Recompression of vertebral body after balloon kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture

The purpose of this retrospective clinical study was to evaluate the factors that affect recompression of operated vertebrae after percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty (PKP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) and assess their clinical importance. PKP has been used for VCFs with satisfactory results. Several studies about subsequent VCFs adjacent to cemented vertebrae have been reported after PKP. However, the presence and significance of recompression of operated vertebrae have not been adequately described. In total, 80 patients treated with PKP for single thoracolumbar VCFs were reviewed. The follow-up period was at least 1 year. Patients were divided into those without recompression (maintained group, n = 70) and those with recompression (recompressed group, n = 10). Plain roentgenography (preoperative, operative, and last), preoperative BMD, and preoperative MRI were checked. Age, gender, T-score in BMD, duration of symptom, compression rate (CR) of VCF, reduction rate, kyphotic angle (KA), reduction angle, intervertebral cleft (IVC), and non-PMMA-endplate-contact (NPEC) were evaluated. To evaluate the clinical results, we checked the VAS score at each follow-up period. All data were analyzed statistically. The CR for the recompressed group increased significantly after surgery and decreased at the last follow-up (p < 0.05). The last CR was not significantly different from the preoperative CR. The KA showed the same pattern. The preoperative, postoperative, and last VAS scores were significantly different from one another in both groups (p < 0.05). Between the groups, preoperative KA, postoperative KA, last KA, IVC, and NPEC were significantly different (p < 0.05). In particular, last KA, IVC, and NPEC showed highly significant differences (p < 0.001). In a correlation test for the evaluated factors, IVC (r = 0.557) and NPEC (r = 0.496) were the most significant. The presence of IVC and NPEC may play an important role in inducing recompression of treated vertebrae after PKP. Careful observation of patients with these conditions is necessary to prevent deterioration of their clinical course.     

Lumbar posterolateral fusion inhibits sensory nerve ingrowth into punctured lumbar intervertebral discs and upregulation of CGRP immunoreactive DRG neuron innervating punctured discs in rats

Degeneration of lumbar intervertebral discs is thought to be a cause of low back pain. Studies have found that a cause of discogenic low back pain is intervertebral disc inflammation and axonal growth of afferent fibers innervating the disc. Lumbar spine fusion for chronic discogenic low back pain is considered an effective procedure. However, no study has investigated the mechanism of pain relief. We did this by applying Fluoro-Gold (FG) to the ventral aspect of the L4–L5 intervertebral discs of 40 rats. We exposed the nucleus pulposus to the annulus fibrosus in a disc punctured model. Rats were divided into 4 groups. Group A: Punctured intervertebral disc with sham posterolateral fusion (PLF) (n = 10), Group B: Punctured intervertebral disc with PLF (n = 15), Group C: Normal intervertebral disc (no puncture) with PLF (n = 10), and Group D: Normal disc (no disc puncture) with sham PLF (n = 5). Four weeks after surgery, bilateral L1–L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) were stained with growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), a marker of axonal growth, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a neuropeptide marker of pain. Bone union was evaluated using X-ray imaging. Of the FG-labeled neurons, the proportions of GAP43- and CGRP-immunoreactive (IR) neurons in Group A were significantly higher than in Group D (P < 0.05). The proportions of GAP43- and CGRP-IR neurons in bone union rats in Group B were significantly lower than in nonunion rats in Group B and in the rats in Group A (P < 0.05). No significant differences in GAP43- and CGRP-IR neurons were observed between bone union and nonunion rats in Group C and the rats in Group D (P > 0.05). PLF is strongly related to the downregulation of GAP43 and CGRP expression. Therefore, PLF may suppress the increase of inflammatory neuropeptides and the process of axonal growth. Moreover, these results may explain, in part, the mechanism of pain relief following lumbar spinal fusion for chronic discogenic low back pain in humans.     

内窥镜下不同入路治疗L_5S_1椎间盘突出症

目的 探讨局麻下经皮后外斜入路与椎板间孔入路内窥镜手术治疗L_5S_1椎间盘突出症的临床疗效.方法 自2003年6月至2008年10月,对57例L_5S_1椎间盘突出症患者应用内窥镜下髓核摘除术进行治疗.男32例,女25例;年龄17～79岁,平均42岁.内窥镜手术入路分别采用后外斜入路与椎板间孔入路.应用Oswestry功能障碍指数对患者手术前、后腰椎功能状况进行评价,分析不同入路的治疗结果、并发症、二次开放手术等情况.结果 57例患者均获得随访,最长5年4个月,最短12个月,平均22.4个月.采用后外斜入路22例,椎板间孔入路35例,其中各有1例患者接受二次手术,各有1例术后出现感染.后外斜入路突出的部位更靠外侧.椎板间孔入路不考虑髂棘的高低,突出部位为中央型和旁中央型.后外斜入路组手术前、后平均Oswestry功能障碍指数分别为74.36,13.91(P<0.001),椎板间孔入路为77.45,12.56(P<0.001),术前和术后两者之间的差异无统计学意义.按照MacNab标准,末次随访时手术疗效后外斜入路优良率为86%.椎板间孔入路优良率为89%.结论 两种入路各有不同的适应证,手术过程明显不同,但只要选择恰当,均能达到很好的临床疗效.     

伴或不伴黄韧带骨化的胸椎和胸腰段椎间盘突出症的术式选择

目的 探讨伴或不伴黄韧带骨化的胸椎和胸腰段椎间盘突出症的术式选择.方法 2004年6月至2009年12月,手术治疗伴或不伴黄韧带骨化的胸椎和胸腰段椎间盘突出症患者31例,男22例,女9例;年龄24～71岁,平均54岁;病变节段T4～L2.根据Anand和Regan临床分类:2度1例,3a度2例,3b度3例,4度6例,5度19例;Frankel分级:B级2例,C级6例,D级11例,E级12例.18例不伴黄韧带骨化者行前路手术,采用椎体后缘切除、椎体后侧开槽或椎体次全切除减压并植骨内固定.13例伴有明显黄韧带骨化者行后路半关节突和全椎板切除减压术,未切除前侧突出的椎间盘.结果 前路术后发生硬膜囊撕裂1例,神经根袖损伤1例,肋间神经痛3例,肺不张1例,取髂骨区麻木2例.后路术后发生椎管内血肿1例,脑脊液漏2例,切口感染1例,肺部感染1例.随访6～48个月,平均18个月.末次随访时Frankel分级:C级3例,D级7例,E级21例;Anand和Regan分类:1度2例,2度1例,3a度1例,4度2例,5度10例,15例无明显症状.X线片示内固定均无失败,植骨融合良好.结论 胸椎和胸腰段椎间盘突出以脊髓前侧压迫为主者可选择前路椎体后侧开槽或椎体次全切除减压植骨融合术,伴黄韧带骨化导致脊髓前后侧压迫者可行后路半关节突和全椎板切除减压术.     

外源性肿瘤坏死因子-α诱发兔椎间盘退变中β-catenin蛋白的表达及意义

目的 通过外源性肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)-α注射构建兔椎间盘退变动物模型,探讨该模型中β-catenin蛋白的表达及意义和炎性细胞因子在促进腰椎间盘退变过程中Wnt/β-catenin信号通路的作用.方法 选取12只健康成年日本白兔,雌雄随机,体质量2.5～3.0kg.手术暴露L2～5 3个间隙共36个椎间盘.随机分为4组,分别注入生理盐水、TNF-α 5 ng、TNF-α 10ng、TNF-α 20 ng,于术后第8周统一处死,取椎间盘髓核组织作苏木素-伊红(HE)-番红O染色病理切片进行形态学观察;各组分别随机选取4个椎间盘髓核组织标本,采用蛋白印迹法(Western blot)测定β-catenin蛋白含量并比较各组间差异.结果 HE-番红O染色病理切片显示,在5、10、20 ng组椎间盘组织中髓核细胞数量减少,正常网状结构破坏,细胞形态发生改变,出现肥大空泡样软骨细胞,组织基质蛋白聚糖含量明显降低,番红O淡染,生理盐水对照组椎间盘形态基本正常,无退变发生.蛋白印迹结果显示β-catenin蛋白含量在注射TNF-α组明显增加,各组吸光度比值分别为:0.142±0.036、0.351±0.041、0.472±0.052和0.710±0.063,组间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)且与TNF-α浓度相关.结论 通过外源性TNF-α盘内注射能够成功构建兔椎间盘退变动物模型,且退变程度与TNF-α呈浓度依赖性;在退变模型髓核组织中β-catenin蛋白含量增高且与TNF-α浓度正相关,提示炎症细胞因子触发了Wnt/β-catenin信号通路,在椎间盘退变过程中可能发挥了重要作用.     

移植骨髓间充质干细胞对兔退变椎间盘髓核细胞凋亡的影响

目的 观察骨髓间充质干细胞(MSCs)移植对兔退变椎间盘髓核细胞凋亡的影响.方法 以各兔L2/3、L3/4、L4/5、L5/6节段分为正常组、退变组、成纤维细胞(SFs)移植对照组、MSCs移植治疗组.MSCs和SFs分别经绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)转染后,注射植入退变椎间盘的髓核.通过透射电镜观察退变椎间盘凋亡髓核细胞形态;用实时定量聚合酶链反应(PCR)检测退变组织中髓核细胞凋亡相关基因bcl-2和box mRNA的表达;免疫荧光法标记髓核细胞凋亡相关蛋白Caspase-3,并通过TUNEL法标记凋亡髓核细胞,激光共聚焦显微镜检测髓核细胞凋亡蛋白表达率和细胞凋亡比率.结果 透射电镜下,退变椎间盘中凋亡髓核细胞呈现出核染色质边集,空泡形成,核膜断裂,凋亡小体形成等变化.MSCs移植治疗组bcl-2 mRNA的表达量高于退变组和SFs移植对照组(P<0.05),bax mRNA的表达量与退变组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).MSCs移植治疗组细胞凋亡率和Caspase-3表达率均高于正常组[细胞凋亡率分别为(16.75±2.14)%和(6.86±1.08)%;Caspase-3表达率分别为[(20.34±1.03)%和(6.09±0.77)%](P<0.05),低于退变组和SFs移植对照组[细胞凋亡率分别为(31.87±4.16)%和(29.02±2.16)%;Caspase-3表达率分别为(31.50±3.78)%和(30.20±4.93)%](P<0.05).结论 髓核细胞凋亡在椎间盘退变过程中起重要作用.MSCs移植能有效抑制椎间盘髓核细胞凋亡,延缓椎间盘退变过程.     

壳聚糖/Ⅰ型胶原复合支架与滑膜成纤维样细胞构建颞下颌关节盘的研究

目的 探讨利用滑膜成纤维样细胞(SFBs)及壳聚糖/Ⅰ型胶原(CS/COL-Ⅰ)复合支架构建颞下颌关节盘软骨的可行性.方法 获取兔颞下颌关节滑膜组织进行SFBs培养,第3～5代SFBs三维培养于通过冷冻干燥法制备的CS/COL-Ⅰ支架材料中7 d,用噻唑蓝(MTT)比色法分别在1、3、5、7 d检测支架材料对细胞增殖的影响.细胞支架复合物在体外经过人重组转化生长因子β1(rhTGF,10μg/L)和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF,50 μg/L)诱导后,植入裸鼠体内4、8周后获取标本,进行组织学检测细胞在支架材料上的生长状态及黏多糖(GAGs)形成,免疫组织化学和逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)半定量分析Ⅱ型胶原的表达.结果 支架材料表面及内部均呈多孔隙蜂窝状结构.SFBs在CS/COL-Ⅰ中的增殖要明显高于平板培养(P＜0.05).细胞支架复合物植入裸鼠体内4、8周后,组织学及免疫组织化学半定量分析显示在8周时GAGs(6.900±0.316)和Ⅱ型胶原(0.0952±0.0248)IA/μm2与4周时GAGs(3.600±0.699)和Ⅱ型胶原(0.0411±0.0127)IA/μm2差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 体外诱导后的SFBs/CS-COL-Ⅰ复合物具有应用于组织工程化颞下颌关节盘构建的可能.     

经皮穿刺椎间盘内臭氧注射联合胶原酶注射治疗腰椎间盘突出症23例疗效观察

目的探讨经皮穿刺椎间盘内臭氧注射联合胶原酶注射治疗腰椎间盘突出症的疗效和安全性。方法将腰椎间盘突出症患者59例随机分为3组。A组19例给予臭氧治疗,B组17例给予胶原酶治疗,C组23例采用臭氧联合胶原酶治疗。治疗后比较3组临床疗效疼痛视觉模拟(VAS)评分及直腿抬高试验(SLRT)转阴率。结果 C组总有效率高于A组和B组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。3组治疗后疼痛强度均有不同程度的减轻(P<0.05或P<0.01);且C组较A、B组明显减轻(P<0.01或P<0.05)。C组SLRL转阴率高于A、B组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论经皮穿刺椎间盘内臭氧注射联合胶原酶注射治疗腰椎间盘突出症是一种安全、微创、疗效确切的方法。     

手术治疗腰椎间盘突出症48例临床分析

目的：探讨腰椎间盘突出症手术治疗的临床疗效。方法：采用单侧椎板扩大开窗髓核摘除术、单侧半椎板切除减压髓核摘除术及全椎板切除减压髓核摘除术。结果：总有效率达93.7%。其中全椎板切除治愈率占82.5%,继发率占17.5%;单侧椎板切除治愈率占91%,继发率占9%。结论：采用单侧椎板扩大开窗髓核摘除术、单侧半椎板切除减压髓核摘除术及全椎板切除减压髓核摘除术疗效满意。     

小切口开窗式髓核摘除术治疗腰椎间盘突出症38例临床疗效观察

目的：观察采用小切口开窗式髓核摘除术治疗腰椎间盘突出症的疗效。方法：选取本院进行手术治疗的76例腰椎间盘突出症随机平均分为治疗组和对照组,两组各38例,治疗组采用小切口开窗式髓核摘除术,对照组采用全椎板切除或扩大椎板切除术,观察比较两组的疗效及术后切口长度、手术时间、术中出血量、卧床时间情况。结果：治疗组总有效率明显高于对照组,且治疗组切口小,手术用时少,术中出血少,患者卧床时间短,P〈0.05。结论：小切口开窗式髓核摘除术治疗腰椎间盘突出症具有手术时间短,出血量少,卧床时间短等优点,正确选择手术适应证,可以广泛应用于临床。