223 results match your criteria: "Cervical Facet Syndrome"

Article Synopsis
  • There has been a growing number of cervical fusion surgeries in the U.S., but there's a lack of research on how well surgeons follow evidence-based medicine (EBM) guidelines, particularly as patients turn to large language models (LLMs) for decision-making assistance.* -
  • An observational study tested four LLMs—Bard, BingAI, ChatGPT-3.5, and ChatGPT-4—against the 2023 North American Spine Society (NASS) cervical fusion guidelines, and found that none fully adhered, with only ChatGPT-4 and Bing Chat achieving 60% compliance.* -
  • The findings suggest a need for better training of LLMs on clinical guidelines and highlight the necessity of
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Article Synopsis
  • Cervical facet joint syndrome (CFJS) is a common cause of neck pain and disability, and ultrasound (US)-guided injections are increasingly used for treatment, though their effectiveness is still under debate.* -
  • A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, analyzing nine studies with 958 patients to evaluate the efficacy, accuracy, and feasibility of US-guided injections for chronic neck pain.* -
  • The findings indicate that US-guided injections are highly accurate (92%-98%) and efficient, providing significant pain relief with less procedure time compared to X-ray-guided methods, though success depends on the operator's skill and training.*
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Article Synopsis
  • Cervical medial branch radiofrequency ablation is a treatment for cervical facet joint pain that is generally safe, but complications can occur.
  • A case study describes an 86-year-old man who developed dropped-head syndrome (DHS) shortly after undergoing this procedure, experiencing significant neck muscle weakness.
  • The case suggests that performing bilateral and multilevel radiofrequency ablation may increase the risk of serious complications, and conservative treatment led to only partial improvement for the patient.
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Article Synopsis
  • The article discusses a case of pharyngeal dysphagia and obstructive sleep apnea linked to degenerative changes in the cervical spine.
  • It highlights the formation of large cervical osteophytes at the C3-C6 level, which deformed the hypopharynx wall and reduced its lumen by 20-25%.
  • CT scans revealed loss of intervertebral disc height and osteophytes at the vertebral bodies, contributing to spinal and foraminal stenosis due to osteosclerosis and facet arthrosis.
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Cancer Precursor Syndromes and Their Detection in the Head and Neck.

Hematol Oncol Clin North Am

August 2024

Department of Medical Oncology, Center for Head & Neck Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, 450 Brookline Avenue, Dana Building, Room 2-140. Boston, MA 02215, USA. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • The article examines various oral cancer precursor syndromes, particularly focusing on hereditary disorders like dyskeratosis congenita and Fanconi anemia that elevate cancer risk.
  • It highlights oral potentially malignant disorders, especially leukoplakia, emphasizing the roles of genetics and immune factors in their development.
  • Lastly, the discussion includes management strategies for leukoplakia, such as surgery and immune therapies, while addressing the difficulties in creating effective preventive methods.
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Article Synopsis
  • In 1994, interfacet spacer placement was introduced for joint distraction and fixation, and this case highlights the use of cervical facet cages (CFC) for a pediatric patient with basilar invagination.
  • A 12-year-old boy with Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome experienced neck jerking and guarding, leading to surgery involving occiput to C3 fusion and C1-C2 CFC fixation, resulting in significant radiographic improvement.
  • Postoperatively, the patient had some dysphagia but all neck symptoms resolved, showing that CFC can be a safe option for atlantoaxial fixation in children, alongside other materials highlighted in the literature.
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Septic Arthritis of the Spinal Facet Joint: Review of 117 Cases.

Open Forum Infect Dis

March 2024

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Article Synopsis
  • Septic arthritis of the spinal facet joints is gaining recognition, especially with advancements in MRI, but its characteristics and treatment options remain unclear.
  • A review of 101 past cases and 16 new cases revealed that most patients experienced fever and back or neck pain, with many showing signs of bacteremia and abscesses.
  • Despite complications like abscesses, the prognosis is generally positive, with a 98% survival rate and minimal long-term neurological issues.
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Article Synopsis
  • The text discusses the formation of a bony opening for the vertebral artery and defines block vertebra as when two vertebral bodies fuse during development, differentiating it from Klippel-Feil syndrome which usually has more skeletal abnormalities.
  • A case report details a 38-year-old woman with dizziness, showing a synostosis between C4 and C5 vertebral bodies and the discovery of a bilateral arcuate foramen, which could affect blood flow through the vertebral artery.
  • The authors propose the term 'tandem anomaly' for the co-occurrence of these two variations, emphasizing that medical professionals should look for multiple anatomical variations, even if one anomaly seems to explain a patient's symptoms.
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Article Synopsis
  • The review highlights the growing interest in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a minimally invasive treatment option for degenerative spinal diseases.
  • It summarizes existing clinical and experimental studies showing that PRP is both safe and effective, potentially offering better long-term outcomes compared to traditional medications.
  • The conclusion emphasizes the need for more research and established protocols to ensure proper use of PRP in spinal treatments before it becomes widely adopted in clinical practice.
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Introduction: C1-2 rotatory subluxation is more commonly seen in children compared to in adults. It often has a history of respiratory tract infection, cervical trauma, and recent history of surgery of the head or neck.

Case Report: A 6-year-old boy presented to us with complaints of insidious onset of progressive deformity of the neck since the past 3 months.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates postoperative axial syndrome (AS) in patients who underwent posterior single-door laminoplasty and identifies risk factors that contribute to its occurrence.
  • Data from 226 patients revealed a 38.5% incidence of AS, highlighting significant risk factors like preoperative spinal canal encroachment and intraoperative joint destruction.
  • A predictive risk model was created to improve clinical outcomes, emphasizing the importance of early function training to mitigate the risk of developing AS.
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Current Review of Regenerative Medicine Therapies for Spine-Related Pain.

Curr Pain Headache Rep

September 2024

Mayo Clinic Arizona, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA.

Article Synopsis
  • Persistent spinal pain syndromes are common and can lead to significant health issues and high costs, with various causes including mechanical, degenerative, and inflammatory factors.
  • Regenerative medicine, using treatments like platelet-rich plasma and stem cells, aims to address these pain issues by reducing inflammation and restoring normal function through guided injections.
  • Current research on the effectiveness of regenerative medicine for spine pain is limited and calls for larger, well-designed studies to better establish its efficacy compared to traditional treatments.
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Article Synopsis
  • * A case study focuses on a young adolescent who suffered from this injury and developed incomplete central cord syndrome but showed significant recovery after surgery.
  • * The case underscores the importance of accurate diagnosis, prompt treatment, and rehabilitation, while also emphasizing the need for greater awareness and prevention of such dangerous diving scenarios.
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Facet joint disorders: from diagnosis to treatment.

Korean J Pain

January 2024

Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.

Article Synopsis
  • Facet joints are a major source of spinal pain, accounting for significant percentages of chronic pain syndromes across different regions of the spine (cervical 55%, thoracic 42%, lumbar 31%).
  • Common issues with facet joints include degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis, cysts, and can also involve infections or trauma, which can lead to referred or radicular pain depending on the severity and type of disorder.
  • Treatment options vary but typically involve injections for pain relief, especially in cases of osteoarthritis or injuries, and antibiotics for infections, with ongoing debate about the best methods for diagnosis and management.
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Radiofrequency (RF) is a minimally invasive procedure for interrupting or modifying nociceptive pathways to manage musculoskeletal neuropathic and nociplastic pain. RF has been used to manage cervical and lumbar facet joint syndromes. The benefits of RF are the following: it is safer than surgery; it doesn´t need general anesthesia, by that means diminishing the complications; it causes pain alleviation for a minimum of 3-4 months; it can be repeated if needed; it improves joint function; and it minimizes the necessity for oral pain treatment.

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Article Synopsis
  • Atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation (AARS) is a rare condition mainly seen in children, often linked to trauma, but can also arise from surgeries (20%-40% of cases) and infections (48%).
  • A case of a 12-year-old girl with AARS after thyroid surgery was treated with failed non-invasive methods, leading to a successful open reduction procedure without complications.
  • It emphasizes the need for surgeons and anesthesiologists to avoid excessive neck extension during pediatric surgeries and to recognize AARS symptoms in kids who've had recent head or neck operations.
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Article Synopsis
  • * An 86-year-old woman experienced sudden right hemiparesis after neck pain, initially misdiagnosed with a cerebral infarction; imaging revealed a hemorrhagic juxta-facet cyst at the C4-5 level, resulting in Brown-Séquard syndrome.
  • * The cyst was surgically removed, and the patient made a good recovery, highlighting that hemorrhagic juxta-facet cysts can cause acute neurological symptoms and should be considered in similar cases.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study assessed how well lidocaine and bupivacaine work for pain relief in patients with chronic cervical facet syndrome through cervical medial branch blocks (CMBB), using a randomized design.* -
  • Results showed that while both anesthetics reduced pain and improved neck function, lidocaine had a longer-lasting effect, providing pain relief for up to 16 weeks, compared to 8 weeks for bupivacaine.* -
  • Overall, both medications were beneficial, but lidocaine is recommended as the preferred option due to its prolonged effects and better outcomes for patients with chronic neck pain.*
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Article Synopsis
  • * Results showed similar success rates in both groups (about 66.7%) for pain relief after three and six months, with a median time to pain recurrence being slightly longer for the CRF group.
  • * However, the CPRF group reported fewer postoperative side effects like numbness and hypersensitivity compared to the CRF group, suggesting a potential benefit of the combined treatment.
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Complications of injections in conservative treatment of degenerative spine disease: a prospective unicentric study.

BMC Musculoskelet Disord

November 2022

Department for Orthopedics, Trauma and Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 20, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.

Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the safety and effectiveness of different spinal injection types used in treating patients with degenerative spine disease, focusing on side effects and pain reduction.
  • A total of 48 patients received 282 injections, leading to reported common side effects like transient pain and nerve root irritation, with the highest complication rates from periradicular injections.
  • Although patients experienced significant pain relief and improvement in disability scores immediately post-treatment, many reported a relapse in symptoms by the 12-week follow-up.
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Article Synopsis
  • - Grisel syndrome is an infectious condition that affects the cervical spine, leading to instability, primarily seen in children, but this case highlights a rare occurrence in an adult where the right atlantoaxial facet joint was destroyed, causing misalignment of the head and neck.
  • - The infection led to serious complications, including a contusion of the cervical spinal cord due to the brainstem being compressed against a fixed point, resulting in the patient experiencing neck twisting (torticollis) and weakness in the left arm.
  • - Treatment involved a surgical procedure to realign the cervical spine under anesthesia, followed by a fusion operation using various surgical techniques to stabilize the severely unstable junction between the skull and cervical spine, emphasizing important surgical strategies
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