Study Design:Single group test-retest repeated measures. Objectives: To determine the effects of lumbar traction with 3 different amounts of force (1 0%, 30% and 60% body weight) on pain-free mobility of the lower extremity as measured by the straight leg raise (SLR) test. Background: There are several recommendations on how lumbar traction should be performed, but the duration, frequency, force, and type of technique to be applied differ among the sources. Methods and Measures:Ten subjects with subjective complaints of low back pain or radicular symptoms with a positive unilateral SLR test below 45' participated in this study. The pain-free mobility of the lower extremity in the SLR test position was measured prior to and immediately following 5 minutes of static traction in the supine position. Random assignment in the order of the amount of applied traction was implemented. Results: The straight leg raise measurements were found to be significantly greater immediately following 30% and 60% of body weight traction as compared to pretraction and 10% of body weight traction. The mean (SD) SLR measurements were pretraction (24.1' 2 13.0), 10% of body weight traction (27.4' 2 14.5), 30% of body weight traction (34.0" 2 14.3), 60% of body weight traction (36.5" 2 15.8). Conclusions:The results of this study indicate that traction in this group of patients improved the mobility of the lower extremity during the SLR test. Both 30% and 60% of body weight tractions were shown to be effective for increasing motion beyond pretraction levels. / Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2000;30:595-601.

The presence of anti-C1-inhibitor (anti-C1-INH) autoantibodies is a hallmark of acquired C1-inhibitor deficiency. However, only scarce data are available on their prevalence, diagnostic value, and/or significance in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In a multicentre study, we determined the levels of autoantibodies to C1-inhibitor in sera from 202 patients with SLE and 134 healthy controls. Additional clinical and laboratory parameters, such as organ involvement, as well as anti-C1q, anti-double-stranded DNA antibody, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, C3 and C4 serum complement levels have been studied in patients. The level of anti-C1-INH IgG was significantly higher (p = 0.034) in SLE patients, than in the controls. A high anti-C1-INH level of > or =0.4 U/ml (mean of controls + 2 SD) was found in 17% of the patients, but in only 4% of the controls (p = 0.0003). The SLEDAI score was significantly higher (p = 0.048) and the duration of SLE was significantly longer (p = 0.0004) among patients with elevated anti-C1-INH levels compared with patients without this autoantibody (median disease duration 8 vs. 17 years, respectively). Anti-C1-INH level was not correlated with any other laboratory parameter or organ manifestation of the disease. These findings indicate that the anti-C1-INH level is higher in SLE patients than in healthy controls and furthermore, the anti-C1-INH level correlates with the duration and activity of the disease.

Introduction. This study compares anatomical findings at wrist level in patients with known carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and controls by ultrasonography (US). Material and Methods. Wrist-US investigations of 28 consecutive patients with 38 diagnosed, idiopathic CTS were compared to 49 healthy volunteers without history of CTS. Internal wrists dimensions, the presence of flexor muscle bellies in the carpal tunnel, and cross-sectional area of the median nerve were analyzed. The findings were correlated to gender, age, and BMI. Results. US demonstrated a square internal carpal tunnel configuration in CTS patients compared to controls (P < 0.001). Patients with CTS showed a trend towards the presence of flexor muscles bellies in the carpal tunnel (odds ratio 1.77, 95% CI 0.337–8.33). CTS was present in women with higher BMI (P = 0.015). Conclusion. US allowed detection of specific anatomical features at wrist level in CTS patients. This observation may enable—following confirmation in larger prospective studies—risk evaluation for CTS development.

This retrospective study demonstrates good functional results despite the high rate of radiological wrist arthritis. Age, length of follow-up, and loss of reduction were significantly associated with wrist arthritis in our series.