Symptom Severity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: Findings from the Observational ARENA Study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL), high symptom severity, and poor cardiovascular outcomes. Both clinical and psychological factors may contribute to symptom severity and HRQoL in AF.

Methods: Using data from the observational Atrial Fibrillation Rhine-Neckar Region (ARENA) trial, we identified medical and psychosocial factors associated with AF-related symptom severity using European Heart Rhythm Association symptom classification and HRQoL using 5-level EuroQoL- 5D.

Six-year outcomes of anterior lumbar interbody arthrodesis with use of interbody fusion cages and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2.

Background: Twenty-four-month outcomes have been reported for patients with degenerative lumbar disc disease who were treated with stand-alone anterior lumbar interbody arthrodesis with use of dual tapered interbody fusion cages and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2. This report represents an update of the clinical and radiographic results of this treatment at six years.

Methods: Two hundred and seventy-seven patients with single-level degenerative disc disease with up to grade-I spondylolisthesis were enrolled in two prospective, multicenter, U.

Efficacy of a new pressure-sensitive alarm for clinical use in orthopaedics.

The current study evaluated a new pressure alarm and compared the ability of subjects to limit weightbearing to 20 lb with and without the alarm. The 28 subjects were divided into four groups (Group 1, n = 7, mean age, 33 years, with normal sensation; Group 2, n = 7, mean age, 59 years, with normal sensation; Group 3, n = 6, mean age, 56 years, without protective lower limb sensation, and Group 4, n = 8, mean age, 39 years, with transtibial amputation). All subjects were instructed in partial weightbearing ambulation and then practiced weight shifting onto a scale set at 20 lb for 2 minutes.

Laparoscopic anterior lumbar interbody fusion at L4-L5: an anatomic evaluation and approach classification.

Study Design: An anatomic classification system was devised on the basis of operative reports and preoperative magnetic resonance imaging or computerized tomography from 139 patients who underwent laparoscopic anterior lumbar interbody fusion involving L4-L5.

Objective: To devise a classification system for laparoscopic exposure of the L4-L5 disc space that would allow prediction of the safest approach for any given vascular configuration.

Summary Of Background Data: The laparoscopic technique has gained acceptance at L5-S1 but has been less successful at L4-L5.

Laparoscopic anterior lumbar interbody fusion with rhBMP-2: a prospective study of clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Study Design: To prospectively evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcome of laparoscopic anterior lumbar interbody fusion with rhBMP-2.

Objectives: It was hypothesized that discogenic pain could be treated successfully with an anterior lumbar interbody fusion performed laparoscopically using rhBMP-2 as a replacement for autogenous bone.

Summary Of Background Data: The traditional surgical treatment of discogenic pain involves painful incisions of muscles, with potential loss of integrity and strength.