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Neurosurgery 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Neurological Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.

Background: Few studies have assessed the prognostic importance of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan findings in patients undergoing en bloc resection of sacral chordomas.

Objective: To (1) report in-depth imaging characteristics of sacral chordomas, (2) describe the patterns of local and distant recurrence, and (3) determine imaging predictors of overall survival (OS) and local recurrence (LR).

Methods: This retrospective case series was obtained from a prospectively maintained spine database from 1995 to 2016. Read More

J Pain Res 2018 21;11:2961-2967. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea,

Background: A caudal epidural steroid injection (CESI) is a commonly used method to improve symptoms of lumbosacral pain. We compared the achievement of successful epidurograms and patient-reported clinical outcomes following different needle-insertion depths during CESI.

Methods: For the conventional method group, the needle was advanced into the sacral canal. Read More

J Orthop Res 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Clinic of Orthopaedics and Sportsorthopaedics, Klinikum rd. Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.

(1) Can iliosacral osseous corridor diameters in sacral dysmorphism be enlarged by in-out-in screw placement at the posterior iliosacral recessus? (2) Are lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) the anatomical cause for sacral dysmorphism? (3) Are there sex-specific differences in sacral dysmorphism? 594 multislice CT scans were screened for sacral dysmorphism and 55 data-sets selected. Each pelvis was segmented manually and cylindrical iliosacral corridors (S1 and S2 vertebra) were semi-automatically determined. Corridor trajectories, -diameters and -lengths were measured. Read More

J Anat 2018 Dec 9. Epub 2018 Dec 9.

Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU, Dresden, Germany.

The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is a well-known source of low back and pelvic pain, of increasing interest for both conservative and surgical treatment. Alterations in the kinematics of the pelvis have been hypothesized as a major cause of SIJ-related pain. However, definitions of both the range and the extent of physiological movement are controversial, and there are no clear baseline data for pathological alterations. Read More

Neurosurgery 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Background: Tarlov cysts (TC) are commonly found spinal perineural cysts. Symptomatic TCs are rare, however, and there is no consensus on their pathogenesis and optimal management.

Objective: To characterize cyst growth in patients with symptomatic TCs. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2018 5;9:228. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

Department of Neurosurgery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Schwannoma is the most common migrating tumor in the intradural space.

Case Description: We present a patient with migrating schwannoma of the cauda which admitted with buttock and thigh pain since 2 years ago. On two preoperative lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), he had a L2/3 disc herniation concomitant with the intradural extra-axial mass at level of the L1/2 disc on the first MRI and then on the second one, his mass was just posterior to the L3 vertebral body, 22 months later. Read More

Neurospine 2018 Oct 7. Epub 2018 Oct 7.

Department of Anesthesiology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA.

Objective: Lower back pain (LBP) is a worldwide health problem, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a common modality used to aid in its diagnosis. Although specific guidelines for assessing the necessity of MRI usage exist, the use of MRI as the initial imaging method for LBP seems to be more common than necessary in general practice.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 313 patients who had undergone MRI of the lumbosacral spine during 2014-2015. Read More

Pain 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Visceral Pain Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, AUSTRALIA.

Primary afferent neurons transduce distension of the bladder wall into action potentials that are relayed into the spinal cord and brain, where autonomic reflexes necessary for maintaining continence are coordinated with pathways involved in sensation. However, the relationship between spinal circuits involved with physiological and nociceptive signalling from the bladder have only been partially characterised. We used ex-vivo bladder afferent recordings to characterise mechanosensitive afferent responses to graded distension (0-60mmHg) and retrograde tracing from the bladder wall to identify central axon projections within the dorsal horn of the lumbosacral spinal cord. Read More

Pract Neurol 2018 Dec 8. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Department of Neurology, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, UK.

Diabetic lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy is a monophasic syndrome of diffuse pain and weakness that typically affects the lower limbs asymmetrically and is often associated with significant weight loss. Recovery can be prolonged and unpredictable. It is a clinical diagnosis and investigations are performed mainly to exclude other causes. Read More

J Chem Neuroanat 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.

Glutamatergic neurons are widely distributed in gray matter across the four segments of the pigeon spinal cord. Postsynaptic neurons containing ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs), however, have been elucidated in only some AMPA subunits. This study examined the localization of postsynaptic neurons having three types of iGluRs in the pigeon spinal cord. Read More

Spine J 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Hospital for Special Surgery, Spine Care Institute, New York, NY. Electronic address:

Background: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a well-accepted surgical technique for the treatment of degenerative spinal conditions and spinal deformity. The TLIF procedure can be performed open or using minimally invasive techniques. While several studies have found that minimally invasive TLIF (MI-TLIF) has advantages over open TLIF procedures with less blood loss, post-operative pain and hospital length of stay, opponents of the minimally invasive technique cite the lack of restoration of lumbar lordosis as a major drawback. Read More

Neurocirugia (Astur) 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Neurocirugía, Hospital General Naval de Alta Especialidad de la Secretaría de Marina (HOSGENAES SEMAR), Delegación Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, México.

Objective: To present a case of spinal malignant fibrous histiocytoma in the fourth lumbar vertebra that received treatment by an L4 spondylectomy and placement of intervertebral expander and posterior fixation.

Case Report: A 47-year-old male patient with no relevant history presented with lumbar pain of 2 months' evolution. Treated conservatively, with slight improvement in pain, the patient persisted with low back pain irradiation to pelvic members, predominantly left-sided, accompanied by weakness and claudication. Read More

Clin Spine Surg 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY.

S1 pedicle subtraction osteotomies (PSOs) are indicated in patients with fixed, high-grade L5-S1 spondylolisthesis or kyphosis secondary to a sacral fracture, who present with severe sagittal imbalance. Unlike lumbar PSOs, sacral osteotomies are rare, and there is a paucity of literature outlining techniques. Here, we present the indications, planning, technique, and outcomes for S1 PSOs. Read More

Clin Spine Surg 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.

Study Design: This is a retrospective case series.

Objective: Define the anatomic variations and the risk factors for such within the operative corridor of the transpsoas lateral interbody fusion.

Summary Of Background Data: The lateral interbody fusion approach has recently been associated with devastating complications such as injury to the lumbosacral plexus, surrounding vasculature, and bowel. Read More

Clin Orthop Surg 2018 Dec 21;10(4):508-512. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Department of Spine Surgery, Barun Hospital, Jinju, Korea.

Foraminal decompression using a minimally invasive technique to preserve facet joint stability and function without fusion reportedly improves the radicular symptoms in approximately 80% of patients and is considered one of the good surgical treatment choices for lumbar foraminal or extraforaminal stenosis. However, proper decompression was not possible because of the inability to access the foramen at the L5-S1 level due to prominence of the iliac crest. To overcome this challenge, endoscopy-based minimally invasive spine surgery has recently gained attention. Read More

Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program 2018 Nov;2018(1):88-96

Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics, Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Mrs. A. is a 73-year-old woman who has developed increasing fatigue and lower back pain over the past year. Read More

Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program 2018 Nov;2018(1):83-87

Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Mrs. A. is a 73-year-old woman who has developed increasing fatigue and lower back pain over the past year. Read More

J Surg Res 2019 Jan 29;233:173-182. Epub 2018 Aug 29.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China. Electronic address:

Background: Postoperative incontinence and constipation still remain the major complications of anorectal malformations (ARMs), despite improvements in their treatment. One of the most important factors that affect postoperative anorectal function is malformations in the lumbosacral spinal cord. However, far too little attention has been paid to the underlying mechanism that produces these malformations. Read More

J Biomech Eng 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

ASME Fellow, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Biomedical Engineering Department, University of California, Davis, 2132 Bainer Drive, Davis, CA 95616-5294.

Mathematical models of the human spine can be used to investigate spinal biomechanics without the difficulties, limitations and ethical concerns associated with physical experimentation. Validation of such models is necessary to ensure the modeled system behavior accurately represents the physics of the actual system. The goal of this work was to validate a medical image-based nonlinear lumbosacral spine finite element model of a healthy 20-year-old female subject under physiological moments. Read More

Adv Orthop 2018 28;2018:6578097. Epub 2018 Oct 28.

UAB Faculty Office Tower #960, 510 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.

Traumatic lumbosacral dislocation is a rare, high-energy mechanism injury characterized by displacement of the fifth lumbar vertebra in relation to the sacrum. Due to the violent trauma typically associated with this lesion, there are often severe, coexisting injuries. High-quality radiographic studies, in addition to appropriate utilization of CT scan and MRI, are essential for proper evaluation and diagnosis. Read More

Lancet Oncol 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

NRG Oncology/NSABP, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Background: The optimal duration of extended therapy with aromatase inhibitors in patients with postmenopausal breast cancer is unknown. In the NSABP B-42 study, we aimed to determine whether extended letrozole treatment improves disease-free survival after 5 years of aromatase inhibitor-based therapy in women with postmenopausal breast cancer.

Methods: This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial was done in 158 centres in the USA, Canada, and Ireland. Read More

Vet Anaesth Analg 2018 Oct 22. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.

Objective: To compare volumes for epidural injection calculated on body weight or the length from sacrococcygeal space to occipital crest in dogs.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Animals: A total of 431 dogs weighing mean ± standard deviation (range) 24. Read More

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2018 ;118(10):58-62

Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.

Disc herniation with radiculopathy is a common cause of severe back pain leading to significant disability and a decrease in patients' quality of life. The authors report a case of 38-year-old female patient with radiculopathy of the first sacral root due to a large (11 mm) sequestered disc herniation between the fifth lumbar and the first sacral vertebrae. Conservative treatment with fluoroscopically-guided epidural steroid injection provided a significant clinical improvement, the patient was able to return to normal daily and professional activity in a short time. Read More

Eur Spine J 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahi Evran University, Kirsehir, Turkey.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare differences in lumbosacral and spinopelvic parameters between pain developers and non-pain developers as well as the effects of various posture changes.

Methods: A total of 38 consecutive participants, 20 standing-induced low back pain developers (mean age: 27.7 ± 5. Read More

Cell Transplant 2018 Nov 29:963689718815459. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

2 Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a frequent disease in modern societies and at its later stages is likely to cause chronic low back pain. Although many studies have been published, the available treatments for IVD degeneration fail to promote regeneration or even marginal repair of the IVD structure. In this study, we aimed to establish veterinary canine patients as a translational large animal model that recapitulates IVD degeneration that occurs in humans, and to investigate the suitability of intradiscal application of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC). Read More

Rinsho Shinkeigaku 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Neurology, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital.

We present the unique case of a patient with lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy (LRPN) and a small intramedullary lesion, probably an infarction, in the spinal cord. A previously healthy 58-year-old female developed acute severe pain involving the entire right lower limb, followed by weakness of the right lower limb a few hours later. The patient could not walk and was referred to our clinic. Read More

J Neurosurg Spine 2018 Oct 1:1-9. Epub 2018 Oct 1.

OBJECTIVEThe surgical correction of adult spinal deformity (ASD) often involves modifying lumbar lordosis (LL) to restore ideal sagittal alignment. However, corrections that include large changes in LL increase the risk for development of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK). Little is known about the impact of cranial versus caudal correction in the lumbar spine on the occurrence of PJK. Read More

Neurosurgery 2018 Nov 23. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Background: Preoperative prognostication of short-term postoperative mortality in patients with spinal metastatic disease can improve shared decision making around end-of-life care.

Objective: To (1) develop machine learning algorithms for prediction of short-term mortality and (2) deploy these models in an open access web application.

Methods: The American College of Surgeons, National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was used to identify patients that underwent operative intervention for metastatic disease. Read More

IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2018 Nov;26(11):2165-2178

Nearly all spinal cord injured (SCI) individuals lose bladder control and are prone to kidney complications if intermittent catheterization is not applied. Electrical stimulation of the sacral anterior roots with an implantable neuroprosthesis is one means to restore continence and control micturition. However, only a small percentage of the SCI population benefits from this solution because of its drawbacks, e. Read More

J Feline Med Surg 2018 Nov 22:1098612X18813426. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

1 Department of Clinical Sciences and Services, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the Electronic von Frey Anaesthesiometer (EVF) and the Small Animal ALGOmeter (SMALGO), used to measure sensory thresholds in 13 healthy cats at both the stifle and the lumbosacral joint, in terms of inter-rater and inter-device reliability.

Methods: Two independent observers carried out the sets of measurements in a randomised order, with a 45 min interval between them, in each cat. The inter-rater and inter-device reliability were evaluated by calculating the inter-rater correlation coefficient (ICC) for each pair of measurements. Read More

Clin Anat 2018 Nov 21. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Institute of Digitized Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China.

Introduction: A feasible and optimal axis of biomechanical and anatomic significance in axial lumbosacral interbody fusion (AxiaLIF) was designed.

Materials And Methods: Using the image data set of an adult volunteer, two groups of finite element models of the AxiaLIF, lumbosacral anterior column fixation (ACF) models and middle column fixation (MCF) models with different bone graft fusion degrees, were prospectively established, and their biomechanical differences were comparatively predicted. In addition, 3D reconstruction was performed by retrospectively collecting CT data from pelvises in 60 adult cases. Read More

Eur Spine J 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Orthopedic and Spinal Surgery Department, Kingdom Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: In adult spinal deformity (ASD), sagittal imbalance and sagittal malalignment have been extensively described in the literature during the past decade, whereas coronal imbalance and coronal malalignment (CM) have been given little attention. CM can cause severe impairment in adult scoliosis and ASD patients, as compensatory mechanisms are limited. The aim of this paper is to develop a comprehensive classification of coronal spinopelvic malalignment and to suggest a treatment algorithm for this condition. Read More

Asian J Neurosurg 2018 Oct-Dec;13(4):1282-1284

Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Center Zagreb, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia.

Spinal cord lipomas are rare and benign tumors which may cause progressive neurological deficits due to their local expansion. We present the case of a 59-year-old male patient with severe lumbosacral pain and slowly progressive paresis of the right leg, misdiagnosed with degenerative spine disease. Repeated magnetic resonance (MR) T1-weighted images of the thoracic spine suggested a subacute intramedullary hematoma. Read More

Funct Neurol 2018 Jul/Sept;33(3):125-130

Drugs used for the treatment of chronic lumbosacral radicular pain (LRP) may have frequent adverse effects leading to medication withdrawal. The use of add-on nutraceuticals, which have no side effects, may therefore play a role in LRP treatment. We performed a six-week, single-center, open label prospective uncontrolled clinical study to evaluate the effect of a nutraceutical combination (Noxiall®) used as an add-on therapy in patients with chronic LRP. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Radiology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow, 226014, India.

Background: Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based criteria for diagnosing magnitude of tethered cord syndrome (TCS) in occult spinal dysraphism are proposed.

Methods: In this prospective, case-control design study, MRI lumbosacral spine was performed in 51 subjects [pilot group (n = 10) without TCS (for defining radiological parameters), control group (n = 10) without TCS (for baseline assessment), and study group (n = 31) with spinal dysraphism (thick filum terminale [n = 12], lumbar/lumbosacral meningomyelocoele [n = 6], and lipomyelomeningocoele [n = 13])]. The parameters compared in control and study groups included oscillatory frequency (OF), difference in ratio, in supine/prone position, of distance between posterior margin of vertebral body and anterior margin of spinal cord (oscillatory distance [OD]), with canal diameter, at the level of conus as well as superior border of contiguous two vertebrae above that level; delta bending angle (ΔBA), difference, in supine/prone position, of angle between longitudinal axis of conus and that of lower spinal cord; and sagittal and axial root angles, subtended between exiting ventral nerve roots and longitudinal axis of cord. Read More

Actas Dermosifiliogr 2018 Nov 15. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Servicio de Radiología, Hospital Universitario I Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, España.

Cutaneous hemangiomas are the most frequent benign tumors in children. When they affect the lumbar and perineal area some cases can be associated with an occult spinal dysraphism. The management of these hemangiomas lack consensus. Read More

Clin Neurophysiol 2018 Dec 30;129(12):2594-2601. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Objective: To evaluate the clinical significance of intraoperative bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) during untethering surgery in predicting post-operative voiding function.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of pediatric patients who underwent untethering surgery with available intraoperative baseline BCR. BCR response during surgery was classified into loss or maintenance. Read More

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2018 Nov;98(41):3309-3314

Department of Orthopedics, Yantai Shan Hospital, Yantai 264008, China.

To introduce a robot-assisted modified method of sacroiliac screw path planning in order to reduce the incidence of screw misplacement. The study involved 13 patients suffering from posterior pelvic injuries treated by percutaneous sacroiliac screw in Yantai Shan Hospital from August 2016 to May 2018. The patients included 9 males and 4 females, aged from 18 to 70 years (mean age 46. Read More

J Neurotrauma 2018 Nov 15. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Mayo Clinic, Neurologic Surgery, Rochester, Minnesota, United States.

Epidural electrical stimulation (EES) of the spinal cord has been shown to restore function after spinal cord injury (SCI). Characterization of EES-evoked motor responses has provided a basic understanding of spinal sensorimotor network activity related to EES-enabled motor activity of the lower extremities. However, the use of EES-evoked motor responses to guide EES system implantation over the spinal cord and their relation to post-operative EES-enabled function in humans with chronic paralysis due to SCI has yet to be described. Read More

J Orthop Surg Res 2018 Nov 13;13(1):285. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 139 Ziqiang Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China.

Background: The subsequent L5-S1 disc degeneration associated with long fusion arthrodesis terminating at L5 in patients with adult scoliosis has been a common concern. However, few studies paid attention to its preoperative predictors, especially in spinopelvic parameters. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the preoperative predictors of subsequent L5-S1 disc degeneration after long fusion arthrodesis terminating at L5 in patients with adult scoliosis on spinopelvic parameters. Read More

Spine J 2018 Nov 9. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA. Electronic address:

Background Context: Lumbosacral pseudoarthrosis and instrumentation failure is common with long-segment constructs. Optimizing lumbosacral construct biomechanics may help to reduce failure rates. The influence of iliac screws and interbody type on range of motion (ROM), rod strain (RS), sacral screw strain (SS) is not well-established. Read More

J Clin Monit Comput 2018 Nov 10. Epub 2018 Nov 10.

Orthopedic and Traumatology Department, School of Medicine, Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University, Ic Erenkoy Mah. Kerem Aydınlar Kampusu. Kayısdag Cad. Atasehir, 34752, Istanbul, Turkey.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anterior root muscle (ARM) response monitorability during total hip arthroplasty (THA) under spinal anesthesia. A total of 20 adults (64.6 ± 13. Read More

Eur Radiol 2018 Nov 9. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Department of Radiology, Military Teaching Hospital Clermont-Tonnerre, Rue du colonel Fonferrier, 29240, Brest Cedex 9, France.

Objective: To evaluate the value of psoas muscle proximal insertion for correct numbering of the lumbar vertebrae in MRI, in particular in case of lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV).

Methods: Two radiologists assessed 477 MRI scans of the lumbar spine with a sagittal localizer sequence on the whole spine for numbering vertebrae caudally from C2. Proximal insertion of the psoas was determined as the most proximal vertebra with psoas over half of its body on coronal T2 STIR sequence. Read More

J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2018 Nov 9. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center;

Abdominal pain represents a significant complaint in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While the etiology of IBS is incompletely understood, prior exposure to gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation or psychological stress is frequently associated with the development of symptoms. Inflammation or stress-induced expression of growth factors or cytokines may contribute to the pathophysiology of IBS. Read More

J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil 2018 Oct 29. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Department of Neurosurgery, Collegium Medicum Nicolaus Copernicus, Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) affects most people at least once in their lives.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound therapy (UD) in patients with LBP receiving two different treatment dosages.

Methods: The study design was a randomized prospective study. Read More

Am J Phys Anthropol 2019 Jan 8;168(1):131-144. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.

Objectives: We tested whether patterns of intraspecific variation in catarrhine vertebral shape are consistent with developmental or functional predictions. Intraspecific variation was compared across column regions, morphological features, and species. Transitional regions and later ossifying morphological features were predicted to exhibit increased variation. Read More

Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2018 Dec 24;175:112-120. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neuropsychiatry, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to estimate the crude prevalence rate (CPR) of compressive radiculopathies in Qena governorate/Egypt.

Patients And Methods: 10 areas in Qena governorate were selected by random sampling, involving 9303 inhabitants with 57.3% urban residents and 42. Read More

Neurology 2018 Nov;91(19):e1834-e1835

From the Departments of Neurology (T.M., M.U., Y.M., T.Y., Y.A.) and Diagnostic Radiology (M.K., Y.Y.), Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University; Department of Radiology (K.M.), Kumamoto University Hospital; and Department of Morphological and Physiological Sciences (K.O.), Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kumamoto University, Japan.

Neurochirurgie 2018 Dec 2;64(6):442-444. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Department of neurosurgery and radiology, faculty of Medicine, UDL Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria.

Introduction: Intramedullary spinal cord lipomas (IMSCL) are a rare entity, accounting for less than 1% of spinal tumors. Most cases are associated with lumbosacral dysraphism and occur predominantly in the pediatric population.

Material And Method: We report the case of an isolated bipolar lipoma, which was very large in the cervicodorsal region and small in the conus medularis. Read More

J Korean Neurosurg Soc 2018 Nov 30;61(6):731-736. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Departmant of Dermatology, Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital, Sakarya, Turkey.

Objective: Ultrasonography (US) is the most non-invasive, safe, and, especially in the period of infancy, best method for visualizing and examining the spinal cord. Furthermore, US is the primary work-up for development of the spinal canal, and for follow-up on issues relating to subcutaneous tissues, bone development, and the spinal cord. Conus medullaris terminates at the second lumbar vertebra, according to a consensus in the literature. Read More