Browsing by Author "Isaacs, Robert"
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Item Open Access Clustered clinical findings for diagnosis of cervical spine myelopathy.(The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy, 2010-12) Cook, Chad; Brown, Christopher; Isaacs, Robert; Roman, Matthew; Davis, Samuel; Richardson, WilliamCervical spine myelopathy (CSM) is a clinical diagnosis made with imaging confirmation. At present, most clinical tests used to identify CSM are specific and no clusters of tests have proven more beneficial than stand alone tests in guiding treatment decision making. This study endeavored to produce a cluster of predictive clinical findings for a sample of patients using a clinical diagnosis/imaging confirmation as the reference standard for cervical spine myelopathy. Data from 249 patients with various conditions associated with cervical spine dysfunction were analyzed to determine which clinical tests and measures, when clustered together, were most diagnostic for CSM. Using multivariate regression analyses and calculations for sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios, a definitive cluster was identified. Thirteen clinical findings were investigated for capacity to diagnosis CSM. Five clinical: (1) gait deviation; (2) +Hoffmann's test; (3) inverted supinator sign; (4) +Babinski test; and (5) age >45 years, were demonstrated the capacity when clustered into one of five positive tests to rule out CSM (negative likelihood ratio = 0.18; 95% CI = 0.12-0.42), and when clustered into three of five positive findings to rule in CSM (positive likelihood ratio = 30.9; 95% CI = 5.5-181.8). This study found clustered combinations of clinical findings that could rule in and rule out CSM. These clusters may be useful in identifying patients with this complex diagnosis in similar patient populations.Item Open Access Differences in comorbidities on low back pain and low back related leg pain.(Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain, 2011-01) Goode, Adam; Cook, Chad; Brown, Christopher; Isaacs, Robert; Roman, Matthew; Richardson, WilliamObjective
Investigate the influence of external factors such as depression and BMI among subjects with primary severe low back pain (LBP) and low back related leg pain (LBLP).Background
The report of disability in patients with LBP may be significantly influenced by confounding and moderating variables. No similar studies have examined the influence of these factors on LBLP.Methods
This study included 1,448 consecutive subjects referred to a tertiary spine clinic. Unconditional binary logistic regression was used to determine the influence of comorbidities on the relationship between self-reported back and leg pain. A change in estimate formula was used to quantify this relationship.Results
Among those subjects with primary LBP the unadjusted odds ratio was 8.58 (95% CI 4.87, 15.10) and when adjusting for BMI, depression and smoking was 5.94 (95% CI 3.04, 11.60) resulting in a 36.7% change due to confounding by these comorbidities. Among those with primary LBLP, the unadjusted odds ratio was 4.49 (95% CI 2.78, 7.27) and when adjusting for BMI and depression was 4.60 (95% CI 2.58, 8.19) resulting in a 1.7% change due to confounding by these comorbidities.Conclusion
The disability statuses of the patients with primary LBP in this study were more significantly affected by comorbidities of BMI, depression and smoking than patients with report of LBLP. However, these comorbidities contribute little to the relationship of primary low back related leg pain and Oswestry scores ≥ 40.Item Open Access The clinical value of a cluster of patient history and observational findings as a diagnostic support tool for lumbar spine stenosis.(Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy, 2011-09) Cook, Chad; Brown, Christopher; Michael, Keith; Isaacs, Robert; Howes, Cameron; Richardson, William; Roman, Matthew; Hegedus, EricObjective
The study aims to create a diagnostic support tool to indicate the likelihood of the presence of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) using a cluster of elements from the patient history and observational findings.Design
The study is case based and case controlled.Setting
The study was performed in the tertiary care of a medical center.Subjects
There were a total of 1,448 patients who presented with a primary complaint of back pain with or without leg pain.Methods
All patients underwent a standardized clinical examination. The diagnosis of LSS was made by one of two experienced orthopaedic surgeons based on clinical findings and imaging. Data from the patient history and observational findings were then statistically analysed using bivariate analysis and contingency tables.Results
The most diagnostic combination included a cluster of: 1) bilateral symptoms; 2) leg pain more than back pain; 3) pain during walking/standing; 4) pain relief upon sitting; and 5) age>48 years. Failure to meet the condition of any one of five positive examination findings demonstrated a high sensitivity of 0.96 (95% CI=0.94-0.97) and a low negative likelihood ratio (LR-) of 0.19 (95% CI=0.12-0.29). Meeting the condition of four of five examination findings yielded a LR+ of 4.6 (95% CI=2.4-8.9) and a post-test probability of 76%.Conclusion
The high sensitivity of the diagnostic support tool provides the potential to reduce the incidence of unnecessary imaging when the diagnosis of LSS is statistically unlikely. In patients where the condition of four of the five findings was present, the post-test probability of 76% suggests that imaging and further workup are indicated. This is an inexpensive but powerful tool, with a potential to increase diagnostic efficiency and reduce cost by narrowing the indications for imaging.