颈椎病前路择期手术早期并发症危险因素分析

目的: 分析与颈椎病前路择期手术后的早期并发症发生率有关的危险因素。方法: 研究本院 1997年~2003年的 250例颈椎病前路择期 [1]手术病人的出院病历, 确定术后早期并发症; 用logistic回归分析评价早期并发症的危险因素。结果: 在所有病人中 24%的病人有一种或多种并发症,其中 17. 6%为非感染性手术并发症, 4. 0%为感染性并发症, 6. 8%为其它医疗并发症, 1. 2%在住院期间接受无计划的二次手术, 1例病人院内死亡。危险因素包括: 女性、高龄、全费、手术持续时间过长和既往有颈椎手术史者。结论: 对于高龄、女性、全费、手术持续时间过长和有既往颈椎手术史的患者, 应该充分做好术前准备, 手术应尽量采用简单实用手术时间少的术式, 以降低术后早期并发症发生率。     

颈椎前路手术早期并发症相关因素分析

目的：探讨颈椎前路手术早期并发症的相关因素。方法：回顾1992年1月～2003年12月行颈椎前路手术治疗的412例患者的早期并发症情况，其中颈椎病258例，颈椎外伤138例，颈椎肿瘤8例，颈椎结核8例，选取性别、年龄、术式等指标进行统计，对其进行单因素筛选、多因素Logistic回归分析。结果：共42例出现51例次早期并发症，发生率为10．19％，与手术直接相关的并发症28例次(6．80％)，间接并发症23例次(5．08％)；颈椎外伤患者并发症发生率较颈椎病患者高：单因素分析显示与颈椎前路手术早期并发症相关的主要因素有病种、瘫痪情况、术式．多因素Logistic回归分析显示病种是决定术后早期并发症发生的主要凶素。结论：颈椎前路手术早期并发症的发生主要与病种、病情有关，病情越复杂，发生并发症的可能性越大：颈椎外伤患者早期并发症的发生率较颈椎病患者为高。     

克罗恩病患者肠切除术后吻合口感染性并发症的危险因素分析

目的探讨影响克罗恩病（cD）患者肠切除术后吻合口感染性并发症发生的危险因素。方法回顾性分析1990年1月至2012年10月间在浙江省丽水市人民医院接受肠切除手术的114例CD患者的临床资料,分别通过x。检验和Logistic回归模型对术后发生吻合口感染性并发症的发生风险进行单因素和多因素分析。结果术后吻合口感染性并发症发生率为12．3％（14／114）,其中吻合口瘘7例,腹腔脓肿6例,肠外瘘1例。多因素分析显示,克罗恩病活动指数（CDAI）大于150（DR=2．185,95％CI：1．098～6．256）、术前使用甾体类药物（OR=2．674,95％C1：1．118—8．786）及合并腹腔脓肿和（或）瘘（OR=3．447,95％CI：1．254—10．462）是术后出现吻合口感染性并发症的独立高危因素（均P〈0．05）。无上述危险因素者术后吻合口感染性并发症发生率为5．7％（3／53）,有1个危险因素者为11．4％（4／35）,2个危险因素者21．1％（4／19）,3个危险因素者则可高达42．9％（3／7）。结论术前使用甾体类药物、CDAI大于150及合并腹腔脓肿和（或）瘘是CD肠切除术后出现吻合口感染性并发症的高危因素。如果这些危险因素术前无法消除,肠切除术后行一期吻合应持谨慎态度。     

颈椎病外科治疗选择及远期疗效评价

目的：研究脊髓型颈椎病经手术治疗的远期疗效及影响疗效的因素。方法：报告4 585例脊髓型颈椎病，对发病因素、病程及影像学表现进行分析。全部实施颈前路减压及自体髂骨移植融合术，其中335例于术后6个月-2年再次手术。术后985例随访5年7个月一17年，平均7年7个月。结果：功能评价，优476例(48．32％)、良335例(34．01％)、可94例(9．54％)及差80例(8．13％)。手术疗效与病变严重程度、病程长短、减压程度和颈椎稳定性相关，病程在6个月内的患者疗效优于1年以上者(P＜0．01)。结论：脊髓型颈椎病前路手术减压远期效果是肯定的；手术时机、病理变化程度及手术技术等对治疗效果有明显影响。     

腹腔镜胆囊切除术早期并发症的临床风险因素分析

目的:探讨腹腔镜胆囊切除术(LC)早期(术中与术后早期)并发症的危险因素,为其防范提供预警。方法:回顾2000年7月—2014年8月施行的16 032例行LC患者资料,分析患者的一般资料与早期并发症发生情况,对引起术后早期并发症的可疑因素行单因素分析筛选与多因素分析确认。结果:16 032例患者的平均年龄为(56.7±21.3)岁;男女比例为1:1.87,其中择期手术14 101例(88.0%),急诊手术1 931例(12.0%);发生早期并发症1 420例(8.9%)。单因素分析结果显示,性别、胆囊炎症情况、肥胖、上腹部手术史、急诊手术、手术持续时间、术者施行LC例数可能是影响LC术早期并发症的危险因素(均P0.05);多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,男性(OR=10.012,P=0.002)、胆囊急性炎症(OR=2.510,P=0.010)、BMI≥25 kg/m2(OR=3.105,P=0.023)、合并上腹部手术史(OR=7.882,P=0.030)和手术持续时间≥60 min(OR=8.634,P=0.001)是引起LC术早期并发症的独立风险因素。结论:男性、胆囊急性炎症、肥胖、上腹部手术史和长时间手术是LC术早期并发症的独立危险因素,对于具有这些因素的患者,术前及术后应采取积极措施预防其发生。     

《中国矫形外科杂志》2005年（第13卷）分类索引

(冒号前后数字分别为期数和页数)A骨病1.颈部疾患颈椎病前路择期手术早期并发症危险因素分析(白一冰,等)1:9单、双段Bryan颈椎间盘假体置换术后1~8个月临床资料分析(王岩,等)1:14高位颈髓压迫症的外科治疗(郝定均,等)1:101前路松解复位后路融合治疗游离齿突继发环枢椎脱位(任先军,等)6:433神经根型颈椎病的前路手术治疗(刘洪智,等)9:653颈椎前路术后再手术相关问题探讨(王松刚,等)9:656颈椎前路手术早期并发症(郑燕平,等)9:666颈椎手术椎动脉误伤的预防及对策(韩伟,等)11:807保留终板的颈椎融合器在颈椎前路手术中的应用(谭健韶,等)11:811…     

小肠梗阻术后感染性并发症危险因素分析

目的 讨论小肠梗阻术后感染性并发症的危险因素,以减少术后感染.方法 回顾分析2006年1月-2012年12月于首都医科大学宣武医院接受手术治疗的154例小肠梗阻患者的临床资料.Logistic回归分析术后感染性并发症的独立危险因素.结果 154例小肠梗阻患者接受手术治疗,术后感染率27.9％.回归分析发现,患者年龄（≥65岁）（OR 6.71,95％ CI3.15 ～ 16.33）、术中肠管破裂（OR2.71,95％CI1.19～7.25）、延迟（≥72 h）手术（OR 11.33,95％ CI 4.62 ～ 20.20）及手术时间（≥180 min）（OR 2.90,95％CI 1.26 ～9.83）是影响感染性并发症发生的危险因素.结论 术后感染是小肠梗阻术后的常见并发症.早期手术、术中轻柔操作防止肠管破裂可能是减少术后感染的有效措施.     

踝关节骨折切开复位内固定术后并发症发生率

为评估踝关节骨折切开复位内固定术后并发症发生率以及相关危险因素，作者进行了一项大宗病历分析。在1995—2005年期间，根据加利福尼亚州出院标准，选取57183例踝关节骨折切开复位内固定病历，包括外踝、双踝以及三踝骨折。短期并发症规定为出院后90d再入院；中期并发症规定为行踝关节融合术和踝关节置换术。采用Logis—tic回归分析确定并发症的发生率与危险因素的相关性。结果显示：近期并发症发生率低，包括：肺栓塞（0．34％）、死亡（1．07％）、伤口感染（1．44％）、截肢（0．16％）和再次切开复位内固定（0．82％）。中期再手术率也低，在5年观察期，行踝关节融合或者置换率为0．96％。     

动脉硬化性主髂动脉闭塞症血管重建的术式选择

目的分析解剖位和非解剖位术式对动脉硬化性主髂动脉闭塞的手术疗效、围手术期死亡和主要并发症的影响。方法对动脉硬化性主髂动脉闭塞症行主髂动脉重建术的382例患者的30d围手术期疗效、死亡和并发症的危险因素采用Logistic回归进行分析。结果共126名患者纳入分析。Logistic逐步回归显示手术有效率的影响因素有溃疡坏死（OR0．13，95％CI0．33～0．36，P=0．005）、是否同期远端血管重建（OR11．29，95％CI1．25～102．53，P=0．012）；围手术期主要并发症为13．5％，危险因素有年龄（OR37．13，95％CI3．29～48．53，P=0．003）、肾功能异常（OR5．71，95％CI1．25～25．02，P=0．024）、Goldman心脏风险（OR26．83，95％CI4．85～49．54，P=0．001）、术式选择（OR0．03，95％CI0．002～0．34，P=0．005）；围手术期死亡的危险因素有年龄（OR65．56，95％CI4．88～87．64，P=0．002）、Goldman心脏风险（OR23．86，95％CI3．90～45．99，P=0．032）、术式选择（OR0．02，95％CI0．001—0．262，P：0．005）。结论年龄70岁以上、中度以上Goldman心脏风险、肾功能异常是围手术期死亡和主要并发症的危险因素，对于这些高危患者需考虑采用解剖外术式以降低手术风险。     

颈椎病伴椎管狭窄患者再手术问题探讨

目的：探讨颈椎病伴椎管狭窄患者再手术的原因、手术方式及其相关问题。方法：我院2002年7月～2003年12月对40例颈椎病伴椎管狭窄术后疗效不佳或症状复发的患者进行了后路多节段（5个或以上）减压手术。根据其手术治疗方式及影像学资料分析再手术原因，并进行术后疗效评价。结果：经前路手术者再手术的主要原因为：（1）伴有多节段颈椎管狭窄因素时，只选择部分压迫重的节段行减压融合15例；（2）经前路多节段（≥3个节段）减压融合后，相邻节段继续退变，出现新的脊髓压迫表现及椎间不稳定9例；（3）伴有OPLL时，行部分节段前路减压融合后，病变呈进展表现，产生或加重对脊髓的压迫8例。经后路手术者再手术的原因为：（1）后路减压节段不够5例（包括1例前后路联合手术者）；（2）后路减压不充分3例。再手术后随访1．3～2．7年，平均2．1年，所有患者脊髓功能获得一定的提高，JOA评分改善率为51．3％。结论：颈椎病伴椎管狭窄病例再手术的主要原因为椎管狭窄因素仍然存在，经后路多节段（5个或以上）减压手术治疗可彻底去除颈椎管狭窄因素，有效解除脊髓前、后方所受的压迫，可获得较满意的临床疗效。     

阴道镜联合LEEP刀治疗宫颈病变的临床研究

目的分析阴道镜联合LEEP刀在治疗宫颈病变的临床效果。方法对227例经TCT、HPV检查结果均为阳性,并行经阴道镜取活检送病理检查诊断结果异常的宫颈病变患者,采用阴道镜联合LEEP刀进行治疗。观察术中出血量、手术时间、术后并发症、术后恢复时间、术后复发等情况,分析阴道镜联合LEEP刀对宫颈病变治疗的效果。结果术中：出血量为（4.9±1.6）ml,手术时间为（5.7±1.3）分钟,患者均无明显不适感;术后：无明显并发症率为97.8%,恢复时间为（5.2±1.7）周,手术前后病理符合率为97.4%,治愈率为94.3%,总有效率为98.2%。结论阴道镜联合LEEP刀治疗各类宫颈疾病手术时间短,简单易行,治疗效果佳,可提供完整的病理标本,降低宫颈癌的误诊和漏诊率,治疗宫颈病变效果显著,值得临床推广应用。     

腹腔镜低位直肠癌根治术预防性造口与无预防性造口临床对比研究

目的 比较腹腔镜下低位直肠癌根治术无预防性造口与预防性造口的临床资料及术后并发症的发生情况,探讨不行预防性造口的临床意义.方法 回顾70例实施手术治疗的低位直肠癌患者的临床资料,根据手术方式分为无预防性造口组(28例)和预防性造口组(42例),采用SPSS19.0统计软件比较两组患者术后并发症发生情况.结果 预防性造口组和非预防性造口组术中手术时间、出血量、术后进食时间差异无统计学意义;预防性造口组术后留院时间明显延长(P＜0.05);预防性造口组术后并发吻合口瘘2例,吻合口出血1例,肠梗阻2例,切口并发症2例,吻合口狭窄8例,造瘘口并发症7例,大便失禁1例,便频、便急2例,并发症发病率59.5％;非预防性造口组术后吻合口瘘1例,吻合口出血1例,肠梗阻1例,切口并发症1例,大便失禁1例,便频、便急1例,并发症发病率21.4％;预防性造口术后总体并发症发病率较非预防性造口高(P＜0.05),但吻合口瘘发病率差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 腹腔镜低位直肠癌根治术无适应证行预防性造口不能降低术后并发症的发生.     

子宫颈癌根治术后并发症分析（附300例报告）

目的探讨子宫颈癌根治术后并发症及其预防措施。方法回顾性分析2002年1月至2007年1月收治的300例子宫颈癌根治术患者的临床资料,其中未保护盆腔自主神经者181例,术前辅助化疗128例,术前放疗102例。结果本组术后并发症发生率为28.3%（85/300）,其中尿潴留44例（14.7%）,盆腔淋巴囊肿29例（9.7%）,腹壁切口5例（1.7%）,阴道残端出血3例（1.0%）,输尿管瘘2例（0.7%）,肺部感染1例（0.3%）,下肢静脉栓塞1例（0.3%）。术前辅助化疗者并发症发生率为29.7%（38/128）,未行辅助化疗者为27.3%（47/172）,两者比较无统计学差异（P〉0.05） 术前辅助放疗和未行放疗者并发症发生率分别为29.4%（30/102）和27.8%（55/198）,两者比较无统计学差异（P〉0.05） 保留盆腔自主神经和未保留盆腔自主神经患者术后排尿功能障碍发生率分别为4.2%（5/119）和21.5%（39/181）,两者比较具有显著统计学差异（P〈0.05）。结论保留盆腔植物神经的子宫颈癌根治术可减少排尿功能障碍发生,术前新辅助放化疗与否对其并发症发生无影响。     

颈椎前路术后早期并发症特点、原因及其处理

目的探讨颈椎前路内固定术后早期并发症的特点、发生原因、对策和预防措施。方法回顾性分析自2010年1月~2016年12月中山大学孙逸仙纪念医院骨科单纯行颈椎前路内固定手术患者391例,其中颈椎病321例,颈椎外伤(骨折脱位、脊髓损伤)54例,颈椎肿瘤11例,颈椎感染5例。对上述病例术后早期并发症的特点、发生原因及处理进行总结分析。结果 391例患者中术后发生并发症共28例,占7.2%。不同颈椎疾患患者及不同节段数手术患者并发症发生率不同。存在并发症的患者中,术后一周仍存吞咽困难者6例,5例对症治疗后完全康复,1例未恢复;脊髓损伤加重者2例,1例术后1周再次行颈椎后路减压手术并获得恢复,1例术后经治疗无效死亡;血肿压迫者3例,均予以紧急手术清除血肿;喉上及喉返神经损伤共4例,经对症治疗后恢复;上呼吸道感染5例,伤口延迟愈合3例,脑脊液漏1例,尿潴留1例,下肢深静脉血栓1例,急性心梗1例,气胸1例,均予对症治疗后康复。结论颈椎疾患严重程度及节段数影响颈椎并发症的发生。术后严重的并发症可致严重后果。术前患者的综合评估、术前严格的准备,术中术者操作、助手密切的配合以及术后严格的观察处理是减少并发症发生的重点。     

Bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing''s syndrome. Anterior versus posterior surgical approach.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the intraoperative and postoperative complications in patients with Cushing's syndrome who underwent bilateral adrenalectomy comparing the posterior or anterior operative approach. BACKGROUND: The posterior approach for bilateral adrenalectomy has been advocated over the anterior approach because of rapid recovery and decreased morbidity, but the long-term complications associated with each procedure are not well described. METHODS: The intraoperative profiles and morbidity in 48 patients undergoing bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing's disease through either the anterior or posterior approach from 1985 to the present were reviewed comparing the intraoperative complication and early and late postoperative complication rate and morbidity. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients underwent an anterior transabdominal procedure, whereas 21 underwent a posterior retroperitoneal procedure via bilateral incisions. Age, weight, and diagnostic categories of Cushing's syndrome were similar between the two groups as well as serum cortisol and 24-hour urinary cortisol levels. Operative time, estimated blood loss, and transfusion requirements were not different between the groups, even though adrenal glands excised through the anterior approach were significantly larger. Acute morbidity was similar between the groups. However, 17 (81%) of 21 patients who underwent posterior bilateral adrenalectomy suffered from chronic back pain, compared with 2 (7%) of 27 via the anterior approach. Five of these patients in the posterior group considered the pain incapacitating, and the mean time to return to work was significantly longer in the posterior group because of back pain. CONCLUSIONS: The anterior approach to bilateral adrenalectomy has comparable intraoperative complications and early morbidity compared to the posterior approach. The posterior approach has a very high incidence of chronic incision-related back pain. The anterior approach is the preferred open surgical technique in most patients undergoing bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing's syndrome without other contraindications for undergoing laparotomy.     

选择性颈后路单开门椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗孤立型颈椎后纵韧带骨化症的临床疗效

目的:探讨选择性颈后路单开门椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗孤立型颈椎后纵韧带骨化症(ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament,OPLL)的临床疗效,并与颈前路椎体次全切手术(anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion,ACCF)临床疗效进行比较。方法:回顾性分析2017年1月~2019年1月接受手术治疗且符合入组标准的40例孤立型颈椎OPLL患者的临床资料,其中行ACCF手术22例(ACCF组),行选择性颈后路单开门椎管扩大椎板成形术18例(LP组)。均获得12~24个月随访(ACCF组18.50±4.20个月,LP组18.60±4.50个月)。比较两组患者术前、术后3个月、末次随访时日本骨科协会(Japanese Orthopaedic Association,JOA)评分及颈痛视觉模拟评分(visual analogue score,VAS),比较两组患者末次随访时的神经功能改善率;比较两组患者术前、末次随访时颈椎曲度、颈椎活动度;比较两组患者手术出血量、手术时间、术后住院时间及术后并发症发生率的差异。结果:ACCF组患者手术时间为142.50±7.52min、手术出血量为379.32±65.14ml、术后住院时间为8.77±1.51d,LP组分别为129.06±10.58min、240.00±53.69ml、7.83±1.34d,LP组均明显少于ACCF组(P<0.05)。两组患者术后3个月、末次随访时的JOA评分较术前均明显升高,VAS评分较术前均明显降低,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);但术前、术后3个月及末次随访时两组之间的JOA评分和VAS评分比较均无统计学差异(P>0.05);末次随访时ACCF组神经功能改善率为(65±9)%,LP组为(61±15)%,两组比较无统计学差异(P>0.05)。ACCF组术前颈椎曲度9.77°±1.23°,末次随访时11.05°±1.25°;LP组术前10.33°±1.33°,末次随访时11.44°±1.46°,术前、末次随访时组间比较均无统计学差异(P>0.05),两组末次随访时较术前均明显提高(P<0.05)。ACCF组术前颈椎活动度38.18°±2.26°,末次随访时29.05°±2.17°;LP组术前38.17°±2.09°,末次随访时32.44°±2.15°,术前两组间比较无统计学差异(P>0.05),末次随访时ACCF组较LP组降低更明显(P<0.05),两组末次随访时较术前均降低(P<0.05)。LP组术后并发症发生率为22.2%,ACCF组为54.5%,LP组明显低于ACCF组(P<0.05),其中LP组术后出现轴性症状2例,左侧C5神经根麻痹1例,轻度后凸畸形1例;ACCF组钛网下沉3例,食管牵拉伤1例,喉返神经麻痹2例,硬膜外血肿1例,硬脊膜漏2例,邻近节段退变3例。结论:选择性颈后路单开门椎管扩大椎板成形术与ACCF治疗孤立型颈椎OPLL,短期内在改善颈脊髓神经功能上无明显差异;选择性颈后路单开门椎管扩大椎板成形术在术中出血量、手术时间、术后住院时间、颈椎活动度的维持及术后并发症发生率方面较ACCF更具优势。     

Treatment of anterior cervical pseudoarthrosis: posterior fusion versus anterior revision.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Posterior fusion has been advocated as the most effective treatment of anterior cervical pseudoarthrosis. Authors cite the benefits of increased stability and avoiding the risk of dissection through anterior scar tissue. Despite these advantages, posterior fusion is a more extensive procedure from the standpoint of perioperative and postoperative recovery. PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to compare the results of posterior fusions to revision anterior fusions for repair of anterior cervical pseudoarthrosis. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: This is a retrospective case series from a single institution. PATIENT SAMPLE: 120 patients with nonunion documented on flexion-extension radiographs, computed tomography (CT) scan or tomograms after an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with at least 2-year follow-up. OUTCOME MEASURES: Surgical data, status of fusion, complications, and any revision surgeries. METHODS: Hospital and office records were reviewed to determine demographic data, surgical data, status of fusion, and any revision surgeries. Nonunion was confirmed during surgery. RESULTS: Of the 120 patients included in the study, 27 had repeat anterior procedures and 93 had posterior procedures. The proportion of smokers, the number of surgical levels, and the average time to revision in each group were similar. The average operative time for the anterior revision surgery was 134.9 minutes (range 49 to 232 minutes) with an estimated blood loss of 102.7 cc. In the posterior revision surgery the average operative time was 138.9 minutes (range 35 to 356 minutes) and an average estimated blood loss of 282.1 cc. The patients in the anterior revision group had an average hospital stay of 2.3 days (1 to 5 days), whereas those in the posterior revision group had an average hospital stay of 4.4 days (3 to 8 days). There was a 4% complication rate in the anterior revision group and an 8% complication rate in the posterior revision group. Twelve of 27 patients (44%) in the anterior revision group, and 2 of 93 patients in the posterior revision group required a second revision surgery for persistent nonunion. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, posterior fusion is more effective in treating anterior cervical pseudoarthrosis than revision anterior fusion. The higher fusion rate and lower incidence of repeat revision surgery offset the increased blood loss and longer recovery time associated with posterior cervical fusions.     

Short-term complications and long-term results of expansive open-door laminoplasty for cervical stenotic myelopathy.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Laminoplasty has been reported to achieve good operative results for treatment of cervical stenotic myelopathy. However, long-term results and prognostic factors have not been well documented. Among postoperative complications, weakness of the shoulder girdle muscles has been reported as a particular complication of laminoplasty, but the cause is still poorly understood. PURPOSE: Our aim was to clarify the short-term complications and long-term operative results after unilateral open-door laminoplasty and to identify the predictors for operative outcome. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed short-term complications and long-term operative results associated with cervical stenotic myelopathy treated by unilateral open-door laminoplasty. PATIENT SAMPLE: There were 162 men and 42 women with an average age of 57 years who were treated by unilateral open-door laminoplasty in the two institutions. Pathogenesis of myelopathy was cervical spondylosis in 88 patients, cervical disk herniation with a narrow spinal canal in 10, and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in 106. OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative complications and their outcomes were examined clinically in 204 patients, and causes of motor paresis were sought with postoperative computed tomography after myelography. Postoperative improvement of clinical symptoms was assessed by recovery rate calculated with the scores of the Japanese Orthopaedic Scoring System in 80 patients. METHODS: The occurrence rate of short-term postoperative complications, causes of motor paresis, and their outcomes were reviewed in 204 patients. Clinical condition was assessed with the Japanese Orthopaedic Scoring System, recovery rate was calculated with the score, and prognostic factors for outcome were studied in 80 patients who were followed up for 5 years or longer (average, 8 years; range, 5-17 years). RESULTS: Occurrence rate of complications, such as muscle weakness, deep infection, closure of opened laminae, and others, was 10.8%. Muscle weakness was observed in 7.8% of the patients. However, this rate decreased in recent years. The cause of motor paresis is not known with certainty, but it may be secondary to operative trauma, posterior shift of the spinal cord, or to displacement of the lamina in the hinge side. Recovery rate of clinical symptoms was 62.1% at the final follow-up. Rates were 63.6% for cervical spondylosis, 87.1% for cervical disk herniation, and 61.3% for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. There was no significant difference between pathologies. Patient age younger than 60 years at the time of operation and less than 1 year's duration of symptoms before surgery were significantly associated with recovery rate of clinical symptoms. Recovery rate was not correlated with either preoperative function judged by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score or spinal sagittal diameter. CONCLUSIONS: The main cause of postoperative motor paresis of upper extremities is thought to be operative trauma, resulting from such procedures as air-drill and Kerrison rongeur handling. Short-term complications may decrease with the use of nontraumatic procedures. Better operative outcomes may be achieved with careful operative procedures and early operative treatment in the patients with myelopathy.     

Life expectancy and late stroke following carotid endarterectomy

A review of the UCSD experience with 456 consecutive carotid endarterectomy procedures confirms the acceptably low operative mortality and morbidity associated with this operation. Immediate complications were not different when routine or selective shunting was performed, but the patients with a low internal carotid artery back pressure had higher operative complication rates. The coexistence of atherosclerosis in other parts of the body severe-enough to warrant surgery for them was not associated with either higher early or late carotid surgery complication rates. Following both coronary bypass and carotid procedures, the late mortality was decreased, and the late incidence of stroke was particularly low in comparison to the remainder of the patient group. Late follow-up emphasized the high continuing attrition rate from all causes in these patients. Late strokes continued to occur, particularly in patients with prior strokes and severe preoperative bilateral carotid disease. The late course of patients with posterior circulation transient ischemic attacks treated by carotid endarterectomy was quite similar to that of patients treated for anterior circulation transient ischemia attacks (TIAs). Newer postoperative screening procedures may decrease the incidence of late postoperative stroke by identifying recurrent carotid stenosis while it is still in the asymptomatic stage.