Therapeutic ultrasound is a physical therapy resource for relieving sciatic pain. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of continuous therapeutic ultrasound in two different power densities (0,5 W/cm² and 1 W/cm²), on reducing pain in rats submitted to a sciatica experimental model. Twenty rats were used, divided into 3 groups: G1 (n=6) submitted to sciatica and placebo treatment; G2 (n=7) submitted to sciatica and treated with 0.5 W/cm² ultrasound; and G3 (n=7), submitted to sciatica and treated with 1 W/cm² ultrasound. Sciatica was provoked by surgical nerve compression on the right posterior limb of all animals. Treatment on the surgical procedure region consisted in ten daily 5-minute sessions, starting on the 3rd postoperative day. Pain was inferred by the time of paw elevation (TPE) during gait, measured before the surgery and on five further moments. Results showed TPE increase in all groups after surgery; but in both groups actually treated with ultrasound a significant TEP decrease was noticed, practically reaching initial values, the decrease being more precocious and intense in G2. Continuous ultrasound such as was delivered was hence effective in reducing sciatic pain.

Group therapy is a common practice among physiotherapists to treat patients with back pain. The objective of this study is to verify the efficiency of this kind of therapy associated with back school as an alternative treatment, and which instructions arc followed by the patients after leaving the group.

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe a successful surgical treatment for the challenging severe and fixed chin-on-chest deformity due to isolated neck extensor myopathy (INEM). Background data: INEM is an idiopathic cause of dropped head syndrome (DHS) that results in severe cervicothoracic kyphosis, defined as chin-on-chest deformity. The existing literature on surgical management is limited, with outcomes ranging from poor to excellent. INEM may present to the spinal surgeon for consideration of surgical management. Methods: The authors present a technique that uses a staged posterior and anterior approach combined with osteotomies and corpectomy to correct the severe and fixed deformity. A state of the art anterior and posterior instrumentation system was used. Results: At the three-months follow-up, there was good deformity correction and the patient's satisfaction was high, with no neurological deterioration occurring. Conclusions: The technique illustrated in this study represents a successful option to treat this debilitating deformity. More evidence is needed to set up a definitive algorithm for the management of this condition. Level of evidence IV, Case Report.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Neuropathic pain is present in 37 to 55% of cases of low back pain. Neuropathic pain is associated with more intense pain, more severe comorbidities and worse quality of life. In addition, costs are 67% higher when compared to other etiologies. The purpose of this article is to review this issue that has significant impact on quality of life. CONTENTS: Pain radiating to the lower limb may be radicular or referred pain. Radiation paths of lumbar roots and myofascial trigger points may be very similar, as the root of L5 and gluteus minimus trigger point. Thus, it is essential to use a tool for neuropathic pain assessment, such as: Douleur neuropathique 4 questionnaire, Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs Pain Scale e painDETECT. Clinical history and physical evaluation should formulate diagnostic hypotheses, which should be confirmed with complementary tests when necessary. Guidelines for the treatment of neuropathic pain consider as the first line drugs: anticonvulsants (gabapentin and pregabalin), tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, imipramine, clomipramine and nortriptyline), selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (duloxetine and venlafaxine). Second line drugs are: 5% lidocaine patches in localized neuropathic pain and opioids. Surgical treatment of lumbar radiculopathy should be indicated when there is limited or low efficacy of multimodal conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: In low back pain, diagnosis of neuropathic component is critical. Multimodal treatment is imperative, as well as other strategies to rehabilitate and improve the patient's quality of life.

ABSTRACT Spondylodiscitis due to Candida is a rare complication from hematogenic dissemination of infection caused by this fungus. We present an atypical case of spondylodiscitis caused by this germ that occurred after chest contusion and progressed with necrotizing fasciitis of the anterior region of the chest and osteomyelitis of the sternum. Through contiguity, it also affected the upper thoracic spine. The patient evolved with neurological alterations and recovered satisfactorily after appropriate treatment with surgical decompression of the spinal cord and specific antibiotic therapy.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results and complications of a series of patients who underwent three-column osteotomy using the posterior approach for correction of complex cases of rigid dorsal kyphotic deformity. METHODS: Review of clinical records and images of 15 consecutive cases of pedicle subtraction osteotomies, bone-disk-bone osteotomies, or vertebral column resection, recording the etiology, type and level of osteotomy, extension of fixation, complications, and pre- and post-surgical measurements of the sagittal curves and pelvic parameters. RESULTS: Six pedicle subtraction osteotomies were performed, one of which in two adjacent vertebrae, as well as two bone-disk-bone osteotomies and seven vertebral column resection, two of which were performed in two adjacent vertebrae. The mean correction was 39.3° for the angular kyphosis and 33.9° for dorsal kyphosis. The corrections were similar regardless of the kind of osteotomy, the operated spinal segment, or the approach in one or two levels, but this may be a sample effect. Eight complications were observed in six patients (40% of cases): two medical complications, five early and one late surgical complication (over 90 days after surgery). There were three reoperations within less than one year from the initial surgery and one case of persistent paraparesis. Clinical complications were resolved without sequelae. There was no significant loss of correction during the segment, except in two cases of major mechanical failure due to a junctional segment fracture. CONCLUSION: Despite being complex and aggressive procedures, prone to various complications, osteotomies with resection of the three columns are highly effective in the correction of rigid kyphotic deformities and safe enough to justify its use in selected cases.

ABSTRACT Objective To gather all systematic reviews of surgical treatment of degenerative cervical diseases and assess their quality, conclusions and outcomes. Methods A literature search for systematic reviews of surgical treatment of degenerative cervical diseases was conducted. Studies should have at least one surgical procedure as an intervention. Included studies were assessed for quality through Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) and Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) questionnaires. Quality of studies was rated accordingly to their final score as very poor (<30%), poor (30%-50%), fair (50%-70%), good (70%-90%), and excellent (>90%). If an article reported a conclusion addressing its primary objective with supportive statistical evidence for it, they were deemed to have an evidence-based conclusion. Results A total of 65 systematic reviews were included. According to AMSTAR and PRISMA, 1.5% to 6.2% of studies were rated as excellent, while good studies counted for 21.5% to 47.7%. According to AMSTAR, most studies were of fair quality (46.2%), and 6.2% of very poor quality. Mean PRISMA score was 70.2%, meaning studies of good quality. For both tools, performing a meta-analysis significantly increased studies scores and quality. Cervical spondylosis studies reached highest scores among diseases analyzed. Authors stated conclusions for interventions compared in 70.7% of studies, and only two of them were not supported by statistical evidence. Conclusion Systematic reviews of surgical treatment of cervical degenerative diseases present “fair” to “good” quality in their majority, and most of the reported conclusions are supported by statistical evidence. Including a meta-analysis significantly increases the quality of a systematic review.

Lumbar synovial cysts are an uncommon cause of back pain and radiculopathy, usually manifesting with gradual onset of symptoms, secondary to involvement of the spinal canal. Rarely, intracyst hemorrhage occurs, and may acutely present as radicular - or even spinal cord - compression syndrome. Synovial cysts are generally associated with degenerative facets, although the pathogenesis has not been entirely established. We report a case of bleeding complication in a synovial cyst at L2-L3, adjacent to the right interfacet joint, causing acute pain and radiculopathy in a patient on anticoagulation therapy who required surgical resection.

OBJECTIVE: Retrospective analyses of 216 patients undergoing foraminal decompression with transcorporeal approach and review of the surgical technique. METHOD: 216 patients with minimum follow-up of 2 years and an average of 41.8 months were included in the study. The clinical records of these patients were reviewed for complications, NDI (neck disability index) and VAS (visual analogue scale). Pre and post-operative radiographs were used to evaluate the disc height. RESULTS: At the end of follow-up patients had significant clinical improvement with reduction of NDI of 88.3% and 86.5% and 68.3% of the VAS for neck and upper limb, respectively (p<0.05). A reduction of 8.8% of the disc height was observed without other complications associated (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Radicular decompression through a transcorporeal approach is an alternative that provides good clinical results without the need for a fusion and with few complications.