The COPE LBP trial: Cognitive Patient Education for Low Back Pain - a cluster randomized controlled trial in primary care

Background  

Non-specific low back pain (LBP) is usually self-limiting within 4-6 weeks. Longstanding pain and disability are not predictable from clinical signs or pathoanatomical findings. Pain cognition and physical performance have been shown to improve patients with chronic LBP following neurophysiological education. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate whether a specific cognitive based education programme for patients with LBP in primary care is more effective than normal care in terms of increased function. The secondary aims of the study are to evaluate whether this intervention also results in earlier return to work, decreased pain, increased patient satisfaction, increased quality-of-life, and cost utility.     

Effectiveness of adding voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction to a Pilates exercise program: an assessor-masked randomized controlled trial

Introduction and hypothesis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of adding voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction (PFMC) to a Pilates exercise program in sedentary nulliparous women.

Methods

Fifty-seven healthy nulliparous and physically inactive women were randomized to a Pilates exercise program (PEP) with or without PFMC. Forty-eight women concluded this study (24 participants for each group). Each woman was evaluated before and after the PEP, by a physiotherapist and an urogynecologist (UG). Neither of the professionals was revealed to them. This physiotherapist measured their pelvic floor muscle strength by using both a perineometer (Peritron) and vaginal palpation (Oxford Scale). The UG, who performed 3D perineal ultrasound examinations, collected their data and evaluated the results for pubovisceral muscle thickness and the levator hiatus area (LA). Both professionals were blinded to the group allocation. The protocol for both groups consisted of 24 bi-weekly 1-h individual sessions of Pilates exercises, developed by another physiotherapist who specializes in PFM rehabilitation and the Pilates technique.

Results

The PEP+ PFMC group showed significantly greater strength improvements than the PEP group when comparing the Oxford scale, vaginal pressure and pubovisceral muscle thickness during contraction measurements at baseline and post-treatment.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that adding a voluntary PFMC to a Pilates exercise program is more effective than Pilates alone in improving PFM strength in sedentary nulliparous women.

     

Community pharmacist-initiated screening program for osteoporosis: randomized controlled trial

Summary  

This study evaluated the effect of a multifaceted intervention (screening and patient education) by community pharmacists on testing or treatment of osteoporosis. One hundred and twenty-nine patients randomized to receive the intervention were compared to 133 patients who did not receive the intervention. Twice as many patients who got the intervention received further testing or treatment for osteoporosis.     

医院到家庭连续护理干预对持续植物状态出院患者的效果

目的探讨对持续植物状态出院患者实施医院到家庭连续护理干预的效果。方法将47例持续植物状态出院患者按照不同社区分为对照组(23例)和观察组(24例)。对照组采用常规出院康复指导及电话随访,观察组建立一个微信群实施医院到家庭的持续护理干预。干预1年后对两组患者的并发症发生率及再住院、急诊、门诊就诊次数进行统计。结果观察组干预1年后并发症发生率及再住院次数显著低于对照组(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论医院到家庭连续护理干预可降低持续植物状态出院患者并发症发生率及再住院率。     

Perioperative intravenous ketamine infusion for the prevention of persistent post-amputation pain: a randomized, controlled trial

We hypothesized that perioperative ketamine administration would modify acute central sensitization following amputation and hence reduce the incidence and severity of persistent post-amputation pain (both phantom limb and stump pain). In a randomized, controlled trial, 45 patients undergoing above- or below-knee amputation received ketamine 0.5 mg x kg(-1) or placebo as a pre-induction bolus followed by an intravenous infusion of ketamine 0.5 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1) or normal saline for 72 hours postoperatively. Both groups received standardized general anaesthesia followed by patient-controlled intravenous morphine. The surface area of allodynia over the stump was mapped at days 3 and 6. Postamputation pain was assessed at days 3 and 6 and at 6 months postoperatively. We found no significant difference between groups in the surface area of stump allodynia or in morphine consumption. There was an unexplained, but significant, increase in the incidence of stump pain in the ketamine group at day 3. At six-month review, the incidence of phantom pain was 47% in the ketamine group and 71% in the control group. This did not reach statistical significance (P=0.28) as the power of the study was based on the search for a large treatment effect. The incidence of stump pain at six months was 47% in the ketamine group and 35% in the control group (P=0.72). There were no significant between-group differences in pain severity throughout the study period. Ketamine at the dose administered did not significantly reduce acute central sensitization or the incidence and severity of post-amputation pain.     

侧后路经皮椎间孔镜下髓核摘除、射频热凝纤维环成形术治疗椎间盘源性腰痛

目的探讨侧后路经皮椎间孔镜下髓核摘除、射频热凝纤维环成形术治疗椎间盘源性腰痛的短期疗效。方法采用侧后路经皮椎间孔镜下髓核摘除、射频热凝纤维环成形术治疗25例经椎间盘造影证实的间盘源性腰痛,分析治疗前及治疗后6个月内VAS评分的变化及术后6个月MacNab评分。结果2例术后1周出现下肢日光烧灼综合征,均为L5～S1椎间盘破裂患者,经过脉冲电刺激治疗1周后缓解;无其他手术并发症发生。25例随访6～10个月,术前腰痛VAS评分为6.24±0.97,术后1周VAS评分0.80±0.65,术后1、3、6个月VAS评分均为0（0～2）,术后腰痛VAS评分较术前有明显降低（Kruskal-Wallis法秩和检验,H=61.680,P=0.000）,且术后6个月内腰痛VAS评分无明显反弹。术前伴有下肢疼痛不适的4例术后下肢症状均缓解。按照MacNab评分标准,6个月随访时11例优,12例良,2例可,优良率92.0%（23/25）。结论侧后路经皮椎间孔镜下髓核摘除、射频热凝纤维环成形术治疗间盘源性腰痛短期疗效满意。