The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Surgical decompression is usually offered for improvement of neurogenic claudication in patients with symptomatic lumbar canal stenosis. These patients often have associated low back pain (LBP) and little is known about the effect of decompression on this symptom. ⋯ Alleviation of clinically significant LBP was observed at 3 months after lumbar decompression surgery for neurogenic claudication and was maintained at 12 and 24 months after surgery in the majority of patients.
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The involvement of neurotrophic factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) by treadmill training has been suggested. The precise mechanism is poorly understood. However, muscle-derived bioactive molecules (myokines) are known to be produced by muscle contraction. Although BDNF is a myokine and is considered to be a potential mediator of neuroplasticity following exercise, its contribution to motor function recovery after SCI has not yet been described in detail. ⋯ Our study provides experimental evidence for a possible therapeutic role of peripheral electrical muscle stimulation to enhance motor recovery after SCI.
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Review Meta Analysis
Selection pressures of vancomycin powder use in spine surgery: a meta-analysis.
Surgical site infection (SSI) is a serious and costly complication of spine surgery. Many surgeons apply vancomycin powder to the surgical wound to prevent SSIs. While multiple studies have reported reduced rates of SSI, others have suggested that widespread use of intrawound vancomycin may increase the incidence of vancomycin-resistant, gram-negative, or polymicrobial spinal infections. ⋯ Widespread use of prophylactic intrawound vancomycin may increase the incidence of gram-negative and polymicrobial SSIs. Vancomycin powder should likely be restricted to procedures and patients most at risk for infection.
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Cross-cultural adaptation of the Neck Pain and Disability Scale: a methodological systematic review.
Neck pain is a common and uncomfortable symptom, adversely affecting the work and life of those affected. The Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPDS) is widely used in neck pain assessment. It has been cross-culturally adapted into several languages to extend its reach to non-English-speaking countries. The aim of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the translation procedures and measurement properties of cross-cultural adaptations of the NPDS. ⋯ The Italian (publication 1 and 2), Persian-Iranian, simplified-Chinese-2011, and Thai adaptations show better quality than others with regard to cross-cultural adaptation and measurement properties. Further studies should fully assess the measurement properties of the NPDS in the Dutch (publication 1 and 2), Hindi-Indian, Korean-2013, simplified-Chinese-2010, Turkish-2004, and Turkish-2007 adaptations.
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Diabetes is a highly prevalent comorbid condition among patients undergoing spine surgery. Several studies have used legacy patient-reported outcome measures to implicate diabetes as a predictor of increased disability, pain, and decreased physical function and quality of life following spine surgery. The effect of diabetes on postoperative physical function has not yet been studied using the PROMIS Physical Function Computer Adaptive Test (PF CAT). ⋯ Diabetes is associated with lower PF CAT scores up to one year following lumbar spine surgery. However, many of these patients achieve meaningful improvement in physical function during this time. The PF CAT is consistent with legacy outcome measures in assessing outcomes in diabetic patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery, with an added benefit of decreased patient burden.