Variation in CTA evaluation of ED patients suspected of aortic dissection.

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the variation in CTA imaging for AoD in an ED to determine if limiting the scanned region to the chest can effectively rule-out AoD without delaying care.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients belonging to a geographically isolated health maintenance organization who underwent CTA evaluation for possible acute AoD in the emergency department between 2016 and 2020. We evaluated for the regions included in the CTA, the presence of an acute AoD, and clinical outcomes.

Effects of specific muscle activation for low back pain on activity limitation, pain, work participation, or recurrence: A systematic review.

Background: Specific muscle activation (SMA) is a commonly used treatment for people with low back pain (LBP) however there is variability in systematic reviews to date on effectiveness. This may be because of the use of eligibility criteria incongruent with original descriptions of the SMA approach.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of SMA on improving activity limitation, pain, work participation or recurrence for people with LBP.