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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Lumbar laminectomy affects spinal stability in shear loading. However, the effects of laminectomy on torsion biomechanics are unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of laminectomy on torsion stiffness and torsion strength of lumbar spinal segments following laminectomy and whether these biomechanical parameters are affected by disc degeneration and bone mineral density (BMD). ⋯ Laminectomy affects both torsion stiffness and torsion load to failure. In addition, torsional strength is strongly affected by BMD whereas disc degeneration affects torsional stiffness. Assessment of disc degeneration and BMD pre-operatively improves the understanding of the biomechanical effects of a lumbar laminectomy.
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Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure elevation may worsen spinal cord ischaemia after spinal cord injury (SCI). We developed a rat model to investigate relationships between CSF pressure and spinal cord blood flow (SCBF). ⋯ Our rat model allows SCBF and CSF pressure measurements after induced SCI. After SCI, CSF pressure significantly increases.
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Editorial Comment
Antibiotics a cure for back pain, a false dawn or a new era?
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Comparative Study
The predictive and external validity of the STarT Back Tool in Danish primary care.
The STarT Back Tool (SBT) was recently translated into Danish and its concurrent validity described. This study tested the predictive validity of the Danish SBT. ⋯ The Danish SBT distinguished between low- and medium-risk subgroups with a similar predictive ability of the UK SBT. That distinction is useful information for informing patients about their expected prognosis and may help guiding clinicians' choice of treatment. However, cross-cultural differences in the SBT psychosocial subscale may reduce the predictive ability of the high-risk subgroup in Danish primary care.