BACKGROUND Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the common debilitating condition in middle-age population. Often the pain is "non-specific" or related to mechanical origin; so, often it is termed as chronic mechanical low back pain. Among the various predisposing factors, abnormal lumber lordosis is more often seen. Radiographic assessment of lumbar lordosis can be done by measuring lumbosacral angle (LSA). Therefore, study of variations in LSA among these patients can give important clues in both pathogenesis and management. The aim of the study is to determine different factors leading to the variations of lumbosacral angle amongst the middle-aged patients presenting with chronic mechanical low back pain. METHODS This retrospective study was conducted by analysing records of 105 CLBP patients of both sex (male = 32, female = 73) in the age group of 45 - 65 years. LSA was directly measured digitally by Ferguson technique from the selected patients’ lateral lumbosacral radiographs. Data was collected in Microsoft Excel 2016 and analysis was done with International Business Machines Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS) Statistics version 23. RESULTS The difference in median of LSA of male [Median (IQR) = 37.00 (10.00)] and female [Median (IQR) = 45.00 (8.50)] patients was statistically significant (p-value 0.000). Significant positive correlation was also found between LSA and BMI for both sexes, but more in case of female (Spearman’s rho 0.806 p = 0.000) than male (Spearman’s rho 0.680 p-value 0.000). CONCLUSIONS Variation of LSA was found to have significant relations with sex and body mass index (BMI), but not with the age. Statistically significant positive correlation between LSA and BMI alongside higher BMI of the females in the study group suggested that they are more prone to develop CLBP. To formulate proper rehabilitation protocol for middle aged CLBP patients, LSA variations and related factors can be kept in mind. KEYWORDS Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP), Lumbosacral Angle (LSA), Lordosis, Rehabilitation, Body Mass Index, Lordosis, Spine, Radiography, Rehabilitation

BACKGROUND Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) have been widely used for over 50 years in the treatment of back pain with or without radiculopathy. In this study, we intended to evaluate the effect of single caudal epidural steroid injection (CESI) in patients suffering from chronic lumbago-sciatica syndrome, resistant to conservative medical therapy. METHODS This was a retrospective study. CESI was performed on thirty-four patients suffering from chronic lumbago-sciatica syndrome, from April 2019 to March 2020. Single injection of caudal epidural steroid (40 mg Triamcinolone Acetonide) diluted with 10 ml. of sterile water was given guided by anatomic landmark, confirmed by “Whoosh” test and radiologically with dye. Patients were followed for 12 weeks using Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI) and North American spine society patient satisfaction index (NASS). Values were recorded before the injection and after the injection at 1 week, 3 week, 6 week and 12 week during follow-up. RESULTS Significant improvement in patient’s status was observed after CESI, as measured with NRS, ODI and NASS at one, three, six and twelve weeks as compared to pre injection (zero week) but no significant difference was observed at successive follow ups at first to third and third to six weeks. There was significant reversal of NRS and ODI Score from 6 week to 12 week follow-up. Sixty seven percent of patients were satisfied at the end of the follow-up and mild side-effects were reported in a few patients. CONCLUSIONS CESI is a safe, simple and cost-effective intervention procedure for the treatment of chronic lumbago-sciatica syndrome. It provides rapid pain relief and physical function improvement of the patient starting within a week. KEYWORDS Injections, Epidural, Sciatica, Low Back Pain

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Heterotopic Ossification (HO) is formation of atypical, lamellar bone within a soft tissue surrounding major joints. It is well documented as a complication following spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury; however, it is quite rarely seen in lower motor neuron conditions like Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). Here, we present two cases of GBS (both young males) with Bilateral hip pain who were diagnosed HO on the basis of radiological study while still admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Both of them had history of mechanical ventilation, tetraparesis and prolonged immobilisation. There are very few reports of HO in GBS and if detected early, it improves the functional outcome.

Facet joints or zygapophyseal joints are paired synovial joints in the vertebrae that are commonly affected by degenerative changes that cause pain and disability. It is one of the most prevalent causes of low back pain and is more commonly seen in older population. Facet joint interventions may involve an intra-articular joint injection and medial branch block. Both of them are relatively simple and straightforward procedures best performed under fluoroscopy for guidance to properly target and place the needle.