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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A small proportion of individuals with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) develop persistent problems. Up to 80% of the total costs for NSLBP are owing to chronic NSLBP. Psychosocial factors have been described to be important in the transition from acute to chronic NSLBP. Guidelines recommend the use of the Acute Low Back Pain Screening Questionnaire (ALBPSQ) and the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPSQ) to identify individuals at risk of developing persistent problems, such as long-term absence of work, persistent restriction in function or persistent pain. These instruments can be used with a cutoff value, where patients with values above the threshold are further assessed with a more comprehensive examination. ⋯ Thus, we do not recommend the use of one cutoff value, but the use of a prediction model with all the individual items.
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Even though transarticular screw (TAS) fixation has been commonly used for posterior C1-C2 arthrodesis in both traumatic and non-traumatic lesions, anterior TAS fixation C1-2 is a less invasive technique as compared with posterior TAS which produces significant soft tissue injury, and there were few reports on percutaneous anterior TAS fixation and microendoscopic bone graft for atlantoaxial instability. The goals of our study were to describe and evaluate a new technique for anterior TAS fixation of the atlantoaxial joints for traumatic atlantoaxial instability by analyzing radiographic and clinical outcomes. ⋯ Percutaneous anterior TAS fixation and microendoscopic bone graft could be an option for achieving C1-C2 stabilization with several potential advantages such as less tissue trauma and better accuracy. Bilateral TAS fixation and morselized autograft affords effective fixation and solid fusion by a minimally invasive approach.
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Cervical radiculopathy (CR) is a common diagnosis. It is unclear if intervention studies use uniform definitions and criteria for patient selection. Our objective was to assess the uniformity of diagnostic criteria and definitions used in intervention studies to select patients with CR. ⋯ Criteria used to select patients with CR vary widely between different intervention studies. Selection criteria and test methods used are poorly described. There is consensus on the presence of pain, but not on the exact location of pain.
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To examine if pre-injury health-related factors are associated with the subsequent report of whiplash, and more specifically, both whiplash and neck pain. ⋯ Impaired self-reported pre-injury health was strongly associated with the reporting of a whiplash trauma, especially in conjunction with neck pain. This may indicate that individuals have, already before the trauma, adopted an illness role or behaviour which is extended into and influence the report of a whiplash injury. The finding is in support of a functional somatic disorder model for whiplash.
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Various conservative interventions have been used for the treatment of non-specific neck pain. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the cost-effectiveness of conservative treatments for non-specific neck pain. ⋯ At present, the limited number of studies and the heterogeneity between studies warrant no definite conclusions on the cost-effectiveness of conservative treatments for non-specific neck pain.