Surgical strategy of one stage surgery of anterior release combined with posterior correction in treatment of severe scoliosis

Objective: Severe scoliosis refers to scoliosis with serious and stiff curve. It always combins with trunk imbalance in coronal and sagittal contour. Besides complex pathological changes, cardiopulmonary deficits and other concomitant diseases increase treatmental difficulties. So the treatment of severe scoliosis is always a great challenge to spine surgeon. Methods :Thirty-six patients with severe scoliosis received one stage posterior correction followed by anterior release during July 1997 to January 2003, including 9 males and 27 females. Mean age was 17.2 years. Of them, 33 was idiopathic scoliosis and 3 was neurofibromatosis scoliosis( Cobb angle: 85-116 degree); 20 cases were abnormal in sagital plane. Three-dimensional devised instrumentation were applied such as CD, CD-Horizon, TSRH or Isola in posterior procedure followed by anterior release during the same anesthesia. 31 cases of this group received thorac icplasty. Results: The correction in the frontal plane achieved an average of 48.5%. In the sagittal plane, the pathological shape of the spine was reduced and distinctly ameliorated. 80. 6% of the patients maintained or achieved balance of sagittal plane. There were no complications of severe neurological deficit, hook displacement, rod broken, and deep infection at follow-up. One case occurred traumatic pleurisy after operation and another appeared pseudarthrosis 2 years later. One case demonstrated imbalance 11 months after operation. One patient was presented loss of correction more than 10 degree at one year follow-up and 5.2 degree in average. Conclusion:The study indicates that the one stage posterior correction combined with anterior release in treatment of severe scoliosis can achieve satisfactory correction. Appropriate choice of cases, preoperational detailed assessment and application of SEP and wake-up test during operation can possibly reduce severe complication. The long-term outcomes still need further observation.     

Two-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion for degenerative disc disease: improved clinical outcome with restoration of lumbar lordosis

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Although posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) for degenerative lumbar diseases is routine, there are few reports on double-level PLIF. PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of double-level PLIF. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A retrospective study of operated cases in Gifu, Japan. PATIENT SAMPLE: Nineteen patients (8 men and 11 women, 59.5+/-10.2 years) who underwent double-level PLIF between 1996 and 2001. OUTCOME MEASURES: Operation time, blood loss, complications, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score for back pain and lumbar sagittal alignment were evaluated. METHODS: Patients were examined retrospectively at follow-ups of 3.6+/-1.7 years. Primary diseases were spondylolisthesis, spinal canal stenosis, degenerative scoliosis and herniated intervertebral disc. Fusion areas were L3 to L5 in 15 cases and L4 to S1 in 4 cases. RESULTS: The mean JOA score increased from an initial score of 12.9+/-3.5 to 21.3+/-4.9 at the final follow-up. There was a positive correlation (R=0.718, p<.001) between the increase in lordotic angle and the increase in the JOA score. Several parameters suggested that the surgical invasiveness was not minimal. CONCLUSION: Double-level PLIF provided satisfactory results and preserved lumbar spine lordosis.     

Cervifix在陈旧性寰枢椎脱位并高位颈髓压迫症中的应用

目的:探讨Cervifix内固定系统治疗陈旧性寰枢椎脱位并脊髓不全损伤的价值。方法:36例陈旧性寰枢椎脱位并脊髓不全损伤行后路融合、Cervifix内固定。男23例、女13例,年龄15～62岁,平均38.3岁。陈旧性外伤21例,先天性畸形9例,类风湿性关节炎伴寰椎前脱位6例。结果:随访8～42个月,平均19个月。术后脊髓功能按JOA17分法评定,改善率为71.4％。全部患者均获骨性融合,内置物无松动、断裂及脊髓损伤加重等并发症。结论:Cervifix内固定可提供坚强有效的节段性固定,提高融合率。同时,可预防单纯减压融合术后早期失稳导致的高位脊髓损伤加重。     

中下段颈椎的应力松弛特性及前、后路手术对其的影响

目的 研究中下段颈椎的应力松弛特性，并评估椎间盘切除植骨术与椎板切开术对其影响。方法 6例新鲜尸体完整颈椎及手术后颈椎，在模拟生理状态下进行屈曲及伸展位的应力松弛实验。结果 在恒应变条件下，绘制术前及不同术式后的中下段颈椎的应力松弛函数及曲线；术后的中下段颈椎的应力和初始化应力比值G(t)比术前明显增大，前路椎间盘切除植骨术后的G(t)值比椎板切开术大，两者均有统计学意义。结论 在恒应变条件下，颈椎具有快速应力松弛敏感性，屈曲位比伸展位大。椎板成形术及颈椎前路椎间盘切除植骨术都使颈椎的应力松弛能力减弱，前路椎间盘切除植骨术的影响更大。     

颈椎病合并下颈椎不稳的外科治疗策略

目的 探讨颈椎病合并下颈椎不稳的临床诊断、术式选择及手术疗效。方法 对手术治疗的32例颈椎病合并下颈椎不稳，分别摄术前及术后随访之颈椎正侧位、伸屈侧位X线片及颈椎MR检查。32例均经前路行减压、植骨融合、内固定手术治疗。以颈椎不稳节段与颈椎主要退变节段重合，并行减压内固定患者为A组，共7例；对25例颈椎不稳与颈椎病节段不重合，以其中仅处理颈椎病节段9例为B组；在处理颈椎病节段同时处理颈椎不稳节段16例为C组。以“40分”评分法分别对患者术前、术后随访情况予以评价，对数据分别行组间均值t检验及组内配对t检验。结果 经12～36个月随访（平均25个月），所有患者均获骨性融合，平均改善率61．2％。A、B、C组间均值t检验：术前差异无显著性（P〉0．05）、术后差异亦无显著性（P〉0．05）。各组内配对t检验，术前、术后随访差异均有显著性（P〈0．05）。结论 在颈椎病合并下颈椎不稳的患者中，不稳节段与主要退变节段关系密切但往往并不重合。通过颈前路手术，在处理颈椎病节段同时处理相邻颈椎不稳节段，临床疗效满意。     

后外侧融合对胸腰椎爆裂型骨折疗效的影响

目的 观察后外侧融合对预防胸腰椎爆裂型骨折短节段固定失败的作用及意义。方法 本组60例胸腰椎爆裂型骨折患者，A组30例均为我院收治患者，B组30例均为外院手术来我院复查的患者。A组行短节段内固定自体髂骨植骨、后外侧融合术；B组仅行短节段内固定，未植骨融合。平均随访16个月，在X线侧位片上测量Cobb角、伤椎后凸角及矢状面指数（SI），临床疗效评价采用下腰痛评分法（low back outcome score，LBOS）。结果 手术前、后两组间Cobb角、伤椎后凸角、SI比较，差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05），而末次随访时两组间Cobb角、伤椎后凸角、SI比较，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。LBOS评分A组的优良率为73％（22／30），B组仅为43％（13／30）。结论 后外侧融合是降低内固定失败、减少纠正丢失等并发症的有效措施，只行内固定而不做植骨融合明显增高了并发症的发生率，是不恰当的手术方式。     

Assessing the Stiffness of Spinal Fusion in Animal Models

The clinical goal of spinal fusion is to reduce motion and the associated pain. Therefore, measuring motion under loading is critical. The purpose of this study was to validate four-point bending as a means to mechanically evaluate simulated fusions in dog and rabbit spines. We hypothesized that this method would be more sensitive than manual palpation and would be able to distinguish unilateral vs bilateral fusion. Spines from four mixed breed dogs and four New Zealand white rabbits were used to simulate posterolateral fusion with polymethyl methacrylate as the fusion mass. We performed manual palpation and nondestructive mechanical testing in four-point bending in four planes of motion: flexion, extension, and right and left bending. This testing protocol was used for each specimen in three fusion modes: intact, unilateral, and bilateral fusion. Under manual palpation, all intact spines were rated as not fused, and all unilateral and bilateral simulated fusions were rated as fused. In four-point bending, dog spines were significantly stiffer after unilateral fusion compared with intact in all directions. Additionally, rabbit spines were stiffer in flexion and left bending after unilateral fusion. All specimens exhibited significant differences between intact and bilateral fusion except the rabbit in extension. For unilateral vs bilateral fusion, significant differences were present for right bending in the dog model and for flexion in the rabbit. Unilateral fusion can provide enough stability to constitute a fused grade by manual palpation but may not provide structural stiffness comparable to bilateral fusion.     

后路环周融合治疗老年人重度腰椎管狭窄症

[目的]探讨后路环周腰椎融合在老年人重度腰椎管狭窄症的应用和效果。[方法]2001年11月~2004年5月,采用后路腰椎间融合(PLIF)联合后外侧融合(PLF)的环周融合术治疗老年人腰椎管狭窄症83例。随访18~42个月,观察术后并发症,采用JOA评分评估治疗效果,X线片和CT判定植骨融合情况。[结果]术后所有患者12~14 d即可下地行走,3例出现症状性下肢深静脉血栓,10例腰腿痛一过性加重。末次随访腰腿痛明显缓解,JOA评分由术前平均(13.6±3.8)分改善至(22.3±4.6)分。椎间植骨均获骨性融合。[结论]后路环周融合术是治疗老年人重度腰椎管狭窄的安全、有效、合理的选择之一。     

前路半椎体切除截骨后路矫形固定治疗严重先天性脊柱侧凸

目的探讨分期前路半椎体切除截骨后路矫形手术治疗严重先天性脊柱侧凸的临床疗效。方法严重先天性脊柱侧凸14例,男4例,女10例;年龄8～13岁,平均11.2岁。其中形成缺陷2例,分节缺陷6例,混合型6例。半椎体位于T53例,T2、T8、T10、T11、L1、L4各1例。胸弯12例,胸腰弯2例。术前冠状面Cobb角63°～95°,平均72.1°。胸椎后凸减小或前凸8例,胸腰段后凸4例。一期采用前路半椎体切除、多节段椎体间楔形截骨及分节不全松解;二期采用后路椎弓根钉棒系统三维矫形固定。前后路手术均植骨,平均截骨5.5个节段。结果一期前路术后冠状面Cobb角48°～60°,平均51.5°;矫正率19.6%～37.8%,平均28.6%。二期术后冠状面Cobb角5°～45°,平均30.5°;矫正率52.6%～87.5%,平均62.5%。8例存在胸椎后凸减小或前凸的患者均恢复生理性后凸,4例胸腰段后凸患者3例达到矢状面矫正。全部病例随访8～30个月,平均12.1个月。无断钉、断棒及明显的矫正度丢失,植骨融合良好。发生并发症2例,椎弓根钉帽松动1例,T1神经根激惹1例。结论一期前路半椎体切除、多节段椎体间楔形截骨、分节不全松解,二期后路矫形固定及前后路植骨治疗先天性脊柱侧凸能够达到较满意的矫形效果,适合于8～12岁的青春期前患者。     

马凡综合征脊柱侧凸的手术治疗

目的探讨马凡综合征脊柱侧凸的临床表现和手术方法,评价其疗效.方法回顾性分析1990年1月～2002年11月手术治疗的马凡综合征脊柱侧凸患者10例.评价手术前后侧凸冠状面、矢状面Cobb角、躯干偏移、顶椎旋转度(Nash-Moe法)及顶椎偏距等的变化.结果全部病例术后随访时间4个月～3年,平均15个月.躯干偏移术前平均2.17(0.5～8.0)cm,术后平均1.41(0.5～3.5)cm;顶椎旋转度手术后平均改善1°;顶椎偏距术前平均4.57(1～8.1)cm,术后平均2.14(0～5.5)cm.侧凸主弯冠状面Cobb角术前平均88°(49°～110°),术后平均42°(10°～90°),矫正率为46.38%(18.18%～81.54%),最后一次随访平均46°(11°～96°),平均丢失4°.胸椎后凸术前平均20°(-10°～52°),术后平均23°(0°～35°),最后一次随访平均24°(0°～35°).5例胸腰段后凸畸形Cobb角由术前的平均后凸85°纠正至术后的平均后凸10°.共有3例发生了术后并发症,1例发生假关节予密切随访,1例出现右股前区皮肤麻木经对症治疗1周后消失,1例腰段失代偿者行后路翻修术后取得满意效果.结论马凡综合征脊柱侧凸易产生术后并发症,三维矫形器械可以对马凡综合征脊柱侧凸进行有效地矫正.手术治疗的要点是充分考虑矢状面畸形的矫形、注意腰段或腰骶段的硬脊膜扩张、良好的植骨融合以及术后确切的外固定.