Lumbar disc herniation in teenagers

Summary We report 48 patients operated on for lumbar disc herniation in the second decade of life (aged 13–20 years) in our Neurosurgical Division. To analyze the clinical and diagnostic features and surgical outcome of the disease in teenagers and to point out any differences from adults, we made a detailed study of over 900 juvenile cases and compared them with 11000 adult cases reported in the literature. Low-back pain proved to be less frequent among youngsters both as a first symptom and at diagnosis, while sensorimotor deficits have the same frequency in the two age groups. Herniation occurs more often at L4–L5 and is more frequently median among teenagers. The long-term surgical results in children and adolescents are better than in adults.     

Histochemical and ultrastructural observations on brown degeneration of human intervertebral disc

Thirty-eight fresh human intervertebral discs collected during anterior interbody fusion surgery were histochemically and ultrastructurally analyzed for pigments. Macroscopically, five stages of degeneration were classified according to the color, fibrosis, and fragility of the nucleus pulposus of the discs. In order to demonstrate lipofuscin granules, specimens were subjected to special staining procedures, including carbol fuchsin lipofuscin stain, the Schmorl's reaction, and autofluorescence. Lipofuscin granules were distributed from the inner layer of the annulus fibrosus to the nucleus pulposus. Such granules were numerous in cases of slight or severe degeneration, whereas fewer granules were found in cases of moderate degeneration. However, the stage of macroscopic degeneration of the intervertebral disc did not necessarily correlate with the incidence of lipofuscin granules. By ultrastructural observation, the morphological features of the components of the intervertebral disc and the ultrastructure of the lipofuscin granule were clarified. The ultrastructure of the "brown degeneration" disc exhibited markedly increased amorphous electron-dense bodies located among collagen fibrils in the matrix.     

针刺、自主牵引、药物外敷治疗腰椎间盘突出症疗效观察

目的 :观察针刺、自主牵引、药物外敷治疗腰椎间盘突出症 (简称治疗组 )的疗效。方法 :随机分为针刺、自主牵引、药物外敷组和单纯针刺组进行对比观察。结果 :治疗组总有效率 94 .1% ,明显高于对照组 75 .8% ,经统计学处理 ,P <0 .0 5 ,具有显著性差异。结论 :治疗组疗效优于对照组     

经椎板间隙入路显微内窥镜手术治疗腰椎间盘突出症

目的：探讨经椎板间隙入路显微内窥镜手术治疗腰椎间盘突出症的手术适应证，手术存在问题及解决方法。方法：用METRX治疗腰椎间盘突出症l16例，详细介绍手术过程、操作技巧、手术适应证和术中注意问题。结果；平均随访15．1个月，按Nakal疗效评定分级属优90例，良22例，可2例，差2例，优良率96．6％。结论：严格掌握手术适应证、准确定位、娴熟操作技巧、彻底止血、术后有计划的康复训练是手术成功的关键。     

"脊柱九针疗法"治疗腰椎间盘突出症40例

目的　观察采用“脊柱九针疗法”治疗腰椎间盘突出症的疗效。方法与结果　选择 4 0例经 CT检查确诊为腰椎间盘突出症 ,并有典型临床症状的患者作为研究对象 ,选用突出椎间盘的相应椎体及上下两个节段椎体棘突下和“夹脊穴”为主进针点 ,针刺治疗腰椎间盘突出症 ,总有效率为 10 0 %。结论　“脊柱九针疗法”较常规针刺取穴方法具有针对性强 ,针感强 ,疗效明显之特点 ,且取穴简便 ,操作简单安全。     

长圆针治疗继发性腰椎间盘脱出综合征1396例止痛疗效观察

目的:探讨治疗继发性腰椎间盘脱出综合征疼痛的新疗法.方法:将1396例继发性腰椎间盘脱出综合征患者用经筋辨证方法,循足三阴、三阳经筋查取结筋病灶点,采用长圆针以解结法治疗.结果:治愈(完全止痛)1145例,占81.7%;好转227例,占16.2%;无效29例,占2.1%.有效率97.9%.结论:长圆针治疗继发性腰椎间盘脱出综合征具有良好的止痛效应.     

Treatment of 97 cases of prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc by manipulations of bone setting plus acupuncture

先应用改良斜扳法和旋转定位扳法对腰椎间盘突出症患者进行手法复位,然后取水沟和委中为主穴,进行针剌治疗.共治疗97例患者,治愈58例,好转35例,无效4例,总有效率95.9%.     

腰椎间盘退变动物模型的建立

目的　建立腰椎间盘退变的动物模型并行组织学和MRI观察。　方法　健康成年恒河猴 8只 ,手术组 6只 ,在其腰4 ,5、腰5,6、腰6,7椎间盘分别作一 5mm× 3mm切口 ,分别于术前及术后 1、4、8、13、2 0周对手术椎间盘行MRI观察 ;8只恒河猴分别于术前 (对照组 )及术后 4、8、2 0周随机取 2只处死后行椎间盘组织学观察。　结果　正常成年恒河猴腰椎间盘组织学结构特点与人类相似 ;手术椎间盘高信号区域面积的百分比于术后 8、13、2 0周显著减少 (P <0 0 5 ) ;术后 4周椎间盘切口外被纤维组织覆盖 ,术后 8周 ,切口外层纤维样愈合 ,其内无愈合迹象 ,术后 2 0周 ,切口向椎间盘内延伸 ,部分髓核出现纤维化。　结论　恒河猴是一种生理特性与人类相接近的动物 ,以其为对象应用纤维环切开法可以获得可靠的腰椎间盘退变动物模型 ;通过测量MRI轴位T2加权像椎间盘高信号区域面积百分比的方法可于早期无损伤地发现椎间盘退变。     

Acupuncture treatment of 32 cases of lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion

Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Shiqizhui (Ex-B 8) and Yanglingquan (GB 34) were selected as main points and a three-part needle insertion technique was used to treat 32 cases of lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion. The curative rate was 96.9%. Deep puncture is the key to the treatment. Author: Chen Feng(1962-), male, junior consultant doctor Translator: Wang Si-you     

MRI-Findings After Uncomplicated Anterior Cervical Discectomy

Summary ? Background. The anterior approach for cervical discectomy with methacrylate-implant involves manipulations on vertebral bodies and ligaments. Foreign materials like methacrylate and fibrin sponge are inserted. On postoperative MRI it may be difficult to differentiate pathological from “normal” findings caused by routine manipulations.  Method. In this study 14 patients free of symptoms after anterior discectomy with methacrylate-implant were examined clinically and a MRI was performed on the 7th day after surgery and again after a 6 month follow-up. All patients had an uneventful recovery and no signs of inflammation after surgery.  Findings. Independent of the underlying pathology (e.g. soft or hard disc) 73% of the patients had a signal reduction within the vertebral bodies adjacent to the operated disc on T1-weighted spin-echo images on the 7th postoperative day. Signal intensities were normal after 6 months in all patients. Remarkable metal artifacts were present in one patient only. The methacrylate-implant could be identified as a hypo-intense structure on all sequences at any time without artifacts. In 80% of the cases a hyperintensity was found on T2-weighted images between the methacrylate-implant and the dura on the 7^th postoperative day. A protrusion of the posterior ligament was present at the level of the operated disc on day 7 after surgery, which had resolved completely 6 months later. This may mimic residual disc tissue or osteophytes early after surgery.  Interpretation. It is very important to know this “normal” postoperative appearance of the cervical spine in order to avoid misinterpretations.