Guideline summary review: an evidence-based clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of adult isthmic spondylolisthesis.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The North American Spine Society's (NASS) Evidence-Based Clinical Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Adult Isthmic Spondylolisthesis features evidence-based recommendations for diagnosing and treating adult patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis. The guideline is intended to reflect contemporary treatment concepts for symptomatic isthmic spondylolisthesis as reflected in the highest quality clinical literature available on this subject as of June 2013. NASS' guideline on this topic is the only guideline on adult isthmic spondylolisthesis accepted in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's National Guideline Clearinghouse. PURPOSE: The purpose of the guideline is to provide an evidence-based educational tool to assist spine specialists when making clinical decisions for adult patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis. This article provides a brief summary of the evidence-based guideline recommendations for diagnosing and treating patients with this condition. STUDY DESIGN: This is a guideline summary review. METHODS: This guideline is the product of the Adult Isthmic Spondylolisthesis Work Group of NASS' Evidence-Based Clinical Guideline Development Committee. The methods used to develop this guideline are detailed in the complete guideline and technical report available on the NASS website. In brief, a multidisciplinary work group of spine care specialists convened to identify clinical questionsto address in the guideline. The literature search strategy was developed in consultation with medical librarians. Upon completion of the systematic literature search, evidence relevant to the clinical questions posed in the guideline was reviewed. Work group members utilized NASS evidentiary table templates to summarize study conclusions, identify study strengths and weaknesses, and assign levels of evidence. Work group members participated in webcasts and in-person recommendation meetings to update and formulate evidence-based recommendations and incorporate expert opinion when necessary. The draft guidelines were submitted to an internal peer review process and ultimately approved by the NASS Board of Directors. Upon publication, the Adult Isthmic Spondylolisthesis guideline was accepted into the National Guideline Clearinghouse and will be updated approximately every 5 years. RESULTS: Thirty-one clinical questions were addressed, and the answers are summarized in this article. The respective recommendations were graded according to the levels of evidence of the supporting literature. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence-based clinical guideline has been created using techniques of evidence-based medicine and best available evidence to aid practitioners in the diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis. The entire guideline document, including the evidentiary tables, literature search parameters, literature attrition flowchart, suggestions for future research, and all of the references, is available electronically on the NASS website at https://www.spine.org/ResearchClinicalCare/QualityImprovement/ClinicalGuidelines.aspx and will remain updated on a timely schedule.

Rehabilitation of orthopedic and rheumatologic disorders. 1. Osteoporosis assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation.

UNLABELLED: This self-directed learning module highlights a clinical vignette of a female patient with osteoporosis and addresses the clinical presentation, assessment, medical management, and rehabilitation approaches to a patient with an acute vertebral fracture. It is part of the study guide on osteoporosis in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This chapter emphasizes the differential diagnosis, clinical diagnostic considerations, current pharmacotherapy, invasive procedure options, and orthotic and exercise interventions for a patient with postmenopausal osteoporosis. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical evaluation, medical management, and rehabilitation strategies in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis and acute vertebral fracture presentation.

Rehabilitation of orthopedic and rheumatologic disorders. 2. Osteoarthritis assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation.

UNLABELLED: This self-directed learning module discusses a patient with knee osteoarthritis and addresses the clinical presentation, assessment, medical management, rehabilitation approaches, and surgical options. It is part of the chapter on osteoarthritis in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This chapter emphasizes the differential diagnosis, clinical diagnostic considerations, current pharmacology, orthotics, exercise interventions, and surgical procedure options for a patient with knee osteoarthritis. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVE: To summarize diagnostic considerations and management of knee osteoarthritis.

Rehabilitation of orthopedic and rheumatologic disorders. 3. Total hip arthroplasty rehabilitation.

UNLABELLED: This self-directed learning module highlights a clinical vignette of a female patient who had a total hip arthroplasty. The module addresses the medical management and rehabilitation interventions necessary to direct the postacute care needs of this patient. It is part of the study guide on rehabilitation of the joint replacement patient in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This chapter emphasizes planning for discharge from the acute care hospital, postacute care medical complications, and rehabilitation program elements germane to the patient with hip joint replacement. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVE: To summarize the postacute care planning, medical complications, and rehabilitation needs of the patient with hip joint replacement.

Rehabilitation of orthopedic and rheumatologic disorders. 4. Rheumatoid arthritis and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease.

UNLABELLED: This self-directed learning module highlights a clinical vignette of 2 patients: (1) a woman with bilateral, distal, upper-limb pain assessed by differential diagnosis, laboratory work-up, and treatment of rheumatologic disorders frequently seen in the physiatric practice setting and (2) a 57-year-old man with an acute recurring monoarthritis of the knee and addresses clinical presentation, assessment, medical management, and rehabilitation approaches. It is part of the chapter on rehabilitation of orthopedic and rheumatologic disorders in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This article specifically focuses on 2 aspects: (1) the differential diagnosis of polyarthralgia, distal upper-limb pain, criteria for classification of rheumatoid arthritis, synovial fluid analysis, and comprehensive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic and (2) the differential diagnosis, clinical diagnostic considerations, current pharmacotherapy, invasive procedure options, and orthotic and exercise interventions for a patient with calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate-induced monoarthritis of the knee. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVES: (a) Clinical evaluation, diagnosis, management, and rehabilitation strategies in persons with initial presentations of inflammatory distal upper-limb pain and (b) clinical evaluation of an individual with crystal-induced monoarthritis and differentiation of the pathophysiology, assessment, and treatment of chondrocalcinosis.

Rehabilitation of orthopedic and rheumatologic disorders. 5. Lumbar spinal stenosis.

UNLABELLED: This self-directed learning module highlights the pathoanatomy and pathogenesis of lumbar spinal stenosis. The areas covered include assessment and therapeutic options in the rehabilitation of patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. It is part of the study guide on rehabilitation of orthopedic and rheumatologic disorders in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVES: (a) To summarize the evaluation and management of lumbar spinal stenosis and (b) to review the pathoanatomy and pathogenesis of lumbar degenerative spinal stenosis.