The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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The role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in neurologically intact cervical spine fractures is not well defined. To our knowledge, there are no studies that clearly identify the indications for MRI in this particular scenario. Controversy remains regarding the use of MRI in at-risk patients, primarily the obtunded and elderly patients. ⋯ Older age (>60 years), obtunded or temporary non-assessable status, cervical spondylosis, polytrauma, and neurologic deficit are predisposing factors for further injury found on MRI but missed on computed tomographic scan alone. These additional findings can affect the management in acute cervical spine fractures. The rational of the on-call spine surgeon to order an MRI for a cervical spine fracture is well founded and often that MRI will affect the fracture management. Magnetic resonance imaging particularly helps with better defining the type of spinal cord compression. Picking up occult instability missed on computed tomographic scan was possible with MRI but not as common.
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Psychological factors are believed to influence the development of chronic low back pain. To date, it is not known how fear-avoidance beliefs (FABs) influence the treatment efficacy in low back pain. ⋯ Evidence suggests that FABs are associated with poor treatment outcome in patients with LBP of less than 6 months, and thus early treatment, including interventions to reduce FABs, may avoid delayed recovery and chronicity. Patients with high FABs are more likely to improve when FABs are addressed in treatments than when these beliefs are ignored, and treatment strategies should be modified if FABs are present.
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Review
Catastrophizing-a prognostic factor for outcome in patients with low back pain: a systematic review.
Psychological factors including catastrophizing thoughts are believed to influence the development of chronic low back pain (LBP). ⋯ There is some evidence that catastrophizing as a coping strategy might lead to delayed recovery. The influence of catastrophizing in patients with LBP is not fully established and should be further investigated. Of particular importance is the establishment of cutoff levels for identifying patients at risk.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Orthosis versus no orthosis for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures without neurologic injury: a multicenter prospective randomized equivalence trial.
Thoracolumbar burst fractures have good outcomes when treated with early ambulation and orthosis (TLSO). If equally good outcomes could be achieved with early ambulation and no brace, resource utilization would be decreased, especially in developing countries where prolonged bed rest is the default option because bracing is not available or affordable. ⋯ Treating these fractures using early ambulation without a brace avoids the cost and patient deconditioning associated with a brace and complications and costs associated with long-term bed rest if a TLSO or body cast is not available.
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the standard imaging modality for the assessment of cervical spinal cord; however, MRI assessment of the spinal cord in cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients has not demonstrated a consistent association with neurologic function or outcome after surgical or medical intervention. Thus, there is a need for sensitive imaging biomarkers that can predict functional impairment in patients with advanced cervical spondylosis. ⋯ The results of this study support the potential use of DTI as a biomarker for predicting functional impairment in patients with cervical spondylosis.