Severe lumbar spinal stenosis combined with Guillain-Barré syndrome: A case report

BACKGROUNDGuillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare disorder that typically presents with ascending weakness, pain, paraesthesias, and numbness, which mimic the findings in lumbar spinal stenosis. Here, we report a case of severe lumbar spinal stenosis combined with GBS.CASE SUMMARYA 70-year-old man with a history of lumbar spinal stenosis presented to our emergency department with severe lower back pain and lower extremity numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of severe lumbar spinal stenosis. However, his symptoms did not improve postoperatively and he developed dysphagia and upper extremity numbness. An electromyogram was performed. Based on his symptoms, physical examination, and electromyogram, he was diagnosed with GBS. After 5 d of intravenous immunoglobulin (0.4 g/kg/d for 5 d) therapy, he gained 4/5 of strength in his upper and lower extremities and denied paraesthesias. He had regained 5/5 of strength in his extremities when he was discharged and had no symptoms during follow-up.CONCLUSIONGBS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal disorder, even though magnetic resonance imaging shows severe lumbar spinal stenosis. This case highlights the importance of a careful diagnosis when a patient has a history of a disease and comes to the hospital with the same or similar symptoms.     

The value of a pantaloon cast test in surgical decision making for chronic low back pain patients: a systematic review of the literature supplemented with a prospective cohort study

The results of lumbar fusion in chronic low back pain (LBP) patients vary considerably, and there is a need for proper patient selection. Lumbosacral orthoses have been widely used to predict outcome, however, with little scientific support. The aim of the present study was to determine the value of a pantaloon cast test in selecting chronic LBP patients for lumbar fusion or conservative management. First, a systematic review of the literature was carried out in which two independent reviewers identified studies in Medline, Cochrane and Current Contents databases. Three papers met the selection criteria. In the only study with a control group, a significantly better outcome after fusion compared to conservative treatment was found in patients who reported significant pain relief while in a cast (i.e. a positive cast test). The results of lumbar fusion, however, were not significantly different for patients with a positive and those with a negative cast test. In addition to the review, a clinical cohort study of 257 LBP patients, who had been allocated to either lumbar fusion or conservative management by a temporary external transpedicular fixation trial, was performed. Prior to allocation, all had undergone a pantaloon cast test. Patients with no history of prior spine surgery and with a positive pantaloon cast test had a better outcome after lumbar fusion than those treated conservatively (P = 0.002, χ ² test). In patients with previous spine operations the outcomes were poor and the test was of no value. From the literature and the present patient cohort, it was concluded that only in chronic LBP patients without prior spine surgery, a pantaloon cast test with substantial pain relief suggests a favorable outcome of lumbar fusion compared to conservative management. The test has no value in patients who have had previous spine surgery.     

Sciatic Neuropathy: Case Report and Discussion of the Literature on Postoperative Sciatic Neuropathy and Sciatic Nerve Tumors

Sciatic nerve injury and dysfunction is not an uncommon cause of lower extremity symptoms in a musculoskeletal practice. We present the case of a man who presented with lower extremity weakness, pain, and cramps, and was initially diagnosed at an outside institution with bilateral S1 radiculopathies and recommended for spine surgery. He came to us for a second opinion. Electrodiagnostic testing revealed an isolated sciatic neuropathy and the patient was referred for imaging, which showed a sciatic nerve sheath tumor. Review of the literature on sciatic neuropathies shows that there can be many possible etiologies of sciatic nerve dysfunction, but that hip arthroplasty continues to be the leading risk factor. Sciatic nerve tumors are not commonly described in the literature and their definitive management remains unclear.     

经皮激光椎间盘减压术治疗椎间盘源性腰痛

目的探讨经皮激光椎间盘减压术（percutaneous laser disc decompression，PLDD）治疗椎间盘源性腰痛的疗效。方法2002年6月～2004年12月我院对36例椎间盘源性腰痛，采用英国DIOMED公司半导体激光仪，激光功率15W，每个激光脉冲持续1s，间隔1s，照射能量800～1200J。VAS评分评价治疗效果。结果手术时间15～60min，平均30min。32例出现“疼痛复制效应”。36例随访6～36个月，平均11个月，32例有效（术后VAS评分改善≥3分18例，≥分14例），4例无效，有效率88．9％（32／36）。结论PLDD治疗椎间盘源性腰痛安全、有效、微创。     

Precise and limited decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis

Summary Fifty-eight consecutive patients with lumbosacral nerve root entrapment due to spinal stenosis were treated with modified microsurgical decompression. Only the clinically relevant sides and levels were decompressed while the spinous processes, the interspinous ligaments, the medial portion of ligamentum flavum and the functionally important parts of the facet joints were preserved. The reviewers rated recovery as good or excellent in 71% of patients while patient self-assessment indicated 76% good or excellent outcome. These data suggest that microsurgical decompression of spondyloarthritic changes can effectively relieve the signs and symptoms of nerve root compression and that with careful evaluation of all available data the number of nerve roots requiring decomperession is often fewer than what is suggested by diagnositic images alone.     

通用型脊柱内固定系统椎弓根螺钉翻修作用的生物力学研究

目的测试自行设计的通用型脊柱内固定系统(generalspinesystem,GSS)椎弓根螺钉以及SOCON、TSRH和Diapason螺钉置入椎体的拔出力及旋入力矩,评价GSS螺钉的翻修作用。方法将36个正常成人腰椎椎体标本随机分为三组,每组12个椎体(24侧椎弓根)。各组标本每个椎体的每侧椎弓根均先拧入CCD螺钉(直径6.0mm,长45mm),行螺钉拔出试验,测试并记录螺钉的最大旋入力矩和最大轴向拔出力。然后各组标本每个椎体均随机选择一侧椎弓根经原钉道拧入GSS螺钉(直径6.5mm,长45mm);第一组另一侧拧入SOCON螺钉(直径7.0mm,长45mm),第二组另一侧拧入TSRH螺钉(直径7.0mm,长45mm),第三组另一侧拧入Diapason螺钉(直径6.7mm,长45mm)。分别测试螺钉最大旋入力矩及最大轴向拔出力。结果第一组GSS螺钉最大轴向拔出力为CCD螺钉的114%,SOCON螺钉为CCD螺钉的108%;GSS螺钉最大轴向拔出力大于SOCON螺钉,差异无显著性(P>0.05);GSS螺钉最大旋入力矩小于SOCON螺钉,差异无显著性(P>0.05)。第二组GSS螺钉最大轴向拔出力为CCD螺钉的127%,TSRH螺钉为CCD螺钉的64%;GSS螺钉最大轴向拔出力大于TSRH螺钉,差异有显著性(P<0.01);GSS螺钉最大旋入力矩大于TSRH螺钉,差异有显著性(P<0.01)。第三组GSS螺钉最大轴向拔出力为CCD螺钉的122%,Diapason螺钉为CCD螺钉的8     

儿童颈椎间盘钙化症的影像诊断

目的 探讨儿童颈椎间盘钙化症的影像表现及诊断价值，并提高对本病的认识。方法 回顾分析16例儿童颈椎钙化性椎间盘病的影像表现。结果 16例患均行颈椎平片检查，5例行CT扫描并作了三维重建，8例行MRI检查。16例平片均显示了椎间盘钙化灶，均为单发，CT平扫加三维重建显示4例钙化呈卵圆形，1例钙化为不规则形。MRI检查不仅显示了椎间盘内改变还清晰显示了病变相邻椎体边缘信号改变，在T1、T2加权像上呈低信号。结论 平片检查可以显示椎间盘钙化；CT平扫加三维重建能清晰显示了钙化灶的大小、形态；MRI检查在显示受累椎体及周围组织的改变方面明显优于CT和平片。     

经皮穿刺髓核成形术治疗腰椎间盘突出症初步临床报道

目的　寻求一种简单、安全、有效、微创的椎间盘突出症治疗方法。方法　对 1 6例腰椎间盘突出症采用经皮穿刺髓核成形术 (Nucleoplasty)治疗 ,并对其疗效进行观察分析。 结果　全部患者经二周至一个月短期随访 ,症状均有不同程度改善 ,疗效优良率为 93 8% ,有效率为 1 0 0 %。未发现明显并发症。结论　髓核成形术是一种先进、安全、有效的椎间盘突出微创手术 ,具有操作简单、安全、微创、疗效佳、恢复快、无需住院等优点。