The accuracy of MRI in the detection of Lumbar Disc Containment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>MRI has proven to be an extremely valuable tool in the assessment of normal and pathological spinal anatomy. Accordingly, it is commonly used to assess containment of discal material by the outer fibers of the anulus fibrosus and posterior longitudinal ligaments. Determination of such containment is important to determine candidacy for intradiscal techniques and has prognostic significance. The accuracy of MRI in detecting containment has been insufficiently documented.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The MRI's of fifty consecutive patients undergoing open lumbar microdiscectomy were prospectively evaluated for disc containment by a neuroradiologist and senior spinal surgeon using criteria available in the literature and the classification of Macnab/McCulloch. An independent surgeon then performed the surgery and documented the actual containment status using the same methods. Statistical evaluation of accuracy was undertaken.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MRI was found to be 72% sensitive, 68% specific, and 70% accurate in detecting containment status of lumbar herniated discs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>MRI may be inaccurate in assessing containment status of lumbar disc herniations in 30% of cases. Given the importance of containment for patient selection for indirect discectomy techniques and intradiscal therapies, coupled with prognostic significance; other methods to assess containment should be employed to assess containment when such alternative interventions are being considered.</p

The composition and weathering of the continents over geologic time

The composition of continental crust records the balance between construction by tectonics and destruction by physical and chemical erosion. Quantitative constraints on how igneous addition and chemical weathering have modified the continents’ bulk composition are essential for understanding the evolution of geodynamics and climate. Using novel data-analytic techniques we have extracted temporal trends in sediments’ protolith composition and weathering intensity from the largest available compilation of sedimentary major-element compositions: ∼ 15,000 samples from 4.0 Ga to the present. We find that the average Archean upper continental crust was silica rich and had a similar compositional diversity to modern continents. This is consistent with an early-Archean, or earlier, onset of plate tectonics. In the Archean, chemical weathering sequestered ∼ 25 % more CO2 per mass eroded for the same weathering intensity than in subsequent time periods, consistent with carbon mass-balance despite higher Archean outgassing rates and more limited continental exposure. Since 2.0 Ga, over long (> 0.5 Ga) timescales, crustal weathering intensity has remained relatively constant. On shorter timescales over the Phanerozoic, weathering intensity is correlated to global climate state, consistent with a weathering feedback acting in response to changes in CO2 sources or sinks

How do older patients and their GPs evaluate shared decision-making in healthcare?

Contains fulltext : 69974.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Older persons represent a growing share of the population, yet very little is known about their specific healthcare needs, problems, and expectations. IMPROVE is an international research project that seeks to improve elderly persons' involvement in their healthcare. This paper analyzes perceptions of patient involvement by elderly patients and their GPs in family medicine in Slovenia. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with patients over 70 and their GPs were audio-taped and transcribed. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Specific characteristics of old age must be taken into account in the involvement of older patients. It is important to know the patient's expectations and to communicate clearly with the patient. A trusting relationship between the GP and the patient is a prerequisite for involvement. GPs center involvement on the GP's side. Involvement of the elderly is linked to ethical dilemmas. CONCLUSION: Understanding the involvement of the elderly focuses more on building a relationship than on making decisions. It is reasonable to educate GPs and GPs' coworkers about caring relationships. Ethical aspects have often been treated in a theoretical manner, whereas empirical practice may be entirely different from theoretical premises. GPs and older patients must learn more about how to address their ethical dilemmas

Factores de riesgo para la recurrencia de hernia de disco lumbar Fatores de risco de recorrência de hérnia de disco lombar Risk factors for recurrent lumbar disc herniation

OBJETIVO: La recurrencia de hernia del disco lumbar es un padecimiento que implica algunas dificultades en relación con el diagnóstico y tratamiento. Es importante tratar de identificar los factores que puedan influir en la presentación de la recurrencia. MÉTODOS: Se revisaron los casos de pacientes operados por hernia de disco lumbar recurrente entre los años de 2006 y 2008, buscando identificar los factores que tuvieran relación con dicha patología, y también se revisaron los casos de pacientes operados por hernia de disco lumbar en forma primaria. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron los casos de 20 pacientes con hernia discal lumbar recurrente y de 27 con hernia discal lumbar operados en forma primaria. Para los pacientes con recurrencia, se encontró que el 95% de ellos presentaban algún grado de obesidad, determinado por la Fórmula de Quetelet basada en el Índice de Masa Corporal; se observó también que el 75% de los casos tenían protrusión, con resultados excelentes en 35%, y buenos en 55%, el 10% presentó molestias residuales de forma grave. Para los pacientes con hernia primaria se estudiaron 27 casos, en los que se observó que el 92% de ellos se operaron antes de los 6 meses de iniciado el cuadro, 38% tuvieron resultados excelentes, 40% buenos y el 19% malos resultados. Al estudiar las variables, con el índice de Pearson, se encontró relación de la recurrencia con tabaquismo, trabajo, diabetes e hipertensión, y nivel de estudios, no con la obesidad. CONCLUSIONES: es destacable que dos de los factores relacionados son susceptibles de modificación antes del evento quirúrgico o posteriormente a este, lo cual puede beneficiar el desenlace del mismo.<br>OBJETIVO: A hérnia de disco envolve algumas dificuldades com relação ao diagnóstico e tratamento. É importante identificar os fatores que podem influenciar a recorrência. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados casos de pacientes operados de hérnia de disco lombar recidivante entre 2006 e 2008, buscando identificar os fatores que têm relação com a doença; também se analisaram os casos de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia primária de hérnia de disco lombar. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados os casos de 20 pacientes com hérnia de disco lombar recidivante e 27 casos de cirurgia primária de hérnia de disco lombar. Para os pacientes com recorrência, constatou-se que 95% tinham algum grau de obesidade, determinada pela fórmula de Quetelet, baseada no Índice de Massa Corporal; e também foi observado que 75% dos casos eram protrusão do disco com excelentes resultados em 35% e bons em 55%; 10% tiveram problemas residual grave. Foram estudados 27 casos de pacientes com hérnia primária, nos quais se verificou que 92% foram operados antes dos 6 meses do início do quadro, 38% tiveram resultados excelentes, 40%, bom e 19%, resultado ruim. Ao considerar as variáveis com a relação de Pearson encontrou-se relação da recorrência com tabagismo, trabalho, diabetes, hipertensão e escolaridade, mas não com a obesidade. CONCLUSÃO: É importante ressaltar que dois dos fatores estão sujeitos a alteração antes da cirurgia ou depois dela, o que pode beneficiar o resultado do mesmo.<br>OBJECTIVE: Recurrent lumbar disc herniation is a condition that involves some difficulties in relation to diagnosis and treatment. It is important to identify factors that may influence recurrence. METHODS: We reviewed cases of patients operated for recurrent lumbar disc herniation between 2006 and 2008, seeking to identify the factors that have relation with this disease, and also reviewed the cases of patients that underwent primary surgery for herniated lumbar disc. RESULTS: We analyzed the cases of 20 patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation and 27. For patients with recurrence, it was found that 95% had some degree of obesity determined by the Quetelet Index, based on Body Mass Index; it was also observed that 75% of cases were protruding with excellent results in 35% and good in 55%, 10% had severe residual conditions. In patients with primary hernia were studied 27 cases in which it was noted that 92% were operated before 6 months of the onset of the condition, 38% had excellent results, 40% good and 19% poor outcomes. Considering the variables with the Pearson correlation, it was found that the recurrence is related to smoking, work, diabetes and hypertension, and schooling, but not with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: It is remarkable that two of the factors are subject to change before or after the surgery, which can benefit the ir outcomes

An injectable nucleus replacement as an adjunct to microdiscectomy: 2 year follow-up in a pilot clinical study

Literature indicates that loss of disc tissue from herniation and/or surgery can accelerate degeneration of the disc. The associated loss of disc height may correspond with recurrent back and/or leg pain. A novel hydrogel has been developed to replace lost nucleus pulposus and potentially restore normal disc biomechanics following herniation and surgery. A single-center, non-randomized, prospective feasibility study was undertaken to investigate the use of NuCore® Injectable Nucleus hydrogel (Spine Wave, Inc., Shelton, CT, USA) as a replacement for nuclear tissue lost to herniation and microdiscectomy. Fourteen patients were enrolled at the authors’ hospital as the initial site in a worldwide multicenter pilot study. Subjects who were entered into the study suffered from radicular pain due to single-level herniated nucleus pulposus and were non-respondent to conservative therapy. Following a standard microdiscectomy procedure, the hydrogel material was injected into the nuclear void to replace what tissue had been lost to the herniation and surgery. Leg and back pain, function and disability scores were monitored pre- and post-operatively through 2 years. Neurologic and physical evaluations, blood and serum analyses, and radiographic evaluations of disc height and implant stability were also performed. Results showed significant improvement for leg and back pain, as well as function scores. No complications or device related adverse events were observed. MR controls confirmed stable position of the implants with no reherniations. Radiographic measurements indicated better maintenance of disc height compared to literature data on microdiscectomy alone. The NuCore® material appears to protect the disc from early collapse following microdiscectomy; and therefore, may have the potential to slow the degenerative cascade of the spinal segment over time

Clinical factors of importance for outcome after lumbar disc herniation surgery: long-term follow-up

Factors as age, sex, smoking, duration of leg pain, working status, type/level of disc herniation and psychosocial factors have been demonstrated to be of importance for short-term results after lumbar discectomy. There are few studies with long-term follow-up. In this prospective study of lumbar disc herniation patients undergoing surgery, the result was evaluated at 2 and 5–10 (mean 7.3) years after surgery. Predictive factors for satisfaction with treatment and objective outcome were investigated. Out of the included 171 patients undergoing lumbar discectomy, 154 (90%) patients completed the 2-year follow-up and 140 (81%) completed the long-term follow-up. Baseline data and questionnaires about leg- and back pain intensity (VAS), duration of leg pain, disability (Oswestry Disability Index), depression (Zung Depression Scale), sick leave and employment status were obtained preoperatively, at 2-year- and long-term follow-up. Primary outcome included patient satisfaction with treatment (at both time points) and assessment of an independent observer at the 2-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes at 2-year follow-up were improvement of leg and back pain, working capacity and the need for analgesics or sleeping pills. In about 70% of the patients excellent or good overall result was reported at both follow-ups, with subjective outcome measurements. The objective evaluation after 2 years was in agreement with this result. Time on sick leave was found to be a clinically important predictor of the primary outcomes, with a potential of changing the probability of a satisfactory outcome (both objective and subjective) from around 50% (sick leave >3 months) to 80% (sick leave <2 months). Time on sick leave was also an important predictor for several of the secondary outcomes; e.g. working capacity and the need for analgesics