| 1. |
- Dufvenberg, Marlene, 1961-
(författare)
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Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis : Postural Stability, Prognostic factors and Impact of Conservative Treatments on Radiologic, Clinical and Self-Reported Outcomes
- 2024
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional distortion of spinal curvature of unknown cause that develops during puberty. If the frontal plane curvature exceeds a Cobb angle of 24°, full-time bracing is recommended to prevent curve progression, negative health consequences or need for surgery. However, many patients decline full-time bracing, and limited evidence exists regarding alternative conservative treatments. Increasing knowledge of risk factors enables better identification of high-risk patients, thereby reducing the risk of over- or undertreatment. The overall aim of this thesis was to evaluate evidence of association between scoliosis and postural stability to inform a potential treatment target, to investigate the effectiveness of three alternative conservative treatments for patients who declined full-time bracing, and to develop a prognostic model for future risk of increased curvature in AIS. Methods: Data collection is based on one systematic literature review and meta-analysis, and one randomised controlled trial (RCT) for patients with AIS. In Paper I, literature was reviewed, and utilized posturography data to assess static postural stability to identify potential differences between patients with AIS and the control group (CON). In Papers II and III, patients were randomly assigned to either physical activity combined with hypercorrective Boston scoliosis night brace (NB), scoliosis-specific exercises (SSE), or a control group with physical activity alone (PA). Effects on trunk rotation, Cobb angle, self-reported physical activity, spinal appearance, and health-related quality of life were evaluated. Likewise, adherence, capability, and motivation in performing self-managed treatment were assessed. Follow-up was conducted at 6 months intervals until endpoint. The endpoint was defined as non-progression if the curvature increased by 6° or less at skeletal maturity, i.e., less than 1cm of growth over 6 months, or progression if the curvature increased by more than 6° before skeletal maturity. In Paper IV, data from the RCT were used for a longitudinal cohort analysis, developing and validating a prognostic model using Cox Proportional Hazards survival analysis. Results: Paper I found reduced postural stability in AIS patients compared to CON with increased sway area, mediolateral and anteroposterior range, and a posterior shift in the sagittal plane. The RCT included 135 individuals, mean age of 12.7 years (SD1.4) and Cobb angle of 31° (SD5.3). At 6 months, patients reported high adherence (72-95%) and motivation (65-92%) to the treatment, particularly in the NB group. Both the SSE and PA groups increased physical activity levels compared to the NB group. At endpoint, adherence remained adequate, but better in the NB and PA groups compared with the SSE group (50-89%). Adherence increased with higher capability and motivation, which explained 53% of the variance in adherence at endpoint. The SSE group had higher proportion of moderate problems in mobility and usual activities than the NB and PA groups, with no other clinically relevant between-group differences. The prognostic model (n=127) for curve progression showed acceptable discriminative ability (0.791), with risk factors including skeletal immaturity, larger major curve, and worsening spinal appearance. The model was adjusted for treatment exposure, as NB reduced the risk of curve progression. Conclusions: Patients with AIS have decreased postural stability with a posterior positional shift. Treatment evaluation at endpoint showed few between-group differences. However, the SSE group had higher proportion of moderate problems in mobility and usual activities compared to the other groups. Treatment adherence was adequate, but better in the NB and PA groups. Higher capability and motivation increased long-term adherence to the treatment. The treatment alternatives could be considered as the first option following a clinical decision on treatment. Including self-reported spinal appearance as a risk factor in the prognostic model may be clinically important for predicting which patients are at risk of curve progression.
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| 2. |
- Diarbakerli, Elias, et al.
(författare)
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Swedish musculoskeletal researchers view on a collaborative network and future research priorities in Swedish healthcare
- 2024
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Ingår i: Musculoskeletal Care. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1478-2189 .- 1557-0681. ; 22:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSK) are a global burden causing significant suffering and economic impact. Systematic identification and targeting of research questions of highest interest for stakeholders can aid in improving MSK disorder knowledge and management.Objective: To obtain Swedish MSK researchers' opinions and views on a collaborative Swedish MSK network (SweMSK) and identify future research areas of importance for Swedish MSK research.Methods: A web-based survey was conducted July to September 2021 to collect data from 354 Swedish MSK researchers. The survey focused on the need, objectives, and structure of a SweMSK network and identified prioritised areas for future MSK research.Results: The study included 141 respondents, of which 82 were associate professors or professors. The majority (68%) supported the creation of a new musculoskeletal network. The most supported element was increased collaboration regarding nationwide and multicenter studies. Respondents recommended the creation of a homepage and the establishment of national work groups with different specific interests as the primary elements of a new network.Conclusion: The results demonstrated a need and desire for increased national research collaboration and the creation of a new musculoskeletal network. The high academic experience and active research participation of the respondents suggest the need for MSK disorder knowledge and management improvement in Sweden. Therefore, the SweMSK network may help facilitate effective collaboration and research efforts that can contribute to the advancement of MSK disorder management and care. This study may provide valuable insights for policymakers, clinicians, and researchers to improve MSK disorder care and management in Sweden.
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| 3. |
- Knutsson, Björn
(författare)
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Lumbar spinal stenosis : Body mass index and the patient's perspective
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- During recent decades, lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) has become the most common indication for spine surgery, a change that coincides with a higher worldwide prevalence of overweight and obesity. Thus, surgical treatment of LSS in the overweight and obese population is common and increasing in scope.The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate whether body mass index (BMI) is related to the development of LSS, and whether BMI is linked to outcome after surgery for LSS. We further evaluated whether there are specific experiences of LSS from a patient perspective.Data were obtained for all patients registered in the Swedish Spine Register who had undergone surgery for LSS between January 1, 2006 and June 30, 2008. After adjusting for differences in baseline characteristics, patients with obesity showed both poorer results after surgery and a higher rate of dissatisfaction than patients with normal weight (odds ratio 1.73; 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.36-2.19).Furthermore, patients with obesity in the cohort reported modest weight loss at follow-up (2.0 kg; 95% CI, 1.5-2.4), and only 8% reported a clinical important weight loss 2 years after surgery.Our analysis of 389,132 construction workers, showed that overweight (incidence rate ratio, IRR 1.68; 95% CI, 1.54-1.83) and obesity (IRR 2.18; 95% CI, 1.87-2.53) were associated with an increased future risk in developing LSS when compared with patients with normal weight.To gain insight into the patients' perspective of LSS, we performed interviews with 18 patients who were on a waiting list for LSS surgery. The transcripts, analyzed with content analysis, revealed that living with LSS is a physical, mental and social challenge in which resources to cope with the condition are of major importance.In summary, obesity is associated with poorer results after surgery, and patients with obesity report modest weight loss during follow-up. In addition, obesity is associated with an increased risk to develop LSS. Our findings revealed that being a patient with LSS, naturally involves considerable suffering and pain, but it also implies being a person with his or her own resources who is able to cope with these adverse conditions.
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| 4. |
- Charalampidis, Anastasios, et al.
(författare)
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Nighttime Bracing or Exercise in Moderate-Grade Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
- 2024
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Ingår i: JAMA Network Open. - : AMER MEDICAL ASSOC. - 2574-3805. ; 7:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- IMPORTANCE Moderate-grade adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) may be treated with full-timebracing. For patients who reject full-time bracing, the effects of alternative, conservativeinterventions are unknown.OBJECTIVE To determine whether self-mediated physical activity combined with either nighttimebracing (NB) or scoliosis-specific exercise (SSE) is superior to a control of physical activity alone (PA)in preventing Cobb angle progression in moderate-grade AIS.DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The Conservative Treatment for Adolescent IdiopathicScoliosis (CONTRAIS) randomized clinical trial was conducted from January 10, 2013, throughOctober 23, 2018, in 6 public hospitals across Sweden. Male and female children and adolescentsaged 9 to 17 years with an AIS primary curve Cobb angle of 25° to 40°, apex T7 or caudal, and skeletalimmaturity based on estimated remaining growth of at least 1 year were included in the study. Datesof analysis were from October 25, 2021, to January 28, 2023.INTERVENTIONS Interventions included self-mediated physical activity in combination with eitherNB or SSE or PA (control). Patients with treatment failure were given the option to transition to afull-time brace until skeletal maturity.MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was curve progression of 6° or less(treatment success) or curve progression of more than 6° (treatment failure) seen on 2 consecutiveposteroanterior standing radiographs compared with the inclusion radiograph before skeletalmaturity. A secondary outcome of curve progression was the number of patients undergoing surgeryup until 2 years after the primary outcome.RESULTS The CONTRAIS study included 135 patients (45 in each of the 3 groups) with a mean (SD)age of 12.7 (1.4) years; 111 (82%) were female. Treatment success was seen in 34 of 45 patients (76%)in the NB group and in 24 of 45 patients (53%) in the PA group (odds ratio [OR], 2.7; 95% CI, 1.1-6.6).The number needed to treat to prevent curve progression with NB was 4.5 (95% CI, 2.4-33.5).Treatment success occurred in 26 of 45 patients (58%) in the SSE group (OR for SE vs PA, 1.2; 95% CI,0.5-2.8). Up to 2 years after the primary outcome time point, 9 patients in each of the 3 groupsunderwent surgery.CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this randomized clinical trial, treatment with NB preventedcurve progression of more than 6° to a significantly higher extent than did PA, while SSE did not; inaddition, allowing transition to full-time bracing after treatment failure resulted in similar surgicalfrequencies independent of initial treatment. These results suggest that NB may be an effectivealternative intervention in patients rejecting full-time bracing.
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| 5. |
- Vavruch, Ludvig
(författare)
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Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis : A Deformity in Three Dimensions
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Scoliosis is a complex three-dimensional deformity of the spine. Even though it has been known for centuries, treatment of the deformity has focused on correcting only in the frontal plane. In the last decades, the need for three-dimensional assessment regarding scoliosis has been highlighted to better understand the cause and the principles of treating scoliosis. The overall aim of this dissertation is to provide knowledge to assess scoliosis as a three-dimensional problem.The severity of scoliosis is measured with the Cobb angle from standing radiographs. Computed tomography (CT) examinations are used throughout this thesis. The first paper investigates the difference in Cobb angle measured from standing radiographs and supine CT examinations. The standing radiographs had larger Cobb angles with a mean difference of 11° and a linear correlation between the two examinations from 128 consecutive patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) planned for surgery.The second paper compares the axial shape of vertebrae in 20 patients with AIS with a reference group. Clear asymmetry was observed in all vertebrae – superior and inferior end vertebrae as well as the apical vertebra – compared with corresponding vertebrae among the reference group. The asymmetry was most pronounced in the apical vertebra. A novel parameter, frontal vertebral body rotation (FVBR), was introduced to describe the internal rotation of the vertebrae in the axial plane.Pelvic incidence (PI) is a measurement of the position of the sacrum in relation to the femoral heads. This is relevant in scoliosis because PI determines the pelvic configuration acting as a foundation to the spine. PI has traditionally been measured from standing radiographs. The third study investigates PI three-dimensionally, based on low-dose CT examinations, in 37 patients with Lenke type 1 or 5 curves compared with a reference group. A significantly higher PI was observed in patients with Lenke type 5 curves compared with the reference group and patients with Lenke type 1 curves.Severe AIS is treated with corrective surgery. Two approaches are available: the predominant posterior approach and the anterior approach. In the fourth paper, these two approaches are evaluated with regard to three-dimensional correction, how well the correction is maintained over a 2-year follow-up and patient-reported outcome measures. Twenty-seven patients treated with the posterior approach and 26 patients treated with the anterior approach, all with Lenke type 1 curves, were included. Fewer vertebrae were fused in the anterior group, but the posterior group had a better correction of the deformity in the frontal plane. No difference was observed regarding three-dimensional correction and patient-reported outcome measures.AIS is truly a complex three-dimensional deformity. More research is needed to fully comprehend the complexity of the scoliotic spine.
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