Spine
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Comparative Study
Cervical spine imaging using standard C-arm fluoroscopy: patient and surgeon exposure to ionizing radiation.
A cadaveric cervical spine specimen is imaged with a standard C-arm fluoroscope during a simulated procedure. Patient and surgeon exposure to radiation is estimated by placing dosimeters at various locations in 3-dimensional space. ⋯ Care should be taken when working on both sides of the imaged subject. Considerable radiation exposure can be encountered when working with a C-arm fluoroscope if appropriate precautions are not observed. All appropriate radiation dose-reducing measures should be strictly enforced by the supervising physician to minimize risk to the patient and the medical team.
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Comparative Study
Hemivertebra resection for the treatment of congenital lumbarspinal scoliosis with lateral-posterior approach.
A retrospective review of patient records was conducted. ⋯ Excision of a lumbar hemivertebra through lateral-posterior approach is safe and provides stable correction when combined with a short-segment fusion.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Cervical medial branch blocks for chronic cervical facet joint pain: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial with one-year follow-up.
A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. ⋯ Therapeutic cervical medial branch nerve blocks, with or without steroids, may provide effective management for chronic neck pain of facet joint origin.
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Comparative Study
Chronic widespread pain in patients with occupational spinal disorders: prevalence, psychiatric comorbidity, and association with outcomes.
A prospective study assessing chronic widespread pain (CWP) and psychiatric comorbidities in patients with chronic disabling occupational spinal disorders (CDOSDs). ⋯ A surprisingly high frequency of CDOSD patients participating in interdisciplinary rehabilitation met criteria for CWP, though the diagnosis was generally unknown to the patient. In this large workers' compensation cohort, CWP was not associated with longer periods of disability, more prerehabilitation surgery or higher pain self-report. With appropriate rehabilitation, CWP patients can have equally successful work return and health utilization outcomes compared to non-CWP patients, despite having significantly higher rates of certain psychiatric disorders.
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A case of cervical myelopathy with a severe nape and upper arm pain caused by anomalous bilateral vertebral arteries is reported. ⋯ Anomalous vertebral arteries should be included in the differential diagnosis of the upper cervical lesion of unknown origin. The microsurgical decompression with presented technique has relieved the symptoms for over 6(1/2) years.