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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Comparative Study
Physical activity level, leisure activities and related quality of life 1 year after lumbar decompression or total hip arthroplasty.
Lumbar decompression surgery (LDS) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) are frequently performed in the elderly population, but very little is known about their subsequent physical capacity and participation in leisure activities. Despite similar demographics and comorbidities, it is questionable whether LDS patients achieve equally high levels of physical capacity and quality of life postoperatively as do THA patients. The aim was to compare the physical activity level, participation in leisure activities and related quality of life 1 year after an LDS and THA procedure. ⋯ Despite being equally physically active and engaged in leisure activities, LDS patients did not achieve a quality of life comparable to that of THA patients 1 year postoperatively.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of a postural education program on school backpack habits related to low back pain in children.
Population based studies have demonstrated that children and adolescents often complain of low back pain. A group-randomized controlled trial was carried out to investigate the effects of a postural education program on school backpack habits related to low back pain in children aged 10-12 year. ⋯ The present study findings confirm that children are able to learn healthy backpack habits which might prevent future low back pain.
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Comparative Study
Does nuclear tissue infected with bacteria following disc herniations lead to Modic changes in the adjacent vertebrae?
To investigate the prevalence of infected herniated nucleus material in lumbar disc herniations and to determine if patients with an anaerobic infected disc are more likely to develop Modic change (MC) (bone oedema) in the adjacent vertebrae after the disc herniation. MCs (bone oedema) in vertebrae are observed in 6 % of the general population and in 35-40 % of people with low back pain. These changes are strongly associated with low back pain. There are probably a mechanical cause and an infective cause that causes MC. Several studies on nuclear tissue from herniated discs have demonstrated the presence of low virulent anaerobic microorganisms, predominantly Propionibacterium acnes, in 7-53 % of patients. At the time of a herniation these low virulent anaerobic bacteria may enter the disc and give rise to an insidious infection. Local inflammation in the adjacent bone may be a secondary effect due to cytokine and propionic acid production. ⋯ These findings support the theory that the occurrence of MCs Type 1 in the vertebrae adjacent to a previously herniated disc may be due to oedema surrounding an infected disc. The discs infected with anaerobic bacteria were more likely (P < 0.0038) to develop MCs in the adjacent vertebrae than those in which no bacteria were found or those in which aerobic bacteria were found.
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Comparative Study
The impact of body mass index and central obesity on the spino-pelvic parameters: a correlation study.
Obesity is an increasing problem of epidemic proportion, and it is associated with various musculoskeletal disorders, including impairment of the spine. However, the relationship between obesity and spino-pelvic parameters remains to date unsupported by an objective measurement of the mechanical behavior of the spino-pelvic parameters depending on body mass index (BMI) and the presence of central obesity. Such analysis may provide a deeper understanding of this relationship. ⋯ Despite the results did not reach statistically significant differences, the results indicate that the obese spine is slightly different from the non-obese spine. Therefore, this relationship deserves future attention.
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Comparative Study
Epidemiological survey of ossification of the ligamentum flavum in thoracic spine: CT imaging observation of 993 cases.
To investigate the characteristics of epidemiological distribution of the ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) in the thoracic spine including the incidence, segmental distribution, and shape. ⋯ The prevalence of ossification of the ligamentum flavum was highest in the 50-59 years group, but also occurred in early years. OLF occurs more frequently in the lower than in the upper and middle thoracic regions and its prevalence increases with aging.