The Torg-Pavlov ratio for the prediction of acute spinal cord injury after a minor trauma to the cervical spine

Background contextAcute cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) has been observed in some patients after a minor trauma to the cervical spine. The discrepancy between the severity of the trauma and the clinical symptoms has been attributed to spinal canal stenosis. However, to date, there is no universally established radiological parameter for identifying critical spinal stenosis in these patients. The spinal canal–to–vertebral body ratio (Torg-Pavlov ratio) has been proposed for assessing developmental spinal canal stenosis. The relevance of the Torg-Pavlov ratio for predicting the occurrence and severity of acute cervical SCI after a minor trauma to the cervical spine has not yet been established.PurposeTo investigate the Torg-Pavlov ratio values of the cervical spine in patients suffering from acute cervical SCI after a minor trauma to the cervical spine and the use of the Torg-Pavlov ratio for identifying patients at risk of cervical SCI and predicting the severity and course of symptoms.Study design/settingRetrospective radiological study of consecutive patients.Patient sampleForty-five patients suffering from acute cervical SCI and 68 patients showing no neurologic symptoms after a minor trauma to the cervical spine.Outcome measuresMidvertebral sagittal cervical spinal canal diameter and the sagittal vertebral body diameter. Calculation of the Torg-Pavlov ratio values.MethodsConventional lateral radiographs of the cervical spine (C3–C7) were analyzed to determine the Torg-Pavlov ratio values. Receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated for evaluating the classification accuracy of the Torg-Pavlov ratio for predicting SCI.ResultsThe Torg-Pavlov ratio values in the SCI group were significantly (p<.04) smaller compared with that in the control group. A Torg-Pavlov ratio cutoff value of 0.7 yielded the greatest positive likelihood ratio for predicting the occurrence of SCI. However, there were no significant differences in the Torg-Pavlov ratio values between the different American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Score groups and between patients with complete, partial, and no recovery of symptoms.ConclusionsDevelopmental cervical spinal canal stenosis assessed by the Torg-Pavlov ratio was characteristic for patients suffering from acute cervical SCI after a minor trauma to the cervical spine. Patients at risk of SCI after a minor trauma to the cervical spine can be identified by applying a Torg-Pavlov ratio cutoff value of 0.7. Other factors in addition to the spinal canal–to–vertebral body ratio affect the severity and course of symptoms as a result of cervical SCI.     

Non Traumatic Dislocation of Shoulder with Rupture of Axillary Vessel Branch in a Paraplegic Patient: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

Spinal cord injured (SCI) patients utilize the shoulder joints for wheelchair propulsion, for transfers in and out of wheelchairs and for wheelchair “push-ups” for pressure relief, to prevent pressure sores. Accurate incidence of shoulder dislocation in SCI patients is not known. A majority of the dislocations seen are secondary to trauma. A 66-year-old, T10 paraplegic since 1942, developed severe osteoarthritic changes in both shoulders and experienced nontraumatic, recurrent dislocation of his right shoulder with a rupture of the axillary vessel branch. This case is reported here because of its rarity. (J Am Paraplegia Soc 1990; 13: 15–17)     

Effects of general anesthesia with and without thoracic epidural block on length of stay after open spine surgery: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND CONTEXTLength of hospital stay (LOS) is an important concern in all types of surgery, and the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol has been developed to improve perioperative management and outcomes, which require multidisciplinary management. In terms of pain control, intraoperative regional anesthesia and postoperative opioid-sparing analgesia are recommended. For open spine surgery, we aimed to combine thoracic epidural analgesia to reduce pain and opioid-related side effects, thereby hastening recovery.PURPOSEThis study aimed to compare the length of hospital stay after open complete laminectomy with fusion between general anesthesia and combined general anesthesia involving a single thoracic epidural injection.DESIGNA randomized single-blinded controlled study.PATIENT SAMPLEThirty-eight patients scheduled for elective open laminectomy with fusion between I and III levels were selected.OUTCOME MEASURESLOS, postoperative pain, patient-controlled morphine consumption at 24 hours, patient satisfaction score, and other opioid-related side effects were recorded.METHODSPatients were randomly selected to receive standard general anesthesia (GA) or GA combined with a single-shot thoracic epidural at T11–T12 or T12–L1, a block with 10 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine, and 4 mg of morphine.RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the demographic variables between groups. LOS was significantly lower in the combined epidural and/or GA than in the control group (3.78±0.81 [mean±standard deviation] and 4.79±1.51 days, respectively; p=.017). Numeric rating score (at rest) at the post-anesthesia care unit, 24 hours postoperative morphine consumption (mg), operating time, and blood loss were significantly lower in the epidural group. Patients who received combined epidural and/or GA were more likely to report higher patient satisfaction (p=.008). However, the incidence of intraoperative hypotension was significantly higher in the epidural group (72.2% vs. 21.1%, p=.003). The incidences of adverse events and surgical field rating scores did not differ between the 2 patient groups.CONCLUSIONSCombined lower thoracic epidural and/or GA in patients undergoing elective lumbar spine surgery was associated with decreased LOS.     

六味地黄丸联合唑来膦酸治疗妇女绝经后骨质疏松的临床研究

目的探讨六味地黄丸联合唑来膦酸治疗妇女绝经后骨质疏松的临床效果。方法选取2015年6月—2017年1月广东医科大学附属医院收治的86例绝经后骨质疏松患者,随机分为对照组和治疗组,每组各43例。对照组静脉滴注唑来膦酸注射液,5 mg/次,1次/年。治疗组在此基础上口服六味地黄丸,8丸/次,3次/d。所有患者均连续治疗12个月。观察两组的临床疗效,比较两组治疗前后视觉模拟(VAS)评分、简明健康状况调查量表(SF-36)评分、腰椎1~4骨质密度(BMD)、全髋关节骨BMD、左侧股骨颈BMD、Ⅰ型原胶原氨基端前肽(PINP)、β-胶原降解产物(β-CTX)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)、骨钙素(BGP)的变化情况。结果治疗后,对照组和治疗组的总有效率分别为79.07%、95.35%,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,两组VAS评分、血清PINP、β-CTX、ALP及BGP水平显著降低,SF-36评分、腰椎1~4 BMD值、全髋关节骨BMD值、左侧股骨颈BMD值显著升高,同组治疗前后比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后,治疗组VAS评分、血清PINP、β-CTX、ALP及BGP水平低于对照组,SF-36评分、腰椎1~4 BMD值、全髋关节骨BMD值、左侧股骨颈BMD值高于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论六味地黄丸联合唑来膦酸治疗妇女绝经后骨质疏松具有较好的临床疗效,可有效缓解患者疼痛症状,增加骨密度,提高生活质量,具有一定的临床推广应用价值。     

ProDisc–C versus anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for the surgical treatment of symptomatic cervical disc disease: two-year outcomes of Asian prospective randomized controlled multicentre study

European Spine Journal - Our study aimed to evaluate non-inferiority of ProDisc-C to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in terms of clinical outcomes and incidence of adjacent segment...