Spine
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Translatory segmental instability was provoked by successive axial traction and compression of the lumbar spine in 117 patients with a known spondyl- or retro-olisthetic displacement. Lateral spot radiography showed an anteroposterior translatory movement of 5 mm or more in 24 of 45 patients with lytic spondylolisthesis of L5, in all of 7 patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis of L4, and in 37 of 65 patients with a retro-olisthetic displacement of L3, L4, or L5. ⋯ Severity of low-back pain (LBP) symptoms did not show any correlation with the degree of the maximal displacement but correlated significantly with the amount of instability both in the case of spondyl- and retro-olisthesis. Traction-compression radiography proved a simple and practical method to diagnose and measure translatory segmental instability even when conventional flexion-extension load failed to provoke any abnormal movement (eg, in the case of spondylolisthesis).
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Chemonucleolysis versus surgery in lumbar disc herniations: correlation of the results to preoperative clinical pattern and size of the herniation.
A prospective study was carried out on the results of chemonucleolysis or surgery in 156 patients who had lumbar disc herniations. All patients were considered as potentially good candidates for chemonucleolysis. Seventy-two received a chymopapain injection and 84 underwent surgery. ⋯ The results of chemonucleolysis in patients who had large herniations were significantly inferior to those of surgery: at final follow-up the results were satisfactory in 50% of patients in the chemonucleolysis group and 89% of those in the surgery series. Chemonucleolysis appears to be the treatment of choice in most patients with small disc herniations and an effective alternative to surgery in most patients with medium-size herniations when the preoperative clinical pattern indicates a slight or moderate nerve root compression. In all large herniations and in small- or medium-size herniations causing a severe nerve root impingement, surgery should be preferred to chemonucleolysis.
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Nineteen upper cervical spine specimens were dissected to examine the macroscopic and functional anatomy of alar ligaments. They are on both sides, symmetrically placed, approximately 10-13 mm long and elliptical in cross-section 3 X 6 mm in diameter. The fiber orientation is dependent on the height of dens axis, mostly in the cranial caudal direction. ⋯ The ligaments limit the axial rotation in the occipito-atlanto-axial complex (to the right by left alar and vice versa) as well as in side bending. The ligament is most stretched, and consequently most vulnerable, when the head is rotated and in addition flexed. This mechanism, common in whiplash injuries, could lead to irreversible overstretching or rupture of the ligaments especially as the ligaments consist of mainly collagen fibers.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Epidural morphine for pain relief after lumbar laminectomy.
A prospective randomized trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of epidural morphine for pain relief after lumbar laminectomy. Thirty-three male patients were studied in two groups. At the end of surgery, Group 1 patients (15) received 2 mg morphine in 5 ml saline through an epidural catheter. ⋯ There was no respiratory or cardiovascular depression detected in patients in either group. Nine patients in Group 1 and five patients in Group 2 had transient postoperative urinary retention that required catheterization. Only one patient in Group 1 had mild pruritus and three patients in Group 2 had nausea.
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Comparative Study
The rate of pseudarthrosis (surgical nonunion) in patients who are smokers and patients who are nonsmokers: a comparison study.
To investigate the relationship of smoking with the rate of pseudarthrosis (surgical nonunion), 50 patients, who were smokers, and 50 patients, who were not, and who had had a two-level laminectomy and fusion during 1977 and 1978 were randomly selected for this study. Most of those participating had sustained job-related injuries whereas the others had no common etiology for their back dysfunction. Most of the patients were from the southeastern United States. ⋯ It was hypothesized that the higher incidence of surgical nonunion among smokers may be related to blood gas levels. Nonsmokers showed no significant deficiencies, whereas smokers showed a mean PO2 level of 78.5% (normal = 95-97) and a mean O2 saturation level of 92.9% (normal = 95 or above). Implications and suggestions for further research are also discussed.