Effect of osteoporosis and intervertebral disc degeneration on endplate cartilage injury in rats

Objective:To investigate the effect of osteoporosis and intervertebral disc degeneration on the endplate cartilage injury in rats.Methods:A total of 48 female Sprague Dawley rats(3 months)were randomly divided into Groups A,B,C and D with 12 rats in each group.Osteoporosis and intervertebral disc degeneration composite model,simple degeneration model and simple osteoporosis model were prepared in Groups A,B and C respectively.After modeling,four rats of each group at 12th.18th and 24th week were sacrificed,Intervertebral height of cervical vertebra C6/C7 was measured.Micro-CT was used to image the endplate of cephalic and caudal cartilage at C6/C7 intervertebral disc.Abraded area rate of C6 caudal and C7 cephalic cartilage endplate was calculated,and then C6/C7 intervertebral disc was routinely embedded and sectioned.stained with safranin O to observe histological changes microscopically.Results:At 12,18 and24 weeks,intervertebral disc height of C6/C7 were(0.58±0.09)mm,(0.53±0.04)mm and(0.04±0.06)mm in Group A rats,(0.55±0.05)mm,(0.52±0.07)mm and(0.07±0.05)mm in Group B rats.At 24th week.intervertebral disc height of Group A rats was significantly lower than that of Group B rats(P0.05);intervertebral disc height of Groups A and B rats at each time point were significantly lower than that of Groups C and D(P0.05).There was no significantly statistical difference of intervertebral disc height between Groups C and D(P0.05).At 12 and 18 weeks,the abraded rate of C6 caudal and C7 cephalic cartilage endplate in Group A rats were significantly higher than that in Groups B.C and D rats(P0.05);the abraded rate in Group B was significantly higher than that in Groups C and D(P0.05).Microscopic observation of CT showed that ventral defects in C6caudal or C7 cephalic cartilage endplate in Groups A and B appeared after 12 weeks of modeling;obvious cracks were found in front of the C6 and C7 vertebral body,and cartilage defect shown the trend of"repairing"at 18 and 24 weeks after modeling.Conclusions:Intervertebral disc degeneration and osteoporosis can cause damage to the cartilage endplate.Co-existence of these two factors can induce more serious damage to the endplate.which has possitive correlation with intervertebral disc degeneration.Osteoporosis plays a certain role in intervertebral disc degeneration process,and accelerates the degeneration of intervertebral disc in a specific time window.     

PTED与FD治疗腰椎间盘突出症的效果比较

为探讨经皮椎间孔镜椎间盘切除术(PTED)和椎板开窗椎间盘切除术(FD)在腰椎间盘突出症(LDH)患者治疗中的临床效果差异。94例LDH患者,根据手术方法分为PTED组和FD组各47例。结果表明,与FD组相比,PTED组的手术切口长度、手术出血量、住院时间降低,术后7天,血清白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、前列腺素-E2(PGE2)水平也显著降低;与术前比较,术后3个月、术后6个月,两组患者的ODI指数均显著降低。结果说明,PTED与FD治疗LDH患者均具有较好的效果,但是PTED手术较FD手术创伤更小、能更及时有效的降低血清疼痛相关因子。     

经皮内镜下腰椎间盘切除术治疗脱垂游离型腰椎间盘突出症的临床疗效

评价经皮内镜下腰椎间盘切除术(PELD)治疗脱垂游离型腰椎间盘突出症的临床疗效。选取我院治疗脱垂游离型腰椎间盘突出症患者76名,分为PELD组以及对照组,每组38例。分别采用视觉模拟评分法(VAS)、起立-行走计时测试(TUG)、Oswestry功能障碍指数问卷表(ODI)、腰椎曲度指数及MacNab评分对患者术后1周、3个月、6个月腰椎功能及术后并发症进行评价。结果发现,和对照组相比,PELD组术后各时间点VAS、TUG得分及ODI指数更低,腰椎曲度指数升高,术后并发症显著减少。结果说明,PELD技术治疗脱垂游离型腰椎间盘突出症具有降低患者腰腿疼痛,促进功能恢复,改善预后的优点。     

Expression of soluble Fas and soluble FasL in human nucleus pulposus cells

The study aimed for addressing the expression of soluble Fas (sFas) and soluble Fas Ligand (sFasL) in human nucleus pulposus (NP) and its attendant relationship with disc degeneration. Human NP samples were collected from patients with disc degeneration and cadavers as degenerate and normal groups, respectively. Subsequently, NP cells were cultured in monolayer. ELISA was performed to identify the expression levels of sFas and sFasL in the supernatant of NP cell cultures in vitro. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of sFas and sFasL in human NP cells in mRNA solution. The study comprised 12 degenerate and 8 normal cadaveric NP samples. The concentration value of sFas in the supernatant was significantly higher from degenerate NP than that from normal NP at each time point. In contrast, sFasL was significantly lower at each time point. Moreover, the expression of sFas and sFasL reached the peak at various early stages of cell cultures and decreased thereafter. Furthermore, the mRNA level of Fas in degenerate NP cells was significantly higher than that in normal cells; whereas FasL showed an opposite pattern. The study is the first addressing the expression of sFas and sFasL in human NP cell cultures. Moreover, the expression of sFas and sFasL varies with culture time in vitro with different levels in degenerate and normal settings. These findings indicate that sFas and sFasL might play a role in intervertebral disc degeneration.     

Finite Element Modeling of Stress Distribution in Intervertebral Spacers of Different Surface Geometries

Intervertebral disc spacers using bioactive ceramics have been used to treat degenerative spinal disease. Tooth‐shaped spacers are commonly used to prevent migration, but there is a possibility of fracture when inserted or after insertion. Intervertebral disc spacers with either an isosceles triangle‐shaped tooth (T1) or a right triangle‐shaped tooth (T2) were used as a control group. The design factors for the experimental group were modified to prevent fractures induced by stress concentration, and the surfaces of the spacers were designed as either an isosceles triangle‐shaped valley (V1) or a right triangle‐shaped valley (V2). Linear analysis using finite element model (FEM) was performed, and Von Mises stress distribution was calculated by applying 1000 N of uniformly distributed load. Samples of the V2 design were made with bioactive glass‐ceramics (BGS‐7) and evaluated for compressive strength, fatigue degree, and impact strength. Von Mises stress was highest at the first tooth from the posterior side for the control group and at the center for the experimental group. Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed 18.4% and 82.5% reduction (V1 vs. T1 and V2 vs. T2, respectively) in the maximum stress at the bottom of the valleys. The FEM analysis revealed that the V2 design had the most even load distribution. The V2 samples with bioactive glass‐ceramics were evaluated for compressive strength, and all six samples were not fractured up to 24 000 N. However, the average impact strength was 19.42 kN, suggesting that momentary force caused damage at a lower load than compression with a steady speed. The BGS‐7 intervertebral disc spacer with V2 design was not fractured during the fatigue test at maximum pressure of 8000 N, R ≥10, 5 Hz, and 5 million cycles. These data confirm that the BGS‐7 spacer with the V2 design may be clinically applicable. Collectively, the modified surface geometry of the experimental group significantly lowered Von Mises stress values at the bottom of the valleys, and thus the possibility of fracture by compressive load was greatly reduced. Also, impact during insertion was confirmed to cause fracture more easily, as the impact strength was lower than the compressive strength in the experimental group.     

Construction of a Tissue‐Engineered Annulus Fibrosus

The intervertebral disc is composed of load‐bearing fibrocartilage that may be subjected to compressive forces up to 10 times the body weight. The multilaminated outer layer, the annulus fibrosus (AF), is vulnerable to damage and its regenerative potential is limited, sometimes leading to nuclear herniation. Scaffold‐based tissue engineering of AF using stem cell technology has enabled the development of bi‐laminate constructs after 10 weeks of culture. It is difficult to know if these constructs are limited by the differentiation state of the stem cells or the culture system. In this study, we have characterized an expandable scaffold‐free neoconstruct using autologous AF cells. The construct was prepared from pellet cultures derived from monolayer cultures of AF cells from mature pigs that became embedded in their own extracellular matrix. The pellet cultures were incubated for 24 h in a standardized conical tube and then carefully transferred intact to a culture flask and incubated for 21 days to allow continued matrix synthesis. Cell viability was maintained above 90% throughout the culture period. The engineered scaffold‐free construct was compared with the native AF tissue by characterization of gene expression of representative markers, histological architecture, and biochemical composition. The morphological and biochemical characteristics of the cultured disc construct are very similar to that of native AF. The cell number per gram of construct was equal to that of native AF. Expression of aggrecan was elevated in the engineered construct compared with RNA extracted from the AF. The glycosaminoglycan content in the engineered construct showed no significant difference to that from native construct. These data indicate that scaffold‐free tissue constructs prepared from AF cells using a pellet‐culture format may be useful for in vitro expansion for transplantation into damaged discs.     

改良腰椎板截骨回植治疗失稳性腰椎间盘突出症

目的：评价改良腰椎板截骨回植在失稳性腰椎间盘突出症中的疗效。方法：2009年3月至2011年8月对63例失稳性腰椎间盘突出症的患者行髓核摘除＋椎间融合＋椎弓根螺钉内固定＋改良腰椎板截骨回植手术,男33例,女30例;年龄22～68岁,平均48．4岁;病程3个月～13年,平均38．8个月。患者均有不同程度的腰腿疼痛,x线片、CT及MR检查诊断为失稳性腰椎间盘突出症。观测手术前后ODI和JOA评分、并发症发生率、影像学回植椎板愈合率及腰腿痛复发率。结果：62例患者切口I期愈合,1例11期愈合,无下肢深静脉血栓及椎间隙感染等并发症出现。61倒获1年或以上随访,平均随访时间33个月。术中神经损伤发生2例,硬膜囊损伤发生1例;术后1年回植椎板愈合58例：腰痛复发4例,腿痛复发1例。术后2周、6、12个月的ODI及JOA评分显著优于术前（P〈0．05）。结论：改良椎板截骨回植术治疗失稳性腰椎间盘突出症具有较低的术中神经硬膜囊损伤率和腰腿痛复发率、较高的椎板愈合率和较好的临床评分,是一种安全、有效的新方法,为临床失稳性腰椎间盘突出症手术开辟了一种新的术式。     

颈椎后路内窥镜下椎间盘切除术治疗单节段神经根型颈椎病

目的:探讨颈椎后路内窥镜下椎间盘切除术(microendoscopic discectomv,MED)治疗单节段神经根型颈椎病(cervical spondylotic radiculopathy,CSR)的临床疗效.方法:2010年9月～2012年8月,我科采用颈椎后路MED治疗单节段神经根型颈椎病患者16例,其中男11例,女5例;年龄31～56岁,平均41.7岁;C4/5 4例,C5/6 9例,C6/7 3例;均为一侧根性症状,CT 、MRI等影像学检查提示单节段外侧突出或/和关节突增生致椎间孔狭窄,神经受压节段与临床症状体征相符,经系统保守治疗6周以上无效,颈椎动力位X线片未见颈椎不稳.随访观察患者的颈痛VAS评分、JOA评分、颈椎生理曲度、颈椎病变节段稳定性和椎间高度的变化,并进行统计学分析.结果:平均手术时间89min (75～1 15min);术中平均出血量85ml(30～160ml);术后平均住院时间4.1d(3～7d);出院时患者神经根性症状缓解11例,明显改善5例;16例均获随访,平均随访时间12.7个月(6～25个月),VAS评分由术前的7.13±1.15分降至术后的3.00±0.63分,末次随访时为1.94±0.85分;JOA评分由术前12.63±1.09分提高至15.63±0.50分,末次随访时为16.13±0.62分;术前、术后与术次随访时两两比较均有统计学意义(P＜0.05) 颈椎生理曲度D值从术前7.66±0.99mm提高到末次随访时10.99±0.95mm,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05) 术前和末次随访时病变节段椎间高度分别为5.56±0.54mm和5.54±0.52mm,差异无统计学意义(p＞0.05).过伸过屈位X线片未显示明显颈椎失稳结论:在严格选择适应证的前提下,颈椎后路MED治疗单节段神经根型颈椎病可取得较满意的临床疗效.     

经皮椎间孔镜TESSYS技术治疗腰椎间盘突出症的疗效观察

目的 观察经皮椎间孔镜TESSYS技术治疗腰椎间盘突出症的临床疗效.方法 175例腰椎间盘突出症患者随机分为两组,观察组80例采用椎间孔镜TESSYS技术治疗,对照组95例采用小切口腰椎间盘髓核摘除术治疗,两组随访时间为6～ 13个月,平均8个月,比较两组疗效.结果 根据Macnab疗效评定标准,观察组优良率(76.3％)明显高于对照组(61.1％)(P＜0.05);观察组术中出血量少于对照组,手术切口长度短于对照组(P＜0.05);两组患者术后VAS和ODI评分较术前明显改善(P＜0.05),观察组改善更为显著(P＜0.05).结论 经皮椎间孔镜TESSYS技术是治疗腰椎间盘突出症的有效方法,具有手术切口小,术中出血量少,术后腰痛程度轻,腰部功能恢复好等优点,值得临床推广应用.     

零切迹颈前路椎间融合固定系统早期疗效分析

目的探讨零切迹颈前路椎间融合固定系统（Zero—profileinterbodyfusiondevice,Zero—P）用于颈椎前路手术的初期疗效。方法2010年12月至2012年lO月,将Zero—P系统用于颈椎前路手术27例,其中神经根型颈椎病10例,脊髓型颈椎病4例,外伤性颈椎间盘突出13例。记录术前和术后3、12个月时颈部疼痛及上肢疼痛视觉模拟评分（visualanaloguescale,VAS）、颈椎功能障碍指数（neckdisabilityindex,NDI）评分、日本骨科协会（Japaneseortho．paedicassociation,JOA）评分、SF一36评分、颈椎曲度Cobb角及术后吞咽困难发生率。结果24例为单节段手术,3例为双节段手术,手术顺利,术中无明显严重并发症。手术时间（72±15）min,术中出血量（52．0±18．5）mL。术后随访6～27个月,平均13．5个月,无一例内固定失败。所有患者颈部及双上肢疼痛明显改善,颈部VAS评分由术前（6．7±2．O）分降低到末次随访时（1．9±0．8）分（P〈0．05）,上肢疼痛由（5．5±1．6）分降低到（2．0±O．9）分,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;颈椎功能明显改善,NDI评分由（44．21±11．50）％降低到（14．73±9．04）％,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;术后神经功能均有所改善,JOA评分由（8．3±3．4）分提高到（14．6±5．1）分,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;术后患者生存质量明显改善,SF-36中物理评分从（29．5±7．4）％改善至（50．6±9．1）％,心理评分从（33．7±6．4）％改善至（52．9±8．4）％,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。颈椎曲度Cobb角由术前（8．7±7．1）。改善至末次随访时（15．1±8．4）°,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。术后1个月时有4例患者（其中女性3例,男性1例）出现轻度吞咽困难,3个月时仍有1例,6个月时完全消失。结论Zero—P系统用于颈椎前路手术操作简单,可显著减少术后吞咽困难发生率,有效改善颈椎曲度,早期临床疗效满意,中远期疗效有待进一步观察。