Spine
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A prospective cohort study was conducted on workers claiming earnings-related compensation for low back pain. Information obtained at the time of the initial claim was linked to compensation status (still claiming or not claiming) 3 months later. ⋯ Simple self-report measures of individual, psychosocial, and workplace factors administered when earnings-related compensation for back pain is claimed initially can identify individuals with increased odds for development of chronic occupational disability.
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A retrospective study of blood transfusion practices after posterior lumbar spine surgery was performed. ⋯ Autologous blood donations are indeed advantageous in decreasing allogeneic blood usage of patients undergoing fusion, but additional methods of blood conservation (intraoperative salvage and preoperative erythropoietin) seem necessary to diminish the allogeneic blood requirements further, especially in those patients undergoing instrumented lumbar fusion.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Transforaminal epidural steroid injections in lumbosacral radiculopathy: a prospective randomized study.
A prospective study randomized by patient choice from the private practice of a single physician affiliated with a major teaching hospital was conducted. ⋯ Fluoroscopically guided transforaminal injections serve as an important tool in the nonsurgical management of lumbosacral radiculopathy secondary to a herniated nucleus pulposus.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The reliability of the Shuttle Walking Test, the Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire, the Oxford Spinal Stenosis Score, and the Oswestry Disability Index in the assessment of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.
The Shuttle Walking Test (SWT), the Swiss Spinal Stenosis (SSS) Questionnaire, the Oxford Claudication Score (OCS), and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were administered to patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication. ⋯ Fluctuations in a patient's symptoms result in wide individual confidence intervals. Performance on the SSS, OCS, and ODI questionnaires are broadly similar, the most precise being the condition-specific SSS. The SWT gives a snapshot of physical function, which is acceptable for group analysis. Use of the SWT for individual assessment after surgery is feasible.