ABSTRACT
A study of 95 cases of surgically documented lumbar disc herniation revealed that the correct level of nerve root compression could be identified in 68.4% by the pattern of radicular pain found in the patients. In 51.6% by physical examination for motor weakness and in 44.2% by an abnormal response of pin prick sensation. The combination of a complete history and physical findings will increase the predictive value of these basic diagnostic tools. This study confirms the usefulness of the medical history and physical examination in the diagnosis of the level of herniated lumbar discs.
ABSTRACT
From 1993 to 1997 we treated 11 consecutive patients who had progressive spinal kyphosis due to ankylosing spondylitis by a posterior closing-wedge and anterior extension lumbar osteotomy and interspinous process wiring. The average correction was 44o (37-57) with a mean loss of correction after operation of 11.2o (6-20). The average operating time was 130 minutes (80 to 180) and blood loss was 486 ml (400-700). The osteotomy corrected all patients sufficiently to allow them to see ahead and improve their posture. There were no complication of implant failure as well as nerve root injury.
ABSTRACT
A study of lateral cervical spine x-rays in 50 normal Thai volunteers was carried out to find the Pavlov ratio in Thai people. The results were compared with the standard values commonly used as reference values. These values are derived from published figures obtained in Westerners whose build and bone structure are quite different from Thais. The results of this study showed that the corresponding values of the Pavlov ratio at spinal levels C3, C4, C5, C6 and C7 were 0.96, 0.96, 0.98, 0.95 and 0.91. The average Pavlov ratio for all levels was found to be 0.95. There is no different from the foreign results. Hence, the use of published reference of the narrow status of the cervical canal can be confidently compared to reference values now known to be appropriate to Thais.