| 1. |
- Engquist, Markus, et al.
(författare)
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Factors Affecting the Outcome of Surgical Versus Nonsurgical Treatment of Cervical Radiculopathy
- 2015
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Ingår i: Spine. - : LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. - 0362-2436 .- 1528-1159. ; 40:20, s. 1553-1563
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Study Design. Prospective randomized controlled trial. Objective. To analyze factors that may influence the outcome of anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) followed by physiotherapy versus physiotherapy alone for treatment of patients with cervical radiculopathy. Summary of Background Data. An understanding of patient-related factors affecting the outcome of ACDF is important for preoperative patient selection. No previous prospective, randomized study of treatment effect modifiers relating to outcome of ACDF compared with physiotherapy has been carried out. Methods. 60 patients with cervical radiculopathy were randomized to ACDF followed by physiotherapy or physiotherapy alone. Data for possible modifiers of treatment outcome at 1 year, such as sex, age, duration of pain, pain intensity, disability (Neck Disability Index, NDI), patient expectations of treatment, anxiety due to neck/arm pain, distress (Distress and Risk Assessment Method), self-efficacy (Self-Efficacy Scale) health status (EQ-5D), and magnetic resonance imaging findings were collected. A multivariate analysis was performed to find treatment effect modifiers affecting the outcome regarding arm/neck pain intensity and NDI. Results. Factors that significantly altered the treatment effect between treatment groups in favor of surgery were: duration of neck pain less than 12 months (P = 0.007), duration of arm pain less than 12 months (P = 0.01) and female sex (P = 0.007) (outcome: arm pain), low EQ-5D index (outcome: neck pain, P = 0.02), high levels of anxiety due to neck/arm pain (outcome: neck pain, P = 0.02 and NDI, P = 0.02), low Self-Efficacy Scale score (P = 0.05), and high Distress and Risk Assessment Method score (P = 0.04) (outcome: NDI). No factors were found to be associated with better outcome with physiotherapy alone. Conclusion. In this prospective, randomized study of patients with cervical radiculopathy, short duration of pain, female sex, low health quality, high levels of anxiety due to neck/arm pain, low self-efficacy, and a high level of distress before treatment were associated with better outcome from surgery. No factors were found to be associated with better outcome from physiotherapy alone.
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| 2. |
- Engquist, M., et al.
(författare)
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Surgery versus nonsurgical treatment of cervical radiculopathy : A prospective, randomized study comparing surgery plus physiotherapy with physiotherapy alone with a 2-year follow-up
- 2013
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Ingår i: Spine. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0362-2436 .- 1528-1159. ; 38:20, s. 1715-1722
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- STUDY DESIGN.: Prospective randomized controlled trial. OBJECTIVE.: To study the outcome of anterior cervical decompression and fusion combined with a structured physiotherapy program compared with the same physiotherapy program alone for patients with cervical radiculopathy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: Knowledge concerning the effects of interventions for patients with cervical radiculopathy is scarce due to a lack of randomized studies. METHODS.: Sixty-three patients were randomized to surgery with postoperative physiotherapy (n = 31) or physiotherapy alone (n = 32). The surgical group was treated with anterior cervical decompression and fusion. The physiotherapy program included general/specific exercises and pain-coping strategies. The outcome measures were disability (Neck Disability Index), neck and arm pain intensity (visual analogue scale), and the patient's global assessment. Patients were followed for 24 months. RESULTS.: The result from the repeated-measures analysis of variance showed no significant between-group difference for Neck Disability Index (P = 0.23). For neck pain intensity, the repeated-measures analysis of variance showed a significant between-group difference during the study period in favor of the surgical group (P = 0.039). For arm pain intensity, no significant between-group differences were found according to the repeated-measures analysis of variance (P = 0.580). Eighty-seven percent of the patients in the surgical group rated their symptoms as "better/much better" at the 12-month follow-up compared with 62% in the nonsurgical group (P < 0.05). At 24 months, the corresponding figures were 81% and 69% (P = 0.28). The difference was significant only at the 12-month follow-up in favor of the surgical group. Significant reduction in Neck Disability Index, neck pain, and arm pain compared with baseline was seen in both groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION.: In this prospective, randomized study of patients with cervical radiculopathy, it was shown that surgery with physiotherapy resulted in a more rapid improvement during the first postoperative year, with significantly greater improvement in neck pain and the patient's global assessment than physiotherapy alone, but the differences between the groups decreased after 2 years. Structured physiotherapy should be tried before surgery is chosen. Copyright © 2013 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
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| 3. |
- Jull, Gwendolen A, et al.
(författare)
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Toward optimal early management after whiplash injury to lessen the rate of transition to chronicity
- 2011
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Ingår i: Spine. - 0362-2436 .- 1528-1159. ; 36:25 Suppl, s. S335-S342
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- STUDY DESIGN: Expert debate and synthesis of research to inform future management approaches for acute whiplash disorders.OBJECTIVE: To identify a research agenda toward improving outcomes for acute whiplash-injured individuals to lessen the incidence of transition to chronicity.SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: International figures are concordant, estimating that 50% of individuals recover from pain and disability within 3 to 6 months of a whiplash injury. The remainder report continuing symptoms up to 1 to 2 years or longer postinjury. As no management approach to date has improved recovery rates, new clinical/research directions are required for early management of whiplash-injured patients.METHODS: A group of multidisciplinary researchers critically debated evidence and current research concerning whiplash from biological, psychological, and social perspectives toward informing future research directions for management of acute whiplash.RESULTS: It was recognized that effective treatments for acute whiplash are constrained by a limited understanding of causes of whiplash-associated disorders. Acute whiplash presentations are heterogeneous leading to the proposal that a research priority was development of a triage system based on modifiable prognostic indicators and clinical features to better inform individualized early management decisions. Other priorities identified included researching effective early pain management for individuals presenting with moderate to high levels of pain; development of best education/information for acute whiplash; testing the efficacy of stratified and individualized rehabilitation, researching modes of delivery considering psychosocial modulators of pain and disability; and the timing, nature, and mode of delivery of cognitive-behavioral therapies. Directions were highlighted for future biomechanical research into injury prevention.CONCLUSION: The burden of whiplash injuries, the high rate of transition to chronicity, and evidence of limited effects of current management on transition rates demand new directions in evaluation and management. Several directions have been proposed for future research, which reflect the potential multifaceted dimensions of an acute whiplash disorder.
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| 4. |
- Overmeer, Thomas, 1960-, et al.
(författare)
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Do evidence-based guidelines have an impact in primary care? : A cross-sectional study of Swedish physicians and physiotherapists
- 2005
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Ingår i: Spine. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0362-2436 .- 1528-1159. ; 30:1, s. 146-151
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Study Design. A cross-sectional study of physicians and physiotherapists in primary care. Objectives. To survey how familiar clinicians were with evidence-based guidelines for back pain and their opinion about their clinical usefulness and to compare self-reported practice behavior with the guidelines. Summary of Background Data. Guidelines, based on empirical evidence, are meant to ensure that patients get the most effective treatment. These evidence-based guidelines should steer clinical praxis, but clinicians may not read, let alone heed, them. Methods. Using a questionnaire, the authors surveyed all physicians and physiotherapists in primary health care in Örebro County, Sweden (N = 235). Results. Forty-two percent of the physicians and 37% of the physiotherapists were unfamiliar with the content of the guidelines, and 40% of the physicians and 25% of the physiotherapists were unfamiliar with the concept of 'red flags.' Less than half of the clinicians, 47%, were familiar both with the content of the guidelines and the concept of red flags. Their opinion about the guidelines showed that 54% of the physicians and 56% of the physiotherapists agreed that the guidelines were useful in clinical praxis. Concerning the self-reported practice behavior, the majority indicated that they followed the key points in the guidelines. Conclusions. A relatively large proportion of clinicians were unfamiliar with the content of evidence-based guidelines and/or with the concept of red flags. The process of implementing research into clinical practice is in need of an overhaul, and the impact of guidelines on clinical practice may be questioned.
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| 5. |
- Peolsson, Anneli, et al.
(författare)
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Physical Function Outcome in Cervical Radiculopathy Patients After Physiotherapy Alone Compared With Anterior Surgery Followed by Physiotherapy A Prospective Randomized Study With a 2-Year Follow-up
- 2013
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Ingår i: Spine. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0362-2436 .- 1528-1159. ; 38:4, s. 300-307
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Study Design. Prospective randomized study. Objective. To investigate differences in physical functional outcome in patients with radiculopathy due to cervical disc disease, after structured physiotherapy alone (consisting of neck-specific exercises with a cognitive-behavioral approach) versus after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) followed by the same structured physiotherapy program. Summary of Background Data. No earlier studies have evaluated the effectiveness of a structured physiotherapy program or postoperative physical rehabilitation after ACDF for patients with magnetic resonance imaging–verified nerve compression due to cervical disc disease. Methods. Our prospective randomized study included 63 patients with radiculopathy and magnetic resonance imaging–verified nerve root compression, who were randomized to receive either ACDF in combination with physiotherapy or physiotherapy alone. For 49 of these patients, an independent examiner measured functional outcomes, including active range of neck motion, neck muscle endurance, and hand-related functioning before treatment and at 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-ups. Results. There were no significant differences between the 2 treatment alternatives in any of the measurements performed (P = 0.17–0.91). Both groups showed improvements over time in neck muscle endurance (P <= 0.01), manual dexterity (P <= 0.03), and right-handgrip strength (P = 0.01). Conclusion. Compared with a structured physiotherapy program alone, ACDF followed by physiotherapy did not result in additional improvements in neck active range of motion, neck muscle endurance, or hand-related function in patients with radiculopathy. We suggest that a structured physiotherapy program should precede a decision for ACDF intervention in patients with radiculopathy, to reduce the need for surgery.
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| 6. |
- Söderlund, Anne
(författare)
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The role of educational and learning approaches in rehabilitation of whiplash : Associated disorders in lessening the transition to chronicity
- 2011
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Ingår i: Spine. - 0362-2436 .- 1528-1159. ; 36:25 Suppl, s. S280-S285
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- STUDY DESIGN: The study design was descriptive.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this chapter was to illustrate and discuss educational and learning perspectives in the rehabilitation of patients with acute whiplash-associated disorders (WAD).SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: WAD is a major problem for the individual and the society. Several treatment options have been studied without giving convincing results for lessening the transition to chronicity. Current management of acute WAD include among other things advice of exercise and educational activities.METHODS: A literature search on the PubMed database was conducted with additional topic discussions with the research colleagues at a symposium. These resulted the present state-of-the-art review.RESULTS: There are several possible cognitive factors and behavioral learning processes such as self-efficacy, fear of movement and (re)injury, and catastrophizing that are important to focus on in decreasing acute WAD to becoming a chronic condition. Learning based on behavioral medicine approach in physiotherapy framework has gained evidence in other musculoskeletal pain conditions.CONCLUSION: Exercise, education, and learning with a behavioral medicine approach should be focused on in the future studies of acute WAD management.
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