The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Treatment of unstable burst fractures in the dorsolumbar spine still remains controversial. Surgical stabilization has been aimed to prevent long-term back pain and progression of deformity. ⋯ There is a progressive loss of correction of the angle of kyphosis after posterior stabilization with instrumentation even without implant removal that mainly corresponds to the decrease in the anterior segment height of the fractured vertebral body.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Sex life and sexual function in men and women before and after total disc replacement compared with posterior lumbar fusion.
Sex life and sexual function may be affected by low back pain (LBP). Sexual dysfunction after anterior lumbar fusion is reported in both men and women, but focus is mainly on impaired male biological function (retrograde ejaculation) as this may cause infertility. This has led to concern as to whether anterior surgery should be employed in men, at least in younger age groups. ⋯ Impairment of sex life appears to be related to CLBP. An improvement in sex life after TDR or lumbar fusion was positively correlated to a reduction in LBP. Total disc replacement in this study, performed through an anterior retroperitoneal approach, was not associated with greater sexual dysfunction compared with instrumented lumbar fusion performed either as a PLF or as a PLIF. Sexual function, expressed as orgasm, deteriorated in men in the Fusion group postoperatively, in spite of this group reporting less LBP after 2 years.
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Although several authors have already reported on the high local recurrence rate of sacral chordomas after surgical resection, there are no reports on the risk factors for recurrence after resection when combined with preoperative tumor-related blood vessel embolism by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) technique. ⋯ Higher tumor location and higher expressions of PCNA and bFGF will lead to a shorter CDFS. Resecting the tumor as completely as possible will decrease the chances of local recurrence of sacral chordomas.
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Practice Guideline
An evidence-based clinical guideline for the use of antithrombotic therapies in spine surgery.
The objective of the North American Spine Society (NASS) Evidence-Based Clinical Guideline on antithrombotic therapies in spine surgery was to provide evidence-based recommendations to address key clinical questions surrounding the use of antithrombotic therapies in spine surgery. The guideline is intended to address these questions based on the highest quality clinical literature available on this subject as of February 2008. The goal of the guideline recommendations was to assist in delivering optimum, efficacious treatment with the goal of preventing thromboembolic events. ⋯ A clinical guideline addressing the use of antithrombotic therapies in spine surgery has been created using the techniques of evidence-based medicine and using the best available evidence as a tool to assist spine surgeons in minimizing the risk of DVT and PE. The entire guideline document, including the evidentiary tables, suggestions for future research, and all references, is available electronically at the NASS Web site (www.spine.org) and will remain updated on a timely schedule.
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Factors associated with variability in length of sick leave because of acute low back pain in Chile.
Acute low back pain (LBP) is a frequent cause of physician visits and sick leave. Patients with longer sick leave account for most costs associated with LBP. Most research on risk factors for prolonged sick leave because of LBP has been done in Anglo-Saxon or Northern European populations with occupational LBP. Few studies have been conducted in less affluent Latin countries. ⋯ Physicians who treat patients with LBP should be aware of these variables associated with longer sick leave because of acute LBP, which represents a significant burden to any society and is an important epidemiologic problem.