Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo study the low back pain(LBP) and its cause on female workers in flat-grained veneer wood industry.

METHODSBending posture was analyzed by observation and the prevalence of low back pain was investigated by physical examination and questionnaire among 299 female workers.

RESULTSThe prevalence of fatigue compliant in selecting, remending and sticking workers was 68.8%, 66.7% and 59.0%, respectively, which mainly involved in the part of low back. The prevalence of low back pain in selection (53.8%) and remending (58.7%) workers was higher than that in sticking workers (30.1%), which was in accordance with the tenderness between L4/L5 or L5/L6 and on the psoas major. Posture analysis indicated that the biggest bending range of selecting and remending workers (80 degrees ) was larger than that of sticking workers (60 degrees ), as well as the daily bending times[(4396+/-817), (1696+/-286), (1094+/-476)] and the time they kept bending[(6.5+/-0.6), (6.2+/-1.3), 4.5+/-0.9) h].

CONCLUSIONBending posture is common among female workers especially those who work in selecting and remending and might be the major causes for the high prevalence of LBP in flat-grained veneer wood industry.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Posture ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Wood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiological characteristics of lower back pain of truck drivers in plateau areas with an analysis of the causes and evaluated the effects of the protective measures.

METHODSThe self-reported lower back symptom was investigated by questionnaire in 1,132 male drivers in plateau areas. Vibration of the driver lumbar back was measured real time with or without wearing corset. Study the effect of the special corset for drivers and the massage on back by self-control design of big sample intervention experiments.

RESULTSThe prevalence of lower back pain of drivers in plateau areas was 86.1%. High level of its prevalence is due to many factors. Special corset for drivers and massage on back by themselves can reduce the degree of the pain.

CONCLUSIONDriving in plateau areas is a special occupational work with high level of prevalence of lower back pain which can be prevented.

Automobile Driving ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of conservative and surgical treatments for nocturnal leg cramps in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Nocturnal leg cramps is frequently observed in patients with peripheral neuropathy. However, there have been few reports on the relationship between nocturnal leg cramps and LSS, and it remains unknown whether conservative or surgical intervention has an impact on leg cramps in patients with LSS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 130 LSS patients with low back and leg pain. Conservative treatment such as exercise, medication, and epidural block was used in 66 patients and surgical treatment such as decompression or decompression and fusion was performed in 64 patients. Pain scores and frequency of nocturnal leg cramps were evaluated based on self-reported questionnaires completed before and 3 months after treatment. RESULTS: The severity of low back and leg pain was higher and the incidence of nocturnal leg cramps was significantly higher before treatment in the surgically treated group compared with the conservatively treated group. Pain scores improved in both groups after the intervention. The incidence of nocturnal leg cramps was significantly improved by surgical treatment (p=0.027), but not by conservative treatment (p=0.122). CONCLUSION: The findings of this prospective study indicate that the prevalence of nocturnal leg cramps is associated with LSS and severity of symptoms. Pain symptoms were improved by conservative or surgical treatment, but only surgery improved nocturnal leg cramps in patients with LSS. Thus, these results indicate that the prevalence of nocturnal leg cramps is associated with spinal nerve compression by LSS.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Humans ; Leg/*pathology ; Low Back Pain/epidemiology/etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain/*epidemiology/*etiology ; Prospective Studies ; Questionnaires ; Spinal Stenosis/*complications/*physiopathology/surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the prevalence of occupational low back pain (OLBP) and assess work-related risk factors in ICU nurses.

METHODSForty hundred seventy-seven ICU nurses of study group and nurses working in other wards (control group) of the same comprehensive hospital were investigated using OLBP Investigation Questionnaire for nurses. Working postures and related work activities were evaluated by using the Win OWAS software and the compressive force (Fc) of the disc between L5 and S1 was calculated by using the Bless Pro software and sampling was taken by digital camera in ICU ward of one hospital.

RESULTSThe prevalence of OLBP (87%), frequency of OLBP (48%=1 per month) and OLBP related work-absence (7%) of the ICU nurses were significantly higher than the control group (64%, 32% and 2%, respectively). The frequency of harmful postures occurred during working tasks of observing drainage, lifting and transferring patients in bed, injection, suctioning and adjusting drip were 99%, 90%, 75%, 75% and 6%, respectively. The ratios of Fc of adjusting drip rate (taken as 100), suctioning, injection, observing drainage and lifting and transferring patients in bed were 100:155:199:301:418.

CONCLUSIONPrevalence of OLBP in ICU nurses is high. High frequency of bending and twisting, transferring patients in bed are the main causes of OLBP in ICU nurses.

Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Nurses ; statistics & numerical data ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: To determine the prevalence of spondylolysis in a selected population and evaluate the association of spondylolysis with low back pain (LBP). Spondylolysis is widespread in the general population but the prevalence of spondylolysis and its relationship with LBP in the Korean population is controversial. METHODS: A sample of 855 participants (age, 20 to 86 years) from our medical center who underwent multidetector computed tomography (CT) imaging to assess abdominal and urological lesions were enrolled in this study. The occurrence of LBP requiring medication in the preceding 12 months was evaluated using a self-report questionnaire (a modified Nordic Low Back Pain Questionnaire). The presence of spondylolysis was characterized by CT imaging. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the association between spondylolysis and LBP, while adjusting for gender and age. RESULTS: Seventy-eight study subjects (9%) demonstrated spondylolysis on CT imaging. There was no significant difference between the age groups (p = 0.177). The p-value of gender was 0.033 but this was not significant due to the selected population bias. Three hundred eleven study subjects (36%) had back pain. There was a significant difference between gender (p = 0.001). No significant association was identified between spondylolysis and the occurrence of LBP. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of LBP was 36.37% and the prevalence of lumbar spondylolysis in a selected population, who visited hospital for abdominal or urological lesions except LBP, was 9.12% based on CT imaging. Males demonstrated a similar presence of LBP to females but a significantly higher incidence of spondylolysis (p = 0.033). The prevalence of spondylolysis was not associated with the presence of LBP and age in adulthood.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Logistic Models ; Low Back Pain/*etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Self Report ; Sex Factors ; Spondylolysis/*complications/*epidemiology/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of the interventional techniques in the treatment of renal vascular injury.

METHODSA total of 16 patients with renal vascular injuries were treated by superselective arterial embolization. The renal injuries resulted from renal biopsy in 7 patients, endovascular intervention in 2, percutaneous puncture and pyelostomy in 2, local resection of renal tumor in 1 and trauma in 4. With regards to clinical manifestations, there was hemorrhagic shock in 8 patients, severe flank pain in 14, and hematuria in 14. CT and ultrasonography confirmed that 15 patients had perirenal hematoma. The embolization was performed with microcoils in 13 and standard stainless steel coils in 3 patients, associated with polyvinyl alcohol particles (PVA) in 9, and gelfoam particles in 6 cases.

RESULTSRenal angiogram revealed arteriovenous fistula in renal parenchyma in 9 cases, pseudoaneurysm in 3 and extravasation of contrast media in 4. The arterial embolization was successful in all 16 cases in a single session. The angiography at the end of therapy showed that abnormal vessels had disappeared without other major intrarenal arterial branch occlusion. In 13 patients with hemodynamical compromise, blood loss-related symptoms were immediately relieved after blood transfusion. In 14 patients with severe flank pain, the pain was progressively relieved. Hematuria ceased in 14 patients 2-14 days after the embolization procedures. The renal function was impaired after the procedure in 6 cases, in which preoperative renal insufficiency was exacerbated in 3 and developed new renal dysfunction in 3, 2 of whom received hemodialysis. The ultrasonography showed that perirenal hematoma was gradually absorbed within 2-6 months after the procedure. All patients were followed up in 6-78 months (mean, 48 months). Six patients died of primary diseases (5 cases of renal failure and multiple organ failure and 1 case of malignant tumor). Ten patients survived without bleeding and further intervention. The deterioration of renal function did not occur and the serum creatinine and blood urea were in normal range.

CONCLUSIONTranscatheter selective renal arterial embolization is a safe and effective method in the treatment of renal vascular injuries.

Adult ; Aged ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Emergency Medical Services ; Female ; Humans ; Iatrogenic Disease ; epidemiology ; Low Back Pain ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Renal Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; Renal Veins ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries