SEARCH · Search PubMed
Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A small percentage of low back pain sufferers are resistant to the various types of treatment tried and the problem becomes chronic. It is for this severely incapacitated group, threatened by socio-occupational misfortune, that we created: the School for Chronic Low Back Pain Sufferers. One hundred and five patients in whom treatment had failed were included after insurance programmes had agreed to provide cover. The system is of a multidisciplinary nature with hospitalisation for 5 days. The fate of 93 of these patients is known with a mean follow-up of 1 year. Quantified initial evaluation on an obstacle course confirmed that even severe low back pain sufferers were unaware of the basic rules for protection of the spine (mean score of 14/50 on admission). Socio-occupational fate analysed on the basis of a questionnaire showed: a high satisfaction index (90%) regardless of the subsequent outcome, and a correlation between follow-up time after the programme and the decrease in painful attacks (p less than 0.03, r = 0.23) or consumption of medications (p less than 0.01, r = 0.29). The relative simplicity of the system proposed, the situation of therapeutic impasse in which the patients for whom it is intended find themselves, the short time required and the results obtained confirm the importance of this multidisciplinary management approach being able to best envisage the possibilities of rehabilitation of the chronic low back pain sufferer, in particular when there are repeated periods off work.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
OBJECTIVES: To assess in a prospective randomised study the association between motor block resulting from high and low dose epidural infusions of bupivacaine in labour and the incidence of long term backache after childbirth, and to compare the incidence of backache in women not receiving epidural analgesia. DESIGN: Women requesting epidural analgesia in labour between October 1991 and March 1994 were randomised to receive infusions of either bupivacaine alone or low dose bupivacaine with opioid. Data were collected during labour and the immediate postpartum period from these women and from women recruited at random over the same time from those who had laboured without epidural analgesia. A postal questionnaire about symptoms was sent three months after childbirth to all women. Further data were collected one year after childbirth from those who had reported new backache at three months. SETTING: St Thomas's Hospital, London. SUBJECTS: 599 women were recruited, of whom 450 (75%) replied to a follow up questionnaire. RESULTS: 152 women (33.8% of responders) reported backache lasting three months after delivery and, of these, 33 (7.3%) had not previously suffered with backache. There were no significant differences between the treatment groups in the incidence of postnatal backache overall or of new backache or any symptoms after childbirth. Among all demographic, obstetric, and epidural variables examined the only factors significantly associated with backache after childbirth were backache before and during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of new long term backache was not significantly increased in women who received epidural analgesia in labour. Motor block resulting from epidural local anaesthetic administration was not a significant factor in the development of backache.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the factors associated with long term backache after childbirth, to assess all women reporting new onset long term backache, and to investigate any relation with pain relief in labour. DESIGN: Data collected from obstetric records and postal questionnaires or telephone interviews on morbidity after childbirth from all women delivering their first baby between March 1990 and February 1991, followed by analysis of data collected from outpatient consultations. SETTING: St Thomas's Hospital, London. SUBJECTS: Questionnaires were sent to 1615 women who had delivered their first baby in the defined period; 1015 either replied by post or were contacted by telephone. RESULTS: 299 women (29.5% of responders) reported backache lasting more than six months and of these 156 (15.4%) said they had had no back problems previously. Those women who had received epidural analgesia in labour were significantly more likely to report new onset backache (17.8%; 95% confidence interval 14.8% to 20.8%) than those who did not (11.7%; 8.6% to 14.8%). Younger women, unmarried women, and those reporting other antenatal symptoms were significantly more likely to report new long term backache. The 156 women reporting new backache were asked to attend an outpatient clinic and 36 (23%) did so. The majority had a postural backache which was not severe. Psychological factors were present in 14 women. CONCLUSIONS: Though new long term backache is reported more commonly after epidural analgesia in labour, it tends to be postural and not severe. There were no differences in the nature of the backache between those who had or had not received epidural analgesia in labour.
We performed a prospective, randomized, double-blind study to compare the effect of epidural dexamethasone on the incidence of postepidural backache after nonobstetric surgery. One thousand unpremedicated ASA physical status I or II patients scheduled for hemorrhoidectomy were randomly assigned to two groups: Group I patients received 25 mL 2% lidocaine with epinephrine 1:200,000 and 1 mL dexamethasone (5 mg) epidurally. Patients were interviewed at 24,48, and 72 h postoperatively using a standard visual analog scale (VAS) for evaluation of postepidural backache. A patient was considered to have postepidural backache when the postoperative VAS score was higher than the preoperative score. The incidence of postepidural backache in Group I patients for the 3 days were 22.8%, 17.4%, and 9.2%, all of which were significantly more frequent than observed in Group II patients (7.4%,5.6%, and 2.8%, P < 0.01). The severity and duration of postepidural backache were also significantly decreased in Group II patients. In our study, there was a significant association between postepidural backache and multiple attempts at epidural needle insertion. In summary, epidural dexamethasone reduced the incidence and severity of postepidural backache.
The effect of a wedge-shaped pillow (Ozzlo pillow) was compared with a standard hospital pillow, used to support the abdomen of a pregnant woman while lying on her side, in preventing or alleviating backache and backache-related insomnia; 92 women at 36 weeks' gestation completed the study. Backache was found to be very common (87%), the onset of pain occurring before 29 weeks in 59%. Age, parity, previous backache and type of bed used did not correlate with the backache scores during the period of study. Lower scores for backache were recorded by women in the week they used the Ozzlo pillow compared with the week they used the standard pillow. Sleeping was deemed better by the patient with the Ozzlo pillow, though actual sleeping scores did not corroborate this. While significantly more felt the Ozzlo pillow was superior to a standard pillow for backache and sleeping, some found both methods helpful. The simple measure of supporting the abdomen with a pillow when in lateral recumbency is likely to benefit many women in late pregnancy. A wedge-shaped pillow of the Ozzlo type, conforming to the shape of the abdomen and supporting it more closely, may be of greater help than a standard cushion or pillow.
OBJECTIVES: Back pain afflicts approximately 31 million Americans, and is the number one cause of activity limitation in young adults. Little is known about the labor productivity costs associated with this chronic disease. Such information could provide useful input to employers considering alternative health benefits plans for managing their employees' health care needs. The goals of this study were to generate employee-level as well as national estimates of the labor productivity losses associated with chronic back ache. METHODS: Multivariate methods were used to isolate the effects of chronic backache on employment status and disability days. These results were combined with information on earnings to generate labor productivity cost estimates associated with chronic backache. The study used data from the National Medical Care Expenditure Survey (NMES), which provides information on health status, health care utilization and cost, work, disability, and sociodemographic characteristics for a nationally representative sample of the noninstitutionalized civilian population of the United States in 1987. RESULTS: Average annual productivity losses per worker due to chronic backache were $1,230 for male workers, measured in 1996 dollars, and $773 per female worker. These figures translated into aggregate annual productivity losses from chronic backache of approximately $28 billion in the United States. CONCLUSION: The labor productivity losses from chronic backache differed by gender and other sociodemographic characteristics. The aggregate labor productivity losses associated with chronic backache were quite large and comparable to estimates of the direct medical costs associated with treating this chronic illness.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation between epidural anaesthesia and long term backache after childbirth. DESIGN: Data from postal questionnaire on morbidity after childbirth sent to women who had delivered in one maternity hospital between 1978 and 1985 were linked to maternity case notes for each woman. SETTING: Maternity hospital in Birmingham. SUBJECTS: 11,701 Women who had delivered their most recent baby at the maternity hospital during the defined period and who returned their completed questionnaires. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: Of the 1634 women who reported backache, 1132 (69%) had had it for over a year. A significant association was found between backache and epidural anaesthesia (relative risk = 1.8); 903 of 4766 women (18.9%) who had had epidural anaesthesia reported this symptom, compared with 731 of the 6935 women (10.5%) who had not had epidural anaesthesia. This association was consistent in both "normal" and "abnormal" deliveries, the only exception being after an elective caesarean section when no excess backache occurred after epidural anaesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: The relation between backache and epidural anaesthesia is probably causal. It seems to result from a combination of effective analgesia and stressed posture during labour. Further investigations on the mechanisms causing backache after epidural anaesthesia are required.
OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to see if brucella spondylitis existed as a cause of backache in Mumbai and to identify the clinical setting in patients of backache where brucella serology is indicated. METHODS: In 18 months (June 1996-Dec. 1997) we performed tube agglutination test (TAT) for Brucella melitensis and abortus on 72 patients of low backache from Orthopaedics Department of a teritary health centre. All 72 patients satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria designed to exclude radiologically detectable congenital or degenerative cause of backache. RESULTS: Six out of 72 patients were seropositive for brucellosis. All six patients had either history of animal contact or ingestion of raw milk or milk product (cheese or paneer). The lumbosacral backache was severe, radiating to the legs and straight leg raising test was significantly positive, they had marked tenderness on spinous process of lower lumbar vertebrae. Changes of brucella spondylitis were present on plain radiogram of lumbosacral spine in three patients. Four patients had abnormalities on bone scintigraphy. CONCLUSION: Low backache of brucella spondylitis closely simulates pain of prolapsed intervertebral disc. Serologic testing for brucellosis is an important step in management of such patients, especially when history of animal contact or raw milk or milk product ingestion is present, as the disease can be eminantly treated with antibiotics.
BACKGROUND: Concern has been expressed that epidural analgesia for labour may be associated with a higher incidence of backache. METHODS: A prospective randomized trial investigating the effect of epidural analgesia on the outcome of labour in nulliparae, mothers were randomized to receive either epidural analgesia or meperidine. A questionnaire on postnatal symptoms was sent to them 6 months after delivery. RESULTS: In all, 611 mothers were studied; 310 were randomly allocated to receive i.m. meperidine up to 300 mg and 301 to receive epidural bupivacaine. The response rate to our questionnaire was 83%. Intention-to-treat analysis showed similar prevalence rates of postpartum backache in the epidural (48%) and meperidine groups (50%), with an observed difference (epidural-meperidine) of -2% (95% CI, -11 to +6%). After excluding mothers with backache before delivery, there were also similar incidence rates of postpartum backache in the epidural (29%) and meperidine groups (28%), observed difference 1% (95% CI, -8 to +10%). CONCLUSIONS: Epidural analgesia in labour was not associated with an increase in the prevalence or incidence of backache.
Replies to a questionnaire showed that, amongst 180 women delivered in The London Hospital, 48% experienced backache during pregnancy; in one third of these it was severe. The prevalence of back pain increased with both increasing age and increasing parity, and it was difficult to separate the relative contributions of these two factors. No evidence was found of an association between backache during pregnancy and height, weight, 'obesity index', weight gain, or baby's weight. Analysis of aggravating and relieving factors indicates some differences between backache in the pregnant and 'mechanical' back pain in the non-pregnant. Slightly less backache was reported amongst patients attending antenatal physiotherapy classes but the figures do not provide clear evidence of any protective effect of this attendance.
One hundred women responded to a questionnaire dealing with night backache during pregnancy. All the women were in the second half of their pregnancy. Sixty seven per cent of the women reported discomfort and/or backache during the night. We hypothesize that hypervolemia combined with obstruction of the inferior vena cava, caused by the enlarging uterus, is the underlying pathomechanism leading to night backache. Patients with inadequate venous collateral circulation may develop excessive pressure within the venous system, the vertebral bodies and overdistension of venous channels distal to the occluded zone. These changes may lead to hypoxemia, metabolic disturbances, irritation of unmyelinated nerves and result in night backache.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare 24-gauge Sprotte and 25-gauge Quincke needles with respect to post dural puncture headache and backache. METHODS: Three hundred ASA Physical Status I or II patients scheduled for minor orthopedic or urologic operations under spinal anesthesia were chosen for this randomized, prospective study at a university hospital and a city hospital. Anesthetic technique, intravenous fluids, and postoperative pain therapy were standardized. Patients were randomly divided into three equal groups. Spinal anesthesia was performed with either a 24-gauge Sprotte needle or a 25-gauge Quincke needle with the cutting bevel parallel or perpendicular to the dural fibers. RESULTS: Anesthesia could not be performed in three cases with the Sprotte needle and in one case with the Quincke needle. The most common complications were post dural puncture backache (18.0%), post dural puncture headache (8.2%), and non-postural headache (6.7%). No major complications occurred. The Quincke needle with bevel perpendicular to the dural fibers caused a 17.9% incidence of post dural puncture headache. The Quincke with bevel parallel to the dural fibers and the Sprotte needles caused similar post dural puncture headache rates (4.5% and 2.4%, respectively). Other factors associated with post dural puncture headache were young age, early ambulation, and sedation during spinal anesthesia. There were no significant differences between needles in the incidence of post dural puncture backache. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that Quincke needles should not be used with the needle bevel inserted perpendicular to the dural fibers. The Sprotte needle does not solve the problem of post dural puncture headache and backache.
Despite epidemic character of backache in the developed countries, proper treatment is still facing a lot of difficulties and disbelief. Backache are considered incurable disease disabling normal life and work by both numerous patients and physicians. Proper information on causes and sequelae of backache, prophylaxis, ergonomics of work and ways of decreasing complaints should be valuable. Conservative treatment, based on the Backache Exercise School doctrine, is very effective, saving unnecessary suffering and tragedies, and saving costs of disability.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of long term backache after lumbar epidural anesthesia with catheter (EPA) in the non-obstetrical setting. DESIGN: Prospective 1-year follow-up study. PATIENTS: All patients scheduled for elective arthroscopical surgery of the knee performed under EPA (n = 195). INTERVENTIONS: A first questionnaire was sent to each patient three months after the operation. To chose patients reporting persistent backache after three months, a second questionnaire was sent one year after the operation. MEASUREMENTS: Back pain before, within 5 days and at the time of the inquiry, i.e., three months and one year after EPA as well as patient satisfaction with the regional anesthetic. Statistic: contingency tables with Fisher's exact test (for categorical variables) and an unpaired t-Test (for continuous variables), p < 0.01 after adjustment for multiple testing (Bonferroni's method). MAIN RESULTS: Response rate was 67%. Before EPA 23 patients (17.5%) complained of back pain. The short term incidence of back pain (i.e, within 5 days after EPA) was 24 out of 131 patients (18.3%) and not associated with pre-epidural back pain (p = 0.036, n.s.). 15 out of 131 patients (11.5%) reported persistent back pain after three months, 13 of them had complained of back pain before EPA (p < 0.0001). Thus, the incidence of new back pain 3 months after EPA was only 1.5%. 7 of the 15 patients returned the second questionnaire: 6 reported still persistent back pain, and all had complained of back pain before EPA. Age, height, weight, sex, duration of anesthesia and operation were not associated with long term back pain. Despite persistent back pain after three months 10 out of 15 patients would opt again for EPA. CONCLUSION: The incidence of long term backache after EPA in the non-obstetrical setting is 11.5% and almost exclusively associated with pre-existing back pain. Biometrical factors seem to play no role. In patients with pre-existing back pain satisfaction with the anesthetic procedure might be improved by improving informed consent.