The cultural adaptation of Aberdeen Low Back Pain Scale in Turkish patients and the evaluation of response to physical therapy: A Turkish version study.

BACKGROUND: Unvalidated Turkish adaptations of existing low back pain disability scales are often used. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity and the reliability of the Turkish version of Aberdeen Low Back Pain Scale (ALBP). METHODS: The cross-cultural adaptation was performed in accordance with recently published guidelines. The Turkish version was administered to 120 patients. Test-retest and internal consistency were evaluated for reliability. Construct validity and criterion validity were measured. Responsiveness of the questionnaire towards changes by the treatment were assessed. All questionnaires were administered at admission, 1 day later, at the end of treatment, and a month after the end of treatment. Patients were assessed with Ostwestry (OLBP), physical and mental component of SF-36 (PCSSF-36, MCSSF-36), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Schober test and visual analog scale for pain (VAS). RESULTS: Retest scores were significant and high (Internal Correlation Coefficent: 0.963). For internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha was 0.889. For construct validity, Spearman's Correlation Coefficent was 0.882. For criterion validity of ALBP, correlations were found significant and acceptable for OLBP, PCSSF-36, MCSSF-36, BDI, and VASactivity (p < 0.05). According to responsiveness; ALBP, OLBP, PCSSF-36, VAS and Schober test showed significant improvement after the treatment (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Turkish version of the ALBP is reliable, valid and responsive.

Computer-assisted Joint Space Area Measurement: A New Technique in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the validity and reproducibility of computer-assisted joint space area measurement in knee roentgenograms of patients with knee osteoarthritis and compare it with a qualitative method in knee roentgenograms and quantitative and semi-quantitative methods in magnetic resonance imaging. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 40 knees of 40 patients diagnosed as osteoarthritis (14 males, 26 females; mean age 57.4±5.9 years; range 47 to 67 years). Only the patients who wrote consents for publication of their radiologic data, and with knee roentgenograms and magnetic resonance images of the same knees were selected. Computer-assisted measurements were applied to joint spaces by two blinded physicians, for two times with an interval of one week. Data were evaluated for intraobserver and interobserver consistency. Also, data were compared with qualitative (Kellgren-Lawrence classification), quantitative (joint space width, cartilage thickness, meniscal thickness in magnetic resonance images) and semi-quantitative methods (whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score). RESULTS: Intraobserver consistency was evaluated for each physician, which revealed no differences. Interobserver consistency was evaluated by comparing the measurements of two blinded physicians and no differences were found (p>0.05). There was no significant correlation between the grade of Kellgren-Lawrence classification and other variables; such as grade of meniscus, meniscal thickness, cartilage thickness and computer- assisted joint space area measurements (p>0.05). While there was a positive correlation between computer-assisted joint space area measurement and other quantitative measurements, there was a negative correlation between computer-assisted joint space area measurement and whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging scores. CONCLUSION: When compared with qualitative, quantitative, and semi-quantitative methods, computer-assisted joint space area measurement seems to be a useful, reproducible, and cost-effective quantitative method for evaluating knee osteoarthritis.

Gabapentinoids in penitentiaries: An abuse and addiction research.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to examine the abuse and addiction of gabapentinoids in penal institutions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between September 2014 and November 2014, a total of 1,639 participants were administered an electronic questionnaire investigating the drug use and addiction. The questionnaire was requested to be asked and filled by the officers in charge for all voluntary convicts and prisoners in all penitentiaries throughout Turkey. RESULTS: The rate of answering the questions varied between 20.5% and 100%. It was found that 2% of the participants used pregabalin and gabapentin simultaneously, while 25.2% of them used multiple drugs. The usage rate of pregabalin and gabapentin was higher in some penitentiaries, compared to the normal population. There was a significant positive correlation between the use of gabapentinoids and multiple drugs and alcohol and drug addiction, various withdrawal symptoms, the number of going to the infirmary, and the number of referral to the hospital (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Although gabapentinoids seem to be used in the treatment of addiction, and are proved effective treatment agents. With a definite diagnosis, appropriate follow-up, and timely completion of the treatment, it is necessary to strictly control their use due to the probability of abuse and addiction.

Cultural Adaptation of the Extended Aberdeen Spine Pain Scale: A Turkish Version Study.

AIM: To evaluate the validity and reliability of Turkish version of Extended Aberdeen Spine Pain Scale (EASP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: After cultural adaptation, the questionnaire was administered to 120 patients. Test-retest reliability, internal consistency, construct and criterion validity and responsiveness to treatment were measured. All questionnaires were administered at baseline, 1 day later and at the end of treatment. Patients were assessed with Physical and Mental Component scores of SF-36 (SF-36PCS, SF-36MCS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Visual Analog Scale for pain (VAS). RESULTS: Retest scores were significant (ICC: 0.878). For internal consistency, Cronbach"s alpha was 0.908, which means all parts of the questionnaire are highly homogenous. For construct validity, Spearman"s Correlation Coefficient was 0.907, which means that items of the questionnaire behaved as expected. For criterion validity of EASP, Spearman"s rho correlations with SF- 36PCS (-0.999), SF-36MCS (-0.367), BDI (0.350), VASactivity (0.429), VASrest (0.399) and VASsleep (0.308) were found significant (p=0.000). According to responsiveness, EASP, SF-36PCS, VASactivity, VASrest, VASsleep showed significant improvement after the treatment (p=0.000). CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of EASP seems reliable, valid, and responsive. Because of its usefulness for evaluating the whole spine as a functional unit, the EASP can be recommended for clinical trials.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment With Physical Therapy in Chronic Partial Supraspinatus Tears.

BACKGROUND: Despite the insufficient evidence, due to potential contribution to the improvement, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is emerging as a promising method. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of PRP injection in partial supraspinatus tears by comparing with physical therapy (PT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy patients with chronic partial supraspinatus tears in magnetic resonance imaging were randomized into two groups; PRP (n = 35) and PT (n = 35). Before the treatment, at the end of the treatment and at the 12th month after the end of the treatment, range of motion (ROM), visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH), Neer's, Hawkins' and drop arm tests and Beck Depression Inventory were investigated. RESULTS: Statistical analysis was made for 62 subjects (PRP group, n = 30; PT group, n = 32). There were no differences between the groups according to demographic data. At the 12th month after the end of the treatment, significant improvement in ROM was detected in both groups, pain was reduced significantly in both groups and improvement of the DASH score was observed in both groups. At all the evaluation steps, increases in ROM degrees were significantly higher in the PT group than the PRP group. For VAS in activity and in rest, after the treatment, improvement was higher in the PT group than the PRP group. However, improvement of the DASH score of the PRP group was significantly better than the PT group. CONCLUSIONS: When we compared with PT, PRP seemed to be a well-tolerated application which showed promising results in patients with chronic partial supraspinatus tears.