Clinical evaluation versus magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients with radicular arm pain-A pragmatic study.

Objectives: Cervical nerve root compression can lead to radiculopathy in the arm. Some studies have reported low accuracy in determining the responsible nerve root in both cervical and lumbar regions. This prospective, observational, pragmatic study aimed to determine the accuracy of the clinical evaluation relative to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with arm radiculopathy.

Low back pain scores correlate with the cytokine mRNA level in lumbar disc biopsies: a study of inflammatory markers in patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion.

Purpose: The molecular mechanism behind pain in degenerative disc disease (DDD) and chronic low back pain (LBP) patients is largely unknown. This present study examines the association of LBP and disability to mediators of the inflammatory cascade, as indexed by mRNA gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine markers in the intervertebral disc (IVD).

Methods: Biopsies of the annulus fibrosus (AF) and the nucleus pulposes (NP) from patients with DDD undergoing 1-2 level fusion surgery at L4/L5 or L5/S1 were obtained from total of 34 patients [9 M, 25 F] with average age of 53 [32-63].

The Association of MRI Findings and Long-Term Disability in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain.

Study Design: Longitudinal cohort study with 13-year follow-up.

Objective: To assess whether long-term disability is associated with baseline degenerative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with low back pain (LBP).

Methods: In 2004-2005, patients aged 18 to 60 years with chronic LBP were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial and lumbar MRI was performed.

Are Modic Changes Associated With Health-related Quality of Life After Discectomy: A Study on 620 Patients With Two-year Follow-up.

Study Design: A registry-based comparative cohort study with 2-year follow-up.

Objective: To assess whether Modic changes (MCs) are associated with health-related quality of life, long-term physical disability, back- or leg pain after discectomy.

Summary Of Background Data: Previous studies have failed to show a clinically significant association between MCs and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after discectomy.

Exercise treatment effect modifiers in persistent low back pain: an individual participant data meta-analysis of 3514 participants from 27 randomised controlled trials.

Background: Low back pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Exercise therapy is widely recommended to treat persistent non-specific low back pain. While evidence suggests exercise is, on average, moderately effective, there remains uncertainty about which individuals might benefit the most from exercise.