Summary of Key Points With an ageing and more infirm population, coupled with health economic pressures and an evolving opioid crisis, never has there been a greater need for more effective perioperative management strategies to mitigate the physiological and psychosocial…
Summary of Key Points The overarching objective of spine surgery is to restore patients’ functional capacity and independence. Key goals in spine surgery include neural decompression, spinal stabilization, arthrodesis, and restoration of alignment. Treatment decision-making should be centered on each…
Summary of Key Points Many medication options exist for the management of chronic spinal and back pain disorders, including nonsteroidal antiinflammatories, acetaminophen, oral steroids, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, opioids, cannabinoids, and topical ointments. Muscle relaxants, oral steroids, opioids, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatories can…
Summary of Key Points Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has traditionally been clinically used to treat chronic pain; however, the indications for spinal neuromodulation are growing. It recently has been used to treat paralysis after spinal cord injury, spinal instability, and…
Summary of Key Points Cell-based therapy for intervertebral disc degeneration has the potential to restore the physiological function of the spine and improve back pain and disability. Cell sources explored to date include mesenchymal stem cells, notochordal cells, induced pluripotent…
Summary of Key Points Pain is a multifaceted and complex experience, with both sensory and emotional components. When pain persists beyond the expected time of healing, chronification of pain occurs and is best treated within a biopsychosocial framework. National physician…
Summary of Key Points There are numerous types of spine injections used to diagnose and treat pathophysiology of the spine. To accurately diagnose and treat the underlying pathophysiology with an injection, correct diagnosis based on history, physical exam, and imaging…
Summary of Key Points Exercise is important for the prevention of back pain and recurrent episodes. Acute low back pain is common and has an excellent short-term prognosis, which should be explained to patients. Serious causes of low back pain…
Summary of Key Points Measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an integral part of healthcare. HRQOL measures are a subset of patient-reported outcomes that measure common ways in which health or healthcare impact wellbeing over time. HRQOL surveys…
Summary of Key Points Many different types of tumors may involve the spinal column, spinal cord, or nerves. Overall survival of the patients with metastatic spinal tumors has improved because of continued advances in systemic cancer therapies. The use of…