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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Grading inter-vertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is important in the evaluation of many degenerative conditions, including patients with low back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the best imaging instrument to evaluate IDD. The Pfirrmann classification is commonly used to grade IDD; the authors describing this classification showed an adequate agreement using it; however, there has been a paucity of independent agreement studies using this grading system. The aim of this study was to perform an independent inter- and intra-observer agreement study using the Pfirrmann classification. ⋯ In this independent study, the Pfirrmann classification demonstrated an adequate agreement among different observers and by the same observer on separate occasions. Furthermore, it allows communication between radiologists and spine surgeons.
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The aim was to elucidate elite swimming's possible influence on lumbar disc degeneration (DD) and low back pain (LBP). ⋯ Elite swimmers and controls had similar prevalence of DD and LBP, although the pattern of DD differed between the groups. In case of DD, swimmers reported less LBP, although N.S.
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To present three identified novel COL2A1 mutations causing spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SEDC) in three unrelated Chinese families, and perform analysis regarding the clinical and genetic features of SEDC in the Chinese population through assessment of the literature. ⋯ Our study contributed to the further expansion of the COL2A1 mutation spectrum and provided more information concerning SEDC in the Chinese population through literature review.
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To clarify the significance of Modic changes, bony endplate lesions, and disc degeneration as predictors of chronic low back pain (LBP) during 1-year follow-up. ⋯ In patients with chronic non-specific LBP, persisting M1, decreasing disc height, and increasing bony endplate lesions associated with persisting pain while decrease of SI of the disc with decrease of pain. Such changing MRI findings in the same disc space have earlier been shown to progress abnormally fast. They may be signs or biomarkers of a prolonged pain causing, deforming degenerative process, and should lead to considering early intervention or specific treatments to affect that process.
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The present study investigated the percentage of low back pain (LBP) patients who have depressive symptoms and neuropathic pain and analyzed the effects of these on the quality of life (QOL) in these patients. ⋯ Both the depressed patients and those with neuropathic LBP had a higher level of pain, greater pain-related disability, and poorer QOL compared with nondepressed patients. This is the first study to use the SDS-Zung and PDQ-J screening questionnaires to estimate the presence of neuropathic pain associated with depressive symptoms in LBP patients and to evaluate the impact of these on QOL.