Personality traits predict regression of pelvic girdle pain after pregnancy: a longitudinal follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is a multifactorial condition with a partly unknown etiology. This condition can be mentally and physically compromising both during and after pregnancy. To provide all-around preventive measures to improve the recovery from PGP, it is a necessity for obstetricians and orthopaedists to develop predictive studies about the worse prognosis for this condition. Therefore, this study aims to determine whether personality traits can predict the consequences of long-term pregnancy-related PGP. METHODS: This was a prospective study conducted from January 2015 to August 2018. A total of 387 pregnant women were enrolled in this study. According to whether they had experienced PGP during the past 4 weeks, the subjects were classified into no PGP and PGP groups. Persistent PGP after the pregnancy was defined as a recurrent or continuous visual analog score (VAS) pain rating of ≥3 for more than 1 week. The Quick Big Five Personality Test (QBFPT) was used to assess personality traits. Data were obtained by mail or in the clinic. The authors collected data including age, BMI, educational level, annual household income, cesarean delivery, breastfeeding, unexpected sex of the baby, parity, sick leave, no or rare ability to take rest breaks at work, and PGP in the previous pregnancy. RESULTS: Of 387 included women, 264 subjects experienced PGP during the pregnancy with a mean age of 26.3 ± 4.5 years. A total of 80 of 264 (30.3%) women experienced persistent PGP after the pregnancy. Persistent PGP after the pregnancy was associated with higher levels of neuroticism (OR = 2.12, P = 0.001). Comparing women with persistent PGP, those who reported higher levels of extraversion and conscientiousness were more likely to recover from this condition (OR = 0.65, P = 0.001; OR = 0.78, P = 0.010, respectively). Besides, neuroticism was positively associated with higher pain scores (r = 0.52, P = 0.005). However, extraversion and conscientiousness domains showed negative correlations with pain score (r = - 0.48, P = 0.003; r = - 0.36, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Personality traits were significantly associated with the outcomes of PGP.

A radiologic parameter that could be applied in the development of sleep apnea in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing occipitocervical fusion.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of sleep apnea in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with occipitocervical lesions was 79%. Occipitocervical fusion (OCF) could incur sleep apnea or worsen this condition. Recent studies reported that this complication is caused by stenosis of the oropharyngeal airway accompanying a decrease in the occipitoaxial angle (O-C2a). However, there are several limitations to the application of the O-C2a, which decreases its effectiveness. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association between a new radiologic parameter, the CVT/NSL angle (CVT: craniocervical inclination in the second and fourth vertebrae; NSL: Nasion-Sella line), and sleep apnea in RA patients accepting OCF. METHODS: A total of 35 patients who underwent OCF due to upper cervical lesions secondary to RA and had sleep apnea before surgery were analyzed. Those who have a postoperative apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) < 15 and a ΔAHI ≥50% were considered "responders"; patients were otherwise considered "non-responders." They were analyzed whether pre- and postoperative radiologic parameters and their differences in plain lateral radiographs were correlated to the parameter related to sleep apnea. RESULTS: The included patients have a mean AHI of 21.9 (range, 10 to 52) before surgery. The mean postoperative CVT/NSLa, ΔCVT/NSLa, andΔO-C2a in complete responders were significantly greater compared with non-responders (p < 0.05). Both the changes in the CVT/NSLa and O-C2a were linearly correlated within patients. However, the R2 value for the CVT/NSLa was greater compared with the O-C2a (0.403 vs. 0.203). CONCLUSIONS: The usefulness of the new craniovertebral angle, CVT/NSLa, as an intraoperative indicator during OCF, is more valuable in comparison with the conventional method of measuring the O-C2a. Measuring the craniovertebral angle is extremely important in the planning of surgical treatment for the development of sleep apnea in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing occipitocervical fusion.

Hand grip strength as a predictor of recovery from low back pain in the pregnant women-a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal problem during pregnancy with an estimated prevalence ranging from 30% to 78%. The symptoms usually disappear gradually after delivery, but some women may have persistent problems even later in their lives. The definite mechanism behind LBP during pregnancy remains unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether hand grip strength (HGS), which is a straightforward and reliable indicator of overall muscle strength, is associated with unrecovered LBP after delivery. METHODS: 257 pregnant women who registered at obstetrics units in two tertiary hospitals from January 2016 to June 2017 and meanwhile suffered the LBP during pregnancy were included. They were grouped based on whether they recovered from LBP after delivery (recovery was defined as a pain rating of ≤3). The variables such as age, HGS, and education level were recorded and examined for the risk analysis of unrecovered LBP. Also, the Pearson correlation between HGS levels and pain intensities was investigated. RESULTS: LBP without recovery at two years after delivery was reported among 22.7% of the subjects. Women with increasing age, low HGS (<25 kg), LBP in a previous pregnancy, back pain, sick leave, and a large amount of physical demand (all p < 0.05), were more likely to report LBP without recovery. Besides, there was a significant correlation between HGS values and the intensities of LBP (r = -0.525; p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Low HGS has the highest OR value (adjusted OR = 9.12, P < 0.001) among these factors. The present findings may be used to design and encourage a specific stabilization exercise regime to build well stability of the lumbar spinal column and thus alleviating the LBP.

New Classification and Its Value Evaluation for Atlantoaxial Dislocation.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce the TOI classification system (the Traction reduction type [T type], Operation reduction type [O type], and Irreducible type [I type] classification system) and to determine the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the TOI classification system. METHODS: Based on the characteristics of atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD), AAD was divided into Traction reduction type (T type), Operation reduction type (O type), and Irreducible type (I type). The analysis of interobserver and intraobserver agreements was done using kappa statistics. From July 2016 to January 2019, 213 AAD patients were retrospectively studied at four hospitals. Plain radiographs including extension and flexion views and three-dimensional CT images were obtained. Twenty independent observers, including eight experienced spine specialists and 12 orthopaedic fellows from four different residency training hospitals, completed the survey. RESULTS: The classification of the TOI system was based on etiology, the course of the disease, flexion-extension X-rays, three-dimensional CT reconstruction, and curative effects of skull traction. Flexion-extension X-rays demonstrating a successful reduction of the dislocated atlantoaxial joint and three-dimensional CT images showing osseous fusion of atlantoaxial facet joints and cervical traction reveal characteristics of T-type. Furthermore, this type can be divided into two subtypes, T1 and T2, according to the etiology and course of the disease. Unsatisfactorily reduction after 1-2 weeks of strict cervical traction, no reduction shown on flexion-extension X-rays, and no destruction or boneless fusion of atlantoaxial facet joints demonstrated in three-dimensional CT images are characteristics of type O. Atlantoaxial facet joint showing bone fusion or failure of reduction after cervical traction or three-dimensional CT images showing failure of surgical release are characteristics of type I. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the TOI classification system were moderate (κ = 0.543) and substantial (κ = 0.658), respectively. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the treatment choice were moderate (κ = 0.568) and substantial (κ = 0.675), respectively. There were no significant differences in the interobserver and intraobserver reliability between experienced spine specialists and fellows for all κ-values (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The TOI classification system had satisfactory reliability and, therefore, can be applied clinically and used by less experienced surgeons. We believe TOI can help surgeons choose appropriate treatment strategies.

Meta-analysis on interspinous dynamic stabilization system Wallis versus Coflex for lumbar degenerative disease / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: It is still controversial that interspinous dynamic stabilization system Wallis and Coflex which one can provide better clinical effects for lumbar degenerative disease.OBJECTIVE: To systematically assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of Wallis and Coflex for lumbar degenerative disease.METHODS: According to the computer-based online search of PubMed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library, CBM,CNKI, Wanfang Database, and VIP, articles published before August 1st, 2016 were searched. Articles about Wallis comparing with Coflex for lumbar degenerative disease were included; the quality score of methodology was assessed by MINORS. Research data abstracted and synthesized by Review Manager 5.3 were used for meta-analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Six studies were included, and all studies were designed for non-randomized controlled trial. (2) There were no significant statistical differences in Japanese Orthopedic Association, Oswestry disability index, visual analogue scale score, Prolo functional score, segmental lordosis angle, and segment movement degree. Incidence of adverse events was significantlue scale less in the Wallis group than in the Conflex group (P < 0.05).(3) There was no significant difference in clinical efficacy between Wallis and Coflex in the early and mid-term follow-up.We can conclude that Wallis may provide better clinical safety than Coflex.

Guidance value of TOI classification for treatment of traumatic T-type atlantoaxial dislocation / 中华创伤杂志

Objective To investigate the guidance value of TOI classification in treating traumatic T-type atlantoaxial dislocation (ADD).Methods A retrospective case series study was made on 32 cases of traumatic TOI T-type ADD treated between January 2012 and December 2015.There were 19 males and 13 females,aged (38.4 ± 14.7) years.Fifteen cases of T1-type underwent external fixation or internal fixation without fusion,while 17 cases of T2-type underwent internal fixation with fusion.Symon-Lavender clinical standard,Japanese orthopedic association score (JOA),visual analogue scale (VAS),atlas-dens interval (ADI) and space available for the cord (SAC) were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect.Results Patients were followed up for 6-54 months (mean,32.4 months).At final follow-up,ADI was decreased to (2.3 ± 1.4) mm from preoperative (5.6 ± 1.6) mm,but SAC was increased to (15.4 ± 1.9) mm from preoperative (12.0 ± 2.9) mm(P ＜ 0.01).At final follow-up,cervical axial rotation range of motion was 102°-154° in T1-type cases and 57°-93° in T2-type cases.Range of motion for atlantoaxial joint was preserved in T1-type cases,but lost in T2-type cases.According to the Symon-Lavender clinical standard,there were 14 cases of mild disability,nine moderate disability,eight severe disability and one extremely severe disability before operation;there were 21 cases of mild disability,nine moderate disability and two severe disability at last follow-up.Significant difference was observed in the grades according to the Symon-Lavender clinical standard before operation and at last follow-up (P ＜0.05).At last follow-up,JOA score was increased to (14.6 ± 2.9) points from preoperative (9.9± 3.2) points,and VAS was decreased to (2.7 ± 1.3)points from preoperative (6.0 ± 1.6)points (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions By using TOI classification,reconstruction of stability and improved neurological function can be achieved in treatment of traumatic T-type atlantoaxial dislocation.Non-fusion treatment of T1-type atlantoaxial dislocation can preserve range of motion for atlantoaxial joint.

Clinical outcome of external therapy of TCM for atlantoaxial osteoarthritis / 中华中医药杂志

Objective:To evaluate the clinical outcomes of TCM external treatment for atlantoaxial osteoarthritis.Methods:36 Atlantoaxial osteoarthritis patients were divided into a treatment group(18 cases) and a control group(18 cases).Patients in the treatment group were given oral western medicine and external treatment of TCM,including external medicine and osteopathtic manipulation;while those in the control group were given only oral western medicine treatment.All the patients were assessed with visual analogous scale(VAS) before and after treatment.Results:The pain of all patients was decreased after treatment.The VAS score in both groups were reduced after treatment and the difference was significant as compared with that before treatment(P