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Feature Articles: Spinal DisordersGuest Editor's Note
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| Spinal disorders represent a key and challenging segment of
health care. Neck and back pain easily represents some of the most common presenting
complaints in all of health care delivery. About 80% of all working adults will suffer
from low back pain at some point in their lifetime. The last two decades have seen
significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of spinal disorders, a lot of which is
presented in these issues. Due to the expanding body of knowledge, we decided to present
the information in two issues. The articles in this issue are very well presented, providing good background information and balanced treatment recommendations. Hopefully, this will provide a useful starting point to increase understanding and awareness of spinal disorders and their treatment. A thorough presentation of conservative care of the patients with low back pain, balanced by surgical reconstructive procedures and their indications is presented. The optimal workup and initial management including appropriate utilization of imaging modalities is well discussed. The diagnostic and treatment modalities of the poorly understood sacroiliac pain syndrome is presented. An excellent historical development and current techniques of endoscopy of the spine is also presented. I hope this series will provide the physicians or health care professionals interested in the care of patients with spine related disorders a good overview and update of current diagnostic and treatment methods. My thanks to the contributing authors for the time and energy put forth in the production of the first of the two issues of Jacksonville Medicine with a focus on spinal disorders. The next issue (to be published in June) will feature articles on scoliosis -- adolescent and adult, neck pain - diagnosis and treatment methods, and lumbar spinal stenosis. Jacksonville Medicine / April, 1999 |
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