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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Modic changes (MC) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been associated with the development and severity of low back pain (LBP). The etiology of MC remains elusive, but it has been suggested that altered metabolism may be a risk factor. As such, this study aimed to identify metabolomic biomarkers for MC phenotypes of the lumbar spine via a combined metabolomic-genomic approach. ⋯ This large-scale study is the first to address metabolomics in subject with/without lumbar MC. Causality studies implicate VLDL related to MC, noting a metabolic etiology. Our study substantiates the field of "spino-metabolomics" and illustrates the power of integrating metabolomics-genomics-imaging phenotypes to discover biomarkers for spinal disorders, paving the way for more personalized spine care for patients.
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The objective of this study was to identify and evaluate the value of prognostic factors related to disability, pain and quality of life (QoL) for adult patients undergoing lumbar spine fusion surgery (LSFS). ⋯ No moderate to high certainty evidence exists. Use of leg pain and pre-operative working may be valuable predictors of outcome to inform clinical decision-making and advice regarding LSFS surgery. There is need for adequately powered low-risk-of-bias prospective observational studies to further investigate candidate prognostic factors.
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Anterior thoracolumbar (TL) surgical approaches provide more direct trajectories compared to posterior approaches. Proper patient selection is key in identifying populations that may benefit from anterior TL fusion. Here, we utilize predictive analytics to identify risk factors in anterior TL fusion in patients with trauma and deformity. ⋯ Patient-specific risk factors in anterior TL fusion surgery significantly influence complication rates. An understanding of relevant risk factors before surgery may facilitate preoperative patient selection and postoperative patient triage and risk categorization.