Spine
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The histopathologic effects of the intrathecal injection of betamethasone (Celestone Chronodose; Schering Corporation, Kenilworth, New Jersey) were assessed after the injection of various volumes of the preparation in 20 sheep. ⋯ Given that the volume of cerebrospinal fluid in the sheep is approximately one third of that in humans, this study suggests that small volumes (up to 2 ml) of Celestone Chronodose injected intrathecally in humans are unlikely to cause arachnoiditis, but that the risk of this complication increases substantially with higher doses.
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An investigation of the effects of bone density on lumbar spine stability using destabilizing and restabilizing procedures. ⋯ The unstable lumbar spine can be partially stabilized using fixation. Interbody bone provides additional stability. The immediate stability provided by pedicle screws is greater in lumbar vertebrae with higher bone density.
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Comparative Study
Lumbar-hip flexion motion. A comparative study between asymptomatic and chronic low back pain in 18- to 36-year-old men.
The amount of lumbar and hip flexion and the relative contribution within movement during standing forward bending was recorded on a group of asymptomatic men and a group of men with a history of chronic low back pain. ⋯ When assessing the relative motion of the lumbar spine and hips in standing forward flexion, there was measurable difference between asymptomatic men and a group of chronic low back pain patients. In particular, two subgroups of individuals with chronic low back pain appeared; one moved relatively similarly to the asymptomatic group, whereas the other sub-group demonstrated reduced hip mobility. These findings indicate the importance of assessing the lumbar and hip flexion motion in chronic low back pain patients to determine if a movement abnormality is present.
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A prospective cohort study on low back pain in consecutive patients in general practice, in which potential prognostic indicators at baseline and at the 1-year follow-up examination were assessed by means of four weekly questionnaires. ⋯ Only a few variables appear to be related to the clinical course of low back pain seen in general practice. In particular, the duration preceding the initial visit and, unexpectedly, receiving physical therapy were both associated with a longer duration of low back pain.
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In a single blinded procedure, quantified cervical clinical tests were performed on machine operators with and without subjective reports of neck pain. ⋯ Many forest machine operators reporting neck pain in the Nordic questionnaire did have limited and painful cervical spine mobility. Range-of-motion tests may be useful tools to describe impairment and constitute a basis for assessment for therapeutic interventions.