/pdf/chapter-4-european-guidelines-for-the-management-of-chronic-4lrtve55lo.pdf

Chapter 4. European guidelines for the management of chronic nonspecific low back pain.

Biological materials: Structure and mechanical properties

Non-specific low back pain

Study design We conducted intradiscal pressure measurements with one volunteer performing various activities normally found in daily life, sports, and spinal therapy. Objectives The goal of this study was to measure intradiscal pressure to complement earlier data from Nachemson with dynamic and long-term measurements over a broad range of activities. Summary of background data Loading of the spine still is not well understood. The most important in vivo data are from pioneering intradiscal pressure measurements recorded by Nachemson during the 1960s. Since that time, there have been few data to corroborate or dispute those findings. Methods Under sterile surgical conditions, a pressure transducer with a diameter of 1.5 mm was implanted in the nucleus pulposus of a nondegenerated L4-L5 disc of a male volunteer 45-years-old and weighing 70 kg. Pressure was recorded with a telemetry system during a period of approximately 24 hours for various lying positions; sitting positions in a chair, in an armchair, and on a pezziball (ergonomic sitting ball); during sneezing, laughing, walking, jogging, stair climbing, load lifting during hydration over 7 hours of sleeping, and others. Results The following values and more were measured: lying prone, 0.1 MPa; lying laterally, 0.12 MPa; relaxed standing, 0.5 MPa; standing flexed forward, 1.1 MPa; sitting unsupported, 0.46 MPa; sitting with maximum flexion, 0.83 MPa; nonchalant sitting, 0.3 MPa; and lifting a 20-kg weight with round flexed back, 2.3 MPa; with flexed knees, 1.7 MPa; and close to the body, 1.1 MPa. During the night, pressure increased from 0.1 to 0.24 MPa. Conclusions Good correlation was found with Nachemson's data during many exercises, with the exception of the comparison of standing and sitting or of the various lying positions. Notwithstanding the limitations related to the single-subject design of this study, these differences may be explained by the different transducers used. It can be cautiously concluded that the intradiscal pressure during sitting may in fact be less than that in erect standing, that muscle activity increases pressure, that constantly changing position is important to promote flow of fluid (nutrition) to the disc, and that many of the physiotherapy methods studied are valid, but a number of them should be re-evaluated.

http://www.fonar.com/pdf/spine_vol_24.No.8.pdf

New in vivo measurements of pressures in the intervertebral disc in daily life.

Background National or state-level estimates on trends in the prevalence of chronic low back pain (LBP) are lacking. The objective of this study was to determine whether the prevalence of chronic LBP and the demographic, health-related, and health care–seeking characteristics of individuals with the condition have changed over the last 14 years. Methods A cross-sectional, telephone survey of a representative sample of North Carolina households was conducted in 1992 and repeated in 2006. A total of 4437 households were contacted in 1992 and 5357 households in 2006 to identify noninstitutionalized adults 21 years or older with chronic (>3 months), impairing LBP or neck pain that limits daily activities. These individuals were interviewed in more detail about their health and health care seeking. Results The prevalence of chronic, impairing LBP rose significantly over the 14-year interval, from 3.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.4%-4.4%) in 1992 to 10.2% (95% CI, 9.3%-11.0%) in 2006. Increases were seen for all adult age strata, in men and women, and in white and black races. Symptom severity and general health were similar for both years. The proportion of individuals who sought care from a health care provider in the past year increased from 73.1% (95% CI, 65.2%-79.8%) to 84.0% (95% CI, 80.8%-86.8%), while the mean number of visits to all health care providers were similar (19.5 [1992] vs 19.4 [2006]). Conclusions The prevalence of chronic, impairing LBP has risen significantly in North Carolina, with continuing high levels of disability and health care use. A substantial portion of the rise in LBP care costs over the past 2 decades may be related to this rising prevalence.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/articlepdf/414769/ioi80169_251_258.pdf

The rising prevalence of chronic low back pain.

In a prospective study by the Scoliosis Research Society, 286 girls who had adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, a thoracic or thoracolumbar curve of 25 to 35 degrees, and a mean age of twelve years and seven months (range, ten to fifteen years) were followed to determine the effect of treatment with observation only (129 patients), an underarm plastic brace (111 patients), and nighttime surface electrical stimulation (forty-six patients). Thirty-nine patients were lost to follow-up, leaving 247 (86 per cent) who were followed until maturity or who were dropped from the study because of failure of the assigned treatment. The end point of failure of treatment was defined as an increase in the curve of at least 6 degrees, from the time of the first roentgenogram, on two consecutive roentgenograms. As determined with use of this end point, treatment with a brace failed in seventeen of the 111 patients; observation only, in fifty-eight of the 129 patients; and electrical stimulation, in twenty-two of the forty-six patients. According to survivorship analysis, treatment with a brace was associated with a success rate of 74 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval, 52 to 84) at four years; observation only, with a success rate of 34 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval, 16 to 49); and electrical stimulation, with a success rate of 33 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval, 12 to 60).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effectiveness of treatment with a brace in girls who have adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. A prospective, controlled study based on data from the Brace Study of the Scoliosis Research Society.

The use of spinal-fusion surgery is increasing rapidly in the United States. Most of these expensive, complex procedures are now being done for back pain and degenerative disease. Spinal fusions require long operations and are associated with an increase in the rate of complications, particularly in older patients. The benefits of surgery may be only modest, and pain relief is affected by many factors besides the anatomy. The authors of this article argue for restraint in the use of spinal-fusion surgery and for controlled trials to define more clearly the associated benefits and the indications.

Spinal-fusion surgery - the case for restraint.

Some mechanical properties of the third human lumbar interlaminar ligament (ligamentum flavum)

(1968). A Long Term Follow-up Study of Non-Treated Scoliosis. Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica: Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 466-476.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/17453676808989664

A Long Term Follow-up Study of Non-Treated Scoliosis

In a study conducted by the Scoliosis Research Society, 159 girls with a mean age of thirteen years (range, ten to fifteen years) who had adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were followed prospectively until skeletal maturity or until the curve had increased 6 degrees or more. All patients had had an initial curve of 25 to 35 degrees and an apical level between the eighth thoracic and first lumbar vertebrae, inclusive. Of the 159 patients, 120 were observed without treatment and thirty-nine were managed with lateral electrical surface stimulation. The curve progressed at least 6 degrees in eighty patients. There was no apparent difference in the outcome between the patients who were managed with observation only and those who were given electrical stimulation. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine which of eleven factors were predictive of progression of the scoliotic curve. A Risser sign of 0 or 1, an apical level cephalad to the twelfth thoracic vertebra, and an imbalance of ten millimeters or less were found to be independently prognostic of progression of more than 6 degrees. A prognostic model that included these three factors and chronological age allowed correct classification of the curve as either progressive or non-progressive in 81 per cent of these patients who had a thoracic or thoracolumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The positive predictive value was 82 per cent, the negative predictive value was 80 per cent, and the sensitivity and specificity were each 81 per cent.

Prediction of progression of the curve in girls who have adolescent idiopathic scoliosis of moderate severity. Logistic regression analysis based on data from The Brace Study of the Scoliosis Research Society.

Alf Nachemson

Papers

Effectiveness of treatment with a brace in girls who have adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. A prospective, controlled study based on data from the Brace Study of the Scoliosis Research Society.

Spinal-fusion surgery - the case for restraint.

Some mechanical properties of the third human lumbar interlaminar ligament (ligamentum flavum)

A Long Term Follow-up Study of Non-Treated Scoliosis

Prediction of progression of the curve in girls who have adolescent idiopathic scoliosis of moderate severity. Logistic regression analysis based on data from The Brace Study of the Scoliosis Research Society.