Modern discography techniques using small gauge needle and limited pressurization resulted in accelerated disc degeneration, disc herniation, loss of disc height and signal and the development of reactive endplate changes compared to match-controls. Careful consideration of risk and benefit should be used in recommending procedures involving disc injection.

Purpose:To characterize the inter-and intraobserver variability of qualitative, non-disk contour degenerative findings of the lumbar spine at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Materials and Methods:The case accrual method used to perform this institutional review board-approved, HIPAA-compliant retrospective study was the random selection of 111 interpretable MR examination cases of subjects from the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial. The subjects were aged 18 -87 years (mean, 53 years Ϯ 16 [standard deviation]). Four independent readers rated the cases according to defined criteria. A subsample of 40 MR examination cases was selected for reevaluation at least 1 month later. The following findings were assessed: spondylolisthesis, disk degeneration, marrow endplate abnormality (Modic changes), posterior anular hyperintense zone (HIZ), and facet arthropathy. Inter-and intraobserver agreement in rating the data was summarized by using weighted statistics. Results:Interobserver agreement was good ( ϭ 0.66) in rating disk degeneration and moderate in rating spondylolisthesis ( Conclusion:The interpretation of general lumbar spine MR characteristics has sufficient reliability to warrant the further evaluation of these features as potential prognostic indicators.

No abstract

The imaging characteristics of spinal stenosis assessed in this study showed moderate to substantial reliability; future studies should assess whether these findings have prognostic significance in SPS patients.

Synchronous in-phase contraction of the transferred latissimus dorsi is a variable finding following the surgical treatment of irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears, but when it is present it is associated with a better clinical result. Preoperative shoulder function and general strength influence the clinical result. Female patients with poor shoulder function and generalized muscle weakness prior to surgery have a greater likelihood of having a poor clinical result.

No abstract

No abstract

The purpose of this investigation was twofold. In Part I, we determined the accuracy of morphometric analysis of the knee using magnetic resonance imaging and plain film radiography. The results of Part I validated the accuracy of magnetic resonance measurements and its superiority over plain film measurements. In Part II, we evaluated knee morphometry in 20 asymptomatic athletes with chronic anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency to determine if any predisposing factors to anterior cruciate ligament disruption could be detected. With our analysis, we could detect no predisposing factors to explain the anterior cruciate ligament disruption in the cohort group.