European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Spondylotic cervical cord compression detected by imaging methods is a prerequisite for the clinical diagnosis of spondylotic cervical myelopathy (SCM). Little is known about the spontaneous course and prognosis of clinically "silent" presymptomatic spondylotic cervical cord compression (P-SCCC). The aim of the present study was to update a previously published model predictive for the development of clinically symptomatic SCM, and to assess the early and late risks of this event in a larger cohort of P-SCCC subjects. ⋯ In conclusion, electrophysiological abnormalities of cervical cord dysfunction together with clinical signs of cervical radiculopathy and MRI hyperintensity are useful predictors of early progression into symptomatic SCM in patients with P-SCCC. Electrophysiological evaluation of cervical cord dysfunction in patients with cervical radiculopathy or back pain is valuable. Meticulous follow-up is justified in high-risk P-SCCC cases.
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Physiological and psychological mechanisms have been proposed to link stress and musculoskeletal pain (MSP), and a number of stress biomarkers in patients with chronic pain have shown to be associated with stress-related disorders as well as health and recovery. The aim was to study if similar results might be found in a working population, in stress and computer intensive occupations with mild/moderate pain in neck, shoulder and back. The questions were if there are: (1) associations between self rated neck, shoulder and back pain (VAS) on one hand and stress-related (catabolic), recovery related (anabolic) variables, cardiovascular/lifestyle factors and immune markers on the other hand. (2) associations between long term changes in pain and stress marker values (6 month period). (3) predictive values in stress biomarkers for pain (12 month period) A study group with 121 media workers, 67 males (average 45 years) and 53 females (average 43 years), at three news departments of a media company was recruited. ⋯ The levels of NPY, albumin, GH and HDL increased when pain decreased and vice versa. Low DHEA-S predicted pain 12 months later. These findings might contribute to increased knowledge about strategies to prevent further progression of neck/shoulder/back pain in persons who are "not yet in chronic pain".
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Subsidence of various constructs into the vertebral body is a well-known complication in anterior fusion. Information on bone structure is needed, as a basis for improving these procedures. There are, however, no data available on the distribution of mineral density within vertebral endplates. ⋯ The mineralization distribution showed characteristic reproducible patterns. The maximal values occurred in the posterolateral parts, and can thus be considered a morphological substrate of high long-term loading. This can serve as a basis for improved prosthesis design and the anchorage point for various fusion techniques.
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The aim of this study is to explore the occurrence and the risk factors of back-related loss of working time in patients undergoing surgery for lumbar disc herniation. One hundred and fifty-two gainfully employed patients underwent surgery for lumbar disc herniation. Two months postoperatively, those patients completed a self-report questionnaire including queries on back and leg pain (VAS), functional capacity (Oswestry disability index--ODI, version 1.0), and motivation to work. ⋯ Multivariate analysis showed ODI > 20, leg pain, and poor motivation to work to be the risk factors for extension of work disability. Results of the present study show that after the lumbar disc surgery, poor outcome in questionnaire measures the physical functioning (ODI) and leg pain at 2 months postoperatively, as well as poor motivation to work, are associated with the loss of working time. Patients with unfavourable prognosis should be directed to rehabilitation before the loss of employment.
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Genetic factors seem to play a role in symptomatic lumbar disc disease (LDD). It has been shown previously that a tryptophan mutation of the COL9A2 gene is a major risk factor for LDD in a Finish population. The impact of collagen gene variations on the relapse rate after lumbar discectomy, however, has not been studied so far. ⋯ However, nine patients with recurrent LDD, but only two without recurrence were homozygous for the Arg allele. Homozygosity for the Arg allele of Col9A2 seems to be more frequent in the patient group with early recurrence although the differences in the allele frequencies were statistically not significant. In contrast, the Trp2 mutation seems not to be a major susceptibility factor for LDD in a German population.