MRI STIR序列对非神经根源性腰痛患者的诊断价值

【摘要】 目的：观察MRI检查中短T1反转回复（short T1 inversion-recovery,STIR）成像技术对于非神经根源性腰痛患者腰椎退变性病变的显示能力,评价其临床应用价值。方法：2010年9月～2011年6月对在我院就诊的有腰痛症状但无神经根放射痛症状的患者进行腰椎MRI扫描,共纳入130例患者,其中男89例,女41例,年龄17~81岁,平均48.3±16.0岁。病史均超过1年。MRI扫描序列包括：矢状面TSE-T1WI、TSE-T2WI、STIR序列,横断面TSE-T2WI序列。对STIR图像及TSE-T2WI图像上腰椎退变性病变进行观察,观察内容包括：L1～S1椎间盘退变情况、椎间盘突出/膨出的节段及程度、腰椎小关节骨质增生情况、棘间韧带水肿情况和腰背部皮下软组织水肿情况。分别对STIR序列与TSE-T2WI序列发现腰椎间盘退变、椎间盘突出/膨出、椎小关节病变、腰部软组织病变的能力进行比较。结果：130例非神经根源性腰痛患者中,STIR序列对于腰椎间盘退变、棘间韧带水肿及腰背部皮下软组织水肿的检出数分别为482个、118节和25例,TSE-T2WI序列检出311个、42节和8例,两序列检出率有显著性差异（P<0.05）;STIR与TSE-T2WI序列对于腰椎间盘突出/膨出和椎小关节骨质增生的检出数均为182个和71个,无差异。两序列均发现5例腰椎滑脱,19例腰椎管狭窄。结论：MRI STIR序列对非神经根源性腰痛患者腰椎间盘退变、棘间韧带水肿及腰背部皮下软组织水肿显示能力优于MRI T2WI。     

Dorsal Epidural Intervertebral Disk Herniation With Atypical Radiographic Findings: Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Background/Objective: Intervertebral disk herniation is relatively common. Migration usually occurs in the ventral epidural space; rarely, disks migrate to the dorsal epidural space due to the natural anatomical barriers of the thecal sac.

Design: Case report.

Findings: A 49-year-old man presented with 1 week of severe back pain with bilateral radiculopathy to the lateral aspect of his lower extremities and weakness of the ankle dorsiflexors and toe extensors. Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium revealed a peripheral enhancing dorsal epidural lesion with severe compression of the thecal sac. Initial differential diagnosis included spontaneous hematoma, synovial cyst, and epidural abscess. Posterior lumbar decompression was performed; intraoperatively, the lesion was identified as a large herniated disk fragment.

Conclusions: Dorsal migration of a herniated intervertebral disk is rare and may be difficult to definitively diagnose preoperatively. Dorsal disk migration may present in a variety of clinical scenarios and, as in this case, may mimic other epidural lesions on magnetic resonance imaging.     

Systematic Literature Review of Spinal Cord Stimulation in Patients With Chronic Back Pain Without Prior Spine Surgery

ObjectiveLow back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and one of the most common reasons for seeking health care. Despite numerous care strategies, patients with low back pain continue to exhibit poor outcomes. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an evidence-based therapeutic modality for patients with failed back surgery syndrome. For patients without a surgical lesion or history, minimally invasive interventions that provide long-term reduction of chronic back pain are needed. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of the evidence on SCS therapy in patients with chronic back pain who have not undergone spinal surgery.Materials and MethodsA systematic literature search was performed to identify studies reporting outcomes for SCS in chronic back pain patients (with or without secondary radicular leg pain) without prior surgery using date limits from database inception to February 2021. Study results were analyzed and described qualitatively.ResultsA total of ten primary studies (16 publications) were included. The included studies consistently demonstrated favorable outcomes in terms of pain reduction and functional improvement following SCS therapy. Improvements also occurred in quality of life scores; however, not all studies reported statistically significant findings. Additionally, the studies reported that SCS resulted in high patient satisfaction, reductions in opioid use, and an acceptable safety profile, although these data were more limited.ConclusionFindings suggest that SCS is a promising, safe, minimally invasive, and reversible alternative option for managing chronic back pain in patients who have not undergone spinal surgery.     

经硬膜外导管注射地塞米松预防分娩镇痛后腰背疼痛的效果

目的 经硬膜外导管注射地塞米松,观察其对预防硬膜外分娩镇痛后腰背疼痛的有效性。方法 选择2015年1月至2017年10月在合肥市第五人民医院进行硬膜外分娩镇痛的300例产妇,采用随机数字表法,分为地塞米松组（D组）和对照组（C组）,每组150例。根据硬膜外导管的刻度,使其退出硬膜外腔至黄韧带,D组产妇通过其导管注入地塞米松1 mL（5 mg）和生理盐水3 mL的混合液,边退管,边注药,直至皮下组织。同样方法,C组产妇于硬膜外导管注入生理盐水4 mL。随访3 d内产妇分娩镇痛后腰背疼痛的发生情况并进行比较。结果 分娩镇痛后,C、D组产妇腰背疼痛发生率分别为74.63%和17.69%,两组产妇腰背疼痛发生率差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;两组腰背疼痛产妇的疼痛程度构成差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 经硬膜外导管注射小剂量地塞米松,有助于减轻分娩镇痛后腰背疼痛,并减轻其疼痛程度。     

A randomized trial comparing a group exercise programme for back pain patients with individual physiotherapy in a severely deprived area

Purpose. To compare a group exercise programme known as the Back to Fitness programme with individual physiotherapy for patients with non-specific low back pain from a materially deprived area.

Method. This was a randomized controlled trial including 237 physiotherapy patients with back pain lasting more than six weeks. Participants were allocated to either the Back to Fitness programme or to individual physiotherapy, and followed up at three months and 12 months after randomization. The main outcome measure was the Roland Disability Questionnaire. Secondary measures were: SF12, EQ5D, Pain Self-Efficacy Scale. Health care diaries recording patients' use of health care resources were also collected over a 12-month period.

Results. There were no statistically significant differences in change scores between groups on the primary outcome measure at three months (CI - 2.24 to 0.49) and at 12 months (CI - 1.68 to 1.39). Only minor improvements in disability scores were observed in the Back to Fitness group at three months and 12 months respectively (mean change scores; - 0.89, - 0.77) and in the individual physiotherapy arm (mean change scores; - 0.02, - 0.63). Further analysis showed that patients from the most severely deprived areas were marginally worse at three month follow-up whereas those from more affluent areas tended to improve (CI 0.43 to 3.15).     

Retroprosthetic membrane: A complication of keratoprosthesis with broad consequences

Keratoprosthesis (KPro) devices have the remarkable ability to restore vision in patients suffering from corneal blindness who are poor candidates for traditional penetrating keratoplasty. However, eyes with KPro can experience various complications, including the development of retroprosthetic membrane (RPM). RPMs reduce visual acuity in patients due to physical obstruction of the visual axis, but studies have shown that RPM can also lead to a variety of other consequences, from melting of the corneal carrier graft to precipitating retinal detachments. Histopathologic studies have shown that RPMs are composed of elements from both the recipient and donor. The presence of myofibroblasts in RPMs imparts them with contractile properties, which can contribute to their downstream complications, including angle closure, hypotony, and retinal detachment. At present, there are limited treatments to combat the growth of RPM. Future therapies could include anti-metabolites and targeted anti-inflammatory treatments, as well as device coatings or textured device surfaces that can hinder RPM proliferation. The long-term success of KPro depends on devising an effective solution for preventing RPM growth.     

Validity of a single-item measure to assess leg or back pain as the predominant symptom in patients with degenerative disorders of the lumbar spine

Purpose

Recent studies suggest that the location of predominant pain (back or leg) can be a significant predictor of the outcome of surgery for degenerative spinal disorders. However, others challenge the notion that the predominant symptom can be reliably identified. This study examined the validity of a single item used to determine the most troublesome symptom.

Methods

A total of 2,778 patients with degenerative disorders of the lumbar spine scheduled for surgery with the goal of pain relief completed a questionnaire enquiring as to their most troublesome symptom [“main symptom”; back pain (BACK) or leg/buttock pain (LEG)]. They also completed separate 0–10 graphic rating scales for back pain (LBP) and leg/buttock pain (LP) intensity. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to determine the accuracy with which the “LP minus LBP” score was able to classify patients into their declared “main symptom” group. Sub-studies evaluated the test–retest reliability of the patients’ self-rated pain scores (N = 45) and the agreement between the main symptom declared by the patient in the questionnaire and that documented by the surgeon after the clinical consultation (N = 118).

Results

Test–retest reliability of the back and leg pain scores was good (ICC_2,1 of 0.8 for each), as was patient–surgeon agreement regarding the main symptom (BACK or LEG) (κ value 0.79). In the BACK group, the mean values for pain intensity were 7.3 ± 2.0 (LBP) and 5.2 ± 2.9 (LP); in the LEG group, they were 4.3 ± 2.9 (LBP) and 7.5 ± 1.9 (LP). The area under the curve for the ROC was 0.95 (95 % CI 0.94–0.95), indicating excellent discrimination between the BACK and LEG groups based on the “LP minus LBP” scores. A cutoff score >0.0 for “LP minus LBP” score gave optimal sensitivity and specificity for indicating membership of the LEG group (sensitivity 79.1 %, specificity 95.7 %).

Conclusions

The responses on the single item for the “main symptom” were in good agreement with the differential ratings on the 0–10 pain scales for LBP and LP intensity. The cutoff >0 for “LP minus LBP” for classifying patients as LEG pain predominant seemed appropriate and suggests good concurrent validity for the single-item measure. The single item may be of use in sub-grouping patients with the same disorder (e.g. spondylolisthesis) or as an indication in surgical decision-making.     

Radiographic evaluation of ventral instability in lumbar spondylolisthesis: do we need extension radiographs in routine exams?

Purpose

To determine the usefulness of acquiring extension radiographs for the evaluation of the degree of spondylolisthesis.

Methods

Routine radiographs of the lumbar spine were retrospectively evaluated in 87 patients (mean-age 63, range 32–86) by two independent radiologists. All patients received radiographs in standing neutral, flexion and extension position. Vertebral body depth, sagittal translational displacement and lordosis angle were measured and slip percentage (SP) was calculated on standing neutral, flexion and extension radiographs. Statistical analysis was performed with a two-sided t test. Inter- and intraobserver reliability was assessed using the kappa-coefficient.

Results

There was no statistically significant SP-difference between neutral standing and extension images. Ventral instability was diagnosed in 25–34 % (cut-off >8 % SP-difference) for neutral versus flexion comparison. The detection rate of flexion–extension radiographs representing the extremes of motion was lower with 15–22 %. Inter- and intraobserver reliability was good to excellent.

Conclusion

Slip percentage in routine standing extension radiography ultimately does not differ from that obtained in a static neutral standing view. Extension radiography may therefore be omitted in a routine work-up of ventral instability in lumbar spondylolisthesis.     

Fear-avoidance beliefs—a moderator of treatment efficacy in patients with low back pain: a systematic review

Background contextPsychological factors are believed to influence the development of chronic low back pain. To date, it is not known how fear-avoidance beliefs (FABs) influence the treatment efficacy in low back pain.PurposeTo summarize the evidence examining the influence of FABs measured with the Fear-Avoidance Belief Questionnaire or the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia on treatment outcomes in patients with low back pain.Study design/settingThis is a systematic review.Patient samplePatients with low back pain.Outcome measuresWork-related outcomes and perceived measures including return to work, pain, and disability.MethodsIn January 2013, the following databases were searched: BIOSIS, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, OTSeeker, PeDRO, PsycInfo, PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science. A hand search of the six most often retrieved journals and a bibliography search completed the search. Study eligibility criteria, participants, and interventions: research studies that included patients with low back pain who participated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating nonoperative treatment efficacy. Out of 646 records, 78 articles were assessed in full text and 17 RCTs were included. Study quality was high in five studies and moderate in 12 studies.ResultsIn patients with low back pain of up to 6 months duration, high FABs were associated with more pain and/or disability (4 RCTs) and less return to work (3 RCTs) (GRADE high-quality evidence, 831 patients vs. 322 in nonpredictive studies). A decrease in FAB values during treatment was associated with less pain and disability at follow-up (GRADE moderate evidence, 2 RCTs with moderate quality, 242 patients). Interventions that addressed FABs were more effective than control groups based on biomedical concepts (GRADE moderate evidence, 1,051 vs. 227 patients in studies without moderating effects). In chronic patients with LBP, the findings were less consistent. Two studies found baseline FABs to be associated with more pain and disability and less return to work (339 patients), whereas 3 others (832 patients) found none (GRADE low evidence). Heterogeneity of the studies impeded a pooling of the results.ConclusionsEvidence suggests that FABs are associated with poor treatment outcome in patients with LBP of less than 6 months, and thus early treatment, including interventions to reduce FABs, may avoid delayed recovery and chronicity. Patients with high FABs are more likely to improve when FABs are addressed in treatments than when these beliefs are ignored, and treatment strategies should be modified if FABs are present.