The prevalence and years lived with disability caused by low back pain in China, 1990 to 2016: findings from the global burden of disease study 2016.

The aim of this work was to quantify the prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) caused by low back pain (LBP) in China from 1990 to 2016. Data from the GBD 2016 (Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016) were used. We analyzed the age-sex-province-specific prevalence and YLDs for LBP of 33 provinces/regions in China.

Psychometric validation of the adapted Traditional Chinese version of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ).

Background: Low back pain is a common health problem encountered by various populations among different countries. This prospective study aimed to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ) into Traditional Chinese and to assess its validity, reliability and sensitivity in Chinese patients experiencing low back pain.

Methods: Double forward and single back translation of the JOABPEQ was performed with cross-cultural adaptation.

Does cardiology hold pharmacogenetics to an inconsistent standard? A comparison of evidence among recommendations.

Current guideline recommendations for pharmacogenetic testing for clopidogrel by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) contradict the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium and the US FDA. The AHA/ACC recommends against routine pharmacogenetic testing for clopidogrel because no randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that testing improves patients' outcomes. However the AHA/ACC and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommend other pharmacogenetic tests in the absence of randomized controlled trials evidence.

Postoperative Rigid Cervical Collar Leads to Less Axial Neck Pain in the Early Stage After Open-Door Laminoplasty-A Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Cervical collars are used after laminoplasty to protect the hinge opening, reduce risks of hinge fractures, and avoid spring-back phenomena. However, their use may lead to reduced range of motion and worse neck pain.

Objective: To investigate the clinical, radiological, and functional outcomes of patients undergoing single-door laminoplasty with or without collar immobilization.

Mean 6-Year Follow-up of Magnetically Controlled Growing Rod Patients With Early Onset Scoliosis: A Glimpse of What Happens to Graduates.

Background: There is no agreement on frequency of distractions of magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs) but more frequent and smaller amounts of distractions mimic physiological spine growth. The mid- to long-term follow-up and management at skeletal maturity is unknown.

Objective: To analyze patients with mean 6 yr of follow-up and describe the fate of MCGR graduates.

Psoas hematoma formation after violation of the intertransverse plane during posterior spinal surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Psoas hematoma is a rare yet potentially serious complication following posterior spinal surgery as it is a possible nidus for infection. We present a case of psoas hematoma formation following scoliosis surgery due to intraoperative violation of the intertransverse plane. A 13-year-old female patient with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis underwent a posterior deformity correction and instrumented fusion which was complicated with intraoperative inadvertent violation of the intertransverse plane during dissection of the posterolateral gutter leading to a unilateral psoas hematoma.

Patterns of coronal curve changes in forward bending posture: a 3D ultrasound study of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients.

Purpose: The Adam's forward bending test is the most commonly used approach to assess the spine deformity in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. However, there are noticeable differences in the hump appearance from standing to forward bending. This phenomenon has yet to be understood due to limitations of conventional radiographs.

Fulcrum flexibility of the main curve predicts postoperative shoulder imbalance in selective thoracic fusion of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Purpose: To identify preoperative predictors for postoperative shoulder imbalance (PSI) after corrective surgery of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and using the fulcrum-bending radiograph to assess flexibility.

Methods: A consecutive surgical cohort of AIS patients undergoing selective thoracic fusion with alternate-level pedicle screw fixation was prospectively studied. Preoperative anteroposterior, lateral and fulcrum-bending radiographs were analysed.

APSS-ASJ Best Clinical Research Award: Predictability of Curve Progression in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Using the Distal Radius and Ulna Classification.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Purpose: To determine the risk of clinically significant curve progression in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) based on the initial Cobb angle and to test the utility of the distal radius and ulna (DRU) classification in predicting these outcomes.

Overview Of Literature: Determining the remaining growth potential in AIS patients is necessary for predicting prognosis and initiating treatment.

Mechanical and Clinical Evaluation of a Shape Memory Alloy and Conventional Struts in a Flexible Scoliotic Brace.

Smart materials have attracted considerable attention in the medical field. In particular, shape memory alloys (SMAs) are most commonly utilized for their superelasticity (SE) in orthopaedic treatment. In this study, the resin struts of a flexible brace for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) are replaced with different conventional materials and an SMA.

Reliability of Rod Lengthening, Thoracic, and Spino-Pelvic Measurements on Biplanar Stereoradiography in Patients Treated With Magnetically Controlled Growing Rods.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Objective: To assess the inter- and intraobserver reliability of thoracic, spino-pelvic, and rod lengthening measurements made on biplanar spinal stereoradiography (EOS imaging) in children treated with magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR).

Summary Of Background Data: MCGR treatment aims to gain spine length while gradually correcting the spinal deformity.

Psychometric validation of the cross-culturally adapted traditional Chinese version of the Back Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ) and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ).

Purpose: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Back Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ) and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) into traditional Chinese for their use in patients experiencing low back pain (LBP).

Methods: This was a prospective questionnaire translation and psychometric validation of the BBQ and FABQ in Chinese patients with back pain. Patients also completed the Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong) versions of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Short Form-12 version 2 (SF-12v2) questionnaires and the visual analogue scale (VAS) for LBP.

Comparable clinical and radiological outcomes between skipped-level and all-level plating for open-door laminoplasty.

Purpose: To compare the clinical and radiological outcomes between skipped-level and all-level plating for cervical laminoplasty.

Methods: Patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) treated by open-door laminoplasty with minimum 2-year postoperative follow-up were included. All patients had opening from C3-6 or C3-7 and were divided into skipped-level or all-level plating groups.

Curve Progression in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Does Not Match Skeletal Growth.

Background: Determining the peak growth velocity of a patient with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is important for timely treatment to prevent curve progression. It is important to be able to predict when the curve-progression risk is greatest to maximize the benefits of any intervention for AIS. The distal radius and ulna (DRU) classification has been shown to accurately predict skeletal growth.

An effective assessment method of spinal flexibility to predict the initial in-orthosis correction on the patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Background: Spinal flexibility is an essential parameter for clinical decision making on the patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Various methods are proposed to assess spinal flexibility, but which assessment method is more effective to predict the effect of orthotic treatment is unclear.

Objective: To investigate an effective assessment method of spinal flexibility to predict the initial in-orthosis correction, among the supine, prone, sitting with lateral bending and prone with lateral bending positions.

Predictability of Supine Radiographs for Determining In-Brace Correction for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Study Design: Retrospective radiographic study.

Objective: To assess whether flexibility as revealed by the supine radiograph, predicts in-brace curve correction.

Summary Of Background Data: Currently there is no consensus regarding a standard method to assess curve flexibility and immediate brace effectiveness in treating adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Perception and use of complementary and alternative medicine for low back pain.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in patients with low back pain (LBP) and to identify its correlation with demographic factors, clinical condition and psychosocial factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 278 LBP patients. Use of CAM, demographic parameters and disease duration were determined.

Managing the Pediatric Spine: Growth Assessment.

Management of pediatric spinal deformities requires an accurate prediction of growth spurts to allow for timely initiation of treatment and prevention of curve progression. Determining remaining growth potential is also important for avoiding prolonged unnecessary treatment, e.g.

Paper #11: Reliability of spino-pelvic and thoracic measurements with the EOS in patients with magnetically controlled growing rods in-situ.

This was a reliability assessment of patients who underwent magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) treatment with EOS imaging. Most parameters have near perfect reliability except for the sagittal parameters which may limit the ability of investigators to detect complications like proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK).

Paper #18: Slow and gradual preoperative Halo Traction provides safe correction of severe scoliosis in patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

This was a study of slow and gradual (at least 2 months) preoperative traction for osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Results show that correction was significant with minimal complications after final fusion. Most significant correction in traction occurred within the 1st month but progressive correction was achieved beyond that.

Paper #27: Rod lengthening with the magnetically controlled growing rod: factors influencing rod slippage and reduced gains during distractions.

This is a prospective study of magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) patients with particular focus on the timing of rod slippage as it pertains to rod lengthening in early onset scoliosis. Findings suggest that early rod lengthening is related to older patients and reduced distance between magnets. Diminishing length gains were observed after a period of rod usage and returns to baseline after rod exchange.

Paper #28: The Best Distraction Frequency for Optimizing Spine and Rod Length Gains with Magnetically Controlled Growing Rods.

A study of 119 early onset scoliosis (EOS) who underwent magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) treatment suggests that more than 4 distractions per year yields greater rates of rod lengthening but no significant differences in spine length gain compared to less than 4 distractions per year.

Paper #32: Early onset scoliosis treated by Magnetically Controlled Growing Rods: Mid- to long-term follow-up and analysis of 5 graduates.

This is a prospective study of early onset scoliosis (EOS) patients treated with the magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) at up to 6 years follow-up with particular attention to the MCGR graduates at final surgery. Deformity control is consistent as is spine length gain. Further correction at final surgery for graduates are limited.

The association of lumbar intervertebral disc calcification on plain radiographs with the UTE Disc Sign on MRI.

Purpose: The pathogenesis and the clinical impact of disc calcification are not well known. Utilizing ultra-short time-to-echo (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging, the UTE Disc Sign (UDS) (i.e.

Responsiveness of the EuroQoL 5-dimension (EQ-5D) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Purpose: To test the responsiveness of the EuroQoL 5-dimension (EQ-5D) utility scores for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Methods: A baseline sample of 227 AIS patients was recruited between August and October 2015, and was surveyed prospectively to 9-12 months follow-up. EQ-5D-5L utility scores were derived using a two-step approach: (1) cross-walking from five-level responses to three-level responses and (2) applying the EQ-5D-3L Chinese population value set.