Matheus Neves Castanheira

Background: Rugby exposes athletes to high mechanical loads, especially during scrums and tackles, potentially predisposing players to early cervical spine degeneration. This study evaluated the prevalence of degenerative changes in the cervical spine and sagittal alignment alterations in Brazilian rugby athletes, with secondary analyses comparing forwards and backs and examining associations between alignment parameters and pain and disability. Methods: Sixty-four professional rugby athletes underwent cervical spine radiography, and the images were analyzed for degenerative findings and sagittal parameters (cervical lordosis, T1 slope, cervical sagittal vertical axis, and T1–CL mismatch). Pain and disability were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI). Comparative analyses included Student’s t-test and Fisher’s exact test, while additional exploratory analyses were performed using correlation and multiple linear regression models. Results: Cervical degeneration was present in 20.3% of players. Forwards reported significantly greater pain than backs (VAS: 1.64 ± 1.58 vs. 0.76 ± 0.93; p = 0.007). Deviations in cervical lordosis (>2 SD from normative values) were associated with higher VAS scores (p = 0.024). No significant associations were found between T1 slope or cervical sagittal vertical axis and pain or disability. Conclusions: Forwards demonstrated greater symptom burden and a higher prevalence of cervical degenerative changes, suggesting that positional demands may contribute to early cervical spine alterations. These findings highlight the need for targeted preventive strategies and support future longitudinal investigations to clarify the progression and clinical relevance of cervical misalignment in collision-sport athletes.

Highlights ■ Observer experience improves radiographic measurement reliability. ■ Spine surgeons and radiologists exhibited the highest intra-class correlation coefficients. ■ The cervical sagittal vertical axis showed the greatest inter-observer variability. ■ Standardized training may enhance measurement consistency. ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the intra- and inter-observer reliabilities of cervical sagittal radiographic measurements performed by evaluators with varying levels of clinical experience. Methods: This study analyzed lateral cervical radiographs from 14 patients who had undergone single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Four

Lower back pain and sciatica account for approximately 40% of work-related absences, with management options ranging from conservative measures, such as rest and analgesia, to surgical intervention. Lumbar epidural steroid injections and facet joint blocks are frequently used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. While most complications are minor (2.4%-9.6%), severe events, including infection, hematoma formation, and spinal cord infarction, have been reported. This case presents a perineural hematoma manifesting as acute radiculopathy, necessitating urgent surgical decompression. The patient

Objective: To examine the evolution of degenerative changes in the vertebral plateau of patients with lumbar disc herniation undergoing microdiscectomy, emphasizing the progression of Modic type 1 and 2 changes.

Objetivos Neste estudo foram avaliadas as progressões radiográficas das curvas escolióticas, acima de 40 graus em pacientes com escoliose idiopática do adolescente (EIA). Os indivíduos analisados aguardavam o procedimento cirúrgico, em período de suspensão das cirurgias eletivas, durante a pandemia de covid-19. Além das progressões radiográficas, nesta pesquisa foi descrita a qualidade de vida destes pacientes. Métodos O artigo refere-se a um estudo de coorte retrospectivo, que avaliou 29 pacientes com EIA com indicação cirúrgica, todos cadastrados no serviço público de saúde brasileiro. As medidas radiográficas escolióticas dos pacientes foram comparadas em dois momentos: no início do período da interrupção de cirurgias eletivas, devido à pandemia de covid-19, e logo após a liberação destas. Resultados A partir da comparação das medidas radiográficas entre as avaliações pré e pós suspensão das cirurgias eletivas, observamos o aumento significativo dos valores angulares da curva principal (p < 0,001), com variações entre 0 e 68°, e mediana de 10°. Em relação às curvas secundárias, observamos um aumento dos valores angulares da região torácica proximal (p < 0,001) e lombar (p = 0,001). Entretanto, o aumento da região torácica principal não foi considerado significativo (p = 0,317). Conclusão A suspensão das cirurgias eletivas, para a correção da EIA resultou em um aumento significativo no valor radiográfico das deformidades das colunas dos pacientes, fator que promoveu um impacto negativo na qualidade de vida de pacientes e familiares. ^* Trabalho desenvolvido no Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia do Hospital Municipal Universitário de Taubaté, SP, Brasil. Received: 01 June 2022 Accepted: 29 July 2022 Article published online: 14 October 2022 © 2022. Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda. Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil