Clinical Research Directory

Predictors of Clinical Response After Interlaminar Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection for Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical epidural steroid injection is a commonly used treatment option for patients with cervical radicular pain who do not improve adequately with conservative treatment. Cervical radicular pain typically radiates from the neck to the shoulder, arm, or hand and may be accompanied by numbness, weakness or changes in reflexes. The most common causes are cervical disc herniation and cervical spondylosis. By reducing inflammation around the affected nerve root, epidural steroid injection may help relieve pain and improve function. Among available techniques, the interlaminar approach is frequently preferred in the cervical region because of its technical feasibility and safety profile. Although interlaminar cervical epidural steroid injection is widely used, treatment response varies among patients, and not all individuals experience the same degree of benefit. Identifying the factors associated with better or poorer clinical response may help improve patient selection and reduce unnecessary procedures. This retrospective cohort study aims to evaluate clinical outcomes after interlaminar cervical epidural steroid injection in patients with cervical radiculopathy and to investigate demographic, clinical, and procedure-related variables which may predict treatment response. By analyzing pain scores before and after the procedure, this study seeks to better define the predictors of clinical outcome following this intervention.

Determining Postoperative Recovery and the Impact of Adverse Events in Neurosurgery Based on Self-reported, App-based Longitudinal Assessment

Analyzing the impact of surgery and adverse events (AEs) on patients' well-being is of paramount importance as it provides essential information for benefit-risk assessment. Current methods in outcome research are static, resource-intensive and subject to missing-data issues. Moreover, AEs are inconsistently reported using various grading systems that usually do not account for patients' subjective well-being. These are severe drawbacks for outcome research as it hinders monitoring, comparison, and improvement of treatment quality. The increasing use of smartphones offers unprecedented opportunities for data collection. The investigators developed a free smartphone application to assess fluctuations of patients' well-being as a result of surgical treatment and possible AEs. The application is installed on each patient's smartphone and collects standardized data at defined timepoints before and after surgery (well-being, AE description and severity). By acquiring longitudinal patient-reported outcome before and after neurosurgical interventions, the investigators aim to determine the regular postoperative course for specific surgical procedures, as well as any deviation thereof, depending on the occurrence and severity of AEs. The investigators will evaluate the validity of existing AE classifications and, if necessary, propose a new patient-centered scheme. The investigators hope that this will result in an increase in standardized reporting of patient outcome, and ultimately allow for evidence-based patient information and decision-making.

Efficacy and Safety of Preemptive Intravenous Dexamethasone in MIS-TLIF

Researchers are considering Dexamethasone as preemptive medication before minimally invasive spine fusion surgery to minimize postoperative back pain with minimal side effects, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of surgery and improve patient outcomes.

Pilot Study of ZetaFuse™ Bone Graft for the Treatment of Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to test the safety and preliminary performance of the ZetaFuse Bone Graft in patient requiring fusion of the C3-C7 vertebral bones due to pain or loss of neurological function. Participants will be treated with ZetaFuse during surgical intervention to reduce pain and the loss of neurological function.

The Effectiveness of Lumber Regression Technique on Disc Bulge Randomized Control Trial

Lumbar disc bulges lead to considerable pain and disability in affected individuals, with current interventions lacking consistency of outcomes. The lumbar regression method offered a hopeful, noninvasive option.