A Learning Health System Approach to Long COVID Care.

Background: Global initiatives to mitigate COVID-19 transmission have shifted health system priorities to management of patients with prolonged long COVID symptoms. To better meet the needs of patients, clinicians, and systems, a learning health system approach can use rapid-cycle methods to integrate data and real-world experience to iteratively evaluate and adapt models of long COVID care.

Observations: Employees in the Veterans Health Administration formed a multidisciplinary workgroup.

Prevalence and Predictors of Lower Limb Amputation in the Spinal Cord Injury Population.

Background: Despite limited data demonstrating altered hemodynamics in the lower extremities (LEs) among the population with spinal cord injury (SCI) and increased frequency of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), epidemiologic data are limited for amputations, a potential consequence. This study investigates the association of amputation due to vascular complications as a secondary outcome measure within the SCI population.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed within a veteran population with SCI at a US Department of Veteran Affairs hospital to determine the prevalence of limb loss.

Percutaneous laser disc decompression for thoracic disc disease: report of 10 cases.

Background: Discogenic pain or herniation causing neural impingement of the thoracic vertebrae is less common than that in the cervical or lumbar regions. Treatment of thoracic discogenic pain usually involves conservative measures. If this fails, conventional fusion or discectomy can be considered, but these procedures carry significant risk.

Endoscopic thoracic laminoforaminoplasty for the treatment of thoracic radiculopathy: report of 12 cases.

Background: Spinal stenosis of the thoracic spine is less common than that of the cervical and lumbar regions. Due to the close proximity to thoracic and abdominal organs, surgical operations can be difficult and carry a greater risk of complications. The most efficacious intervention for thoracic stenosis, whether central or foraminal, refractory to conservative management is uncertain.

Endoscopic laminoforaminoplasty success rates for treatment of foraminal spinal stenosis: report on sixty-four cases.

Background: Foraminal stenosis is an important cause of radicular and generalized back pain. In patients who do not respond to conservative interventions, endoscopic spinal surgery provides similar results to open surgical approaches with lower rates of complication, postoperative pain, and shorter duration of hospital stay.

Methods: We performed a prospective, open, uncontrolled trial of 64 patients to evaluate endoscopic laminoforaminoplasty for the treatment of refractory foraminal stenosis.