INTRODUCTION In ankylosing spondylitis (AS), joint remodeling leading to joint ankylosis involves cartilage fusion. Here, we analyzed whether chondrocyte hypertrophy is involved in cartilage fusion and subsequent joint remodeling in AS. METHODS We assessed the expression of chondrocyte hypertrophy markers runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), type X collagen (COL10), matrix metalloprot...

INTRODUCTION Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis (PVNS) of knee joint is a rare disorder of Synovium. Hip and knee joint are commonly affected joints. The knee PVNS presents as a localized or diffuse form. Diagnosis if often delayed and permanent joint damage occurs with advanced disease. Ultrasound examination shows fluid collection and synovial hypertrophy. Magnetic resonance imaging helps in cl...

Zygapophyseal (z) joints (or facet joints) are a potential source of pain in nearly 15-45% of patients suffering from chronic spinal pain. There are no clinical features or imaging techniques pathognomonic for z-joint pain. Blockade of the medial branch of the spinal nerve primary posterior ramus, using fluoroscopic guidance to ensure positioning of the needle tip and low volumes of local anest...

Muscle hypertrophy and atrophy occur frequently as a result of mechanical loading or unloading, with implications for clinical, general, and athletic populations. The effects of muscle hypertrophy and atrophy on force production and joint moments have been previously described. However, there is a paucity of research showing how hypertrophy and atrophy may affect moment arm (MA) lengths. The pu...

The aims of this study were; 1) to develop the final version of the Korean Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ), and 2) to compare the responsiveness between the RDQ and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores in patients having low back pain. The psychometric properties of the final Korean RDQ were evaluated in 221 patients. Among them, 30 patients were reliability tested. Validity ...

There are currently no initial guides for the diagnosis of somatic referred pain of lumbar zygapophyseal joint (LZJ) or sacroiliac joint (SIJ). We developed a classification system of LZJ and SIJ pain, the ''pain distribution pattern template (PDPT)'' depending on the pain distribution patterns from a pool of 200 patients whose spinal pain source was confirmed. We prospectively applied the PDPT...

Multi-joint disease pathologies in the lumbar spine, including ligamentum flavum (LF) hypertrophy and intervertebral disc (IVD) bulging or herniation contribute to spinal stenosis (LSS), a highly prevalent condition characterized by symptomatic narrowing of canal. Clinical hypertrophic LF is loss elastic fibers increase collagen fibers, resulting fibrotic thickening scar formation. In this stud...