We report here a rare case of chronic lumbar discitis caused by Clostridium perfringens in an elderly patient that was treated with a combination of β-lactams and clindamycin. Molecular analysis performed on the strain revealed an unusual toxin gene pattern.

As the environment surrounding healthcare continues to evolve, there is a need to revise outcome assessment criteria. A shift is being demanded in diagnosis and treatment outcome assessment practices from objective to subjective assessment and from evaluation by doctors to assessment that is based on the patient’s own perspective. Therefore, lumbar diseases must now be assessed from multiple pe...

In a prospective double-blind study, single dose lumbar extradural blockade was instituted in 80 healthy male patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery. Patients were assigned randomly to one of four groups. Each group received treatment with 0.5% bupivacaine 20 ml containing adrenaline 1:200 000. To this solution was added fentanyl 0, 50, 100 or 200 micrograms. The time to regression of anal...

In conventional percutaneous disc surgery, introducing instruments into disc space starts by inserting a guide needle into the triangular working zone. However, landing the guide needle tip on the annular window is a challenging step in endoscopic discectomy. Surgeons tend to repeat the needling procedure to reach an optimal position on the annular target. Obturator guiding technique is a modif...

In this work it is shown how anthropological data are among the most needed factors in ergonomical valorization of crew working spaces. Ship's working or living environment involves many unique human factors, which should be specially considered in our case as limitation of crew space. In this work we have chosen ships of different years of construction to prove this tendency. As a micro study,...

Lumbar-stabilization exercise programs have become increasingly popular as a treatment for low-back pain. In this article, we outline an evidence-based medicine approach to evaluating patients for a lumbar-stabilization program. We also discuss typical clinical components of this type of program and the rationale for including these particular features based on the medical literature.

STUDY DESIGN A case report is presented. OBJECTIVE To highlight the potential for spontaneous resolution of large extruded intervertebral lumbar disc herniations in a patient with three independent herniations. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA The most effective methods of treatment for lumbar intervertebral disc herniations remain in question. This is partly because the potential for intrinsic s...