Evaluation of the EQ-5D-3L and 5L versions in low back pain patients.

BACKGROUND: The EuroQol EQ-5D is one of the most widely researched and applied patient-reported outcome measures worldwide. The original EQ-5D-3L and more recent EQ-5D-5L include three and five response categories respectively. Evidence from healthy and sick populations shows that the additional two response categories improve measurement properties but there has not been a concurrent comparison of the two versions in patients with low back pain (LBP). METHODS: LBP patients taking part in a multicenter randomized controlled trial of lumbar total disc replacement and conservative treatment completed the EQ-5D-3L and 5L in an eight-year follow-up questionnaire. The 3L and 5L were assessed for aspects of data quality including missing data, floor and ceiling effects, response consistency, and based on a priori hypotheses, associations with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Pain-Visual Analogue Scales and Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-25). RESULTS: At the eight-year follow-up, 151 (87%) patients were available and 146 completed both the 3L and 5L. Levels of missing data were the same for the two versions. Compared to the EQ-5D-5L, the 3L had significantly higher floor (pain discomfort) and ceiling effects (mobility, self-care, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression). For these patients the EQ-5D-5L described 73 health states compared to 28 for the 3L. Shannon's indices showed the 5L outperformed the 3L in tests of classification efficiency. Correlations with the ODI, Pain-VAS and HSCL-25 were largely as hypothesized, the 5L having slightly higher correlations than the 3L. CONCLUSION: The EQ-5D assesses important aspect of health in LBP patients and the 5L improves upon the 3L in this respect. The EQ-5D-5L is recommended in preference to the 3L version, however, further testing in other back pain populations together with additional measurement properties, including responsiveness to change, is recommended. TRIAL REGISTRATION: retrospectively registered: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01704677 .

Segmental mobility, disc height and patient-reported outcomes after surgery for degenerative disc disease: a prospective randomised trial comparing disc replacement and multidisciplinary rehabilitation.

This prospective multicentre study was undertaken to determine segmental movement, disc height and sagittal alignment after total disc replacement (TDR) in the lumbosacral spine and to assess the correlation of biomechanical properties to clinical outcomes.A total of 173 patients with degenerative disc disease and low back pain for more than one year were randomised to receive either TDR or multidisciplinary rehabilitation (MDR). Segmental movement in the sagittal plane and disc height were measured using distortion compensated roentgen analysis (DCRA) comparing radiographs in active flexion and extension. Correlation analysis between the range of movement or disc height and patient-reported outcomes was performed in both groups. After two years, no significant change in movement in the sagittal plane was found in segments with TDR or between the two treatment groups. It remained the same or increased slightly in untreated segments in the TDR group and in this group there was a significant increase in disc height in the operated segments. There was no correlation between segmental movement or disc height and patient-reported outcomes in either group.In this study, insertion of an intervertebral disc prosthesis TDR did not increase movement in the sagittal plane and segmental movement did not correlate with patient-reported outcomes. This suggests that in the lumbar spine the movement preserving properties of TDR are not major determinants of clinical outcomes.

[Femoral shortening osteotomy for chronic hip dislocation in patients with cerebral palsy]. / Forkortingsosteotomi av femur ved kronisk hofteluksasjon hos pasienter med cerebral parese.

Hip dislocation of several years duration in cerebral palsy needs treatment only if the patient has serious complaints. With the aim of reducing pain and problems with sitting function and perineal hygiene, we performed shortening osteotomy of the femur in 15 patients (12 girls and 3 boys) with spastic quadriplegia or diplegia at mean age of 14 (8-26) years. The patients were severely mentally and physically retarded, and only one patient had gait function, with support. A subtrochanteric shortening osteotomy of 3-5 cm was performed. The mean follow-up period was 5 (1-10) years. The symptomatic effect of the operation was good. The patients and parents were satisfied because the pain disappeared and the patients had less spasticity and stiffness. Complications were seen in two patients in the form of skin necrosis under both heels; this was caused by the plaster. Although reduction of the dislocation was not the aim of the surgery, radiographs at follow-up of 16 operated hips showed that five hips were reduced, whereas 11 hips remained subluxated or dislocated. We conclude that shortening osteotomy of the femur produces good symptomatic effects, probably due to reduction of the abnormally high muscle tension across the hip joint.

Orofaciodigital syndrome type I in a girl with unilateral tibial pseudarthrosis.

The orofaciodigital syndromes are a group of possibly seven different malformation syndromes including oral, facial, and digital malformations. Type I has X linked dominant inheritance whereas the other types show autosomal recessive inheritance. An exact diagnosis is therefore important for genetic counselling. We here report a girl with orofaciodigital syndrome type I. She had cystic kidney disease at the age of 8 months which has not previously been reported in an infant with orofaciodigital syndrome. In addition she had unilateral tibial pseudarthrosis which has only rarely been reported in the orofaciodigital syndromes and in type II only.

Femur lengthening using the Wagner technique.

Seventeen femoral lengthenings with an observation period of 1 year or more are reviewed. The mean leg length discrepancy was 6.9 cm, ranging from 3.8 to 14.8 cm. Mean lengthening was 5.8 cm, ranging from 3.6 to 10 cm. Osteosynthesis and bone grafting was done in all cases. Nonunion occurred in one lengthening, and five bones refractured. All failures, however, healed after reosteosynthesis. Transient peroneal paresis occurred in two cases, while in one case knee flexion was reduced to 55 degrees. In spite of minor pin-track drainage, no infections complicated the osteosynthesis. It is concluded that the Wagner procedure is an effective and fairly safe method for leg lengthening. Complications, however, are frequent and great caution is essential.

Fractures in children with myelomeningocele.

During the last years the advances of neurosurgery and urology have completely changes the prognosis of children with myelomeningocele. To the orthopedic surgeons these patients represent a great challenge in order to correct lower limb deformities, these children have a high incidence of leg fractures. some of the fractures show an unusual pattern of repair, characterized by healing with excessive callus formation which can be confused with tumor, osteomyelitis or other diseases of the bone.

Volkmann's ischaemic contracture of the forearm.

Twenty-three patients with established contractures of the forearm, which were treated by excision of all irreparably damaged muscles, lengthening of the tendons and neurolysis of the median and ulnar nerves, are reported. Fourteen patients were children. Supracondylar fractures of the humerus, all treated by plaster-of-Paris, were associated with 10 contractures. Twelve patients achieved good or normal function of the hand after treatment; 5 had obvious functional disability, 4 achieved only a support function and 2 required forearm amputations. Early treatment improved the functional result. Treatment of displaced supracondylar fractures by traction seemed to be an important prophylactic procedure.