The value of a pantaloon cast test in surgical decision making for chronic low back pain patients: a systematic review of the literature supplemented with a prospective cohort study

The results of lumbar fusion in chronic low back pain (LBP) patients vary considerably, and there is a need for proper patient selection. Lumbosacral orthoses have been widely used to predict outcome, however, with little scientific support. The aim of the present study was to determine the value of a pantaloon cast test in selecting chronic LBP patients for lumbar fusion or conservative management. First, a systematic review of the literature was carried out in which two independent reviewers identified studies in Medline, Cochrane and Current Contents databases. Three papers met the selection criteria. In the only study with a control group, a significantly better outcome after fusion compared to conservative treatment was found in patients who reported significant pain relief while in a cast (i.e. a positive cast test). The results of lumbar fusion, however, were not significantly different for patients with a positive and those with a negative cast test. In addition to the review, a clinical cohort study of 257 LBP patients, who had been allocated to either lumbar fusion or conservative management by a temporary external transpedicular fixation trial, was performed. Prior to allocation, all had undergone a pantaloon cast test. Patients with no history of prior spine surgery and with a positive pantaloon cast test had a better outcome after lumbar fusion than those treated conservatively (P = 0.002, χ ² test). In patients with previous spine operations the outcomes were poor and the test was of no value. From the literature and the present patient cohort, it was concluded that only in chronic LBP patients without prior spine surgery, a pantaloon cast test with substantial pain relief suggests a favorable outcome of lumbar fusion compared to conservative management. The test has no value in patients who have had previous spine surgery.     

Sciatic Neuropathy: Case Report and Discussion of the Literature on Postoperative Sciatic Neuropathy and Sciatic Nerve Tumors

Sciatic nerve injury and dysfunction is not an uncommon cause of lower extremity symptoms in a musculoskeletal practice. We present the case of a man who presented with lower extremity weakness, pain, and cramps, and was initially diagnosed at an outside institution with bilateral S1 radiculopathies and recommended for spine surgery. He came to us for a second opinion. Electrodiagnostic testing revealed an isolated sciatic neuropathy and the patient was referred for imaging, which showed a sciatic nerve sheath tumor. Review of the literature on sciatic neuropathies shows that there can be many possible etiologies of sciatic nerve dysfunction, but that hip arthroplasty continues to be the leading risk factor. Sciatic nerve tumors are not commonly described in the literature and their definitive management remains unclear.     

甲基强的松龙在胸椎管狭窄症围手术期的应用

目的探讨甲基强的松龙(MP)在胸椎管狭窄症围手术期应用的价值.方法对82例胸椎管狭窄症采用单纯后路胸椎板切除术患者进行回顾性研究.所有患者手术减压前30min给予MP 1000mg冲击.76例减压术后第1日起每日200mg递减,术后第5d停药.术后出现脊髓缺血再灌注(IR)损伤6例,其中3例MP用法同上;另3例术后出现脊髓IR损伤时即刻按NASCIS-Ⅱ方案治疗.结果本组76例术后呈现不同程度的恢复.另6例术后出现脊髓IR损伤,其中术后MP每日200mg递减治疗的3例患者神经功能恢复较慢,1例于术后6个月恢复至正常,2例术后1年随访时肌力恢复满意但肢体仍有麻痛感;采用NASCIS-Ⅱ方案治疗的3例患者中,2例于治疗后48h神经功能基本恢复正常,1例于术后1个月双下肢功能完全恢复正常.发生应激性溃疡1例.结论胸椎管狭窄症手术减压患者围手术期应用MP,具有预防和治疗脊髓继发性损伤的作用.     

腰椎管狭窄症术后下肢残留麻木的发生率及影响因素

[目的]探讨腰椎管狭窄症术后下肢残留麻木的发生率和影响因素。[方法]2001年1月～2003年2月手术治疗56例腰椎管狭窄症患者，术后随访10d，1、3个月、1年和2年，记录患者神经功能和残留症状。[结果]术前82．1％的患者有下肢麻木，术后10d，1、3个月、1年和2年分别有43．6％、39．I％、36．6％、35．3％和35．7％的患者下肢残留麻木，与病程、术前JOA评分和椎管狭窄类型有关，与年龄和神经根直径无关。[结论]腰椎管狭窄症患者术后1个月内下肢麻木恢复最快，术后1年和2年下肢麻木发生率为35．3％和35．7％，推测神经组织的潜在恢复能力影响下肢麻木的发生率。     

经皮椎间盘摘出联合医用臭氧治疗腰椎间盘突出症

目的探讨经皮髓核摘除术(PLD)联合医用臭氧注射治疗腰椎间盘突出症的临床效果及可行性。方法临床与影像检查确诊为腰椎间盘突出25例,先行PLD,后行椎间盘内及椎旁注射臭氧。结果25例病人治疗后经一年随访,治愈21例,有效24例,无效1例,无一例并发症。结论PLD联合医用臭氧治疗腰椎间盘突出症,安全可靠,可改善治疗效果,减少不良反应,值得推广应用。     

人工骨椎体成形术治疗胸腰椎爆裂骨折

目的:探讨经椎弓根人工骨植入椎体成形术治疗胸腰椎爆裂性骨折的方法和效果。方法:胸腰椎爆裂骨折12例,男8例,女4例;年龄28～61岁,平均47.5岁;受伤时间4～12d;术前Frankel分级:C级1例,D级3例,E级8例;受伤椎体:T112例,T122例,L15例,L23例;术前后突角11°～35°,平均24°;术前椎管占位率39%～85%,平均64.5%;术前伤椎椎体前缘高度平均为正常的47%。行后路切开复位短节段椎弓根钉内固定后,人工骨经伤椎椎弓根植入椎体成形术。结果:所有患者均获随访,时间3～19个月,平均13个月。脊柱后突角平均恢复20°,椎体高度平均恢复96%,椎管占位率平均恢复至7%。2例人工骨椎体内充填不足;无内固定松动、断裂、椎体高度变低及生理弧度丢失。神经功能恢复:1例术前Frankel分级C级及2例D级患者术后均恢复至E级。结论:经椎弓根人工骨植入椎体成形术重建了椎体高度,增加了脊椎前柱的抗压稳定性,使患者能早期活动,减少内固定物因应力过大造成的断钉、松动、椎体再压缩等并发症。     

椎弓根钉辅助下后外侧融合在退变性腰椎管狭窄症手术中的应用

目的探讨退行性腰椎管狭窄症(degenerativelumbarspinestenosisDLSS)的特点、椎弓根钉辅助下的后外侧融合手术要点及其在退变性腰椎管狭窄症减压术中的作用和意义。方法回顾性分析2000年1月～2003年12月间59例腰椎管狭窄症患者的临床症状、椎管减压和椎弓根钉辅助下的后外侧植骨融合的手术和术后随访情况,手术结果通过问卷式调查由患者进行自我评价,评价内容分为:腰痛、腿痛、日常活动水平、是否服用止痛药物四个方面进行。结果59例患者随访6～48个月,平均22.5个月,8例患者1年后失访。其中治疗效果优21例(35.6%),良32例(54.2%),可4例(6.8%),差2例(3.4%)。术中术后的并发症主要有:神经根损伤、硬膜囊撕裂、FBSS(FailedBackSurgerySyndrome)、ASD(AdjacentSegmentDisease)、椎弓根钉断裂等。结论DLSS包括多部位狭窄性病理改变,术中减压应当按照一定的步骤全面减压。椎弓根钉辅助后外侧融合可以提供腰椎即刻稳定,提高了远期融合率,使得滑脱椎体复位并保持椎间高度,减少椎管狭窄的进展和再发,从而提高手术的治疗效果。     

Vaginal stenosis in patients treated with radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix

The aim of our study was to determine the incidence, timing, and severity of vaginal stenosis in patients with carcinoma of the cervix who had received pelvic and/or vaginal radiotherapy as part of their treatment. We also sought to determine if there were any predisposing factors for the development of stenosis. A retrospective chart review was undertaken for all the patients diagnosed with carcinoma of the cervix between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2000 and treated with pelvic and/or vaginal radiation at Westmead Hospital. Since January 1, 1990, data regarding vaginal stenosis has been prospectively recorded on all the patients. Data collected included patient demographics, stage of disease, treatments administered, and incidence, timing, and severity of vaginal stenosis. One hundred and eighty-eight patients were treated. Mean age was 58.6 years. Thirteen percent of patients had stage IB disease, 45% had stage II disease, 39.5% had stage III disease, and 1.5% had stage IV disease. One hundred and seventy-nine patients returned for follow-up, and data regarding vaginal toxicity were available in 98%. Twenty-seven percent had grade 1 toxicity (partial stenosis or shortening but not complete occlusion), and 11% had grade 2 (complete occlusion). Stenosis of any grade was noted at a mean of 9.6 months and median of 7.5 months (range, 26 days-5.6 years) from completion of treatment. The only prognostic factor associated with increased risk of stenosis was age greater than 50 years (odds ratio 2.26). Vaginal stenosis is a common complication of pelvic and vaginal radiotherapy, occurring in 38% of patients. Stenosis occurs most often in the first year after treatment. Patients over the age of 50 are most at risk.     

Precise and limited decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis

Summary Fifty-eight consecutive patients with lumbosacral nerve root entrapment due to spinal stenosis were treated with modified microsurgical decompression. Only the clinically relevant sides and levels were decompressed while the spinous processes, the interspinous ligaments, the medial portion of ligamentum flavum and the functionally important parts of the facet joints were preserved. The reviewers rated recovery as good or excellent in 71% of patients while patient self-assessment indicated 76% good or excellent outcome. These data suggest that microsurgical decompression of spondyloarthritic changes can effectively relieve the signs and symptoms of nerve root compression and that with careful evaluation of all available data the number of nerve roots requiring decomperession is often fewer than what is suggested by diagnositic images alone.     

The value of the acoustic analysis of pathological infant cry and breathing noise in everyday practice

During a period of twenty years [1969-1988] the author has observed 614 cases of congenital malformations and noninflammatory diseases of the larynx in infants and young children, Budapest. He summarizes the most characteristic symptoms of laryngeal pathology in infants, and discusses the diagnostic possibilities. Among the latter, spectrographic analyses complemented by auditory evaluation of pathological cry and different breathing noises play an important role. Based on his investigation author differentiates 20 kinds of pathological crying sounds and 4 basic forms of stridor. He describes the acoustic attributes of different pathological sound phenomena and summarizes characteristic voice changes.