Imaging the Back Pain Patient

Navigation-Assisted Full-Endoscopic Radiofrequency Rhizotomy Versus Fluoroscopy-Guided Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation for Sacroiliac Joint Pain Treatment: Comparative Study

Objective: Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain is a common cause of chronic low back pain. Full-endoscopic rhizotomy of lateral branches of dorsal rami innervating SIJ is a potential option for patients’ refractory to medical treatment. The full-endoscopic rhizotomy is sometimes challenging under fluoroscopic guidance. This study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the navigation-assisted full-endoscopic rhizotomy for SIJ pain.Methods: The study was a retrospective match-paired study that enrolled consecutive patients undergoing navigation-assisted full-endoscopic rhizotomy for SIJ pain. The patient demographics, clinical outcomes, and operative parameters of endoscopic rhizotomy were compared with conventional cooled radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment.Results: The study enrolled 72 patients, including 36 patients in the endoscopic group. Thirty-six patients in the cooled RFA group were matched by age as the control. The follow-up time was at least 1 year. Patient characteristics were similar between the groups. The navigation-assisted endoscopic rhizotomy operation time was significantly longer than the cooled RFA. The visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) significantly decreased after each treatment. However, the between-group comparison revealed that the VAS and ODI of the patients after endoscopic rhizotomy were significantly lower than those after the cooled RFA group. There were no postoperative complications in the study.Conclusion: Navigation-assisted full-endoscopic rhizotomy is an alternative to SIJ pain treatment. Integrating intraoperative navigation can ensure accurate full-endoscopic rhizotomy to provide better durability of pain relief than the cooled RFA.

A Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and SPECT-CT Imaging in Complex Spine Pathology: Does SPECT-CT Provide Additional Diagnostic Information Over Magnetic Resonance Imaging?

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is often regarded as the gold standard for spinal pathology, as it provides good structural visualisation. SPECT-CT, however, provides combined structural and functional information. There is a paucity of literature comparing SPECT-CT with MRI in the spine. Our aim was to determine whether SPECT-CT provides additional information to MRI in individuals with complex spinal pathology, including deformity, which altered management.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of all individuals seen at our tertiary spinal unit that were investigated with both MRI and SPECT-CT of the spine between 2007-2020. We reviewed imaging reports, and collated diagnoses, surgical treatment and the relative contributions of MRI and SPECT-CT to management decisions.

RESULTS

104 individuals identified, with a mean age of 30 years (89 females and 15 males). Diagnostic categories were adolescent, adult, and congenital deformity, degenerative pathology, and miscellaneous pathology. MRI returned positive findings in 58 (55.8%), and SPECT-CT in 41 (39.4%) cases. SPECT-CT identified 10 cases of facet joint degeneration, 5 of increased uptake around metalwork suggestive of loosening, 1 pseudoarthrosis, 1 partial failure of fusion and 1 osteoid osteoma which were not reported on MRI, all in individuals who had previously undergone spinal instrumentation. Despite this, SPECT-CT only altered management for 6 individuals (5.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

MRI is less useful in the setting of previous instrumentation due to metal artefact. Where MRI is inconclusive, particularly in individuals with previous spinal instrumentation, SPECT-CT may provide a diagnosis, but is not recommended as primary imaging.

Assessment and nonsurgical management of low back pain: a narrative review

Low back pain (LBP) is a common condition that affects people of all ages and income levels worldwide. The etiology of LBP may be mechanical, neuropathic, systemic, referred visceral, or secondary to other causes. Despite numerous studies, the diagnosis and management of LBP remain challenging due to the complex biomechanics of the spine and confounding factors, such as trivial degenerative imaging findings irrelevant to symptoms and psychological and emotional factors. However, it is imperative to identify the crucial signs ("red flags") indicating a serious underlying condition. While many recent guidelines emphasize non-pharmacologic management approaches, such as education, reassurance, and physical and psychological care, as the first option, LBP patients in many countries, including South Korea, are prescribed medications. Multidisciplinary rehabilitation combined with prudent use of medications is required in patients unresponsive to first-line therapy. The development of practical guidelines apposite for South Korea is needed with multidisciplinary discussion.

Multi-muscle deep learning segmentation to automate the quantification of muscle fat infiltration in cervical spine conditions

Muscle fat infiltration (MFI) has been widely reported across cervical spine disorders. The quantification of MFI requires time-consuming and rater-dependent manual segmentation techniques. A convolutional neural network (CNN) model was trained to segment seven cervical spine muscle groups (left and right muscles segmented separately, 14 muscles total) from Dixon MRI scans (n = 17, 17 scans < 2 weeks post motor vehicle collision (MVC), and 17 scans 12 months post MVC). The CNN MFI measures demonstrated high test reliability and accuracy in an independent testing dataset (n = 18, 9 scans < 2 weeks post MVC, and 9 scans 12 months post MVC). Using the CNN in 84 participants with scans < 2 weeks post MVC (61 females, 23 males, age = 34.2 ± 10.7 years) differences in MFI between the muscle groups and relationships between MFI and sex, age, and body mass index (BMI) were explored. Averaging across all muscles, females had significantly higher MFI than males (p = 0.026). The deep cervical muscles demonstrated significantly greater MFI than the more superficial muscles (p < 0.001), and only MFI within the deep cervical muscles was moderately correlated to age (r > 0.300, p ≤ 0.001). CNN's allow for the accurate and rapid, quantitative assessment of the composition of the architecturally complex muscles traversing the cervical spine. Acknowledging the wider reports of MFI in cervical spine disorders and the time required to manually segment the individual muscles, this CNN may have diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive value in disorders of the cervical spine.

Neuroimaging of Spinal Cord and Cauda Equina Disorders

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article reviews the neuroimaging of disorders of the spinal cord and cauda equina, with a focus on MRI. An anatomic approach is used; diseases of the extradural, intradural-extramedullary, and intramedullary (parenchymal) compartments are considered, and both neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions are covered. Differentiating imaging features are highlighted.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although T2-hyperintense signal abnormality of the spinal cord can have myriad etiologies, neuroimaging can provide specific diagnoses or considerably narrow the differential diagnosis in many cases. Intradural-extramedullary lesions compressing the spinal cord have a limited differential diagnosis and are usually benign; meningiomas and schwannomas are most common. Extradural lesions can often be specifically diagnosed. Disk herniations are the most commonly encountered mass of the epidural space. Cervical spondylotic myelopathy can cause a characteristic pattern of enhancement, which may be mistaken for an intrinsic myelopathy. A do-not-miss diagnosis of the extradural compartment is idiopathic spinal cord herniation, the appearance of which can overlap with arachnoid cysts and webs. Regarding intrinsic causes of myelopathy, the lesions of multiple sclerosis are characteristically short segment but can be confluent when multiple. Postcontrast MRI can be particularly helpful, including when attempting to differentiate the long-segment myelopathy of neurosarcoidosis and aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-IgG-seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and when characterizing spinal cord tumors such as primary neoplasms and metastases. Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula is another do-not-miss diagnosis, with characteristic MRI features both precontrast and postcontrast. Tract-specific white matter involvement can be a clue for diseases such as subacute combined degeneration, paraneoplastic myelopathy, and radiation myelitis, whereas gray matter-specific involvement can suggest conditions such as cord infarct, viral myelitis, or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-IgG associated disorder.

SUMMARY

Knowledge of the neuroimaging findings of the many causes of spinal cord and cauda equina dysfunction is critical for both neurologists and neuroradiologists. A structured approach to lesion compartmental location and imaging feature characterization is recommended.

Percutaneous pulsed radiofrequency treatment of dorsal root ganglion for treatment of lumbar facet syndrome

OBJECTIVES

Percutaneous radiofrequency denervation of the medial dorsal branch is often used for treatment of chronic low back pain originating from intervertebral facets, which is sometimes associated with a low success rate and a higher incidence of recurrence of pain. We theorized that implementing pulsed radiofrequency treatment to dorsal root ganglion would increase the probability of successful pain relief.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

150 patients diagnosed with CLBP of a confirmed facet origin were included in a prospective randomized controlled trial and were randomly divided into three equal groups, the first was submitted to percutaneous pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the dorsal root ganglia, the second underwent percutaneous radiofrequency denervation of the medial dorsal branch and the third was a control group that did not receive any radiofrequency treatment. Local injection of a mixture of local anesthetic and a steroid was given to the three groups. Cases were followed for a maximum of 3 years.

RESULTS

98 (65.3 %) patients were females. By 3 months' post procedure, improvement in VAS was significantly better than pretreatment levels in all groups (p= 0.026); the pulsed radiofrequency treatment group, however, had significantly better incidence of improvement when compared to the other two groups (p= 0.014).The control group lost improvement by 1-year follow-up (p=0.63). At 2 years' follow-up, the pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the dorsal root ganglia group maintained significant improvement (p= 0.041) whereas the medial branch denervation group lost its significant effect (p=0.32).By the end of follow-up period, only pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the dorsal root ganglia group kept significant improvement (p=0.044).

CONCLUSION

In CLBP of facet origin, pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the dorsal root ganglia provides both a higher incidence as well as an extended period of pain relief compared to radiofrequency ablation of the medial dorsal branch of the facet joint.

Assessing the spatial distribution of cervical spinal cord activity during tactile stimulation of the upper extremity in humans with functional magnetic resonance imaging

Dermatomal maps are a mainstay of clinical practice and provide information on the spatial distribution of the cutaneous innervation of spinal nerves. Dermatomal deficits can help isolate the level of spinal nerve root involvement in spinal conditions and guide clinicians in diagnosis and treatment. Dermatomal maps, however, have limitations, and the spatial distribution of spinal cord sensory activity in humans remains to be quantitatively assessed. Here we used spinal cord functional MRI to map and quantitatively compare the spatial distribution of sensory spinal cord activity during tactile stimulation of the left and right lateral shoulders (i.e. C5 dermatome) and dorsal third digits of the hands (i.e., C7 dermatome) in healthy humans (n = 24, age = 36.8 ± 11.8 years). Based on the central sites for processing of innocuous tactile sensory information, we hypothesized that the activity would be localized more to the ipsilateral dorsal spinal cord with the lateral shoulder stimulation activity being localized more superiorly than the dorsal third digit. The findings demonstrate lateralization of the activity with the left- and right-sided stimuli having more activation in the ipsilateral hemicord. Contradictory to our hypotheses, the activity for both stimulation sites was spread across the dorsal and ventral hemicords and did not demonstrate a clear superior-inferior localization. Instead, the activity for both stimuli had a broader than expected distribution, extending across the C5, C6, and C7 spinal cord segments. We highlight the complexity of the human spinal cord neuroanatomy and several sources of variability that may explain the observed patterns of activity. While the findings were not completely consistent with our a priori hypotheses, this study provides a foundation for continued work and is an important step towards developing normative quantitative spinal cord measures of sensory function, which may become useful objective MRI-based biomarkers of neurological injury and improve the management of spinal disorders.

Clinical Decision-Making in Chronic Spine Pain: Dilemma of Image-Based Diagnosis of Degenerative Spine and Generation Mechanisms for Nociceptive, Radicular, and Referred Pain

BACKGROUND

Spine-related pain is a complex heterogeneous condition. Excessive reliance on radiological imaging might lead to overdiagnosis of incidental asymptomatic spinal changes and unnecessary surgery. Approaches to the clinical management of spine pain should (1) identify pain generators, types, patterns, and mechanisms; (2) confirm clinical suspension with a diagnostic injection; and (3) ensure that treatment is aimed at controlling pain and improving patient function rather than image-based surgical success.

METHOD

This case series (7 cases) discusses commonly seen clinical presentation of spine pain analytically, with illustrations of possible pain generators, mechanisms, pathways, and pain types. Each case discusses pain types and location (axial nociceptive, referred, and radicular neuropathic), generators (degenerated disc, herniated disc, facet joint, and sacroiliac joint), pathways (sinuvertebral ventral ramus and medial and lateral branches dorsal ramus), and radiculopathy versus radicular pain, elaborating on coccydynia and cervicogenic headaches, epimere versus hypomere muscle embryology, function, innervation, and role in spine-related pain.

RESULTS

Multiple pain generators might coexist in the same patient causing mixed pain types and referral patterns with multiple mechanisms and pathways. History review, physical examination, and diagnostic injections are the mainstays of diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Image-detected spondylosis might be an asymptomatic process. Clinical presentation is related to stenosis or pain. The mechanism of pain is related to compression, inflammation, or microinstability. Spine pain can be nociceptive axial, neuropathic radicular, and/or referred pain. Although image findings are helpful in radicular neuropathic pain from disc herniation, they are unreliable in nociceptive pain, and correlation with clinical and diagnostic injections is mandatory.

Does the performance of five back-associated exercises relate to the presence of low back pain? A cross-sectional observational investigation in regional Australian council workers

OBJECTIVES

Investigate the relationships between the ability/inability to perform five physical test exercises and the presence or absence of low back pain (LBP).

SETTING

Regional Australian council training facility.

PARTICIPANTS

Consecutive participants recruited during 39 back education classes (8-26 participants per class) for workers in general office/administration, parks/gardens maintenance, roads maintenance, library, child care and management. Total sample (n=539) was reduced through non-consent and insufficient demographic data to n=422. Age 38.6±15.3 years, range 18-64 years, 67.1% male.

METHODS

Cross-sectional, exploratory, observational investigation. LBP presence was ascertained from a three-response option questionnaire: 0=none/rarely (no) 1=sometimes (some), 2=mostly/always (most). Statistical correlation was performed with the number of the five test exercises the individual successfully performed: (1) extension in lying: 3 s; (2) 'toilet squat'; feet flat, feet touched: 3 s; (3) full squat then stand up: 5 times; (4) supine sit-up, knees flexed: 10 times; and (5) leg extension, supine bilateral: 10 times.

INTERVENTIONS

Nil.

RESULTS

For the group 'no-some', 94.3% completed 4-5 test exercises, while for group 'With', 95.7% completed 0-1 test exercises. The relationship between LBP presence and number of exercises performed was highly significant (χ²₍₁₀₎=300.61, p<0.001). Furthermore, multinomial logistic regression predicting LBP (0=no, 1=some, 2=most) from the number of exercises completed, substantially improved the model fit (initial-2LL=348.246, final-2LL=73.620, χ²₍₂₎=274.626, p<0.001). As the number of exercises performed increased, the odds of reporting 'some LBP' or 'most LBP' dropped substantially (ORs of 0.34 and 0.17, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The ability to complete/not complete five test exercises correlated statistically and significantly with a higher LBP absence/presence in a general working population. Training individuals to complete such exercises could facilitate reductions in LBP incidence; however, causality cannot be inferred. Randomised trials are recommended to establish the potential efficacy of exercise-based approaches, considering these five selected exercises, for predicting and managing LBP.

MRI findings of lumbar spine instability in degenerative spondylolisthesis

PURPOSE

To find out the factors suggesting lumbar segmental instability in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODS

Ninety-four patients with DS who underwent decompression surgery with or without fusion were selected. Patient demographics and findings on simple radiographs and MRI were analyzed. We divided patients into two groups by the presence of lumbar instability on simple standing plain radiographs and measured degeneration status of intervertebral discs and facet joints and distance of facet fluid signal on T2 axial MRI on each groups. The data were analyzed to find out the correlation between facet fluid signal and lumbar instability.

RESULTS

Sixty-three patients were confirmed to have lumbar instability (unstable group (UG), 67%), while 31 patients (stable group (SG), 33%) did not have instability on simple radiographs. The mean age was slightly older in SG ( p < 0.05) and SG patients' degeneration status of intervertebral discs and facet joints was advanced than UG patients. Fifty-five of 63 patients had high signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images in the UG, but only 4 of 31 patients had high signal intensity in the SG ( p < 0.001) and UG patients have more larger facet joint distance than SG patients ( p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

High signal in facet joints on T2 MR images can be a useful factor suggestive of lumbar instability. Thus, the identification of fluid signal in the facet joints on MRI should raise the suspicion for lumbar instability and prompt additional evaluations such as with stress radiographs.

Characteristics and determinants of clinical symptoms in radiographic lumbar spinal stenosis in a tertiary health care centre in sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) refers to narrowing of the lumbar central spinal canal, lateral recess, and/or neuro-foramina. Radiographic LSS plays an important role in clinical LSS but is not solely accountable for the presence of symptoms. We sought to characterise clinical LSS and to determine factors associated with presence of symptoms of LSS in patients with radiographic LSS in a sub Saharan Africa setting.

METHODS

After prior ethical clearance, a case control study was done in a tertiary hospital in Douala-Cameroon, including 105 patients with radiographic LSS: 57 with symptoms of LSS (cases) and 58 with no symptoms (controls). Spinal stenosis was assessed using computed tomography (CT) scans. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23.

RESULTS

The mean age of our study participants was 53.4 ± 13.1 years. The mean age of onset of symptoms of LSS was 50.3 ± 11.6 years and the most common symptoms were Low back pain (100.0%), radicular symptoms (98.2%) and neurogenic claudication (98.2%). Obesity (p < 0.001) and a high waist circumference (p = 0.002) were significantly associated with presence of LSS symptoms in persons with radiographic LSS. After adjusting for body mass index, a positive family history of low back pain (p = 0.004), vertebra lesion at L2 (p = 0.034), L3 (p = 0.002), L4 (p = 0.025) and multiple (p = 0.008) levels, degenerative disc protrusion (p = 0.044), disc lesion at L3-L4 (p = 0.001), L4-L5 (p = 0.011) and multiple (p = 0.046) levels were significantly associated with presence of symptoms of LSS in persons with radiographic LSS.

CONCLUSION

Characteristics of clinical LSS have been described in this sub-Saharan Africa population. Obesity, a high waist circumference and a positive family history of low back pain are significantly associated with presence of symptoms of LSS in persons with radiographic LSS.

Hyperlordosis is Associated With Facet Joint Pathology at the Lower Lumbar Spine

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE

Our study opted to clarify the remaining issues of lumbar lordosis (LL) with regard to (1) its physiological values, (2) age, (3) sex, and (4) facet joint (FJ) arthritis and orientation using computed tomography (CT) scans.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Recent studies have questioned whether LL really decreases with age, but study sample sizes have been rather small and mostly been based on x-rays. As hyperlordosis increases the load transferred through the FJs, it seems plausible that hyperlordosis may lead to FJ arthritis at the lower lumbar spine.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the CT scans of 620 individuals, with a mean age of 42.5 (range, 14-94) years, who presented to our traumatology department and underwent a whole-body CT scan, between 2008 and 2010. LL was evaluated between the superior endplates of L1 and S1. FJs of the lumbar spine were evaluated for arthritis and orientation between L2 and S1.

RESULTS

(1) The mean LL was 49.0 degrees (SD 11.1 degrees; range, 11.4-80.1 degrees). (2) LL increased with age and there was a significant difference in LL in our age groups (30 y and below, 31-50, 51-70, and ≥71 y and above) (P=0.02). (3) There was no significant difference in LL between females and males (50 and 49 degrees) (P=0.17). (4) LL showed a significant linear association with FJ arthritis [P=0.0026, OR=1.022 (1.008-1.036)] and sagittal FJ orientation at L5/S1 (P=0.001). In a logistic regression analysis, the cutoff point for LL was 49.4 degrees.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the largest CT-based study on LL and FJs. LL significantly increases with age. As a novelty finding, hyperlordosis is significantly associated with FJ arthritis and sagittal FJ orientation at the lower lumbar spine. Thus, hyperlordosis may present with back pain and patients may benefit from surgical correction, for example, in the setting of trauma.

Percutaneous radiofrequency facet capsule denervation as an alternative target in lumbar facet syndrome

OBJECTIVES

Percutaneous radiofrequency denervation of the medial dorsal branch is often used in chronic low back pain of intervertebral facet etiology, which is sometimes difficult to perform and recurrence of pain often ensues. We theorized that shifting the target of RF coagulation to the facet joint capsule would provide an easier target and a longer-lived pain relieving response.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prospective randomized controlled trial where 120 patients diagnosed with CLBP of a confirmed facet origin were randomly divided into three equal groups, the first was submitted to percutaneous radiofrequency coagulation of the facet joint capsule, the second underwent percuataneous denervation of the medial dorsal branch and the third did not receive radiofrequency lesioning. All the three groups received local injection of a mixture of local anesthetic and steroid. Cases were followed for up to 3 years.

RESULTS

87(72.5%) patients were females. By 3 months' post procedure, improvement in VAS was significantly better than pretreatment levels in all groups (p<0.05). The control group lost improvement by 1-year follow-up (p=0.017). At 2 years' follow-up, the joint capsule denervation group maintained significant improvement (p=0.033) whereas the medial branch denervation group lost its significant effect (p=0.479). By the end of follow-up period, only joint capsule denervation group kept significant improvement (p=0.026).

CONCLUSION

In CLBP of facet origin, shifting the target of percutaneous radiofrequency to the facet joint capsule provides an easier technique with an extended period of pain relief compared to the medial dorsal branch of the facet joint.

Toward a Mechanism-Based Approach to Pain Diagnosis

The past few decades have witnessed a huge leap forward in our understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of pain, in normal states where it helps protect from injury, and also in pathological states where pain evolves from a symptom reflecting tissue injury to become the disease itself. However, despite these scientific advances, chronic pain remains extremely challenging to manage clinically. Although the number of potential treatment targets has grown substantially and a strong case has been made for a mechanism-based and individualized approach to pain therapy, arguably clinicians are not much more advanced now than 20 years ago, in their capacity to either diagnose or effectively treat their patients. The gulf between pain research and pain management is as wide as ever. We are still currently unable to apply an evidence-based approach to chronic pain management that reflects mechanistic understanding, and instead, clinical practice remains an empirical and often unsatisfactory journey for patients, whose individual response to treatment cannot be predicted. In this article we take a common and difficult to treat pain condition, chronic low back pain, and use its presentation in clinical practice as a framework to highlight what is known about pathophysiological pain mechanisms and how we could potentially detect these to drive rational treatment choice. We discuss how present methods of assessment and management still fall well short, however, of any mechanism-based or precision medicine approach. Nevertheless, substantial improvements in chronic pain management could be possible if a more strategic and coordinated approach were to evolve, one designed to identify the specific mechanisms driving the presenting pain phenotype. We present an analysis of such an approach, highlighting the major problems in identifying mechanisms in patients, and develop a framework for a pain diagnostic ladder that may prove useful in the future, consisting of successive identification of 3 steps: pain state, pain mechanism, and molecular target. Such an approach could serve as the foundation for a new era of individualized/precision pain medicine. The Analgesic, Anesthetic, and Addiction Clinical Trial Translations, Innovations, Opportunities, and Networks (ACTTION)-American Pain Society (APS) Pain Taxonomy (AAPT) includes pain mechanisms as 1 of the 5 dimensions that need to be considered when making a diagnostic classification. The diagnostic ladder proposed in this article is consistent with and an extension of the AAPT.

PERSPECTIVE

We discuss how identifying the specific mechanisms that operate in the nervous system to produce chronic pain in individual patients could provide the basis for a targeted and rational precision medicine approach to controlling pain, using chronic low back pain as our example.

Multi-disciplinary Orthopaedics Rehabilitation Empowerment (MORE) program: A new standard of care for injured workers in Hong Kong

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of the Multi-disciplinary Orthopaedics Rehabilitation Empowerment (MORE) Program on reducing chronic disability among injured workers and improving efficiency of work rehabilitation process.

METHODS

A cohort of patients with workplace injuries in the lower back were recruited from orthopaedics clinics and assigned to either MORE group (n= 139) or control group (n= 106). Patients in MORE group received an early MRI screening and a coordinated multi-disciplinary management, while patients in the control group received conventional care. Outcome variables are time to return-to-work (RTW) from date of injury, waiting time for MRI screening and time to medical assessment board (MAB).

RESULTS

Patients in the MORE Program had significantly shorter duration for RTW (MORE: 6.1 months,

CONTROL

12.8 months, p< 0.01), and more RTW cases (n= 64, 46.0%) compared to CONTROL group (n= 29, 27.4%). The MORE group also had much shorter waiting time for MRI scans (91.85 vs. 309.2 days, p< 0.001) and MAB referral after MRI scans (97.2 vs. 178.9 days, p= 0.001) compared to CONTROL group.

CONCLUSIONS

The MORE Program which emphasizes early intervention and early MRI screening, is shown to be effective in shortening sick leave and improving RTW outcomes of injured workers.

The Lumbar Spine as a Dynamic Structure Depicted in Upright MRI

Spinal canal stenosis is a dynamic phenomenon that becomes apparent during spinal loading. Current diagnostic procedures have considerable short comings in diagnosing the disease to full extend, as they are performed in supine situation. Upright MRI imaging might overcome this diagnostic gap.This study investigated the lumbar neuroforamenal diameter, spinal canal diameter, vertebral body translation, and vertebral body angles in 3 different body positions using upright MRI imaging.Fifteen subjects were enrolled in this study. A dynamic MRI in 3 different body positions (at 0° supine, 80° upright, and 80° upright + hyperlordosis posture) was taken using a 0.25 T open-configuration scanner equipped with a rotatable examination bed allowing a true standing MRI.The mean diameter of the neuroforamen at L5/S1 in 0° position was 8.4 mm on the right and 8.8 mm on the left, in 80° position 7.3 mm on the right and 7.2 mm on the left, and in 80° position with hyperlordosis 6.6 mm (P < 0.05) on the right and 6.1 mm on the left (P < 0.001).The mean area of the neuroforamen at L5/S1 in 0° position was 103.5 mm on the right and 105.0 mm on the left, in 80° position 92.5 mm on the right and 94.8 mm on the left, and in 80° position with hyperlordosis 81.9 mm on the right and 90.2 mm on the left.The mean volume of the spinal canal at the L5/S1 level in 0° position was 9770 mm, in 80° position 10600 mm, and in 80° position with hyperlordosis 9414 mm.The mean intervertebral translation at level L5/S1 was 8.3 mm in 0° position, 9.9 mm in 80° position, and 10.1 mm in the 80° position with hyperlordosis.The lordosis angle at level L5/S1 was 49.4° in 0° position, 55.8° in 80° position, and 64.7 mm in the 80° position with hyperlordosis.Spinal canal stenosis is subject to a dynamic process, that can be displayed in upright MRI imaging. The range of anomalies is clinically relevant and dynamic positioning of the patient during MRI can provide essential diagnostic information which are not attainable with other methods.

Intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, and recovery in patients undergoing lumbar spinal surgery

Background

Spine surgery is widely accepted as an effective management for patients with lumbar disc herniation; however, the factors influencing intraoperative procedure and prognosis are not fully understood. The present study was aimed to identify the factors influencing intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, and recovery in patients undergoing spinal surgery.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 183 consecutive patients with lumbar disc herniation who underwent spine surgery. The clinical characteristics, operation procedure, and outcome were documented and the correlations were analyzed.

Results

There were significant differences between one-level and two-level operations in the bleeding volumes of male (P = 0.005) and female (P = 0.002) patients, and in final drainage of male (P = 0.043) and female (P = 0.003) patients. The blood loss was correlated with the operation duration. There were differences in intraoperative bleeding and final drainage between groups with one-level and two-level operations. Additionally, there were differences in intraoperative autologous blood transfusion among various groups. There were significant differences in intraoperative bleeding between autologous blood transfusion and non-transfusion groups.

Conclusions

The key factors affecting the intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage volume include operation methods, operation duration, blood-transfusion modes, and usage of anticoagulants. These results should be taken into consideration in the attempt to optimize operation procedure and improve post-operative recovery.

Percutaneous endoscopic decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis

Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy has become a representative minimally invasive spine surgery for lumbar disc herniation. Due to the remarkable evolution in the techniques available, the paradigm of spinal endoscopy is shifting from treatments of soft disc herniation to those of lumbar spinal stenosis. Lumbar spinal stenosis can be classified into three categories according to pathological zone as follows: central stenosis, lateral recess stenosis and foraminal stenosis. Moreover, percutaneous endoscopic decompression (PED) techniques may vary according to the type of lumbar stenosis, including interlaminar PED, transforaminal PED and endoscopic lumbar foraminotomy. However, these techniques are continuously evolving. In the near future, PED for lumbar stenosis may be an efficient alternative to conventional open lumbar decompression surgery.

Increased pelvic incidence may lead to arthritis and sagittal orientation of the facet joints at the lower lumbar spine

BACKGROUND

Correct sagittal alignment with a balanced pelvis and spine is crucial in the management of spinal disorders. The pelvic incidence (PI) describes the sagittal pelvic alignment and is position-independent. It has barely been investigated on CT scans. Furthermore, no studies have focused on the association between PI and facet joint (FJ) arthritis and orientation. Therefore, our goal was to clarify the remaining issues about PI in regard to (1) physiologic values, (2) age, (3) gender, (4) lumbar lordosis (LL) and (5) FJ arthritis and orientation using CT scans.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed CT scans of 620 individuals, with a mean age of 43 years, who presented to our traumatology department and underwent a whole body CT scan, between 2008 and 2010. The PI was determined on sagittal CT planes of the pelvis by measuring the angle between the hip axis to an orthogonal line originating at the center of the superior end plate axis of the first sacral vertebra. We also evaluated LL, FJ arthritis and orientation of the lumbar spine.

RESULTS

596 individuals yielded results for (1) PI with a mean of 50.8°. There was no significant difference for PI and (2) age, nor (3) gender. PI was significantly and linearly correlated with (4) LL (p = < 0.0001). Interestingly, PI and (5) FJ arthritis displayed a significant and linear correlation (p = 0.0062) with a cut-off point at 50°. An increased PI was also significantly associated with more sagitally oriented FJs at L5/S1 (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

PI is not correlated with age nor gender. However, this is the first report showing that PI is significantly and linearly associated with LL, FJ arthritis and more sagittal FJ orientation at the lower lumbar spine. This may be caused by a higher contact force on the lower lumbar FJs by an increased PI. Once symptomatic or in the event of spinal trauma, patients with increased PI and LL could benefit from corrective surgery and spondylodesis.

Factors affecting dynamic foraminal stenosis in the lumbar spine

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Lumbar foraminal stenosis is a common clinical problem and a significant cause of lower extremity radiculopathy. Minimal in vivo data exists quantifying changes in foraminal area (FA) as the spine moves from flexion to extension in the lumbar spine or on the relationship between FA and lumbar segmental angular motion, translational motion (TM), or disc bulge migration.

PURPOSE

To use kinetic magnetic resonance imaging (kMRI) to evaluate changes in dimensions of lumbar neural foramina during weight bearing in neutral, flexion, and extension positions. To evaluate the relationship between foraminal stenosis and lumbar segmental angular motion, TM, and disc bulge migration.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective radiographic study.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Forty-five patients with a mean age of 44 years undergoing kMRI for symptoms of low back pain or radiculopathy.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Magnetic resonance imaging measurements of FA, angular motion, TM, and disc bulge migration.

METHODS

Kinetic magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine was reviewed in 45 patients with low back pain or radiculopathy, and parasagittal images were evaluated for changes in neural foraminal dimensions in various degrees of motion with weight bearing. The changes in foraminal dimension were correlated to the amount of segmental angular motion, TM, and disc bulge migration at each level. Neural foramina were also assessed qualitatively by Wildermuth criteria. Only those foramina that were clearly visualized with well-defined anatomic boundaries in all three positions were taken into consideration. Patients with previous surgery, tumor, and scoliosis were excluded from the study.

RESULTS

There was a significant decrease in the FA from flexion to neutral (p<.05) at all levels except L5-S1 and from neutral to extension at all levels (p<.05). The average percent decrease in FA was 30.0% with the greatest decrease from flexion to extension occurring at L2-L3 (167-107 mm(2)) and the smallest change occurring at L5-S1 (135-106 mm(2)) (p<.05). The magnitude of change in FA increased as angular motion at a segment increased. The mean change in FA was 32.3 mm(2) when angular motion was less than 5° and was 75.16 mm(2) when angular motion exceeded 15°. The extent of disc bulging posteriorly in the neural foramen was also correlated with the reduction in the FA from flexion to extension, but TM had no effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Foraminal area decreased significantly in extension compared with flexion and neutral on MRI. Lumbar disc bulge migration and angular motion at each level contributed independently to the decrease in FA in extension, whereas TM had no effect on FA.

Association between low-back pain and lumbar spine bone density: a population-based cross-sectional study

OBJECT

The authors undertook this study to investigate the relationships between low-back pain (LBP) and spinal bone density. Low-back pain is a major health issue and contributes to increases in medical and economic costs. Epidemiological studies have identified individual, sociodemographic, psychosocial, and occupational risk factors for LBP. However, there have been limited studies addressing the relationships between LBP and spinal bone density.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the population-based Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (K-NHANES IV, 2009). From 10,533 K-NHANES participants, the authors identified 7144 (3099 men and 4045 women) 21 years of age or older who underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and anthropometric measurements for inclusion in this study. Low-back pain patients were defined as those who had been diagnosed with LBP by a medical doctor. Chi-square tests, t-tests, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between LBP and spinal bone density.

RESULTS

The total prevalence of LBP in the patient sample was 17.1%. More females (21.0%) reported LBP than males (12.1%). A number of sociodemographic and medical factors-sex, age, place of residence, occupation, education, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and depression-were all associated with LBP, while LBP was not associated with income or exercise levels. Regression analyses indicated that higher lumbar spine T-scores (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.02-1.20) were associated with LBP.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher bone density in the lumbar spine is associated with LBP, independent of confounding factors such as sociodemographic status, education, and medical-psychiatric disorders. Cause and effect relationship between higher bone density and LBP, such as degenerative changes in spine, requires further investigation.

The assessment of function. Part II: clinical perspective of a javelin thrower with low back and groin pain

Assessment of an individual's functional ability can be complex. This assessment should also be individualized and adaptable to changes in functional status. In the first article of this series, we operationally defined function, discussed the construct of function, examined the evidence as it relates to assessment methods of various aspects of function, and explored the multi-dimensional nature of the concept of function. In this case report, we aim to demonstrate the utilization of a multi-dimensional assessment method (functional performance testing) as it relates to a high-level athlete presenting with pain in the low back and groin. It is our intent to demonstrate how the clinician should continually adapt their assessment dependent on the current functional abilities of the patients.

Lift the quilt in case of atrial fibrillation and disc prolapse

BACKGROUND

Peripheral embolism to the lower extremities may mimic disc prolapse with severe consequences.

CASE REPORT

A 71-year-old male with a history of chronic alcoholism developed low back pain radiating to both lower extremities in a nonradicular distribution and bilateral dysesthesias of the distal lower legs after lifting a heavy weight. Given that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine showed disc herniation in L3/4 and L4/5, he was scheduled for laminectomy but was unable to undergo surgery due to thrombocytopenia. After transfer to another hospital, persistence of symptoms and signs, absent pulses on the distal lower legs, and rhabdomyolysis with temporary renal insufficiency, peripheral embolism with compartment syndrome was suspected. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed occlusion of the right superficial femoral artery and long high-grade stenosis of the left superficial and profound femoral arteries and distal arteries. He successfully underwent embolectomy and fasciotomy.

CONCLUSIONS

If lumbar pain is not radicular, peripheral pulses are minimally palpable, and distal limbs are cold and show livid decolorization, peripheral embolism is much more likely than disc herniation, particularly if the patient's history is positive for atrial fibrillation. MRI of the lumbar spine must be interpreted in conjunction with clinical presentation.

Non-specific low back pain

Non-specific low back pain has become a major public health problem worldwide. The lifetime prevalence of low back pain is reported to be as high as 84%, and the prevalence of chronic low back pain is about 23%, with 11-12% of the population being disabled by low back pain. Mechanical factors, such as lifting and carrying, probably do not have a major pathogenic role, but genetic constitution is important. History taking and clinical examination are included in most diagnostic guidelines, but the use of clinical imaging for diagnosis should be restricted. The mechanism of action of many treatments is unclear, and effect sizes of most treatments are low. Both patient preferences and clinical evidence should be taken into account for pain management, but generally self-management, with appropriate support, is recommended and surgery and overtreatment should be avoided.