Spine
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Comparative Study
Changes in recruitment of the abdominal muscles in people with low back pain: ultrasound measurement of muscle activity.
Ultrasound and electromyographic (EMG) measures of trunk muscle activity were compared between low back pain (LBP) and control subjects in a cross-sectional study. ⋯ This study reinforces evidence for changes in automatic control of TrA in people with LBP. Furthermore, the data establish a new test of recruitment of the abdominal muscles in people with LBP. This test presents a feasible noninvasive test of automatic recruitment of the abdominal muscles.
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Comparative Study
Transpedicular screw placement evaluated by axial computed tomography of the cervical pedicle.
We evaluated the trajectory of transpedicular screws in the cervical spine using axial computed tomography (CT). ⋯ Axial CT measurements should facilitate transpedicular screw fixation in the cervical spine. We believe that the screw insertion angle should be close to 50 degrees, which is the mean pedicle transverse angle from C3-C6. The entry point of the pedicle screw should be located as laterally as possible in the posterior surface of the lateral mass.
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Computer analysis of digitized vertebral body corners on lateral cervical radiographs. ⋯ The mean cervical lordosis for all groups could be closely modeled with a circle. Pain groups had hypolordosis and larger radiuses of curvature compared with the normal group. Circular modeling may be a valuable tool in the discrimination between normal lordosis and hypolordosis in normal and pain subjects.
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Comparative Study
Changes in the cross-sectional area of multifidus and psoas in patients with unilateral back pain: the relationship to pain and disability.
Prospective, cross-sectional observational study. ⋯ Atrophy of multifidus has been used as one of the rationales for spine stabilization exercises. The evidence of coexisting atrophy of psoas and multifidus suggests that a future area for study should be selective exercise training of psoas, which is less commonly used in clinical practice.
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Comparative Study
Occupational gonadal and embryo/fetal doses from fluoroscopically assisted surgical treatments of spinal disorders.
Simulation of lumbar spine fluoroscopy used during surgical treatments of spinal disorders on a humanoid phantom and monitoring of the scattered radiation levels. ⋯ Radiogenic genetic and embryo/fetal risks resulting from occupational exposure due to fluoroscopically assisted surgical treatments of spinal disorders are well within tolerance levels provided that rigorous confinement to all pertinent occupational dose constraints is established.