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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The purpose of the study was to investigate the consequences of recurrent non-specific low back pain in Zimbabwean adolescents. Recurrent non-specific low back pain is a common cause of adult disability in low-income countries. However, its impact in adolescents has been a matter of debate in the literature. ⋯ Although most parents are unaware, recurrent NSLBP is common in Zimbabwean school children. However, treatment is rarely sought for the symptoms. A preponderance of adolescents with recurrent NSLBP experiences some degree of functional consequences, although severe disability is rare. There is need to raise awareness of the condition in schools and to parents. Spinal health educational programmes may need to be implemented to avert the functional consequences. Further studies are needed in the future to investigate the coping strategies for pain in adolescents.
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Review Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Comparison of combined anterior-posterior approach versus posterior-only approach in treating adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a meta-analysis.
Choosing a surgical approach to treat adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is still controversial. To compare the effectiveness and safety of combined anterior-posterior approach to posterior-only approach, we conducted a meta-analysis. ⋯ Posterior-only approach can achieve similar coronal plane correction and percent-predicted FEV1 compared to combined anterior-posterior approach. The posterior approach even does better in sagittal correction in severe AIS patients. Significantly less complication rate, blood loss, operative time, length of hospital stay and better percent-predicted FVC are also achieved by posterior-only approach. Posterior-only approach seems to be effective and safe in treating AIS for experienced surgeons.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Selection of distal fusion level in posterior instrumentation and fusion of Scheuermann kyphosis: is fusion to sagittal stable vertebra necessary?
Distal junctional kyphosis (DJK) is a major instrumentation-related complication after the surgical correction of Scheuermann kyphosis (SK). The exact criteria to avoid DJK have been controversial. It has been recommended to include the SSV into the fusion by some authors, while others suggest that fusion to FLV is sufficient. The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of DJK in relation to distal fusion level selection in SK surgery by investigating the relationship between the sagittal stable vertebra (SSV), first lordotic vertebra (FLV), and the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV). ⋯ Proper selection of distal fusion level is important in order to prevent DJK after SK surgery. According to this study, it is not necessary to extend the fusion down to the SSV. Fusion to FLV is sufficient and saves a level.
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Juvenile scoliosis (JS), among different types of spinal deformity, remains still a challenge for orthopedic surgeons. Elongation, derotation and flexion (EDF) casting technique is a custom-made thoracolumbar cast based on a three-dimensional correction concept. The primary objective of the present study was to measure changes on plain radiographs of patients with JS treated with EDF plaster technique. The second aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the EDF plaster technique realized under general anesthesia (GA) and neuromuscular blocking drugs, i.e. curare, on the radiological curve correction. ⋯ Preliminary results show EDF casting is effective in controlling the curve in both frontal (Cobb's angle) and transverse plane (rib vertebral angle and apical vertebral rotation degree).
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The prevalence of spondylolysis reported from radiograph-based studies has been questioned in recent computed tomography (CT)-based studies in adults; however, no new data are available in pediatric patients. Spina bifida occulta (SBO), which has been associated to spondylolysis, may be increasing its prevalence, according to recent studies in adults in the last decades, but without new data in pediatric patients. We aimed to determine the prevalence of spondylolysis and SBO in pediatric patients using abdomen and pelvis CT as a screening tool. ⋯ We observed a 3.5 % prevalence of spondylolysis and a 41.2 % prevalence of SBO. SBO was significantly more frequent in males and younger patients.