November/December 2004

Contents

 Commentary

n MESSAGE FROM THE MEDICAL EDITOR
The Bias of Information 
Stuart M. Weinstein, MD

n FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
Changing Tide in Health Care Leads to Guidelines on Medical Ethics 
Jean-Jacques Abitbol, MD

n LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 
Literature Supports Rigid Plating Systems
Howard S. An, MD; Frank M. Phillips, MD

Unintended Behavior of Artificial Discs Will Cause Problems
Andre van Ooij, MD

 Current Concepts

n COVER STORY
Interpreting Medical Literature: Understanding and Contending with Bias 

• Assignments of Meaning in Epidemiology by Miles Little, MD
• Parachute Use to Prevent Death and Trauma Related to Gravitational Challenge:  Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials by Gordon CS Smith and Jill P. Pell

n CURVE/COUNTERCURVE
How to Interpret Waddell Signs in the Cinical Evaluation of an Injured Worker with Chronic Low Back Pain 
Peter B. Polatin, MD; Dean Ricketts, MD; Robert J. Gatchel, PhD

n SPECIAL FEATURE
Disc Surgery in Motion 
Rudoph Bertagnoli, MD

n LITERATURE REVIEW
New from the Journals 
Paul M. Arnold, MD; Gert K. Polzhofer, MD; Inneke H. Drespe; Jonathan N. Grauer, MD; Alexander R. Vaccaro, MD; Robert J. Gatchel, PhD

n ABSTRACT REVIEW
NASS Annual Meeting Abstracts 
Michael Schaufele, MD; Scott Boden, MD

 Socioeconomics & Politics

n PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
The Magic of Modifiers, Part II: Evaluation and Management Modifiers 
Annette Grady, CPC, CPC-H

n CODING Q & A
Clarifying Code 22851 
Mina Foroohar, MD

n ETHICAL/LEGAL
NASS Professional Conduct Program: The Complaint Process 
William C. Watters III, MD

n ADVOCACY/LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS/PAC
Election 2004: health Care Initiatives on State Ballots 
Tom Faciszewski, MD; Jacqueline Kocinski

 NASS News