The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Nonsurgical rehabilitation therapy is a commonly used strategy to treat chronic low back pain (LBP). The selection of the most appropriate therapeutic options is still a big challenge in clinical practices. Surface electromyography (sEMG) topography has been proposed to be an objective assessment of LBP rehabilitation. The quantitative analysis of dynamic sEMG would provide an objective tool of prognosis for LBP rehabilitation. ⋯ The quantitative time-varying analysis of sEMG topography showed significant difference between the healthy and LBP groups. The discrepancies in quantitative dynamic sEMG topography of LBP group from normal group, in terms of RA and RW of RMSD at flexion and extension, were able to identify those LBP subjects who would respond to a conservative rehabilitation program focused on functional restoration of lumbar muscle.
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Abnormal pretreatment flexion-relaxation in chronic disabling occupational lumbar spinal disorder patients has been shown to improve with functional restoration rehabilitation. Little is known about the effects of prior lumbar surgeries on flexion-relaxation and its responsiveness to treatment. ⋯ Despite the fact that the patients with prior surgery demonstrated greater pretreatment SEMG and ROM deficits, functional restoration treatment, combined with SEMG-assisted stretching training, was successful in improving all these measures by post-treatment. After treatment, both groups demonstrated ROM within anticipated limits, and the majority of patients in all three groups successfully achieved flexion-relaxation. In a chronic disabling occupational lumbar spinal disorder cohort, surgery patients were nearly equal to nonoperated patients in responding to interdisciplinary functional restoration rehabilitation on measures investigated in this study, achieving close to normal performance measures associated with pain-free controls. The responsiveness and final scores shown in this study suggests that flexion-relaxation may be a useful, objective diagnostic tool to measure changes in physical capacity for chronic disabling occupational lumbar spinal disorder patients.
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In patients affected by cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), numerous authors have reported the existence of a relationship among the intramedullary high signal intensity in T2-weighted MRIs, preoperative neurologic severity, and neurologic recovery after surgery; however, to our knowledge, there have been no previous reports that have described its relationship in patients with atlanto-axial subluxation (AAS) owing to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ Preoperative ISHI in T2-weighted MRIs in RA-induced AAS patients was demonstrated in patients showing an enlargement of the ADD and a narrowing of the SAC. This affected the preoperative neurologic severity, but not the postoperative severity, which was in contrast to CSM patients. Furthermore, the regression or disappearance of ISHI was demonstrated in all of the cases after surgery. It is therefore speculated that RA AAS patients may have both dynamic instability and stenosis.
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Postoperative paresis, so-called C5 palsy, of the upper extremities is a common complication of cervical surgery. There have been several reports about upper extremity palsy after cervical laminoplasty for patients with cervical myelopathy. However, the possible risk factors remain unclear. ⋯ Patients with preoperative foraminal stenosis, OPLL, and additional iatrogenic foraminal stenosis because of CLP+PIF were more likely to develop postoperative upper extremity palsy. Attention should be given to the WIF determined on preoperative computed tomography of the C5 root. To prevent iatrogenic foraminal stenosis, appropriate distraction between spine segments should be provided during placement of the rod.
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Traditional focal debridement involves clearing of cold abscesses, caseous necrosis, residual intervertebral disc tissue, sinus tracts, bony sequestration, and inflammatory granulation. Reports have demonstrated that approximately 13% to 26% of patients were not better or relapsed after traditional focal debridement; these patients required a second surgery or prolonged antituberculous therapy. The presence of retained and diseased focal tissues requiring removal remains poorly understood. The contents of these retained tuberculous foci, improvement of surgical strategies, and improvement in spinal tuberculosis success rate are key subjects for discussion. ⋯ Sclerotic bone, multiple cavities, and bony bridges are foci in spinal tuberculosis. Clearing tuberculous foci, sclerotic bone, multiple cavities, and bony bridges to increase the curative effect is an effective treatment method.