The association between preoperative epidural steroid injections and postoperative cervical and lumbar surgical site infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Is there a statistically significant association between preoperative epidural steroid injections (ESI) and postoperative cervical and lumbar spinal surgery infections (SSI)?

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was completed of patients 18 years or older who underwent elective cervical or lumbar spinal surgery. Those who underwent surgery with preoperative ESI were compared to those without. We assessed for differences in postoperative SSI incidence.

Is a history of episodic low back pain an indicator of Modic changes?

Background: Prior work demonstrated that a history of episodic low back pain was highly indicative of discogenic pain. Recently, there has been more focus on vertebrogenic pain, however little is known about the clinical features of this condition.

Purpose: To determine if a history of severe episodic low back pain correlates with Modic endplate changes on lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), presumed to be a marker of vertebrogenic pain.

The interrater reliability of Modic changes among a potential basivertebral nerve ablation population: Why AC1 may be preferred to kappa.

Interrater reliability of Modic changes is subject to variables which affect consistency in reporting. Given the importance of Modic change identification for basivertebral nerve ablation (BVNA) candidacy, interrater reliability for this specific cohort has not yet been reported. Twenty lumbar magnetic resonance images of potential basivertebral nerve candidates were independently reviewed by two neuroradiologists and two interventional spine physiatrists for the presence and characterization of Modic changes.

The Critical Shoulder Angle as a Diagnostic Measure for Osteoarthritis and Rotator Cuff Pathology.

The purpose of this study was to correlate critical shoulder angle (CSA), a measurement that takes into account both glenoid tilt and the acromial index (AI), with shoulder pathologies as presented in an earlier study by Moor et al. (2013). Based on Moor et al.