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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Recurrent lumbar disk herniation (rLDH) following lumbar microdiscectomy is common. While several risk factors for primary LDH have been described, risk factors for rLDH have only sparsely been investigated. We evaluate the effect of Body mass index (BMI) and smoking on the incidence and timing of rLDH. ⋯ BMI and smoking may directly contribute to a higher risk of rLDH, but do not accelerate rLDH development. Smoking cessation and weight loss in overweight or obese patients ought to be recommended with discectomy to reduce the risk for rLDH.
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Various aspects of paraspinal muscle anatomy, biology, and histology have been studied; however, information on paraspinal muscle contractile function is almost nonexistent, thus hindering functional interpretation of these muscles in healthy individuals and those with low back disorders. The aim of this study was to measure and compare the contractile function and force-sarcomere length properties of muscle fibers from the multifidus (MULT) and erector spinae (ES) as well as a commonly studied lower limb muscle (Extensor digitorum longus (EDL)) in the rat. ⋯ This finding suggests that multifidus has faster cross-bridge turnover kinetics when compared to other muscles (ES and EDL) when matched for fiber type. Whether the faster cross-bridge kinetics translate to a functionally significant difference in whole muscle performance needs to be studied further.
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Review Meta Analysis
Outcomes of cauda equina syndrome due to lumbar disc herniation after surgical management and the factors affecting it: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 studies with 852 cases.
This study aimed to investigate the long-term clinical outcomes after surgical decompression in cauda equina syndrome (CES) and see if any preoperative patient-related factors contributed to this outcome. ⋯ The long-term outcomes of CES after decompression are enumerated. Decompression within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms appears to result in fewer patients with persistent bladder dysfunction. However, a randomized controlled trial is required to conclusively determine whether early decompression leads to better outcomes.
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To compare patient-reported 5-year clinical outcomes between laminectomy alone versus laminectomy with instrumented fusion in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy in a population-based cohort. ⋯ Instrumented fusions generated higher costs and were not associated with superior long-term clinical outcomes. These findings are based on a national cohort and can thus be regarded as generalizable.
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A close relationship between sagittal spinal alignment and hip osteoarthritis (OA) has been documented. This study aimed to examine the relationship between hip joint proximity area and sagittal balance parameters in healthy subjects. ⋯ The anterior proximity group had a positive anterior spinal balance; the posterior proximity group may have a more posterior gravity line than the hip joint centre. The anterior spinal balance may contribute to the anterior loading of the hip joint, with known relation with the initiation and onset of hip OA.