Spine
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Patients with low back pain, sciatica, and neurogenic claudication were observed during computed tomographic myelography or magnetic resonance imaging in psoas-relaxed position and axially compressed supine position of the lumbar spine. ⋯ According to the study results, axially loaded imaging adds frequent additional valuable information, as compared with conventional imaging methods, especially in patients with neurogenic claudication, but also in patients with sciatica if defined inclusion criteria are used.
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A case series of seven children who had a thoracolumbar gibbus related to mucopolysaccharidosis treated with anterior instrumentation were reported retrospectively. ⋯ Anterior instrumented correction and fusion of the spine is effective in treating thoracolumbar kyphosis associated with mucopolysaccharidosis.
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Quasi-experimental, nonrandomized, nonequivalent, parallel group-controlled study involving before and after telephone surveys of the general population and postal surveys of general practitioners was conducted, with an adjacent state used as a control group. ⋯ A population-based strategy of providing positive messages about back pain improves the beliefs of the general population and general practitioners about back pain and appears to influence medical management.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
2001 Volvo Award Winner in Clinical Studies: Lumbar fusion versus nonsurgical treatment for chronic low back pain: a multicenter randomized controlled trial from the Swedish Lumbar Spine Study Group.
A randomized controlled multicenter study with a 2-year follow-up by an independent observer. ⋯ Lumbar fusion in a well-informed and selected group of patients with severe CLBP can diminish pain and decrease disability more efficiently than commonly used nonsurgical treatment.
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The clinical data, magnetic resonance imaging, intraoperative findings, and functional outcome were reviewed for three patients under anticoagulant therapy who experienced acute nontraumatic spinal subdural hematoma. ⋯ Spinal subdural hematoma must be considered in patients under anticoagulant therapy with spontaneous signs of acute spinal cord or cauda equina compression. Magnetic resonance imaging with sagittal T1- and T2-weighted images were adequate and reliable for diagnosis of spinal subdural hematoma. On the basis of previous studies and the authors' intraoperative findings, spinal subdural hematomas could be viewed as spinal dural border hematomas. The level of preoperative neurologic deficit seemed to be critical for recovery despite prompt surgical evacuation.