Articles: low-back-pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture for Chronic Discogenic Sciatica, a Randomized Controlled Sham Acupuncture Trial.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for discogenic sciatica. ⋯ Twelve sessions of acupuncture showed short-term clinical benefits in relieving the symptoms of leg pain for patients with chronic discogenic sciatica compared with sham acupuncture. Acupuncture is safe in treating chronic discogenic sciatica. Further studies with larger sample sizes, a longer treatment period, and long-term follow-up should be conducted to verify these results.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
A Novel Inextensible Endoscopic Tube Versus Traditional Extensible Retractor System in Single-Level Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Prospective Observation Study.
Currently, various retractor systems are widely used for access to the lumbar spine in minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). Nevertheless, studies concerning the comparison of extensible retractor and inextensible tube systems are quite rare. ⋯ Minimally invasive, endoscopic, lumbar interbody fusion, tubular, multifidus muscle.
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Many recommended nonpharmacologic therapies for patients with chronic spinal pain require visits to providers such as acupuncturists and chiropractors. Little information is available to inform third-party payers' coverage policies regarding ongoing use of these therapies. This study offers contingent valuation-based estimates of patient willingness to pay (WTP) for pain reductions from a large (n = 1,583) sample of patients using ongoing chiropractic care to manage their chronic low back and neck pain. ⋯ Comparing these WTP estimates with patients' actual use of chiropractic care over the next 3 months indicates that these patients are likely "buying" perceived pain reductions from what they believe their pain would have been if they didn't see their chiropractor-that is, they value maintenance of their current mild pain levels. These results provide some evidence for copay levels and their relationship to patient demand, but call into question ongoing coverage policies that require the documentation of continued improvement or of experienced clinical deterioration with treatment withdrawal. PERSPECTIVE: This study provides estimates of reported WTP for pain reduction from a large sample of patients using chiropractic care to manage their chronic spinal pain and compares these estimates to what these patients do for care over the next 3 months, to inform coverage policies for ongoing care.
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Paravertebral ozone injection is a new treatment method described in the literature for low back pain. The aim of this study was to compare the pre- and post-treatment pain scores of patients undergoing paravertebral ozone/oxygen (O3 /O2 ) injections for low back pain. ⋯ Paravertebral O3 /O2 gas is a reliable and effective treatment for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, radicular pain, and mechanical back pain due to low back pain.
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Few retrospective studies have addressed Modic changes (MC) following lumbar spine surgery, though it is usually assumed that MC increase in grade and incidence. To test this conventional wisdom, we investigated the natural course of MC following primary lumbar limited discectomy with two-year follow-up. In addition, a possible clinical relevance to those changes was assessed. ⋯ The pattern of Modic changes following lumbar limited discectomy is complex, not simply increasing. There is variable activity in MC Types 1 and 2 at the different time points of follow-up, and conversion from a higher grader to a lower one or vice versa is possible. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.