A comparison of Christiana Spine Center's whiplash patients' course of illness to the guidelines set forth by the Quebec Task Force for Whiplash Associated Disorders.

In 1995, the Quebec Task Force on Whiplash Associated Disorders came out with guidelines for diagnosis and management of automobile related "whiplash" injuries to the neck. The task force reviewed the available literature and found it quite lacking, but nonetheless came up with a "best evidence synthesis" and based their recommendations on this. The purpose of this paper was to determine how frequently these guidelines were followed in a group of patients with whiplash who were referred to a spine specialist clinic in New Castle County, Delaware.

A survey: conscious sedation with epidural and zygapophyseal injections: is it necessary?

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Substantial variation exists regarding the use of sedation before interventional spine techniques. Patient preference should play an important role in decision making regarding the need for sedation. However, little is known about patients' anxiety levels before spinal injections and their perceptions about the necessity of sedation. PURPOSE: To determine patient perception for need for sedation before epidural steroid injections and zygapophyseal joint injections. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Survey of consecutive spinal injection patients in an outpatient spine center. PATIENT SAMPLE: 500 consecutive lumbar, thoracic, and cervical patients receiving spinal injections. OUTCOME MEASURES: A 12-item questionnaire assessing patients' perceived anxiety before to a spinal injection. METHODS: Subjects were given the questionnaire after their spinal injection. Percentages requesting sedation for a first and potential second procedure were assessed. Additionally, anxiety level and pain rating, location of injection, age, sex, and other medication use were analyzed to determine the effect on the request for sedation. RESULTS: 17% of patients questioned requested sedation before an injection, and 28% would request sedation if they were to have a second injection. CONCLUSIONS: Routine sedation before diagnostic and therapeutic injections is not necessary as the majority of patients would not request sedation before the procedure when given the option. However, in some patients sedation is indicated, and all patients would benefit from educational material on sedation before the injection.

Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae: incidence in a consecutive patient series.

BACKGROUND: Great variability exists in the reported frequency of transitional vertebra in the general population as well as in symptomatic lumbar spine patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine the occurrence rate of transitional vertebra in consecutive lumbar spine patients in our practice. DESIGN: A prospective, observational study METHODS: Plain films were viewed and the presence or absence of a lumbar transitional vertebra was documented. Transitional vertebrae were classified as incomplete or complete. RESULTS: Of the 300 consecutive patients, 30% had a transitional vertebra. CONCLUSION: Our percentage of patients with a transitional vertebra was higher than the percentages reported for the general population. This supports our belief that the alteration in mechanics caused by a transitional vertebra may at times contribute to pain generation. Additionally, as a transitional segment may not always be visualized on MRI, obtaining plain films prior to an injection or surgery will help prevent confusion over the appropriate level for the procedure.