The effectiveness of lumbosacral corset in symptomatic degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.

Lumbosacral corset is a spinal support widely used for patients suffering from low back pain due to various conditions. To evaluate the effectiveness of the corset in symptomatic degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, twenty one patients (mean age 62.5 +/- 5.2 years) with neurogenic claudication (mean onset 9.0 +/- 9.3 months) were recruited for and completed a self controlled comparative study (with and without a corset). Quantitative and qualitative assessment in terms of walking distance and pain score (0-10 point visual analog scale) in daily activities respectively, compared between wearing and not wearing the corset were measured. The outcome of the study showed statistically significant improvement in walking distance (393.2 +/- 254.0 m and 314.6 +/- 188.8 m) and decrement of pain score in daily activities (4.7 +/- 1.4 and 5.9 +/- 1.0) with and without corset dressing respectively. This result supports the positive effect of the lumbosacral corset in pain relief and functional improvement of the degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis condition.

Surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using Harrington distraction rod combined with segmental sublaminar wiring.

One hundred and twenty cases of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were treated surgically using Harrington distraction rod combined with sublaminar wires as an adjunction to spinal fusion. There were 94 female and 26 male patients. Ages ranged from 13-19 years old. There were 90 thoracic curves, 24 thoracolumbar curves and 6 double major curves. Curve severity ranged from 35-90 degrees. The most common one was between 51-75 degrees. Average follow-up period was 5 years ranging from 4-9 years. Average surgical time was two and half hours (range from 2-3 1/2 hrs.) Blood loss was about 600 ml (range from 400-1600 ml) since the operation was performed under hypotensive anaesthesia. Result of the surgical correction ranged from 53-76 per cent depending on the curve severity and the age of the patients, usually with less curve severity in younger patients with thoracic curve a higher percentage of correction would be obtained. We obtained good thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis in all cases. There were no serious complications in our series. It is due to the contoured square and rod combined with sublaminar wiring that could correct and control both sagital plane and rotational deformities. This type of surgical approach is appropriate in patients with low economic status and required a period of external support.