Red flags for spinal pain in patients diagnosed with spinal infection in Nigeria: A 10-year medical records review.

BACKGROUND: Spinal infection is a diagnostic challenge, the personal and economic consequences of misdiagnosis can be significant resulting in paralysis and instability of the spine and can ultimately be fatal. To aid identification of those at risk of spinal infection, a better understanding of the red flags for spinal infection is needed. OBJECTIVE: To better understand which red flags may help to identify spinal infection. DESIGN: and Methods: A 10-year medical records review of red flags for spinal infection in Nigeria, using a bespoke data extraction tool. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the main independent predictors of spinal pain. RESULTS: 124,913 records were reviewed, 1,645 patients were diagnosed with spinal infection. 79% of patients presented with spinal pain Univariable analysis revealed nine factors (some centres, all age groups above 16 years, co-morbidities, environmental factors, history of TB, radicular pain, pins and needles, numbness and spine tenderness.) were associated with greater odds (OR = 1.77-21.7, p < 0.001), whilst four (some centres, fatigue, fever and myotomal weakness) were associated with lower odds (OR = 0.51-0.59) of spine pain. Six factors were included in the final multivariable model associated with higher odds of spine pain: age groups above 16 years (OR 2.57 to 5.33, p < 0.05), co-morbidity (OR = 1.68, p < 0.05), history of TB (OR = 3.02, p < 0.05), weight loss (OR = 1.75, p < 0.01), radicular pain (OR = 19.88, p < 0.001); spine tenderness (OR = 6.54, p < 0.001). Myotomal weakness (OR = 0.66, p < 0.05) and fatigue (OR = 0.50, p < 0.01) were associated with lower odds of spinal pain in the final model. CONCLUSION: Using data from ten hospitals in Nigeria within a ten-year period, we have produced a shortlist of red flags that can inform clinical decision making about potential spinal infection.

Thoracic movement screening in adults with cystic fibrosis: reliability of the Manchester musculoskeletal screening tool.

OBJECTIVES: The Manchester Musculoskeletal Screening Tool (MMST) is used internationally to screen for pain, postural changes, and urinary incontinence in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). The tool has been validated for the outcome measures of pain and incontinence but not for the thoracic movement section. The aim of this study was to assess intra (single rater) and inter-rater (between rater) reliability of the thoracic movement screen section of the MMST. METHODS: This is a prospective reliability study. Digital videos of thoracic movement were taken of adults with CF during their annual musculoskeletal screening at a large UK Adult CF Center. Twelve physiotherapists independently watched the videos and scored the movements on two occasions, 2 weeks apart, using MMST. Cohen's kappa and Krippendorff alpha were used to establish intra- and inter-rater reliability. RESULTS: Intra-rater reliability using Cohen's kappa calculation ranged between 0.35 and 0.93. Eleven out of 12 physiotherapists had a moderate-substantial reliability score as assessed by the Landis Koch criteria. Percentage agreement for each physiotherapist ranged from 67%-97%. The inter-rater reliability was poor (Krippendorff alpha score = 0.422 (CI: 0.24-0.60)). CONCLUSION: The thoracic section of the MMST is reliable in adults with CF to highlight changes in posture and thoracic mobility that may go undetected or under-reported by the patient when repeated by the same clinician. However, the inter-rater variability is high, and it should not be considered reliable when carried out by different clinicians over time.

Validation and utilisation of a digital version of the survey instrument for natural history, Aetiology and Prevalence of Patellofemoral pain studies (eSNAPPS).

OBJECTIVE: This study validated the newly adapted electronic SNAPPS (eSNAPPS) against the original paper SNAPPS. Subsequently, the study estimated the prevalence of PFP in running participants and spectators attending three mass-participant running events in the United Kingdom by using the eSNAPPS tool. DESIGN: This study had two parts. Firstly, a validation of the original paper version of the SNAPPS tool. Secondly, if validation was achieved, eSNAPPS was used in a prevalence study. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of running participants and spectators aged 18-40 years attending the mass participation running events. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The 12-month prevalence of PFP. RESULTS: eSNAPPS was valid in identifying those with PFP (ICC 0.99 for Overall agreement, p < 0.0001). In the prevalence study, a total of 1080 running participants and spectators completed the eSNAPPS. The overall prevalence of PFP was 17.4% (95%CI: 15.2%, 19.8%); 20.5% of males (16.5, 24.9) and 15.7% of females (13.1, 18.7) had PFP. Prevalence was 17.4% (15.2, 19.8) in spectators and 16.7% in running participants (14.5, 19.0). CONCLUSION: The overall PFP prevalence in this study was slightly smaller than those previously reported in the literature. Findings also show that there were similar prevalence estimates in spectators and running participants.

The therapeutic management of back pain with and without sciatica in the emergency department: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: An increasing number of patients are attending the Emergency Department (ED) with back pain with or without sciatica. There is evidence to suggest that medical management is varied and inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to review the literature to determine the evidence base for the therapeutic management of adults presenting with back pain with or without sciatica in the ED. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature included the therapeutic management of patients presenting in the ED. Articles published in peer review journals in English language up to August 2018 were searched for in the following data-bases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, CINAHL, ZETOC, PubMed, The Cochrane Library (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews), Web of Science, Open Grey and ETHOS. A narrative synthesis approach was followed. RESULTS: Twenty two studies, including 17 randomised control trials, one randomised control pilot study, two cohort studies, one cohort pilot study and one retrospective audit were included. The Downs and Black methodological quality scores ranged from 16 to 31 with a mean score of 24 out of a possible 32. CONCLUSION: Evidence suggests that Naproxen alone should be considered as first line management in cases of back pain without sciatica. Intra-venous corticosteroids should be considered in the management of cases of severe sciatica. More high quality trials are needed to determine an evidence-based management protocol for the treatment of acute low back pain in the ED, specifically focusing on non-pharmacological management and the first line management of patients presenting with LBP with sciatica. Systematic Review Registration Number PROSPERO CRD42016042087.

Is there an association between back pain and stress incontinence in adults with cystic fibrosis? A retrospective cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Back pain and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) are common in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). This study aimed to establish whether there is an association between back pain, lung function and stress urinary incontinence and its relative risk. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional, retrospective analysis of the Manchester Musculoskeletal Screening Tool (MMST) data. It includes pain, (Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ and VAS)) and International Consultation on Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF) measures. Associations were tested using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Relative risk of developing symptoms was calculated the sig level was p=0.05. RESULTS: ICIQ-UI-SF was associated with back pain (SF-MPQ) (Rho=0.32, p<0.001) and pain (VAS) (Rho=0.23, p<0.01). RR of developing SUI with back pain was 2; RR of developing back pain with SUI was 1.3. CONCLUSIONS: An association is indicated between back pain (SF-MPQ and VAS), and SUI in adults with CF. This information is important when developing management strategies in the CF population.