Does T2 inversion aid in identifying disc pathologies?

ObjectiveT2 inversion sequence is used in routine radiology practice mainly to heighten contrast resolution within the region to be studied but no evidence exists in current literature to assess it's true efficacy for lumbar disc degeneration. The objective of this study was to analyse T2 inversion and evaluate it's efficacy in assessment of lumbar disc pathology,.Materials and methodsThis retrospective single-centre study included 50 randomly selected patients presenting with back pain and radiculopathy. T2 inversion sequence was obtained in both axial and sagittal planes in addition to routine sequences. All the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) procedures were performed on 3T. One senior Musculoskeletal (MSK) radiologist, 2 general radiologists and a spinal surgeon blinded to final results reviewed images for the various disc pathologies individually analysing conventional and T2 inversion images. Data was analysed using Fischer's test and Chi² test with a p value of <0.05 considered as significant.ResultsFifty randomly selected patients (mean age was 47.3 years(range 35–55 years) with back pain and radicular symptoms were included. The spectrum of disc pathologies included protrusions, annular fissures, discal cysts and calcified discs. Based on the above findings, T2 inversion sequence is not proved to be an alternative imaging sequence to routine MR imaging sequences for the depiction of various disc pathologies.ConclusionT2 inversion sequence does not increase the depiction of various lumbar disc pathologies in comparison with conventional sequences when used by experienced MSK radiologists. It may highlight abnormalities better for relatively inexperienced readers such as general radiologists and spinal surgeons.     

八珍汤对腰椎间盘突出症微创孔镜下椎间盘髓核摘除患者的疼痛及生活质量的影响

目的:探究八珍汤对腰椎间盘突出症微创孔镜下椎间盘髓核摘除患者的疼痛及生活质量的影响。方法:选取余姚市人民医院脊柱外科 2019年 2月—2020年 2月选取腰椎间盘突出症微创孔镜下椎间盘髓核摘除患者,将患者随机分成两组,每组 65例,对照组行常规治疗,观察组在对照组的基础上加用八珍汤治疗。观察比较治疗 1个月后两组患者的疼痛情况、脊柱功能障碍情况,以及生活质量。结果:治疗前,患者视觉模拟(VAS)评分比较差异无统计学意义;治疗后,两组 VAS评分均低于治疗前,且观察组低于对照组,差异有统计学意义( P<0.05)。治疗前,患者脊柱功能障碍( ODI)评分比较差异无统计学意义;治疗后,两组 VAS评分均低于治疗前,但两组差异无统计学意义( P>0.05)。治疗后,观察组患者生活质量评分高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:腰椎间盘突出症微创孔镜下椎间盘髓核摘除患者加用八珍汤治疗,能够有效缓解疼痛,提升生活质量。     

Reliability of the assessment of disc degeneration on the lateral DXA scans

IntroductionGiven the prevalence and costs induced by osteoarthritis (OA), it is necessary to find a cheap and safe technique to evaluate it reliably.ObjectiveTo assess the value of the lateral dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) spine scans for the diagnosis of disc degeneration.MethodSeventy-seven individuals aged 18 and over, with or without disc degeneration, had both lateral thoracolumbar spine radiographs and DXA spine scans (≤ 6 months between both exams). Disc degeneration was assessed using the Lane score. The images of 20 randomly selected individuals were assessed by two readers.ResultsAlmost 13% of the thoracic levels were not assessable on the DXA scans. For the identification of the intervertebral levels on the DXA scans as interpretable or not, the intra-reader agreement was good (κ = 0.81) and the inter-reader agreement was fair (κ = 0.27–0.36). For the diagnostic criteria (osteophytes, disc space narrowing, osteosclerosis, overall grade), the intra-reader agreement was excellent for the radiographs (κ = 0.89–0.92), good for the DXA scans (κ = 0.64–0.83) and fair to moderate for the between-method comparison (κ = 0.25–0.44). The inter-reader agreement was moderate to good for the radiographs (κ = 0.49–0.66) and fair to good for the DXA scans (κ = 0.32–0.74). In the per patient analysis (the most severe grade), the intra-reader agreement was excellent for the radiographs (κ = 0.85–0.94), moderate to excellent for the DXA scans (κ = 0.53–0.85) and poor to good for the between-methods comparison (κ = 0.17–0.63).ConclusionOur results do not support the use of DXA scans for the assessment of thoracolumbar disc degeneration.     

Evaluation of Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Discectomy in the Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Retrospective Study

ObjectiveThe objective of the present study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) and open fenestration discectomy (OFD) in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH).MethodsPatients in our hospital with LDH who received PTED (n = 71) and OFD (n = 39) from 2013 to 2014 were retrospectively studied. Patient information, including age, gender, visual analogue scale (VAS) score for low back pain and leg pain, body weight, height, Oswestry disability index (ODI), Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA), and recurrence, was collected. The patients in the two groups were followed up for an average of 63 months after surgery.ResultsA total of 136 patients completed the operation and 110 patients were followed up completely. There was no significant difference in baseline data between the two groups (P > 0.05). The postoperative low back pain, leg pain, ODI, and JOA of the two groups were better than those preoperatively (P < 0.05). One week after surgery, the recovery of PTED patients was better than that of OFD. The ODI score of the PTED group was lower than that of the OFD group (10 [8, 12] vs 14 [11, 16]; P < 0.05), the waist VAS score of the PTED group was lower than that of the OFD group (2 [2, 3] vs 3 [2, 4]; P < 0.05), the leg VAS score of the PTED group was lower than that of the OFD group (1 [0,1] vs 1 [1, 2]; P < 0.05), while the JOA score of the PTED group was higher than that of OFD group [19(16, 20) vs 12(10, 17); P < 0.05]. There were no significant differences in ODI, JOA, waist and leg VAS scores between the two groups at 1 month after surgery and at subsequent follow‐up (P > 0.05). At the end of the follow up, 89.7% (35/39) of patients in the OFD group had excellent improvement in the JOA score, and 88.7% (63/71) of patients in the PTED group had an excellent improvement. There was no significant difference between the two (P > 0.05). There was also no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups [(5/71) vs (3/39); P > 0.05]. [Correction added on 05 March 2021, after first online publication: “3/29” was amended to “3/39” in the preceding sentence.]ConclusionBoth PTED and OFD can achieve good mid‐term efficacy in the treatment of LDH but PTED has certain advantages, including the small incision, a shorter hospital stay, and quicker, earlier recovery. However, prospective randomized controlled studies with a larger sample size are needed.     

侧后路椎间孔镜下髓核摘除术治疗青少年腰椎间盘突出症的早期疗效观察

目的探讨经皮侧后路椎间孔镜下髓核摘除术治疗青少年腰椎间盘突出症的临床疗效。方法 2010年2月~2011年7月,我院收治的12例青少年腰椎间盘突出症患者接受了经皮侧后路椎间孔镜下髓核摘除术治疗并获得随访。其中男8例,女4例;年龄12~20岁,平均14.6岁。比较手术前后Oswestry功能障碍指数(Oswestry Disability Index,ODI)、下肢疼痛视觉模拟评分(visual analogue scale,VAS)及术后12个月时Macnab评分对临床疗效进行分析。结果 12例患者均获得随访,随访时间17~30个月,平均21.3个月。术后1周、3个月,6个月,12个月及末次随访时ODI指数、下肢疼痛VAS评分与术前相比均明显降低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。按照Macnab评分标准,术后12个月时,优7例,良4例,可1例,优良率为91.7%(11/12)。结论经皮侧后路椎间孔镜下髓核摘除术治疗青少年腰椎间盘突出症短期内能取得满意的临床疗效,其长期疗效及安全性有待进一步研究。     

利用重组人骨形态发生蛋白-2诱导椎间盘成骨的实验研究

目的确定在兔子的椎间盘内注射重组人骨形态发生蛋白-2（recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2，rhBMP-2）诱导椎体间融合的可行性。方法将24只成年新西兰大白兔，随机分为2组，每组12只。用微量注样器将含有rhBMP-2200μg的生理盐水溶液20μl和等量的生理盐水分别注射到成年新西兰大白兔的L4～5椎间盘的髓核内。术后10、30、60及90天进行X线照相和组织学检查。结果注射椎间盘未见免疫排斥反应。实验组可见纤维环和软骨终板成骨并在相邻椎体间形成骨桥。对照组的椎间盘内未见骨形成。结论利用注射的方法，rhBMP-2可诱导椎间盘成骨，达到椎体间融合的目的。     

超声刀在MED治疗腰椎间盘突出症中的应用

目的 探讨超声刀应用于后路脊柱显微内窥镜椎间盘摘除术(Microendoscopic Discectomy MED)治疗腰椎间盘突出症中的优势与疗效.方法 我院自2005年1月～11月将根据患者症状、体征、体查、CT和或MRI确诊的腰椎间盘突出症患者97例随机分为两组,超声刀 MED组45例,采用超声刀处理椎板下缘等骨性结构;而常规MED手术组52例采用枪钳或电动磨钻处理.结果 超声刀 MED组与常规MED组平均手术时间分别为42 min和75 min,平均术中失血量分别为29 ml和61 ml,平均术后引流量分别为13 ml和29 ml,差异均有显著性(P＜0.05);两组所有病例获得13月(6～17月)随访,按Macnnab标准,优良率分别为95.6%和92.3%,差异无显著性(P＞0.05).结论 超声刀切割骨骼的同时不损伤软组织,且有同步止血功能,操作安全方便,能缩短MED手术时间,不失为脊柱手术一种理想的辅助工具.     

胶原酶溶解术治疗腰椎间盘突出症1600例

目的 通过1600例临床观察,总结分析胶原酶化学溶解术治疗腰椎间盘突出症的临床应用价值。方法 1994－10／1999－10采用硬膜外注射,部分采用盘内注射胶原酶300U治疗腰椎间盘突出症1600例。结果 1200例患者术后3－48mo随访,总有效率96.67％,优良率90.58%。结论 硬膜外注射胶原酶治疗腰椎间盘突出症,安全创伤小、疗效满意。     

多节段颈椎间盘脱出的脊髓型颈椎病治疗的回顾性分析

目的：研究多节段颈间盘脱出症术式选择、减压范围及植骨的处理。方法：对48例患者的发病因素、病程及影像学表现特征进行分析。本组均采用颈椎前路减压自体髂骨植骨融合术,术后随访最平均4．7年。结果：治疗效果优：28例（58．3％）良：11例（22．9％）。可：6例（12．5％）,差：3例（6．3％）。结论多节段间盘脱出症减压手术应首先考虑前路手术。如临床症状不缓解,可待植骨愈合后再后后路减压手术。一般两个节段的间盘摘除基本可以解决多间盘脱出的颈椎病。有的原则是务必保持椎间高度。     

经皮腰椎间盘切除术治疗复发性腰椎间盘突出症

目的：总结经皮腰椎间盘切除术治疗传统后路术后复发性腰椎间盘突出症的经验。方法：分析１９９５年１月至１９９８年１２月采用经皮腰间盘切除术治疗１９例复发性腰椎间盘突出症的临床资料。结果：穿刺成功率１００％,术后随访１０～３２月,平,平均２１月,优１１例、良５例,可２例,差１例,优良率８４．２％。结论：在具有再次开放手术适应症的复发性腰椎间盘突出症中,初次手术行单节段半椎板、全椎板切除和开窗术者中一侧单