ABSTRACT
STUDY DESIGN: Clinical pilot study. PURPOSE: To objectively evaluate the compliance rate of lumbar-support use in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain, as well as to assess low back pain intensity, disability, and fear-avoidance beliefs. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Wearing time is an important factor in the assessment of the efficacy of lumbar-support use in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. Previous studies have measured lumbar-support wearing time based on subjective assessment, and these evaluations are not easily verifiable and are usually overestimated by subjects. METHODS: Twelve subjects with chronic nonspecific low back pain who had been wearing semirigid lumbar supports for 6 weeks were evaluated. Compliance was objectively monitored using temperature sensors integrated into the semirigid lumbar supports. Subjects wore their lumbar supports for 8 hour/day on workdays and 3 hour/day on holidays during the first 3 weeks. During the next 3 weeks, subjects were gradually weaned off the lumbar supports. Pain intensity was measured using a numerical rating scale. The Oswestry disability index was used to assess the subjects' disability. Fear-avoidance behavior was evaluated using a fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean compliance rate of the subjects was 78.16%±13.9%. Pain intensity was significantly lower in patients with a higher compliance rate (p=0.001). Disability index and fear-avoidance beliefs (functional outcomes) significantly improved during the second 3-weeks period of the treatment (p<0.001, p=0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The compliance rate of patients wearing lumbar supports is a determining factor in chronic low back pain management. Wearing semirigid lumbar supports, as advised, was associated with decreased pain intensity, improved disability index scores, and improved fear-avoidance beliefs in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.
Subject(s)
Humans , Compliance , Holidays , Low Back Pain , Pilot ProjectsABSTRACT
Low Back Pain [LBP] is still a medical problem in 21[st] century. Having back pain and being disabled by it are not the same thing. It is common to come across with patients who have simple back pain but surprisingly totally disabled and vice versa. In clinical practice, it is important to have a proper evaluation of disability and making a clear distinction between pain and disability. During the past two decades several self-report measures and questionnaires have been developed to evaluate disability in LBP patients, however most of these questionnaire were designed in English language and based on European or American studies. The aim of these questionnaires were designed in English language and based on European or American Studies. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a translated and culturally adapt "Pain Disability Index [PDI]" and "Pain Disability Questionnaire [PDQ]" among Iranian patients with loc back pain. The Persian versions of the PDI, PDQ were created through systematic translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the original questionnaires. The Oswestry Disability Index and visual Analogue Scale were used for validation studies. Patients were asked to complete these questionnaires initially and also at 7 days later as retest. A total of 304 patients with acute and chronic LBP completed the Persian versions of PDI, PDQ, "Oswestry Disability Index" [ODI] and "Visual Analogue Scale" [VAS]. Among patients 111 patients participated for retest after seven days. The Cronbach's alpha [coefficient of reliability] for the PDI and PDQ was satisfactory. The PDI and PDQ showed high and very high test-retest reliability [ICC=0.8 and 0.92 respectively]. The Pearson correlation coefficient among PDI, PDQ with ODI was 0.64 and 0.72, and for PDI, PDQ, ODI with VAS was 0.36, 0.47 and 0.57, respectively [P<0.001]. The Persian version of the PDI and PDQ questionnaire are reliable and valid instruments to evaluate generic perceived disability in Persian-speaking patients with LBP. It is shown that PDI and PDQ are capable of measuring the disability in LBP patients. They could be used in clinical and research encounters with acceptable confidence
ABSTRACT
Distal junctional kyphosis [DJK] is a radiographic finding in patients that undergo spinal instrumentation and fusion, since there is an abrupt transition between fixed and mobile spinal segments.The true incidence of DJK is variable in literature and seems that has a multifactorial etiology. A consecutive series of 130 patients [mean age 15.6 years] with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis who underwent posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation were evaluated by analyzing coronal and sagittal angulation and balance measurements from standing radiographs obtained pre-operatively, within 6 weeks post-operation, at two years postoperative and at the latest follow-up. There was 35 male and 95 female. The mean time of followup was 36 months. The incidence of DJK at latest follow-up was 6.9% [9 patients]. In DJK group, distal junctional angle from pre-operative of-12.5 lordosis [-30 to 0] reached to-5.5 [P=0.015] at 6 weeks postoperation and to-1.4 [-20 to 12] [P=0.000] at 2 years follow-up, with mean of 12.1 kyphotic change [10-20]. In non DJK group, distal junctional angle from pre-operative angle of-7.5 reached-8.1 at 2 years follow-up [P=0.43]. The mean age of DJK group at surgery was 17 years and for non-DJK group was 15.4 years [P=0.022]. Distal junctional kyphosis was less common in this study than previous reports and stabilized after two years. The magnitude of coronal cobb angles or multiplicity of coronal curves had no effect in developing DJK that may be prevented by incorporation of the first lordotic disc into the fusion construct
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Scoliosis , Adolescent , Arthrodesis , Prevalence , Spinal FusionABSTRACT
Bracing is the non-operative treatment of choice for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis [AIS] and careful application of pads on apical segment of curve is very important for correction. Control of pads' appropriate site in brace is not easy by clinical evaluation. Therefore, we decided to compare results of braces which for better control of pads by radiographs, metal marker inserted around pads with those without metal marker. We evaluated 215 consecutive cases [182 female, 33 male] of AIS with 342 major curves from 1993 to 2003. Mean initial age was, 13.2 +/- 1.8 years [9-16] and mean duration of follow-up was, 16.1 +/- 16.4 months [0-114] that treated by 4 type of brace; 89 with type 1[Milwaukee with metal pads], 87 with type 2 [Milwaukee with simple pads], 17 with type 3 [Boston with metal pads] and 22 with type 4[Boston with simple pads]. Cobb angle recorded at 5 stages [initial, best, wean, stop and final follow-up]. Mean initial Cobb was 36.2°, at stop stage, 35.2° and reached 38° at final follow-up. Overall, 21.3% improved, 42.2% were the same and 36.5% failed. Failure for braces type 1 to 4 were, 40.5%, 34%, 38% and 24% at final follow-up. A total of 59 patients [27.4%] underwent spinal fusion that for brace type 1 to 4, was, 33, 21, 2 and 3 patients respectively. From 16 cases with initial Cobb of 50°, at follow-up, 12 were >/= 50° or had spinal fusion. Correction of lumbar [P=0.008] and main thoracic curves [P=0.002] was better by Boston than Milwaukee, however, in general difference between 4 types of braces was not significant and metal marker had no significant effect on results. Two important predictors of brace failure were, initial curve magnitude and brace type, but using metal marker around pads had no effect in results. It seems that bracing did not alter the natural history of scoliosis in early Risser stages with large magnitude of initial curves. Insertion of metal marker around pads is easy and cheap way that facilitate control of pad sites well, so, we recommend to use