The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Previous research has failed to identify strong consistent risk factors for low back pain (LBP). A plausible solution is to conduct hypothesis-generating studies, such as twin case-control surveys. ⋯ Twins attributed the differences in LBP history to risk factors related to physical workload. Future studies investigating the risk factors for LBP should include valid and comprehensive assessments of these factors.
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Some, smaller studies have investigated the effect of preoperative depression on postoperative improvement in quality of life (QOL). However, they have not used the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) in self-reported depression. ⋯ Increased preoperative pain and depression were shown to be associated with significantly reduced improvement in postoperative QOL, as measured by the EQ-5D.
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Atlantoaxial anterior transarticular screw fixation: a case series and reappraisal of the technique.
Atlantoaxial instability is commonly treated with C1-C2 fixation performed via posterior approaches. Although anterior transarticular screw (ATS) fixation, performed with a classic retropharyngeal approach, was described more than 10 years ago, the published literature still lacks a comprehensive analysis of the procedure and a real case series. ⋯ Although the procedure is still not widely known, ATS allows the effective and safe treatment of C1-C2 instability even in patients with systemic comorbidities. It offers several advantages over posterior approaches.
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Fusionless scoliosis surgery is frequently performed in children. Many studies have analyzed the effects of spinal growth modulation by tethering the anterior and anterolateral aspects of the spine in animal models. However, few studies have reported the disc health and spinal motion in spines with posterior unilateral elastic tethering. ⋯ Unilateral elastic tethering resulted in vertebral wedging and scoliosis. Although changes in collagen and MMP-3 distribution, proteoglycan synthesis, end-plate epiphysis, and disc thickness were observed, the tethered discs and end plates did not demonstrate gross morphologic signs of degeneration.
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Review Meta Analysis
Association of rs11190870 near LBX1 with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in East Asians: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The rs11190870 single nucleotide polymorphism in the 3'-flanking region of the LBX1 gene has been implicated in the etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). A thorough appraisal of the evidence supporting this association has not been previously attempted. ⋯ Based on a comprehensive analysis of the currently available evidence, rs11190870 is likely a susceptibility variant for AIS in East Asians. Further investigation of this association is necessary in other populations.