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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The evaluation of lumbar spine degeneration on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is prone to inter-reader variability, including when assessing foraminal changes. This variability, often due to subjective criteria and inconsistent terminology, may affect clinical correlations. Standardized criteria could help improve agreement among readers. ⋯ Levels of agreement can differ depending on the scale used. Simpler dichotomous scales may return higher levels of agreement compared to more complex ones. For the non-dichotomous scales, using different scales may not result in overall different levels of agreement. Given the overall low inter-rater agreements observed, there is probably significant potential to enhance agreement through more rigorous training and consensus-building.
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To characterize the type, content, and results of care interventions that support spine surgery patients in their early post-discharge recovery. ⋯ The included studies demonstrated diverse interventions across settings, populations, interventions, controls, follow-up times, and outcome measures. This variability suggests unclear patient needs and preferences for post-discharge care. Given the heterogeneity and overall study quality, further high-quality research is essential. Future studies should prioritize identifying these needs before intervention design.
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To evaluate incidental lumbar durotomy incidence and risk-factors, and the association of durotomy with perioperative metrics and patient-reported outcomes. ⋯ Dural tears are often under-reported and are associated with longer hospital stay, increased operative time, and rare perioperative complications which increase healthcare costs. Dural tears did not, however, detrimentally affect patient-reported disability or pain outcomes.
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Evaluate the validity of rasterstereography compared to low-dose, biplanar spine radiography for assessing thoracic kyphosis (TK) angles in Scheuermann's disease patients. ⋯ Rasterstereography is a reliable means of quantifying TK angles in Scheuermann's disease patients. It could directly reduce the number of radiographic scans patients need over time, minimising their radiation exposure.