Total Resorption of a Chronic L4-L5 Disc Extrusion After Application of the Atlasprofilax Method: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND The intervertebral disc extrusion resorption has been described in the literature by various authors. It occurs in up to 75% of patients with symptomatic extruded lumbar discs. The Atlasprofilax method favors osteo-musculo-articular rehabilitation processes, mainly impacting on 2 levels: the first is the bone anatomy of the atlanto-occipital joint, and the second is the fasciae located in the cervical region. CASE REPORT A 42-year-old male patient diagnosed by MRI with dehydration of L2-L3 to L5-S1 intervertebral discs, disc bulging at L2-L3 and L3-L4, and disc extrusion at L4-L5, received a one-time neuromuscular treatment, called the Atlasprofilax method, to the suboccipital region. In a repeat MRI 6 months later, the disc extrusion at L4-L5 was totally resorbed and improvement in the L3-L4 and L4-L5 disc bulges was seen. The patient's symptoms prior to the Atlasprofilax treatment included bilateral trapezius pain, right brachialgia, constant chronic low back pain, right sciatica, gait claudication, and paresthesia and dysesthesias in the lower limbs with associated pain and numbness in the calves. These symptoms were ameliorated after the treatment. The sciatica disappeared 1 week after the treatment and did not recur. In a follow-up 5 years later, the remaining symptoms had improved even further. CONCLUSIONS We propose that alterations of the cervical musculature and deep fascia could predispose to the development of lumbar disc abnormalities. We therefore also propose that improvements in this patient, both in symptoms and in imaging findings, are due to a reduction of the asymmetric distribution of forces and elastic loading as a result of the Atlasprofilax treatment.

Guanosine prevents thermal hyperalgesia in a rat model of peripheral mononeuropathy.

UNLABELLED: It is well known that adenine-based purines exert multiple effects on pain transmission. Less attention has been given, however, to the antinociceptive effects of guanine-based purines. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intraperitoneal administration of guanosine on a rat model of peripheral mononeuropathy. Additionally, investigation of the mechanism of action of guanosine, its general toxicity and measurements of central nervous system purine levels were performed. Rats received an intraperitoneal administration of vehicle (0.1 mM NaOH) or guanosine (up to 120 mg.kg(-1)) in an acute or chronic regimen. Guanosine significantly reduced thermal hyperalgesia on the ipsilateral side of the sciatic nerve ligation. Additionally, guanosine prevented locomotor deficits and body weight loss induced by the mononeuropathy. Acute systemic administration of guanosine caused an approximately 11-fold increase on central nervous system guanosine levels, but this effect was not observed after chronic treatment. Chronic guanosine administration prevented the increase on cortical glutamate uptake but not the decrease in spinal cord glutamate uptake induced by the mononeuropathy. No significant general toxicity was observed after chronic exposure to guanosine. This study provides new evidence on the mechanism of action of guanine-based purines, with guanosine presenting antinociceptive effects against a chronic pain model. PERSPECTIVE: This study provides a new role for guanosine: chronic pain modulation. Guanosine presents as a new target for future drug development and might be useful for treatment of neuropathic pain.

Resultados del tratamiento quirúrgico de la lumbociática de origen discal / Results of surgical treatment of lumbociatic pain from intervetebral disc origin

Se revisaron los expedientes de 84 pacientes operados por síndrome radicular con lumbociatalgia considerada de origen discal entre 1970 y 1987 en los hospitales Guadalupe e ISSSTEP de puebla, mediante laminectomía y en caso necesario foraminotomía, con observación postoperatoria de 12 meses a 15 años. En la cirugía se encontró que la lesión causal fue artrosis interfacetaria en nueve casos que se corrigió con foraminotomía; tres pacientes tuvieron patología diferente que consistió en cada caso en : ependimoma, plasmocitoma y cisticercosis. Los demás presentaron diversos niveles de severidad de herniación discal. Los resultados postoperatorios de acuerdo con la sintomatología fueron: en la lumbociática hiperálgica hubo 37 excelentes (69.8%), 11 buenos (20.7%) y cinco malos (9.4%). En la lumbociática paralizante hubo seis excelentes (50%), cuatro buenos (33.3%) y dos malos (16.6%). En los pacientes con lumbociática recidivante hubo nueve excelentes (47.3%), cinco buenos (26.3%) y cinco malos (26.5%).