Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S K Seitsalo.
We recorded the musculoskeletal performance capacity of 25 patients suffering from chronic severe low back pain before and during the external fixation test of the lumbar spine. The capacity was measured by isometric and isokinetic lifting, repetitive upper extremity lifting with a load, repetitive squatting, and the walking distance. Only walking distance was increased by fixation of the spine.
We retrospectively analyzed the rate and character of complications in a series of 100 consecutive external fixation tests during 1985-1991. There were 30 complications in 25 patients. The most common was pin tract infection, which was definite in 12 cases and probable in 6. Although 12 patients developed complications that resulted in removal or reapplication of the device. 8 cases had an incorrect position of a Schanz screw; 3 of these had neurological complications. The only variable having a significant association with complications was the duration of the test. Because of this complication rate, the indications for the test should be carefully considered.