Spine
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Delphi expert panel consensus. ⋯ Although telemedicine was initially introduced out of necessity, this technology most likely will remain due to evidence of high patient satisfaction and significant cost savings. This study was able to provide a framework for appropriate telemedicine utilization in spine surgery from a panel of experts. However, several questions remain for future research, such as whether or not an in-person consultation is necessary prior to surgery and which physical exam maneuvers are appropriate for telemedicine.Level of Evidence: 4.
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Multicenter Study
Passive Recharge Burst Spinal Cord Stimulation provides sustainable improvements in pain and psychosocial function: 2-year results from the TRIUMPH study.
Prospective, international, multicenter, single-arm, post-market study. ⋯ Early positive results with B-SCS were maintained long term. Evidence across multiple assessment tools show that B-SCS can alleviate pain intensity, psychological distress, and improve physical function and health-related quality of life.Level of Evidence: 3.
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The 2001 Functional Rating Index (FRI) was not developed under today's standard psychometric analysis. The original data of 108 cases were re-analyzed using Rasch item response theory. In 2015, 2 alternative forms were administered to an additional 140 patients for establishing and perhaps improving its psychometric characteristics. ⋯ The original FRI and alternative forms all fail failed crucial psychometric tests and fail to accurately measure more than one latent construct. It is thus unfit as a pain, function, and disability assessment. Only reducing the number of Likert choices improved the test. Other back pain assessments should be used instead, and all surveys would benefit from periodic item responses to adjust to shifts in grammar and meaning.Level of Evidence: 3.
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Multicenter Study
Scheuermann Kyphosis Patients have a Similar Revision and Infection Rate to Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients.
Multicenter retrospective review. ⋯ Contrary to previously published literature, our analyses indicate that in a matched population, postoperative complication rates (i.e., infection and revision rates) are not significantly different between SK and AIS patients.Level of Evidence: 4.
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Multicenter Study
How Decompression Surgery Improves the Lower Back Pain in Patient With Lumbar Degenerative Stenosis: A Propensity-score-matched Analysis.
Multicenter retrospective case series of patients treated surgically for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). ⋯ Decompression surgery for LSS significantly improved LBP. Sex and baseline LBP were risk factors for residual LBP. However, when males and females were matched by confounders, no difference was found in the LBP after surgery. Patients with severe baseline LBP may need further evaluation for their mental status because these patients are likely to have mental problems that potentially contribute to persistent LBP.Level of Evidence: 4.