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Interrater reliability of lumbar accessory motion mobility testing.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study examined the interrater agreement, or reliability, of accessory motion mobility testing of the lumbar spine in patients with low back pain. SUBJECTS: Subjects were 18 patients with low back pain referred to the physical therapy outpatient department of a university teaching hospital. METHODS: Six orthopedic physical therapists evaluated the posterior-anterior (P-A) accessory motion mobility at each of six levels, L-1 to the sacral base, on each subject. The mobility was recorded on a nine-point scale, and reproduction of pain was noted. The physical therapists noted any level at which mobility or pain findings were of significance to treat. To evaluate agreement on the identification of spinal levels, therapists were asked to identify one spinous process, which was arbitrarily marked on each subject. Kappa analyses and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to evaluate agreement on the level of the marked segment and the mobility at that level, respectively. RESULTS: The ICC for determination of the marked level was R(2,1) = .69 (95% confidence interval = .53-.82). The ICC for mobility findings at the marked level was R(2,1) = .25 (95% confidence interval = 0-.44). A secondary Kappa analysis to determine agreement on treatment decision making demonstrated similarly low levels of agreement. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: There is poor interrater agreement on determination of the segmental level of a marked spinous process. There is poor interrater reliability of P-A accessory mobility testing in the absence of corroborating clinical data. Caution should be exercised when physical therapists make clinical decisions related to the evaluation of motion at a specific spinal level using P-A accessory motion testing.

Adult↗

Controlled trial of mobilisation and manipulation for low back pain: hospital patients.

Ninety-four patients with non-specific lumbar pain referred to hospital rheumatology and orthopaedic clinics participated in a double-blind controlled trial comparing mobilisation and manipulation with placebo physiotherapy. Results were assessed immediately after the tratment course, two months later, and at one year. Many patients showed improvement, but in contrast to a study on general-practitioner patients with nonspecific back pain no definite advantage could be associated with mobilisation and manipulation. The benefits of mobilisation and manipulation for low back pain are probably restricted to hastening recovery in patients likely rapidly to improve spontaneously. Hence patients whose severity and duration of symptoms warrant specialist referral are less likely to benefit from the technique.

Adult↗

Prevalence of low back pain in the community: implications for service provision in Bradford, UK.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assist a purchasing district in the planning of services for low back pain by assessing the prevalence of symptoms and the current involvement of primary, secondary, and complementary care in the treatment of low back pain. In the light of these findings, to assess further the potential impact of a new system of open access to physical therapy, as recommended by the British Clinical Standards Advisory Group (CSAG). DESIGN: A two-stage cross sectional survey approach using postal questionnaires. SUBJECTS: Altogether 1437 men and 1747 women aged 25-64 years, randomly selected from the family health services association register in Bradford. MAIN RESULTS: An annual incidence of 4.7% for low back pain was found, with lifetime, 12 month period, and point prevalences of 59%, 39%, and 19% respectively. Over a one year period, 50.3% of episodes were acute (< 2 weeks), 21% were subacute (2 weeks-3 months), and 26% were chronic (over 3 months) in duration. Altogether 17.8% of the population in this age range experienced referred pain, numbness, or tingling, and 6.4% took time off work as a result of low back pain. In the same year, 20% of the population in the same age range consulted no-one about their pain, 13.7% were treated at the primary care level, 4% received secondary care, and 3% visited a complementary therapist. One fifth of those who did not consult a professional experienced severe pain during episodes. Prevalence estimates indicate that an emphasis on early intervention and primary care management of simple low back pain as recommended by the CSAG could generate a 131% surge in demand for physical therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Local prevalence estimates may allow purchasers to estimate the potential effects of a shift in management policy for low back pain and to highlight areas of unmet need in terms of resources and patient education.

Adult↗

Headache as a manifestation of myocardial infarction.

We report a 64-year-old man who complained of headache without chest pain at the onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). He had no history of chest pain or headache. Severe headache in this case was the first symptom of AMI. The headache was reproduced during stress test. During the angioplasty procedure, he also complained of headache without vasospastic change in the coronary artery. These findings suggest that the headache which accompanied AMI or myocardial ischemia in this case was due to referred pain rather than a generalized vasospastic disorder.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Thalamic microelectrode recording and microstimulation in central and deafferentation pain.

Microelectrode recording and microstimulation (in 1 case macrostimulation) were used to localize stereotactic targets in 8 patients with central and deafferentation pain and 1 'deafferented control' patient without pain. Off-line study revealed two features commonly proposed as potential physiological factors for such pain, but they were present in both pain and control patients--somatotopographic reorganization and the presence of bursting cells. In all patients in whom stimulation induced pain referred to deafferented parts of the contralateral body, hyperpathia or allodynia were present instead of normal paraesthetic, sensorimotor or thermal responses.

Electric Stimulation↗

Chest pain as result of temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

Pain referred to the chest, with implications of cardiac distress, is described in a patient with a history of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). An anatomically-based hypothesis is included to explain the reported chest symptoms. The basis for nociceptive neuronal interactions between the muscles of the head and neck has been reported previously. The patient described here suffered from myofascial pain of the muscles of mastication and the postural muscles of the head and neck.

Adult↗

Myofascial origins of low back pain. 1. Principles of diagnosis and treatment.

Myofascial trigger points (TPs) are frequently overlooked sources of acute and chronic low back pain. An active myofascial TP is suspected by its focal tenderness to palpation and by restricted stretch range of motion. The restricted lengthening of the muscle is due to the tense band of muscle fibers in which the TP is located. The presence of a TP is confirmed by a local twitch response and by reproduction of its known pattern of referred pain, which matches the distribution of the patient's pain. Only an active TP causes a clinical pain complaint; a latent TP does not. The pain can be relieved by the stretch-and-spray procedure, ischemic compression, or precise injection of the TP with procaine solution. Relief is usually long lasting only if mechanical and systemic perpetuating factors are corrected.

Back Pain↗

Management of vulvar pain.

Vulvodynia is a frequently used medical term that literally means "vulvar pain". Therefore, vulvodynia is a symptom, not a disease. The term itself indicates a variety of unpleasant chronic vulvar sensations, including burning, rawness, soreness, irritation, sensitivity, and formication. This may or may not include dyspareunia. Primary vulvodynia occurs when these sensory disturbances occur in the absence of observable dermatologic disease or vulvovaginal infection. There are several causes for this, including neuropathy, referred pain, and pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. For the purist, it is the patient in whom there is no observable reason for vulvar pain who represents the true case of vulvodynia. However, vulvodynia can also occur secondarily as a symptom of vulvar skin disease. Restricting the present paper to patients without objective signs leaves out all the important conditions which come into the differential diagnosis of vulvar pain which should be ruled out first. The first step in managing vulvodynia is making an accurate diagnosis of its cause. The present review summarizes the diagnosis and management of the chronic dermatologic diseases which may cause primary and secondary vulvodynia. The etiology of primary vulvodynia is much more poorly understood than secondary vulvodynia, and treatment of some aspects remains controversial.

Female↗

Broad analgesic profile of buprenorphine in rodent models of acute and chronic pain.

Buprenorphine is a potent opioid analgesic clinically used to treat moderate to severe pain. The present study assessed its analgesic efficacy in a broad range of rodent models of acute and chronic pain. In the phenylquinone writhing, hot plate, and tail flick mouse models of acute pain, full analgesic efficacy was obtained (ED50 values: 0.0084-0.16 mg/kg i.v.). Full analgesic efficacy was also obtained in yeast- and formalin-induced inflammatory pain (ED50 values: 0.0024-0.025 mg/kg i.v., rats and mice) and in mustard-oil-induced spontaneous pain, referred allodynia, and referred hyperalgesia in mice (ED50 values: 0.018-0.025 mg/kg i.v.). Buprenorphine strongly inhibited mechanical and cold allodynia in mononeuropathic rats, as well as mechanical hyperalgesia and cold allodynia in polyneuropathic rats (ED50 values: 0.055 and 0.036 mg/kg i.v. and 0.129 and 0.038 mg/kg i.p., respectively). It is concluded that buprenorphine shows a broad analgesic profile and offers the opportunity to treat different pain conditions, including neuropathic pain.

Acute Disease↗

Accuracy of blind versus fluoroscopically guided caudal epidural injection.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective observational study of a case series of patients with low back pain referred for epidural injection of corticosteroid. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy of caudal epidural injections performed without the use of fluoroscopic guidance and to determine the value of specific clinical tests performed during the procedure in predicting successful epidural needle placement. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Epidural injection of corticosteroid is one of many treatments currently used in the nonsurgical management of low back pain. The face validity of many studies evaluating the efficacy of epidural corticosteroid injections has been criticized for use of a blind technique. Although there currently is no consensus in the spine literature as to whether epidural injection of corticosteroid (by any technique) is effective, it is imperative first to establish the accuracy of the technique being used. METHODS: A total of 54 consecutive patients underwent fluoroscopically guided caudal epidural injections. Needle insertion was performed blindly (without the use of fluoroscopic guidance), and the success of needle placement was predicted according to the presence of palpable landmarks, palpation of subcutaneous airflow, and the subjective impression that the needle was in a satisfactory position. These clinical criteria then were compared with the position of the needle as seen under fluoroscopy and the spread of radio-opaque contrast in the epidural space after the procedure. RESULTS: Successful injection placement on the first attempt occurred in 74.1% of the patients. Results were improved when anatomic landmarks were identified easily (87.5%) and no air was palpable subcutaneously over the sacrum when injected through the needle (82.9%). The combination of these two signs predicted a successful injection in 91.3% of attempts. CONCLUSIONS: Caudal epidural injection is performed ideally with fluoroscopic guidance as the gold standard for accurate drug placement. If fluoroscopic guidance is unavailable, impractical, or contraindicated, the presence of readily palpable anatomic landmarks at the sacral hiatus and the absence of palpable subcutaneous airflow over the sacrum significantly increase the operator's confidence in the likelihood of an accurate injection even before any products are administered into the epidural space.

Adult↗

Angina pectoris symptoms caused by thoracic spine disorders. Neuro-anatomical considerations.

The pain conducting systems in the thorax will be described. The diagnosis angina pectoris is a symptom diagnosis. The common medical assumption is that these symptoms are caused by decreased circulation in the coronary vessels. The truth is that exactly the same symptoms can be the results of pathological changes in for example the oesophagus, the mediastinum and the thoracic spine. Our knowledge of referred pain and the pathways for pain conduction permits us nowadays to understand how pain symptoms can have different origins and still be experienced as identical.

Angina Pectoris↗

Eagle syndrome: classic and carotid artery types.

OBJECTIVE: To present a number of cases with elongated styloid process (Eagle) syndrome and to discuss the clinical presentation of this disorder. METHODS: A clinical study of patients operated on at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Riyadh, from 1992 to 1996. RESULTS: The study group consisted of seven patients (six females and one male ranging in age from 20 to 43 years). Symptomatically, two distinct groups of patients could be identified: the classic syndrome (including three patients), which occurs in the tonsillectomized patients, and the styloid-carotid artery syndrome (including four patients), which occurs independently of tonsillectomy. In the first type, patients usually complain of spastic and nagging pain in the pharynx radiating to the mastoid region. In the second group, patients usually complain of attacks of syncope in association with pharyngeal pain referred to the course of the carotid artery. Diagnosis is made by history taking, palpating the tonsillar fossa, and radiographic demonstration of the process. Three-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction images were found to be very reliable in measuring the actual length of the styloid process and the stylohyoid ligament. CONCLUSION: This unusual disorder should be considered in the differential diagnosis of facial pain in some patients and as the cause of syncope in other patients. The paper discusses the embryologic, anatomic, pathogenetic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of elongated styloid process with calcified stylohyoid ligament and the differential diagnosis is detailed.

Adult↗

[Acupuncture in pain therapy: current concepts].

Acupuncture is a technique that was originally developed in ancient Chinese culture. One of the most important areas of use is in pain treatment. Many scientific publications have tried to prove the efficacy of acupuncture and have tried to determine the possible mechanisms of action. It has been shown that stimulation by acupuncture, mechanically or electrically, stimulates certain endocrine control mechanisms, which cause the release of morphine like substances. These endocrine controls are not only stimulated by acupuncture, but also are activated by other pain fighting techniques that utilize peripheral stimulation. Even if experimental studies could prove the effects of acupuncture, it is still difficult for scientists to accept the Chinese theory. Until now, nobody could determine the exact nature of the points and circles of acupuncture. The precise location of the points does not seem to be a requirement for the analgesic effects. The analysis of referred pain made it possible to confirm the anatomical and functional bases of acupuncture points and circles. Many authors have found good external agreement between points of pain and acupuncture points and have found agreement between the Chinese circles and radicular and pseudoradicular pain areas. With respect to the interpretation of the results of controlled clinical studies, it was difficult to determine the criteria for placebo. The criteria used depends on which acupuncture model is used. In the traditional model, any use of the needle at a different point from the Chinese point is called placebo. In the neurophysiological model, it seems that the method of stimulation, mechanical or electrical, makes the difference. This hypothesis has been confirmed by analysing all past clinical studies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acupuncture Analgesia↗

What is "the good back-consultation"? A combined qualitative and quantitative study of chronic low back pain patients' interaction with and perceptions of consultations with specialists.

OBJECTIVE: To identify core elements of what patients with chronic low back pain perceive as good clinical communication and interaction with a specialist ("The Good Back-Consultation"). DESIGN: Qualitative study including observation of consultations and a subsequent patient interview. Quantitative data were also recorded. SUBJECTS: Thirty-five patients with chronic low back pain referred to a specialist. METHODS: Thirty-five consultations were observed with respect to history-taking, clinical examination and interaction between patient and doctor. Patients were subsequently interviewed about how they perceived the consultation. Fourteen specialists with various specialty branches and 35 patients (18 males) participated. For 3 of the specialists a positive effect (return to work) on patients with chronic low back pain had been documented in previous randomized controlled trials. Qualitative data analysis was performed using a template method. RESULTS: Most patients thought that the history-taking and clinical examination had been thorough and satisfactory. Patients emphasized the importance of being given an explanation during the examination of what was being done and found, of receiving understandable information on the causes of the pain, of receiving reassurance, discussing psychosocial issues and discussing what can be done. The most important characteristic of "The Good Back-Consultation" was that the specialist took the patient seriously. CONCLUSION: The findings may represent an important potential for enhancing clinical communication with patients.

Adult↗

Brachial plexus nerve block with CT guidance for regional pain management: initial results.

Brachial plexus nerve blocks are performed to treat patients with chronic pain referable to the brachial plexus. The needle insertion and trajectory are based on palpation of surface landmarks. Occasionally, the surface landmarks are difficult to identify owing to body habitus or anatomic alterations secondary to surgery or radiation therapy. The intent of this manuscript is to describe a technique for brachial plexus block guided with computed tomography and to report our initial results for regional pain management.

Adult↗

Correlation of clinical examination characteristics with three sources of chronic low back pain.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Research has demonstrated some progress in using a clinical examination to predict discogenic or sacroiliac (SI) joint sources of pain. No clear predictors of symptomatic lumbar zygapophysial joints have yet been demonstrated. PURPOSE: To identify significant components of a clinical examination that are associated with symptomatic lumbar discs, zygapophysial joints and SI joints. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, criterion-related concurrent validity study performed at a private radiology practice specializing in spinal diagnostics. PATIENT SAMPLE: The sample consisted of 81 patients with chronic lumbopelvic pain referred for diagnostic injections. OUTCOME MEASURES: Contingency tables were constructed for nine features of the clinical evaluation compared with the results of diagnostic injections. Statistical analysis included chi-squared test for independence, phi and odds ratios with confidence intervals. METHOD: Patients received blinded clinical examinations by physical therapists, and diagnostic injections were used as the criterion standard. RESULTS: Significant relationships were found between discogenic pain and centralization of pain during repeated movement testing, and pain when rising from sitting. Lumbar zygapophysial joint pain was associated with absence of pain when rising from sitting. Sacroiliac joint pain was related to three or more positive pain provocation tests, pain when rising from sitting, unilateral pain and absence of lumbar pain. CONCLUSIONS: Significant correlations exist between clinical examination findings and symptomatic lumbar discs, zygapophysial and SI joints. The strongest relationships were seen between SI joint pain and three or more positive pain provocation tests, centralization of pain for symptomatic discs and absence of pain when rising from sitting for symptomatic lumbar zygapophysial joints.

Adolescent↗

Transient radicular irritation (TRI) after spinal anaesthesia in day-care surgery.

BACKGROUND: A high incidence of backache with radiating pains to the lower extremities, termed transient radicular irritation (TRI), has been reported following the use of 5% hyperbaric lidocaine. This has been attributed to a neurotoxic reaction. METHODS: A retrospective audit has been carried out in our hospital on the postoperative anaesthetic records of all patients from the 1st of January 1993 to the 1st of September 1996, who received spinal anaesthesia with either hyperbaric lidocaine or hyperbaric bupivacaine for day-care surgery. RESULTS: Backache was reported in 1.9% of patients (6/322) receiving hyperbaric lidocaine and in 2.4% of patients (1/41) receiving hyperbaric bupivacaine. This was not associated with any sensory, motor or sphincter disturbances. One patient complained of backache with bilateral pain referred to the gluteal area (TRI), which was assessed as acute facet joint syndrome. Unilateral accidental block of the femoral nerve was observed in 3 patients, sensory disturbances in the L2/3 dermatome was reported in a further 3 patients at 24 h, following wound infiltration with local anaesthetic during hernia repair. CONCLUSIONS: The low incidence of backache at 24 h and the absence of associated symptoms of neurogenic pain, sensory and motor disturbances, does not support the hypothesis that TRI is a neurotoxic reaction, subsequent to the use of hyperbaric lidocaine.

Adult↗

Trends in the use of unenhanced helical CT for acute urinary colic.

OBJECTIVE: Unenhanced helical CT for urolithiasis detection is a limited CT examination that was designed specifically for the detection of urolithiasis. The purpose of this study was to repeat a prior study to assess whether clinicians had broadened the indications and changed the yield and findings of unenhanced helical CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients with suspected renal colic or flank pain referred for unenhanced helical CT were selected for this study. We reviewed the original radiographic reports for each patient and recorded the presence of ureteral calculi. Other urinary abnormalities and extraurinary lesions were also recorded and compared with the results of the previous study. RESULTS: In this study, 56% of the patients who underwent unenhanced helical CT had symptoms of urinary colic, and 44% of patients had unspecified flank pain, compared with 100% of patients with symptoms of urinary colic 1 year earlier. The sensitivity and specificity of unenhanced helical CT in detecting ureteral calculi were 96% and 99%, respectively. Ureteral calculi were identified in only 28% of the patients versus 49% of patients (p < .01) 1 year earlier. Extraurinary lesions were identified in 45% of the patients versus 16% (p < .01) 1 year before. CONCLUSION: As clinicians developed familiarity with this technique, the indications for performance of unenhanced helical CT were expanded with a consequent reduction in the rate of detection of stone disease and identification of an increased number of extraurinary lesions, which suggests a demand for emergency abdominal CT studies.

Acute Disease↗