Responsiveness of depression and its influence on surgical outcomes of lumbar degenerative diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the responsiveness of depression after surgery for lumbar degenerative disease and to verify the impact of this condition on surgical outcomes. PATIENT SAMPLE: A prospective cohort study with 91 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases who were evaluated preoperatively, at 30 days and 1 year postoperatively. OUTCOME MEASURES: Evolution of depression between the follow-ups and its correlation with satisfaction. METHODS: Depression was assessed with Beck Depression Inventory. According to depression responsiveness, patients were classified into four groups: NN = no depression; ND = normal during the preoperative period and depression within 1 year; DN = depression during the preoperative period and normal within 1 year; DD = depression during the preoperative period and within 1 year. RESULTS: Prevalence of preoperative depression was 28.6% and 17.6% within 1 year postoperatively. Most patients (65.4%) with depression in the preoperative period recovered postoperatively. Poor preoperative HRQoL measures were associated with higher rates of responsiveness of depression during the follow-up. Patients with depression at the 1-year postoperative follow-up had a worse functional outcome. Patients who improved from depression had similar outcome to those without depression. Dissatisfaction within 1 year postoperatively was greater in patients who become depressed after surgery and remain depressed at 1-year follow-up (NN = 8.8%; ND = 42.9%; DN = 17.6%; DD = 44.4%; P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Most patients with depression in the preoperative recover within 1 year postoperatively. Responsiveness of depression is associated with surgical outcomes. The presence of depression after the surgical treatment, independent of when it starts, had a major negative impact on prognosis.

The epidemiological profile of a middle-aged population with low back pain in southern Brazil.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and the general characteristics of low back pain (LBP) in a middle-aged population living in southern Brazil. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: LBP is a widespread musculoskeletal condition. It is the main cause of disability in developed countries. It is necessary and relevant to study the risk factors for LBP to plan preventative action. A cross-sectional study of a middle-aged population in the South of Brazil was designed to look at the prevalence and general characteristics of LBP. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was developed in a city located in southern Brazil. Data were collected from 1005 individuals at randomized public locations. A protocol was designed to evaluate the general characteristics of the population: age, sex, level of education, socioeconomic status, body mass index, occupation, smoking, physical activity, anxiety, and depression. After the initial evaluation, the individuals were asked if they had had low back pain at least once in their lifetime. Those who answered "Yes" continued the questionnaire that evaluated pain intensity, characteristics, and related disability. After the entire group was analyzed (N = 1005), a separate study was performed on the participants younger than 40 years (N = 701). RESULTS: The mean age was 33.74 years (±14.76) and 61.6% of the participants were females. Seventy-two percent of the participants had had LBP at least once in their lives. The mean of visual analogue scale intensity of pain was 4.51 (±2.27). The prevalence of female sex (P = 0.006) and anxiety (P < 0.001) was higher in those with LBP. In the group younger than 40 years, the prevalence of LBP was 69.7% and anxiety (P < 0.001) was the only factor related to LBP. CONCLUSION: Low back pain is a highly prevalent condition in a middle-aged population living in southern Brazil. Higher levels of anxiety and female sex were related to this condition in all groups, but when it was analyzed in the participants younger than 40 years, anxiety was the only significant variable related with LBP. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

How can we teach them about neurotrauma prevention? Prospective and randomized "Pense Bem-Caxias do Sul" study with multiple interventions in preteens and adolescents.

UNLABELLED: OBJECT.: A previous study published by the authors showed that a single intervention could not change the baseline attitudes toward neurotrauma prevention. The present study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of multiple interventions in modifying knowledge and attitudes for the prevention of neurotrauma in Brazilian preteens and adolescents. METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial, fifth-year primary school (PS) and second-year high school (HS) students were divided into a control and 2 intervention (single/multiple) groups. The study was conducted in the following 8 stages: T1, questionnaire to measure baseline characteristics; T2, lecture on trauma prevention; T3, reapplying the questionnaire used in T1; T4, Traffic Department intervention; T5, a play about trauma and its consequences; T6, Fire Department intervention; T7, Emergency Medical Service intervention; and T8, reapplying the questionnaire used in T1 and T3. Positive answers were considered those affirming the use of safety devices "always or sometimes" and negative as "never" using safety devices. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 535 students. Regarding attitudes, students in all groups at any stage of measurement showed protective behavior more than 95% of the time about seat belt use. There were only differences between attitudes in PS and HS students on T8 assessment concerning the use of safety equipment on bikes in the multiple-intervention group and concerning the use of safety equipment on skateboards and rollerblades in single- and multiple-intervention groups. These differences were caused mainly by the reduction in positive answers by the HS group, rather than by the increase in positive or protective answers by the PS group. However, there was no difference when the control and intervention groups were compared, independent of the attitudes or the student groups studied. The most important reason for not using protective devices was the belief that they would not get hurt. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple and different types of educational interventions, such as lectures, scenes from plays about trauma and its consequences, traffic and fire department intervention, and medical emergency intervention directed to preteens and adolescents from public and private schools did not modify most students' attitudes toward injury prevention. Clinical trial registration no: U1111-1121-0192 (National System of Ethics and Research in Brazil).

Preoperative motor deficit in lumbar disc herniation and its influence on quality of life / Déficit motor pré-operatório por hérnia de disco lombar e sua influência na qualidade de vida / Déficit motor preoperatorio por hernia de disco lumbar y su influencia en la calidad de vida

Objective: Evaluate the impact of motor deficit (MD) on pain, disability, depression and quality of life measures of patients with LDH prior to a specific treatment. Methods: A total of 254 consecutively enrolled patients with LDH associated to neurological impairment and sciatica who have not responded to conservative treatment were evaluated. After reviewing the exclusion criteria, 168 were included. Validated instruments were used in the preoperative period to evaluate: pain, disability, quality of life, anxiety and depression. Results: Normal motor strength was observed in 57 (33.9%) patients and MD was observed in 111 (66.1%) cases. No statistically significant differences were observed between patients with and without MD regarding gender, age, level of herniation, lateralization and workers&apos; compensation. Regarding quality of life, no difference was detected in the eight domains of SF36 and between the PCS and MCS groups. The only difference observed was a higher disability rate in the MD group, with the mean ODI difference being 7.84 (CI 95%: 1.82â€"13.87; p=0.011). Motor weakness was observed in 35.1% (n=39/111) of patients who had abnormal results at the motor evaluation, being related to severity (X²: 46.058; p<0.0001). Conclusion: In patients with LDH without prior specific treatment, the presence of MD did not modify the pain, disability, depression measures and self-reported quality of life. The MD has no discriminative ...

Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto do déficit motor (DM) sobre dor, incapacidade, depressão e medidas de qualidade de vida em pacientes com HDL antes de tratamento específico. Métodos: Avaliou-se consecutivamente um total de 254 pacientes inscritos com HDL associado à lesão neurológica e ciática que não responderam ao tratamento conservador. Depois de analisar os critérios de exclusão, 168 foram incluídos. Instrumentos validados foram utilizados no período pré-operatório para avaliar: dor, incapacidade, qualidade de vida, ansiedade e depressão. Resultados: Verificou-se força motora normal em 57 (33,9%) pacientes e o DM foi observado em 111 (66,1%) casos. Não foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre pacientes com e sem DM com relação a sexo, idade, nível de hérnia, lateralização e compensação trabalhista. Com relação à qualidade de vida, não foi detectada diferença nos oito domínios do SF-36 e entre os grupos PCS e MCS. A única diferença observada foi taxa de deficiência superior no grupo DM, sendo a diferença média do ODI de 7,84 (IC 95%: 1,82-13,87, p = 0,011) A fraqueza motora foi observada em 35,1% (n=39/111) dos pacientes que tiveram resultado anormal na avaliação motora ...

Objetivo: Evaluar el impacto del déficit motor (DM) en el dolor, la discapacidad, la depresión y de la medida de calidad de vida en pacientes con HDL antes de un tratamiento específico. Métodos: Ha sido evaluado consecutivamente un total de 254 pacientes inscritos con HDL asociado a lesión neurológica y ciática que no han respondido al tratamiento conservador. Después de analizar los criterios de exclusión, se incluyeron 168 pacientes. Se utilizaron instrumentos validados en el preoperatorio para evaluar: dolor, discapacidad, calidad de vida, ansiedad y depresión. Resultados: La fuerza motora normal se observó en 57 (33,9%) pacientes y DM se observó en 111 (66,1%) casos. No se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los pacientes con y sin DM con respecto a sexo, edad, nivel de la hernia, lateralización y compensación laboral En cuanto a la calidad de vida no se detectaron diferencias en los ocho dominios del SF-36 y entre los grupos PCS y MCS. La única diferencia observada fue una tasa de deficiencia superior en el grupo DM, con la diferencia promedio del ODI de 7,84 (IC 95%: 1,82-13,87, p = 0,011). La debilidad motora observada fue del 35,1% (n=39/111) de los pacientes con resultados anormales en la evaluación motora, que estaba relacionada con la gravedad (X²: 46,058, p<0,0001). Conclusión: ...

Motor tic disorder and traumatic cervical myelopathy: a case report / Transtorno de tique motor e mielopatia cervical traumática: relato de caso / Trastorno de tic motor y mielopatía cervical traumática: relato de caso

The association between motor tics and cervical myelopathy is rare and not well understood. Only a few papers in the literature reported this disorder until the present date. This is a case report of a cervical myelopathy case secondary to a motor tic disorder. A 23-year-old male with a 10-year history of motor tic disorder, involving sudden forced extension of the head and cervical spine. Disturbed tactile sensation and kinetic posturing that progressed to the Lhermitte sign every time he made the movement were detected over the last six months. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed hyperintense intramedullary lesion at C2-C3, degeneration at C3-C4, and no signs of spinal cord compression. On sagittal view, functional MRI with head extension showed anterior compression with protrusion of the intervertebral disc and posterior compression of the yellow ligaments causing spinal cord stenosis. Anterior discectomy and fixation of C3-C4 were performed. There were no complications. The patient showed improvement and the motor tics were controlled by haloperidol. The patient remains symptom-free after 2 years of follow-up. Uncontrolled motor tics can compromise spinal cord function. Functional MRI can reproduce the abnormal movements and clarify the physiopathology.

A associação entre tiques motores e mielopatia cervical é rara e não é bem compreendida. Poucos estudos relatando esse distúrbio foram encontrados na literatura até o presente momento. Este é o relato de um caso de mielopatia cervical secundária a tiques motores. Paciente masculino de 23 anos com história de transtorno de tique motor há 10 anos, envolvendo extensão forçada da cabeça e coluna cervical. Deficiência de sensações táteis e postura cinética que progrediram para o sinal de Lhermitte, cada vez que ele se movimentava, foram diagnosticadas nos últimos seis meses. A Ressonância Magnética (RM) revelou lesão intramedular hiperintensa ao nível de C2-C3, degeneração ao nível de C3-C4 e ausência de sinais de compressão medular. Na visão sagital, a RM funcional com extensão da cabeça revelou compressão anterior com protusão do disco intervertebral e compressão posterior dos ligamentos amarelos, causando estenose medular. Foi realizada discectomia anterior e fixação de C3-C4. Não houve complicações. O paciente apresentou melhora e os tiques motores foram controlados pelo haloperidol. Após dois anos de seguimento, ele permanece livre dos sintomas e tiques motores. Tiques motores não controlados podem comprometer a medula espinhal. A ressonância magnética funcional pode reproduzir os movimentos anormais e clarear a patofisiologia.

La asociación entre tics motores y mielopatía cervical es rara y no es bien comprendida. Pocos estudios, que analizan este disturbio, han sido encontrados en la literatura hasta el momento. Este es el relato de un caso de mielopatía cervical secundaria a tics motores. Paciente masculino de 23 años con historial de trastorno de tic motor desde hace diez años, involucrando extensión forzada de la cabeza y columna cervical. En los últimos seis meses, se diagnosticaron deficiencias de sensaciones táctiles y postura cinética que progresaron hacia la señal de Lhermitte, cada vez que el paciente se movía. La Resonancia Magnética (RM) reveló lesión intramedular hiperintensa al nivel de C2-C3, degeneración al nivel de C3-C4, y ausencia de señales de compresión medular. En la visión sagital, la RM funcional con extensión de la cabeza reveló compresión anterior con protrusión del disco intervertebral, y compresión posterior de los ligamentos amarillos, causando estenosis medular. Se realizó discectomía anterior y fijación de C3-C4. No hubo complicaciones. El paciente presentó mejora y los tics motores fueron controlados por haloperidol. Luego de 2 años de acompañamiento, permanecía libre de los síntomas y tics motores. Tics motores no controlados pueden comprometer a la médula espinal. La resonancia magnética funcional puede reproducir los movimientos anormales y aclarar la patofisiología.