The who, what and when of surgery for the degenerative lumbar spine: a population-based study of surgeon factors, surgical procedures, recent trends and reoperation rates.

BACKGROUND: Degenerative disease of the lumbar spine (DLS) is a common condition for which surgery can be beneficial in selected patients. With recent surgical trends toward more focused subspecialty training, it is unclear how characteristics of the surgical consultant may impact on treatment and reoperations. Our objective was to understand the relations between surgeon factors (who), surgical procedures (what) and recent trends (when) and their influence on reoperations for DLS surgery.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction grafts: MR imaging features at long-term follow-up--correlation with functional and clinical evaluation.

Purpose: To assess the presence of increased intrasubstance signal intensity within anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grafts and to assess whether such signal intensity changes are correlated to clinical assessments of graft instability and patient function 4-12 years after ACL reconstruction.

Materials And Methods: Ethical permission and written informed patient consent were obtained. The study was HIPAA compliant.

Work characteristics and social phobia in a nationally representative employed sample.

Objective: Social phobia is associated with long-term impairment and disability. Environmental and genetic influences may be important in etiology and persistence. This is the first study to examine the association of work characteristics with social phobia in a representative nationally employed population.

Major depressive episodes and work stress: results from a national population survey.

Objectives: We determined the proportion of workers meeting criteria for major depressive episodes in the past year and examined the association between psychosocial work-stress variables and these episodes.

Methods: Data were derived from the Canadian Community Health Survey 1.2, a population-based survey of 24324 employed, community-dwelling individuals conducted in 2002.

Association of low back pain, impairment, disability & work limitations in nurses.

Introduction: Health care professionals use measures of pain and impairment to identify potential disability and subsequently to predict workers' ability to do their work. However, there is little evidence that measures used are associated with ability to do one's job.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted.

The role of work stress as a moderating variable in the chronic pain and depression association.

Objective: This article aims to examine the role of work stress as a moderating variable in the chronic pain-depression association, as well as sex differences in this link.

Methods: The analyses were carried out using the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.1.

Population trends in BMD testing, treatment, and hip and wrist fracture rates: are the hip fracture projections wrong?

Unlabelled: A worldwide epidemic of hip fractures has been predicted. Time trends in BMD testing, bone-sparing medications and hip and wrist fractures in the province of Ontario, Canada, were examined. From 1996 to 2001, BMD testing and use of bone-sparing medications increased each year, whereas despite the aging of the population, wrist and hip fracture rates decreased.

Hip fractures and Alzheimer's disease in elderly institutionalized Canadians.

Purpose: To examine the associations among Alzheimer's disease, hip fractures, and falls in elderly Canadians > or = 65 years of age (n=1513) who participated in the National Population Health Survey for Health Institutions between 1994 and 1995.

Methods: The survey was designed to provide health-related information for residents of Canadian health institutions. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between hip fractures and Alzheimer's Disease (AD).

Management of congestive heart failure: a gender gap may still exist. Observations from a contemporary cohort.

Background: Unlike other cardiovascular diseases the incidence and prevalence of congestive heart failure (CHF) continues to increase. While gender differences in coronary artery disease have been well described, to date, there has been a relative paucity of similar data in patients with CHF. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the profile and management of patients with CHF at a tertiary care centre to determine if a gender difference exists.