Cement augmentation in spinal tumors: a systematic review comparing vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty.

Study Design:  Comparative effectiveness review.

Study Rationale:  The spine is among the most common location for bony metastases. In many cases these metastases cause fractures leading to increased morbidity.

Fusion versus nonoperative management for chronic low back pain: do sociodemographic factors affect outcome?

Study Design: Systematic review.

Objective: The objectives of this systematic review were to determine whether sociologic and demographic factors modify the effect of fusion versus nonoperative management in patients with chronic low back pain.

Summary Of Background Data: Chronic low back pain is among the most common symptoms leading patients to seek medical care and presents significant challenges in treatment decision making.

Pharmacologic management of chronic low back pain: synthesis of the evidence.

Study Design: Systematic review of the literature with subgroup analysis for heterogeneous treatment effects.

Objective: The objectives of this systematic review were to summarize prior Cochrane reports regarding the safety and effectiveness of opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and antidepressants for treatment of chronic low back pain (LBP) and to evaluate whether certain subpopulations respond more favorably to pharmacological management.

Summary Of Background Data: While medications are a mainstay of LBP management, there is uncertainty as to the optimal use of commonly prescribed medications such as opioids, antidepressants, and NSAIDS.

Evaluating the correlation and responsiveness of patient-reported pain with function and quality-of-life outcomes after spine surgery.

Study Design: Systematic review.

Objective: To determine the correlation of patient-reported pain with physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after spine surgery and to determine the responsiveness of pain, physical function, and HRQoL after spine surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: Several validated outcome instruments are available to assess the success of treatment for chronic low back pain.

Does pregnancy increase curve progression in women with scoliosis treated without surgery?

Study Design:  Systematic review.

Study Rationale:  It is commonly believed that scoliosis treated nonoperatively does not worsen in pregnancy; however, at times patients with scoliosis progress rapidly during these months. Objective or clinical question:  What is the level of evidence to support or deny the claim that scoliosis treated nonoperatively does not worsen in pregnancy?

Methods:  A systematic review of the literature was undertaken for articles published through March 2011.

Dynamic stabilization versus fusion for treatment of degenerative spine conditions.

Study Design:  Comparative effectiveness review.

Study Rationale:  Spinal fusion is believed to accelerate the degeneration of the vertebral segment above or below the fusion site, a condition called adjacent segment disease (ASD). The premise of dynamic stabilization is that motion preservation allows for less loading on the discs and facet joints at the adjacent, non-fused segments.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for the management of axial neck pain in the absence of radiculopathy or myelopathy.

Study Design:  Systematic reviewStudy rationale: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a proven, effective treatment for relieving neck pain due to degenerative conditions of the cervical spine. Since most patients also present with radiculopathy or myelopathy, little is known as to the effectiveness of ACDF to relieve pain and improve function in patients without radicular or myelopathic symptoms.

Objective:  To examine the clinical outcome in patients undergoing (ACDF) for axial neck pain without radicular or myelopathic symptoms.

Conducting a winning literature search.

So what is a "winning literature search"? Simply put, it is one that provides you with the information you need to find the types of articles that will help you with clinical practice or research. Literature searching is a combination of an art and a science. Understanding the basic anatomy and physiology of searching can get you started on finding the information you need.

Stress, quality of life and physical activity in women with varying degrees of premenstrual symptomatology.

Premenstrual symptomatology, stress, quality of life (QOL) and exercise frequency, volume, and intensity were assessed in 114 females (18-33 years). Based on premenstrual symptoms (PMS), women were divided into high and low PMS groups and compared on stress, QOL and exercise variables. Results revealed women with high PMS had significantly more stress and poorer QOL than women with low PMS (p <.