Significant differences of brain blood flow in patients with chronic low back pain and acute low back pain detected by brain SPECT.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine and compare the areas of brain blood flow in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) without structural abnormality and acute low back pain (ALBP) with lumber disc herniation (LDH). Functional neuroimaging studies provide evidence of abnormalities in the regional cerebral blood flow during low back pain. Recent studies have shown that CLBP is associated with plastic, pathophysiological changes in the brain.

Vertebra collapse due to primary amyloidosis causing neurological compromise.

In primary amyloidosis (AL), a fibrillar protein (amyloid light chain) is deposited in many organs; however, it is rare to have involvement of the vertebral bodies. Multiple myeloma is a well-known systemic amyloid disease that frequently has vertebral involvement. However, the pathology of vertebral involvement of these two clinical entities differs significantly.

Modic changes of the cervical spine in patients with whiplash injury: a prospective 11-year follow-up study.

Introduction: There are few studies on Modic changes of the cervical spine in patients suffering from whiplash. This study compared Modic changes seen in whiplash patients 10 years after the injury with those observed in asymptomatic volunteers.

Methods: This is a follow-up study of 133 patients who suffered whiplash injuries in 1994-1996 and underwent MRI with a superconductive imager (63 men, 70 women, mean age 49.

Tandem age-related lumbar and cervical intervertebral disc changes in asymptomatic subjects.

Purpose: To investigate the frequency of tandem lumbar and cervical intervertebral disc degeneration in asymptomatic subjects.

Methods: We evaluated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results from 94 volunteers (48 men and 46 women; mean age 48 years) for age-related intervertebral disc degeneration in the lumbar and cervical spine.

Results: MRI indicated degenerative changes in the lumbar spine in 79 subjects (84 %), with decreased disc signal intensity in 74.

Cross-sectional area of the posterior extensor muscles of the cervical spine in whiplash injury patients versus healthy volunteers--10 year follow-up MR study.

Introduction: Long-term follow-up studies focusing on the posterior extensor muscles in patients suffering from whiplash injury are scarce. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the changes in the posterior extensor muscles 10 years after whiplash injury.

Methods: Twenty-three patients who had suffered from whiplash injury in 1994-1996 and had undergone MRI using a 1.

Changes in the cross-sectional area of deep posterior extensor muscles of the cervical spine after anterior decompression and fusion: 10-year follow-up study using MRI.

Purpose: To evaluate changes in the transverse area of deep posterior muscles of the cervical spine 10 years after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF), in comparison with healthy volunteers.

Methods: Thirty-one patients (22 males, 9 females, mean age at follow-up 59.3 years, mean follow-up 12.

Cross-sectional area of posterior extensor muscles of the cervical spine in asymptomatic subjects: a 10-year longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging study.

There has been no prospective study on age-related changes of the extensor muscles of the cervical spine in healthy subjects. This study was conducted to elucidate any association between the changes in cross-sectional area of the extensor muscles of the cervical spine on MRIs and cervical disc degeneration or the development of clinical symptoms. Sixty-two subjects who underwent MR imaging by a 1.

Wedging of vertebral bodies at the thoracolumbar junction in asymptomatic healthy subjects on magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: Wedging of the vertebral body on radiological examination is a valuable indicator of a vertebral compression fracture, although it can also be observed in subjects with no history of trauma. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the normative value of vertebral wedging at the thoracolumbar junction in asymptomatic healthy subjects for differential diagnosis of vertebral compression fractures using MRI.

Methods: A total of 115 subjects without back pain at the time of the examination and without history of spinal trauma was included (68 males, 47 females, mean age 49.

Airway scope laryngoscopy under manual inline stabilization and cervical collar immobilization: a crossover in vivo cinefluoroscopic study.

Background: Direct laryngoscopy along with manual inline stabilization (MIS) is currently the standard care for patients with suspected neck injuries. However, cervical collar immobilization is more commonly performed in the prehospital environment, and its early removal is necessary before intubation. We hypothesized that if usability of Airway Scope (AWS) in a difficult airway could also bring merits to intubation under cervical collar immobilization, unnecessary risk caused by the removal of a neck collar may be prevented.

Development of stiff shoulder in asymptomatic volunteers during ten-year follow-up in Japan.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to longitudinally evaluate relationships between the incidence of stiff shoulder and sagittal alignments of the cervical spine, age-related changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and life styles of the subjects.

Methods: The subjects were 69 men and 93 women. The mean follow-up period was 11.

Prospective ten-year follow-up study comparing patients with whiplash-associated disorders and asymptomatic subjects using magnetic resonance imaging.

Study Design: A prospective 10-year follow-up study of patients with whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) and asymptomatic volunteers.

Objective: To clarify long-term impact of whiplash injury on patient's symptoms and on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the cervical spine.

Summary Of Background Data: Long-term prognosis of WAD has not been fully elucidated.

Age-related changes of thoracic and cervical intervertebral discs in asymptomatic subjects.

Study Design: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study on degeneration of the thoracic spine in asymptomatic subjects.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of degenerative MRI findings of the thoracic spine in asymptomatic subjects and to identify factors related to the degeneration of the thoracic discs.

Summary Of Background Data: Studies on age-related degenerative changes of the thoracic spine are scarce.

Anterior cervical decompression and fusion accelerates adjacent segment degeneration: comparison with asymptomatic volunteers in a ten-year magnetic resonance imaging follow-up study.

Study Design: Prospective 10-year follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of patients who underwent anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) and healthy control subjects.

Objective: To clarify the incidence of adjacent segment degeneration during 10 years after ACDF.

Summary Of Background Data: There have been few studies which investigated incidence of progression of degenerative changes at adjacent segments in patients treated by ACDF comparing with healthy subjects.

Longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging study on whiplash injury patients: minimum 10-year follow-up.

Background: We conducted a prospective long-term follow-up study to assess associations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and changes in clinical symptoms, as well as factors relating to the prognosis of symptoms.

Methods: A total of 133 patients with acute whiplash injury between 1993 and 1996 participated in this follow-up study. They underwent neurological examinations by spine surgeons and second MRI scans of the cervical spine were obtained.

Does the sagittal alignment of the cervical spine have an impact on disk degeneration? Minimum 10-year follow-up of asymptomatic volunteers.

There have been few studies that investigated and clarified the relationships between progression of degenerative changes and sagittal alignment of the cervical spine. The objective of the study was to longitudinally evaluate the relationships among progression of degenerative changes of the cervical spine with age, the development of clinical symptoms and sagittal alignment of the cervical spine in healthy subjects. Out of 497 symptom-free volunteers who underwent MRI and plain radiography of the cervical spine between 1994 and 1996, 113 subjects (45 males and 68 females) who responded to our contacts were enrolled.

Aging of the cervical spine in healthy volunteers: a 10-year longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging study.

Study Design: Prospective longitudinal study, mean follow-up period; 11.7 +/- 0.8 years was conducted from 1995 to 2007.

Extensive total spondylectomy for recurrent giant cell tumor in the thoracic spine. Case report.

The authors report the case of a 47-year-old woman who harbored a giant cell tumor at the T-5 level. She had undergone curettage of the tumor via a combined anterior and posterior approach at a regional hospital and was later referred to the authors' institution for treatment after the tumor recurred. On examination she exhibited progressive paraparesis and was nonambulatory due to cord compression caused by the tumor, which had invaded the spinal canal and extended to the right paravertebral muscles and right thoracic cavity.