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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Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a common health condition worldwide and a leading cause of disability with an estimated lifetime prevalence of 80-90% in industrialized countries. However, we have had limited success in treating cLBP likely due to its non-specific heterogeneous nature that goes beyond detectable anatomical changes. We propose that omics technologies as precision medicine tools are well suited to provide insight into its pathophysiology and provide diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. Therefore, in this review, we explore the current state of omics technologies in the diagnosis and classification of cLBP. We identify factors that may serve as markers to differentiate between acute and chronic cases of low back pain (LBP). Finally, we also discuss some challenges that must be overcome to successfully apply precision medicine to the diagnosis and treatment of cLBP. ⋯ Omics technologies have identified associations between inflammatory and pain pathways in the pathophysiology of cLBP. However, in order to integrate information across the range of studies, it is important for the field to identify and adopt standardized definitions of cLBP and control patients. Additionally, most papers have applied a single omics method to a sampling of cLBP patients which have yielded limited insight into the pathophysiology of cLBP. Therefore, we recommend a multi-omics approach applied to large global consortia for advancing subphenotyping and better management of cLBP, via improved identification of diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.
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To discuss the effect of posterior instrumented deformity correction and fusion on the progressive endochondral ossification of anterior vertebral body in a patient with congenital kyphosis secondary to type 1 vertebral anomaly. ⋯ Diagnostic: individual cross-sectional studies with the consistently applied reference standard and blinding.
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Primary sacral tumors are rare, representing fewer than 7% of spinal neoplasms. Following total sacrectomy, lumbopelvic instrumentation and fusion carries a high risk of non-union with no current consensus on fixation techniques to augment bony defects. We aim to describe the outcome of a reconstruction technique following total sacrectomy whereby lumbopelvic shortening is performed and the posterior pelvic ring is compressed to enable contact with the native L5 vertebra. ⋯ Primary lumbopelvic shortening represents an alternative local autograft reconstructive technique for management of large sacral defects following total sacrectomy. This technique obviates the additional morbidity and surgical cost associated with the use of previously described techniques.
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To propose an alternative method of surgical technique to address gibbus deformity in meningomyelocele with open wound simultaneously. ⋯ Ilizarov kyphectomy technique is an alternative procedure that can provide a safe and effactive method to address severe kyphosis deformity with skin breakdown. However, a comparison should be drawn to other procedures, while including more patients with longer follow-up.