This study aimed to investigate the effect of specific three-dimensional (3D) positions of the trunk on patients with lumbar discogenic pain with radiculopathy aiming to find a position that directly decompresses the impinged root as well as the effect of this position on the CSA of the L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1 intervertebral foramen (IVF) using 3D-CT scan imaging of the real spine
Background: Management of lumbar discogenic pain is complex and there is ongoing debate over both surgical and conventional conservative treatments. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the real-time effect of specific three-dimensional (3D) positions of the trunk on patients with lumbar discogenic pain with radiculopathy aiming to find a position that directly decompresses the impinged root as well as the effect of this position on the CSA of the L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1 intervertebral foramen (IVF) using 3D-CT scan imaging of the real spine. Methods: This study was conducted on ninety male patients (30 in each group), ages ranged from 20 - 40 years old, and were diagnosed with unilateral lumbar disc prolapse (group1: L3-L4), (group 2: L4- L5) and (group 3: L5-S1) for at least three months in a radiology center specialized in the spine (Egyscan center). Each group was imaged three times (from the supine position, then from the oblique position after 10 minutes, and finally from the oblique position again after 48 hours). The oblique image was taken during a specific trunk position the modified reversed contralateral rotation (side-lying on a hard pillow with side bending to the non-affected side and rotation to non affected side).The CSA of LIVF and SLR test were assessed at the three times of testing Results: The mixed design MANOVA revealed that the mean values of the LIVF CSA and the SLR significantly increased in the reversed contralateral rotation position after 48 hours compared to the same position after 10 minutes and the supine position in the three tested groups (P=0.001). Moreover, the LIVF CSA and the SLR significantly increased in the reversed contralateral rotation position after 10 minutes compared to the supine position in the three tested groups (P=0.001). Conclusion: Modified reversed contralateral rotation of the trunk has a real-time decompressing effect on patients with lumbar disc prolapse as well as a significantly increasing effect on the CSA of L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1 IVF in the three tested groups. Changing the spine position from supine to the modified reversed contralateral rotation position had a great clinical value on patients with lumbar discogenic pain with radiculopathy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
90
First time of testing: Firstly, the patients were scanned in the conventional neutral supine position and a 3D-CT scan was taken. Second time of testing: after 10 minutes, the patients were scanned in the modified reversed contralateral rotation (side-lying on a hard pillow with side bending to the non-affected side and rotation to non affected side). This is achieved through instructing the participant to first lie on the side lying on a wedge pillow (that is flexible with dimensions of 30 cm in height and 75 cm in length) to achieve trunk side bending to non-affected side this pillow is the same for all patients, then the patient/participant rotated to the affected side (pelvis on the trunk rotation), and 3D-CT scan. Third time of testing: after 48 hours, the patients were scanned in the modified reversed contralateral rotation.
Faculty of Physical Therapy
Giza, Egypt
Straight leg raising test
With the patient in the supine position and the hips were neutral, neither abducted nor adducted nor rotated, the investigator lifted the leg slowly while the knee was kept in extended position. Each leg is raised separately until pain occurs. When the patient reported feeling radiating pain the angle between the bed and the leg was recorded by a goniometer
Time frame: 48 hours
Foraminal cross sectional area
The foraminal area was defined as the outline of the LIVF. It is measured by the boundary of the adjacent superior and inferior vertebral pedicles, the posterosuperior portion of the inferior vertebral body, the posterior portion of the intervertebral disc, the posteroinferior portion of the superior vertebral body, and the anterior portion of ligamentum flavum
Time frame: 48 hours
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