Patients with low back pain not returning to work. A 12-month follow-up study

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study of patients treated with a light mobilization program for long-term low back pain. OBJECTIVES: To examine whether medical, psychological, or social factors predict failure to return to work within 12 months in the Scandinavian system of compulsory workers' compensation and social insurance, after a light mobilization program administered 8-12 weeks after initial sick leave. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The relative power of predicting factors varies in previous work, and there are no previous data on prognostic factors for light mobilization programs. METHOD: Patients (n = 260) on sick leave for 8-12 weeks for low back pain were examined with a battery of psychological and medical tests, before entering a light mobilization program. The treatment was given regardless of radiographic or clinical findings. The patients were encouraged to be active participants in the management and prevention of their back pain. Their sick leave status then was checked through registers 12 months after they had entered the treatment program. RESULTS: For those not returning to work within 12 months (23%), only combined models had acceptable predictive power (77%; discriminant analyses). Dominant variables were low Internal Health Locus of Control Score, restricted lateral mobility, and reduced work ability. The predictive value of each set of variables, taken alone, was significant only for medical variables (67% correct prediction). CONCLUSIONS: The final discriminant function may have potential as a brief screening instrument for the number of patients with low back pain who do not benefit from the light mobilization program.     

External beam radiation in patients suffering from exudative age-related macular degeneration. A matched-pairs study and 1-year clinical follow-up

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to ascertain whether external beam irradiation is effective in patients with subretinal neovascularization (SRN) due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: All patients had subfoveal SRN due to AMD as verified by fluoresceinangiography. Two hundred and eighty-seven patient-eyes were treated by external beam irradiation (total dose of 16 Gy in 2-Gy fractions, 5 times a week) from January 1996. The analysis was restricted to those 73 patients with a minimum follow-up of 11 months. Eighteen patients with subfoveal SRN who refused treatment served as control group (CG). 18 patients of the treatment group (TG) were matched for visual acuity, refraction and extent of SRN. The statistical analysis was performed with the unpaired t-test. RESULTS: The mean age of the CG was 73.9 years (range 66.9-81.3 years) and of the TG 75.6 years (range: 65.7-80.6 years). The median follow-up was 13.5 months (range 11.9-18.4 months) in the CG and 12.9 months (range 11-13.9 months) in the TG. The initial visual acuity (VA) was 20/80 in both groups. After 7 months the follow-up revealed median VA of 20/400 in the CG and 20/160 in the TG (P=0.0335). The final median VA was 20/400 in both groups, with a range from 20/40 to 20/1000 in the CG and from 20/63 to 20/500 in the TG (P=0.2433). The SRN doubled in size during this time in both groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that external beam irradiation applied in 2-Gy fractions 5 times a week slows down the visual loss in exudative AMD for a short time. Nevertheless, the patients' reading vision could not be saved in the long term.     

Pollicisation of the index finger. A 27-year follow-up study

We have reviewed 11 patients with congenital absence of the thumb, treated by pollicisation of the index finger, after follow-up for 20 to 38 years. Seven of the hands also had an associated radial club-hand deformity. Function as assessed by the Percival score was excellent in six, good in three, fair in two and poor in four; three of the poor results were in patients with radial club hand. Ten of the 15 transfers were used as normal thumbs, but in five hands function required trick movements. Of the seven unilateral cases, two transplants were used as the dominant hand, and in another two thumb strength was more than 50% of that on the opposite side. For patients with isolated congenital absence of the thumb, pollicisation of the index finger gives good functional and cosmetic results which are maintained. The results are less reliable for those with radial club hand.     

A longitudinal study of pain sensitivity and blood pressure in adolescent boys: Results from a 5-year follow-up.

A growing literature has observed a significant reduction in pain sensitivity among hypertensive animals and humans. It is uncertain whether a reduced sensitivity to pain can be observed in normotensive individuals who go on to develop high blood pressure. Blood pressure (BP) was reassessed in one hundred fifteen 19-year-old boys initially tested at age 14, when they were also presented with a pain stimulus (mechanical finger pressure). Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that information regarding pain tolerance improved prediction of changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure beyond that afforded by differences in BP at age 14, parental history of hypertension, and body mass index. These analyses suggest that pain sensitivity may be associated with physiological processes involved in the development of sustained high blood pressure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Natural history of low back pain. A longitudinal study in nurses

STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal study. OBJECTIVES: To assess the natural history of low back pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Most episodes of low back pain resolve or improve within a few weeks, but chronic or recurrent symptoms are common. Previous studies of natural history have usually relied on people's long-term recall of symptoms, or they have been limited to patients seeking clinical care. METHODS: Nurses (1,165 women) completed a baseline questionnaire and up to eight follow-up questionnaires 3 months apart. Each questionnaire asked whether they had experienced low back pain in the past month. One-month prevalences of pain at specified follow-ups were calculated according to histories of pain reported on earlier questionnaires. RESULTS: The 1-month prevalence of low back pain at individual follow-ups ranged from 16% to 19%. Of 906 women who completed the baseline questionnaire and at least three follow-up questionnaires, 38 (4.2%) reported pain every time they returned a questionnaire, and 190 (21.0%) reported pain on at least three occasions. The presence or absence of low back pain at baseline was highly predictive of future pain throughout follow-up. The longer that back pain was consistently reported, the more likely it was to be present at the next follow-up. Later risk was lowest in women who reported no back pain at baseline or either of the first two follow-ups. Back pain carried a worse prognosis if it was disabling or associated with sciatica. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the importance of back pain duration and the occurrence of associated disability and sciatica as predictors of future symptoms, and allow more reliable quantification of the natural history of back pain in women of working age. In the absence of other information, the differentials in risk associated with a person's history of back pain appear to remain constant for a period of at least 2 years.     

A 5-year follow-up study of suicide attempts

We reviewed 59 hips in 44 children with slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), all treated by in situ pinning. The average clinical and radiographic follow-up was 11.4 years. Fifty-three hips (90%) were rated as either excellent or good. Osteonecrosis or chondrolysis developed in five patients. Postoperative remodeling was noted, not only by a process of local resorption and apposition of bone, but also by correction of the disturbed anatomic axes, in proportion to the severity of the slip, together with global thickening of the femoral neck. We believe that the good long-term results after in situ pinning are the consequence of this important remodeling process.     

The Japanese career progress study: A 7-year follow-up.

A longitudinal study of managerial progress, begun by the present 1st author and colleagues (1978, 1980) in 1972 in a Japanese department store chain, monitored the professional and dyadic development of a cohort group of 80 newly recruited male college graduates (mean age 23.6 yrs) over their 1st 3 yrs with the company. Seven waves of data were collected from Ss, their immediate superiors, and company records. After 7 yrs with the company, Ss were promoted to their 1st management positions. The present study examined the preemployment selection test results and measured quality of vertical dyadic exchanges between S and his immediate superior over the 1st 3 yrs and the interaction of these 2 factors in predicting the speed of promotion, annual salary, and size of bonus after 7 yrs. Results show that the 1st 3 yrs were critically important to Ss; the combined effect of exchange and ability produced significant contributions to all 3 career outcomes assessed. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A 35-year follow-up study on burnout among Finnish employees.

This three-wave 35-year prospective study used the Job Demands-Resources model and life course epidemiology to examine how life conditions in adolescence (1961–1963) through achieved educational level and working conditions in early adulthood (1985) may be indirectly related to job burnout 35 years later (1998). We used data (N = 511) from the Finnish Healthy Child study (1961–1963) to investigate the hypothesized relationships by employing structural equation modeling analyses. The results supported the hypothesized model in which both socioeconomic status and cognitive ability in adolescence (1961–1963) were positively associated with educational level (measured in 1985), which in turn was related to working conditions in early adulthood (1985). Furthermore, working conditions (1985) were associated with job burnout (1998) 13 years later. Moreover, adult education (1985) and skill variety (1985) mediated the associations between original socioeconomic status and cognitive ability, and burnout over a 35-year time period. The results suggest that socioeconomic, individual, and work-related resources may accumulate over the life course and may protect employees from job burnout. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sexual function in patients with disseminated sclerosis. A 5-year follow-up study

Sexual dysfunction is known to occur in multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of the study is to describe the change in sexual function and symptoms in a five year follow-up study. Forty-nine patients (27 females, 22 males) with definite MS were interviewed and examined. The number of patients with sexual dysfunction increased significantly (p = 0.004) and involved females and males equally. Males usually had one or two symptoms, while females frequently had two or more symptoms. It is concluded that the risk of sexual dysfunction increases over time. Further studies concerning treatment possibilities are needed.     

Laparoscopic splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. A 1-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic splenectomy is a novel approach for the treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in patients requiring surgical intervention. This technique was used for treatment in 16 consecutive patients. Follow-up was initiated at a median of 13.5 months after surgery to determine whether or not laparoscopic splenectomy is a safe and successful procedure that should be used in all patients requiring splenectomy for ITP. METHODS: Sixteen patients underwent laparoscopic splenectomy for ITP between May 1994 and September 1996. They were evaluated prospectively prior to surgery, immediately following surgery, at discharge, and at 13.5 months following surgery (n = 14) to determine the short- and long-term results of the procedure. RESULTS: Mean operation time was 123.4 +/- 12.1 min, and there were no significant intra- or postoperative complications. Mean intraoperative blood loss was 437.5 +/- 73.5 ml. Autologous blood transfusion was necessary in one patient (6.3%). Mean organ weight was 202.2 +/- 47.3 g. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.6 +/- 0. 4 days. Before discharge, mean platelet count rose by 100.7%. At follow-up (13.5 months postoperatively), it was 77.7% above preoperative values. No additional surgery was necessary in any of the patients undergoing laparoscopic splenectomy, and hematologic success was achieved in 12 patients (85.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results clearly indicate that laparoscopic splenectomy is a safe and successful procedure in patients suffering from ITP. It offers the well-known advantages of minimal invasive surgery as well as the surgical effectiveness of the open approach. This surgical technique should therefore be considered in all patients requiring splenectomy for the treatment of ITP.     

One-footed and externally disturbed two-footed postural control in patients with chronic low back pain and healthy control subjects. A controlled study with follow-up

STUDY DESIGN: A study of postural control during one-footed and externally disturbed two-footed stance among healthy control subjects and patients with chronic low back pain at the beginning of a functional back restoration program and 6 months later at follow-up examination. OBJECTIVES: To study postural control cross-sectionally among control subjects and patients with low back pain, and to evaluate the effects of functional restoration on the postural control parameters in a follow-up examination. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Deficits of motor skills and coordination have been reported in association with musculoskeletal disorders. It has been found that patients with chronic low back pain have impaired psychomotor control, but the impairment is reversible with successful low back rehabilitation. It is insufficiently known how functional activation and intensive physical training affect postural control. METHODS: Sixty-one healthy volunteers (32 men, 29 women) and altogether 99 patients with low back pain participated in the study. Sixty-eight patients (33 men, 35 women) had moderate and 31 (18 men, 13 women) had severe low back pain. Postural stability was measured with a force platform. In two-footed stance, vibration stimulation on calf and back muscles was used to disturb the balance. Center point of force-velocity (cm/sec), average position shift in anteroposterior direction (cm), and maximal position shift in lateral direction (cm) were used as the parameters. RESULTS: Reliability of all tests was acceptable. Center point of force-velocity was the most sensitive parameter and the one-footed measurement the most sensitivetest for evaluating postural stability. At the beginning, the patients with severe low back pain had poorer one-footed postural control compared with the control subjects (P = 0.0003). The subgroup of patients with moderate low back pain participated in the restoration program. The outcome of the restoration program was considered good if the disability because of low back pain (Oswestry index) decreased during the restoration program and poor if the disability increased or did not change. The one-footed postural stability remained primarily at the same level as the initial results in the control and good outcome groups, but became significantly poorer in the poor outcome group. The difference between poor outcome and control groups was statistically significant (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Impaired postural stability seems to be one factor in multidimensional symptomatology of patients with chronic low back trouble. Postural stability is easily disturbed in case of impairment in strength, coordination, or effective coupling of muscles in the lumbar and pelvic area. Patients with chronic low back pain seem to experience impairment in these functions, which should be taken into consideration when back rehabilitation programs are planned.     

Low back pain in college athletes. A prospective study correlating lower extremity overuse or acquired ligamentous laxity with low back pain

This study compared the presence of 6 periodontopathic bacteria in whole saliva and subgingival plaque of 202 subjects. The test bacteria were identified using a 16S rRNA-based PCR detection method. Each study subject contributed a whole saliva sample and a paper point sample pooled from the deepest periodontal pocket in each quadrant of the dentition. The kappa test revealed a fair agreement between the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Treponema denticola in whole saliva and periodontal pocket samples (kappa > 0.4). The McNemar test showed that the differences between sample types were due to a more frequent detection of the 3 organisms in whole saliva than in periodontal pocket samples (P < 0.01). Prevotella nigrescens also was detected more frequently in whole saliva than in periodontal pocket samples (P < 0.01; McNemar test). Although little agreement between samples was found for Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Bacteroides forsythus (kappa < or = 0.4), neither whole saliva nor pocket samples showed better detection for these 2 species (P < 0.01, McNemar test). The results indicate that whole saliva is superior to pooled periodontal pocket samples to detect P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, P. nigrescens, and T. denticola in the oral cavity. The detection of oral A. actinomycetemcomitans and B. forsythus with reasonably good accuracy may require both whole saliva and periodontal pocket samples.     

Opioid therapy for chronic noncancer back pain. A randomized prospective study

STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, open, long-term, repeated-dose comparison of an anti-inflammatory drug and two opioid regimens in 36 patients with back pain. OBJECTIVES: To examine the long-term safety and efficacy of chronic opioid therapy in a randomized trial of patients with back pain. METHODS: All participants underwent a 4-week washout period of no opioid medication before being randomly assigned to one of three treatment regimens for 16 weeks: 1) naproxen only, 2) set-dose oxycodone, or 3) titrated-dose oxycodone and sustained-release morphine sulfate. All patients then were assigned to a titrated dose of opioids for 16 weeks and then gradually tapered off their medication for 12 weeks. Finally, all participants were monitored for a 1-month posttreatment washout period. Each patient was called once a week for a report on pain, activity, mood, medication, hours awake, and adverse effects and was monitored carefully for signs of abuse and noncompliance. RESULTS: Weekly reports during the experimental phase showed the titrated-dose group to have less pain (P < 0.001) and less emotional distress (P < 0.001) than the other two groups. Both opioid groups were significantly different from the naproxen-only group. During the titration phase, patients also reported significantly less pain and improved mood. Few differences were found in activity or hours asleep, or between average pretreatment and posttreatment phone-interview and questionnaire variables. No adverse events occurred, and only one participant showed signs of abuse behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that opioid therapy has a positive effect on pain and mood but little effect on activity and sleep. Opioid therapy for chronic back pain was used without significant risk of abuse. However, tapered-off opioid treatment is palliative and without long-term benefit.     

Stability of intelligence: A 40-year follow-up.

Readministered the Revised Examination "M," a measure of intelligence, to 260 men approximately 40 yrs after they had received this test as World War II army recruits. Their average age and educational level was 64.7 yrs and Grade 8.7, respectively. Three sets of scores were compared: those obtained at the time of army enlistment; current scores obtained within the regular time limits of the test; and current scores obtained within double the test's regular time limits. Results indicate a reliable but minor decline in total score in the regular speeded condition and a reliable improvement over wartime total scores in the double-time conditions. Test–retest correlation coefficients, in general, attested to the long-term stability of individual differences among members of the sample. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Steroid therapy during the early stage of progressive IgA nephropathy. A 10-year follow-up study

This study was undertaken to clarify the effect of corticosteroids on the long-term clinical course of the early stage of progressive IgA nephropathy. The early stage of progressive IgA nephropathy was defined as having moderate proteinuria between 1 and 2 g/day, creatinine clearance values of 70 ml/min or more, and a histological severity score of 7 or more. The number of patients who fulfilled these three conditions during 12 years from 1972 and then were continuously followed up for 10 years or more in our renal unit was 46. Twenty of them received steroid treatment for an average period of 18 months, and the remaining 26 patients had no steroid treatment. The initial data of proteinuria, creatinine clearance values, frequency of hypertensive cases, and histological scores of 7 or more were not different between the two groups: 1.4 +/- 0.4 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.3 g/day, 85 +/- 14 vs. 88 +/- 13 ml/min, 25 vs. 38%, and 10.7 +/- 2.5 vs. 11.0 +/- 3.0, respectively. During the follow-up period of 10 years, the renal survival rate was significantly different between the two groups (100 vs. 84% 5 years after starting therapy and 80 vs. 34% 10 years later; p < 0.001). The final creatinine clearance values were significantly different between the two groups (54 +/- 35 vs. 20 +/- 29 ml/min; p < 0.005). On the other hand, the patient groups with mild histological changes or decreased renal function due to moderate proteinuria showed no significant differences in the final outcome. These results indicate that corticosteroids are beneficial in stabilizing the renal function for a long time during the early stage of progressive IgA nephropathy, although this study was not a randomized one.     

Neuropsychological functioning among the nonpsychotic relatives of schizophrenic patients: A 4-year follow-up study.

In a prior study of 54 relatives of patients with schizophrenia and 72 control participants, 3 neuropsychological functions met the criteria for risk indicators of the schizophrenia genotype: executive functioning, memory, and auditory attention. In an assessment of the stability of these findings, the sample was reexamined 4 years after the initial assessment. Three test scores were found to differ between groups (Immediate Verbal Memory, Delayed Verbal Memory, and Dichotic Listening Digits Detected) or to show a significant Group?×?Gender interaction (immediate and delayed verbal and visual memories). None of the test scores showed Group?×?Time interactions, suggesting that the discriminating power of the tests was stable over time. Evidence for deficits in working memory and rule learning on the object alternation test was also found. These results support the idea that neuropsychological dysfunction among relatives of patients with schizophrenia is a stable trait caused by the familial predisposition to schizophrenia. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hyperinsulinemia and the development of ST-T electrocardiographic abnormalities. An 11-year follow-up study

OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that insulin resistance and consequent hyperinsulinemia promote atherosclerosis, but few prospective studies have reported the relationships between hyperinsulinemia and the development of ST-T abnormalities in the 12-lead resting electrocardiogram (ECG) in populations in which atherosclerosis is rare. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 304 Japanese men and women, aged 20-69 years, selected for having high blood glucose or more than a trace-positive urine glucose from a population-based health examination in 1981, were followed for 11 years. Of these, 33 died, 1 from myocardial infarction, while 260/271 living were reexamined in 1992. The 237 subjects with a normal ECG at the baseline examination were analyzed. RESULTS: Incident ST-T abnormalities occurred in 13/237 people. Insulin concentrations were positively associated with the development of ST-T abnormalities (relative risk approximately 8, comparing those in the highest versus lowest quartile of insulin values). Adjustment for age, sex, and systolic blood pressure or other risk factors had little effect on this relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperinsulinemia was related to the development of ST-T abnormalities in ECGs in the absence of the development of clinical signs of atherosclerosis, independent of blood pressure and other risk factors in men and women with mild glucose intolerance.     

The Stanmore total hip arthroplasty. A 15- to 20-year follow-up study

An ongoing study was made of 804 primary Stanmore total hip prostheses implanted in 839 patients between 1973 and 1991. The earliest surviving implants were brought back for radiologic and clinical review in 1995 at an average of 17 years after surgery. The remainder of the patients still living were sent a questionnaire to assess their current status. Survivorship was 95% at 10 years, 85% at 15 years, and 73% at 20 years. The average Merle d'Aubigné-Postel score was excellent up until 14 years. Patient satisfaction remained high until 22 years. Overall, 10% of the prostheses had failed. The results of this study suggest that the Stanmore prosthesis is capable of producing satisfactory long-term results that compare favorably with those of other cemented prostheses.