analyzed for epidural, paravertebral, and intervertebral abscess formation, vertebral destruction, and endplate involvement. Pathogens were identified by CT-guided or intraoperative biopsy, intraoperative tissue sampling, or implant sonication.Aims
Methods
The June 2012 Spine Roundup. 360. looks at: back pain; spinal fusion for tuberculosis; anatomical course of the recurrent laryngeal nerve; groin pain with normal imaging; the herniated
The June 2012 Research Roundup. 360. looks at: platelet-rich plasma; ageing, bone and mesenchymal stem cells; cytokines and the herniated
The aim of the study was to determine if there was a direct correlation between the pain and disability experienced by patients and size of their disc prolapse, measured by the disc’s cross-sectional area on T2 axial MRI scans. Patients were asked to prospectively complete visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores on the day of their MRI scan. All patients with primary disc herniation were included. Exclusion criteria included recurrent disc herniation, cauda equina syndrome, or any other associated spinal pathology. T2 weighted MRI scans were reviewed on picture archiving and communications software. The T2 axial image showing the disc protrusion with the largest cross sectional area was used for measurements. The area of the disc and canal were measured at this level. The size of the disc was measured as a percentage of the cross-sectional area of the spinal canal on the chosen image. The VAS leg pain and ODI scores were each correlated with the size of the disc using the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC). Intraobserver reliability for MRI measurement was assessed using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). We assessed if the position of the disc prolapse (central, lateral recess, or foraminal) altered the symptoms described by the patient. The VAS and ODI scores from central and lateral recess disc prolapses were compared.Aims
Methods
The February 2023 Spine Roundup360 looks at: S2AI screws: At what cost?; Just how good is spinal deformity surgery?; Is 80 years of age too late in the day for spine surgery?; Factors affecting the accuracy of pedicle screw placement in robot-assisted surgery; Factors causing delay in discharge in patients eligible for ambulatory lumbar fusion surgery; Anterior cervical discectomy or fusion and selective laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy; Surgery for cervical radiculopathy: what is the complication burden?; Hypercholesterolemia and neck pain; Return to work after surgery for cervical radiculopathy: a nationwide registry-based observational study.
This systematic review aims to identify 3D predictors derived from biplanar reconstruction, and to describe current methods for improving curve prediction in patients with mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. A comprehensive search was conducted by three independent investigators on MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Search terms included “adolescent idiopathic scoliosis”,“3D”, and “progression”. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were carefully defined to include clinical studies. Risk of bias was assessed with the Quality in Prognostic Studies tool (QUIPS) and Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS), and level of evidence for each predictor was rated with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. In all, 915 publications were identified, with 377 articles subjected to full-text screening; overall, 31 articles were included.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
1. Since the publication by Bradford and Spurling in 1945 of The
To identify the incidence and risk factors for five-year same-site recurrent disc herniation (sRDH) after primary single-level lumbar discectomy. Secondary outcome was the incidence and risk factors for five-year sRDH reoperation. A retrospective study was conducted using prospectively collected data and patient-reported outcome measures, including the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), between 2008 and 2019. Postoperative sRDH was identified from clinical notes and the centre’s MRI database, with all imaging providers in the region checked for missing events. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate five-year sRDH incidence. Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify independent variables predictive of sRDH, with any variable not significant at the p < 0.1 level removed. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Aims
Methods
People with severe, persistent low back pain (LBP) may be offered lumbar spine fusion surgery if they have had insufficient benefit from recommended non-surgical treatments. However, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2016 guidelines recommended not offering spinal fusion surgery for adults with LBP, except as part of a randomized clinical trial. This survey aims to describe UK clinicians’ views about the suitability of patients for such a future trial, along with their views regarding equipoise for randomizing patients in a future clinical trial comparing lumbar spine fusion surgery to best conservative care (BCC; the FORENSIC-UK trial). An online cross-sectional survey was piloted by the multidisciplinary research team, then shared with clinical professional groups in the UK who are involved in the management of adults with severe, persistent LBP. The survey had seven sections that covered the demographic details of the clinician, five hypothetical case vignettes of patients with varying presentations, a series of questions regarding the preferred management, and whether or not each clinician would be willing to recruit the example patients into future clinical trials.Aims
Methods
Internal hemipelvectomy without reconstruction of the pelvis is a viable treatment for pelvic sarcoma; however, the time it takes to return to excellent function is quite variable. Some patients require greater time and rehabilitation than others. To determine if psoas muscle recovery is associated with changes in ambulatory function, we retrospectively evaluated psoas muscle size and limb-length discrepancy (LLD) before and after treatment and their correlation with objective functional outcomes. T1-weighted MR images were evaluated at three intervals for 12 pelvic sarcoma patients following interval hemipelvectomy without reconstruction. Correlations between the measured changes and improvements in Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and gait speed outcomes were assessed both independently and using a stepwise multivariate regression model.Aims
Methods
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), defined by an age at presentation of 11 to 18 years, has a prevalence of 0.47% and accounts for approximately 90% of all cases of idiopathic scoliosis. Despite decades of research, the exact aetiology of AIS remains unknown. It is becoming evident that it is the result of a complex interplay of genetic, internal, and environmental factors. It has been hypothesized that genetic variants act as the initial trigger that allow epigenetic factors to propagate AIS, which could also explain the wide phenotypic variation in the presentation of the disorder. A better understanding of the underlying aetiological mechanisms could help to establish the diagnosis earlier and allow a more accurate prediction of deformity progression. This, in turn, would prompt imaging and therapeutic intervention at the appropriate time, thereby achieving the best clinical outcome for this group of patients. Cite this article:
Discitis after discography is due to bacterial penetration into the
The pathophysiology of
Lumbar disc prolapse is a frequent indication for surgery. The few available long-term follow-up studies focus mainly on repeated surgery for recurrent disease. The aim of this study was to analyze all reasons for additional surgery for patients operated on for a primary lumbar disc prolapse. We retrieved data from the Swedish spine register about 3,291 patients who underwent primary surgery for a lumbar disc prolapse between January 2007 and December 2008. These patients were followed until December 2020 to record all additional lumbar spine operations and the reason for them.Aims
Methods
Cervical radiculopathy is a significant cause of pain and morbidity. For patients with severe and poorly controlled symptoms who may not be candidates for surgical management, treatment with transforaminal epidural steroid injections (CTFESI) has gained widespread acceptance. However, a paucity of high-quality evidence supporting their use balanced against perceived high risks of the procedure potentially undermines the confidence of clinicians who use the technique. We undertook a systematic review of the available literature regarding CTFESI to assess the clinical efficacy and complication rates of the procedure. OVID, MEDLINE, and Embase database searches were performed independently by two authors who subsequently completed title, abstract, and full-text screening for inclusion against set criteria. Clinical outcomes and complication data were extracted, and a narrative synthesis presented.Aims
Methods
The aim of this study was to assess the ability of morphological spinal parameters to predict the outcome of bracing in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and to establish a novel supine correction index (SCI) for guiding bracing treatment. Patients with AIS to be treated by bracing were prospectively recruited between December 2016 and 2018, and were followed until brace removal. In all, 207 patients with a mean age at recruitment of 12.8 years (SD 1.2) were enrolled. Cobb angles, supine flexibility, and the rate of in-brace correction were measured and used to predict curve progression at the end of follow-up. The SCI was defined as the ratio between correction rate and flexibility. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was carried out to assess the optimal thresholds for flexibility, correction rate, and SCI in predicting a higher risk of progression, defined by a change in Cobb angle of ≥ 5° or the need for surgery.Aims
Methods
We performed a prospective study to examine the
influence of the patient’s position on the location of the abdominal
organs, to investigate the possibility of a true lateral approach
for transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy. Pre-operative abdominal
CT scans were taken in 20 patients who underwent endoscopic lumbar discectomy.
Axial images in parallel planes of each
To develop and internally validate a preoperative clinical prediction model for acute adjacent vertebral fracture (AVF) after vertebral augmentation to support preoperative decision-making, named the after vertebral augmentation (AVA) score. In this prognostic study, a multicentre, retrospective single-level vertebral augmentation cohort of 377 patients from six Japanese hospitals was used to derive an AVF prediction model. Backward stepwise selection (p < 0.05) was used to select preoperative clinical and imaging predictors for acute AVF after vertebral augmentation for up to one month, from 14 predictors. We assigned a score to each selected variable based on the regression coefficient and developed the AVA scoring system. We evaluated sensitivity and specificity for each cut-off, area under the curve (AUC), and calibration as diagnostic performance. Internal validation was conducted using bootstrapping to correct the optimism.Aims
Methods
Cauda equina syndrome (CES) can be associated with chronic severe lower back pain and long-term autonomic dysfunction. This study assesses the recently defined core outcome set for CES in a cohort of patients using validated questionnaires. Between January 2005 and December 2019, 82 patients underwent surgical decompression for acute CES secondary to massive lumbar disc prolapse at our hospital. After review of their records, patients were included if they presented with the clinical and radiological features of CES, then classified as CES incomplete (CESI) or with painless urinary retention (CESR) in accordance with guidelines published by the British Association of Spinal Surgeons. Patients provided written consent and completed a series of questionnaires.Aims
Methods
The aims of this study were to determine the diagnostic yield of image-guided biopsy in providing a final diagnosis in patients with suspected infectious spondylodiscitis, to report the diagnostic accuracy of various microbiological tests and histological examinations in these patients, and to report the epidemiology of infectious spondylodiscitis from a country where tuberculosis (TB) is endemic, including the incidence of drug-resistant TB. A total of 284 patients with clinically and radiologically suspected infectious spondylodiscitis were prospectively recruited into the study. Image-guided biopsy of the vertebral lesion was performed and specimens were sent for various microbiological tests and histological examinations. The final diagnosis was determined using a composite reference standard based on clinical, radiological, serological, microbiological, and histological findings. The overall diagnostic yield of the biopsy, and that for each test, was calculated in light of the final diagnosis.Aims
Methods
Discogenic low back pain is a common cause of disability, but its pathogenesis is poorly understood. We collected 19 specimens of lumbar
1. Because of the importance of nutrition of the
This prospective multicentre study was undertaken
to determine segmental movement, disc height and sagittal alignment
after total disc replacement (TDR) in the lumbosacral spine and
to assess the correlation of biomechanical properties to clinical
outcomes. A total of 173 patients with degenerative disc disease and low
back pain for more than one year were randomised to receive either
TDR or multidisciplinary rehabilitation (MDR). Segmental movement
in the sagittal plane and disc height were measured using distortion
compensated roentgen analysis (DCRA) comparing radiographs in active flexion
and extension. Correlation analysis between the range of movement
or disc height and patient-reported outcomes was performed in both
groups. After two years, no significant change in movement in the
sagittal plane was found in segments with TDR or between the two
treatment groups. It remained the same or increased slightly in
untreated segments in the TDR group and in this group there was
a significant increase in disc height in the operated segments.
There was no correlation between segmental movement or disc height
and patient-reported outcomes in either group. In this study, insertion of an
We investigated the safety and efficacy of treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with an intravertebral cleft by balloon kyphoplasty. Our study included 27 patients who were treated in this way. The mean follow-up was 38.2 months (24 to 54). The anterior and middle heights of the vertebral body and the kyphotic angle were measured on standing lateral radiographs before surgery, one day after surgery, and at final follow-up. Leakage of cement was determined by CT scans. A visual analogue scale and the Oswestry disability index were chosen to evaluate pain and functional activity. Statistically significant improvements were found between the pre- and post-operative assessments (p <
0.05) but not between the post-operative and final follow-up assessments (p >
0.05). Asymptomatic leakage of cement into the paravertebral vein occurred in one patient, as did leakage into the
Diurnal changes in the loads acting on the spine affect the water content and height of the
1. Excision of a lumbar