Diagnostics

Correlation of pain with objective quantification of magnetic resonance images in older adults with chronic low back pain

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2014 Mar 15;39(6):469-75. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000181. Bechara BP1, Agarwal V, Boardman J, Perera S, Weiner DK, Vo N, Kang J, Sowa GA. Abstract STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional study. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study is to identify relationships between objectively measured and subjectively scored parameters and reported pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: […]

Correlation between Degree of Radiologic Signs of Osteoarthritis and Functional Status in Patients with Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain

Malays J Med Sci. 2014 Mar;21(2):28-33. Correlation between Degree of Radiologic Signs of Osteoarthritis and Functional Status in Patients with Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain. Ashraf A Abstract BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis is the most intervening factors in producing mechanical low back pain (LBP). We aimed to evaluate the correlation between radiologic signs of osteoarthritis and functional […]

Home Stool DNA Test Detects Colorectal Tumors

by Charles Bankhead Staff Writer, MedPage Today March 19, 2014 A stool DNA test detected significantly more colon cancers in average-risk patients as compared with a conventional fecal immunochemical test (FIT), a large prospective clinical study showed. The DNA test detected 92.3% of colorectal cancers versus 73.8% for FIT in a study involving almost 10,000 […]

Occult neural foraminal stenosis caused by association between disc degeneration and facet joint osteoarthritis: demonstration with dedicated upright MRI system.

Radiol Med. 2014 Mar;119(3):164-74. doi: 10.1007/s11547-013-0330-7. Epub 2013 Dec 12. Splendiani A, Ferrari F, Barile A, Masciocchi C, Gallucci M. Abstract PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to evaluate the presence of dynamic foraminal stenosis using a new low-field dedicated magnetic resonance (MR) unit with a balancing system that allows images to be acquired […]

Normal Values for Cervical Range of Motion

Spine: 01 March 2014 – Volume 39 – Issue 5 – p 362–367 doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000158 Cervical Spine Swinkels, Raymond A. H. M. PhD*,†,‡; Swinkels-Meewisse, Ilse E. J. C. M. PhD†,‡ Collapse BoxAbstract Study Design. Cohort study. Objective. To generate normal values for active range of motion (ACROM) of the cervical spine in asymptomatic persons. Summary […]

Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Symptomatic Nerve Roots in Patients with Cervical Disc Herniation

Yue-Yao Chen Academic Radiology March 2014 Volume 21, Issue 3, Pages 338–344 Rationale and Objectives Cervical disc degeneration can result in nerve root compression and severe symptoms that significantly impair the patient’s quality of life. The purpose of this study is to investigate multiple diffusion metrics changes in the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of cervical […]

McKenzie lumbar classification: inter-rater agreement by physical therapists with different levels of formal McKenzie postgraduate training.

Werneke MW, et al. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2014 Feb 1;39(3):E182-90. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000117. Abstract STUDY DESIGN: Inter-rater chance-corrected agreement study. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine the association between therapists’ level of formal precredential McKenzie postgraduate training and agreement on the following McKenzie classification variables for patients with low back pain: main McKenzie syndromes, presence of […]

Assessments of Lumbar Flexion Range of Motion: Intertester Reliability and Concurrent Validity of 2 Commonly Used Clinical Tests

Spine: 15 February 2014 – Volume 39 – Issue 4 – p E270–E275 doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000131 Diagnostics Robinson, Hilde Stendal PhD, RPT; Mengshoel, Anne Marit PhD, RPT Abstract Study Design. Cross-sectional. Objective. To compare intertester reliability and concurrent validity of 2 frequently used methods for assessing lumbar flexion range of motion: the fingertip-to-floor distance (FFD) test and […]

Value of Mammography Questioned by Canadian Trial

Roxanne Nelson February 11, 2014 The value of screening mammograms for detecting breast cancer and reducing mortality has been fiercely debated. Studies have come to conflicting conclusions, and a new study showing that mammography has no effect on breast cancer deaths will undoubtedly fan the fires once again. The Canadian researchers conclude that annual screening […]

Simple Saliva Swab and Early HbA1c Test Predict Diabetes

Becky McCall February 11, 2014 A new saliva test and earlier use of the HbA1c blood test could pick up type 2 diabetes in high-risk patients earlier than methods in current use, show data from 2 studies. Both tests could both provide an effective and timelier means of disease detection, precipitating earlier intervention, say the […]

Ability to discriminate between healthy and low back pain sufferers using ultrasound during maximum lumbar extension

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014 Jun;95(6):1093-9. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.01.023. Epub 2014 Feb 14. Cuesta-Vargas AI, González-Sánchez M. Abstract OBJECTIVE: To analyze the ability to discriminate between healthy individuals and individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP) by measuring the relation between patient-reported outcomes and objective clinical outcome measures of the erector spinae (ES) muscles using […]

Altered Disc Compression in Children With Idiopathic Low Back Pain: An Upright Magnetic Resonance Imaging Backpack Study

Shymon, Stephen J. BA Spine: 01 February 2014 – Volume 39 – Issue 3 – p 243–248 Abstract Study Design. This study is a repeated measures design to measure the lumbar spine’s response to common backpack loads in children with idiopathic low back pain (ILBP) using upright magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Objective. The purpose of […]

Scores on the Safe Functional Motion Test Are Associated with Prevalent Fractures and Fall History

Chris P. Recknor, MD Physiother Can. 2013 Winter; 65(1): 75–83. Published online 2013 January 28. doi: 10.3138/ptc.2011-25BH PubMed Full Text Reference ABSTRACT Purpose: The Safe Functional Motion test (SFM) was developed to measure observed body mechanics and functional motion associated with spine load, balance, strength, and flexibility during everyday tasks to profile modifiable risks for osteoporotic […]

23Na – MR of the human lumbar vertebral discs: in-vivomeasurements at 3.0T in healthy volunteers and patients with low back pain

S. Haneder The Spine Journal Available online 25 January 2014 In Press, Accepted Manuscript Journal Reference Background/Context 1H magnetic resonance imaging of the spine can rule out common causes of low back pain (LBP) such as disc protrusions or nerve root compression; however, no significant causal relation exists between morphology and extent of symptoms. Functional […]

Dose Optimization for Spinal Treatment Effectiveness (The DOSE Study)

A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Effects of High and Low Mobilization Forces in Patients With Neck Pain Snodgrass SJ, et al. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2014 Jan 22. [Epub ahead of print] Abstract Study Design Randomized controlled trial. Objective To determine if force magnitude during posterior-to-anterior (PA) mobilization affects immediate and short-term outcomes […]

MRI Back Scans Do Not Predict if You Need Surgery

Jan 23, 2014 By Richard C. Senelick, M.D. Deep aching back pain that you feel all the way down into your leg. You wake up with it, or it shows up with a simple sneeze or when you bend over to tie your shoes. This problem, called sciatica, affects 13 to 40 percent of all people during […]

Top Five Pain Interventions to Avoid

Pauline Anderson January 21, 2014 Full Story In the latest response to the call from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation for recommendations on the most overused interventions, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has issued its list of top 5 tests and therapies that are of questionable usefulness in the field of […]

Innovations in Pain Electrodiagnosis – VIDEO

American Association of Sensory Electrodiagnostic Medicine 100%* Cooelation with subjective VAS pain score. 100%* Accuracy locating pain generators. Changed treatment in 56% of cases and in 8% of cases it changed the side of treatment. *Statistical sensitivity approaches 100%. Specificity superior to physical neurological exam. Delta NCS System  

Thoracic Disc Herniation leads to Anterior Spinal Artery Syndrome

Demonstrated by Diffusion.Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DWI): A Case Report and Literature Review Jacques Reynolds, D.O The Spine Journal Available online 16 November 2013 In Press Acute thoracic disc herniation with cord contact but without canal stenosis is able to disrupt blood flow to the cord leading to anterior spinal artery distribution ischemia. This case […]

Changes in Pressure Pain Threshold in Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain

Imamura, Marta MD, PhD Spine: 15 November 2013 – Volume 38 – Issue 24 – p 2098–2107 Abstract Study Design. Cross-sectional study. Objective. The purpose of this study is to compare pressure pain threshold (PPT) values between patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CLBP) and healthy individuals and correlate PPT values of the structures […]