Spine
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In this prospective, observational, cohort study of 192 individuals with chronic low back pain, the group of individuals was divided based on compensation involvement, and their presentation pain and disability, treatment recommendations, and compliance were compared. For 85 of these individuals who completed a spine rehabilitation program, their pain and disability at 3 and 12 months were compared. ⋯ In chronic low back pain, compensation involvement may have an adverse effect on self-reported pain, depression, and disability before and after rehabilitation interventions.
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A clinical and radiologic retrospective follow-up examination of patients treated surgically for severe juvenile spondylolisthesis. ⋯ Anterior spondylodesis including posterior instrumentation and reduction was superior to the simple anterior fusion in situ for normalization of the lumbosacral profile and osseous consolidation of the spondylodesis. This result was not reflected in the clinical evaluation.
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Thirty-three patients with single-level, unilateral lumbosacral radiculopathy underwent micro-decompression and intraoperative dermatomal evoked potential monitoring. Side-to-side latency asymmetry was calculated. A criteria for "abnormal" was defined. Intraoperative dermatomal evoked potentials were obtained before and after decompression. The changes were correlated with clinical outcome at the 3-month follow-up examination. ⋯ Intraoperative dermatomal evoked potential monitoring is technically demanding. Finding reproducible potentials is difficult. More research is necessary before general use of dermatomal evoked potentials for monitoring nerve root decompression.
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Multicenter Study
Predictors of outcome in patients with chronic back pain and low-grade spondylolisthesis.
Retrospective case series. ⋯ This investigation, although limited by a number of factors including small sample size and retrospective, unblinded review, suggests that active worker's compensation and litigation issues are associated strongly with poor results of operative management for chronic low back pain in adult patients with low-grade spondylolisthesis.
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In this retrospective study, the long-term clinical results of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation in children less than 16 years of age were reviewed. ⋯ Satisfactory long-term clinical results and early return to school life were obtained with each surgical procedure. It is important to aim toward an early return to school via surgical treatment.