Are patient-reported outcome measures biased by method of follow-up? Evaluating paper-based and digital follow-up after lumbar fusion surgery

Background Context

Long-term follow-up of patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) is essential in both modern spinal care and research. Lack of time and staff are commonly reported barriers to implementing long-term follow-up of PROM. Automated and digital follow-up systems for PROM collection are seeing widespread use, yet their validity and comparative effectiveness have never been evaluated.

Primary epidural lumbar Ewing sarcoma presenting as cauda equina syndrome in an adult patient who underwent surgical decompression: A case report

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a rare primary neoplasm in the lumbar adult spine and may mimic a benign tumor. In this case, after a patient's three-month history of lower back pain and rapidly progressing leg numbness and weakness, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a mass in the third lumbar vertebra. At a two-month follow-up, imaging showed a fracture, compression and lesion enlargement. Decompression and fixation confirmed ES, and the patient began combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Two months postoperatively, residual ES was suspected on MRI. The patient underwent a second surgery, and histopathology confirmed necrosis. A six-month follow-up after the first surgery showed no tumor recurrence. This case supports the inclusion of ES in the differential diagnosis of pathologic spinal fracture. Early decompression and spinal fixation are critical for preserving neurologic and spinal functions in ES complicated by a compression fracture. Combined adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy remain the standard therapeutic strategy.     

后路枕骨髁螺钉技术研究进展

正枕骨、寰椎和枢椎共同构成了枕颈部活动的结构功能单位,即枕颈交界区~([1-2])。炎症、创伤、肿瘤及畸形等因素会导致枕颈交界区失稳,从而引起颈脊髓或神经根的损伤、麻痹及难以忍受的疼痛,甚至危及生命~([3-4])。后路内固定融合技术是治疗枕颈部失稳的重要手段,目前常用术式为枕骨螺钉技术,该技术较钢丝固定技术有更好的生物力学稳定     

针刀配合针灸治疗腰椎间盘突出症的临床疗效观察

目的:分析针刀与针灸配合应用于腰椎间盘突出症患者中的临床治疗效果。方法:在我院针灸康复科2017年12月-2018年12月治疗的腰椎间盘突出症患者中选取64例,并严格按照系统随机分配原则分为对照组和观察组,各32例。其中对照组采用针灸进行治疗,观察组采用针刀与针灸配合治疗,观察对比两组患者治疗后临床效果和治疗前后运动功能评分(Fugl-Meyer)、腰椎日本骨科学会(Japanese Orthopaedic Association,JOA)评分、视觉模拟评分法(Visual Analogue Scale,VAS)评分以及临床症状改善情况。结果:两组患者治疗前Fugl-Meyer、VAS、JOA评分差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),治疗后对照组VAS评分高于观察组,Fugl-Meyer、JOA评分低于观察组,且对照组总有效率低于观察组,对照组腰骶疼痛评分和腿疼痛评分均低于观察组,直腿抬高度高于观察组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:予以腰椎间盘突出症患者针刀与针灸配合治疗效果显著,效果优于单一使用针灸治疗,可有效缓解患者疼痛感,改善临床症状,值得推广。     

MED治疗腰椎间盘突出症时对神经根变异的探查

目的：观察显微内窥镜下椎间盘切除术（microendoscopic discectomy，MED）治疗腰椎间盘突出症时神经根变异情况，防止出现术中神经根损伤。方法：回顾分析自1999年10月至2003年12月应用MED治疗的腰椎间盘突出症患者724例，其中男452例，女272例。对术中发现存在腰骶神经根变异患者的临床特点及术中所见进行统计分析。结果：724例腰椎间盘突出症患者有37例神经根变异，发生率为5.1％。与术前的临床表现吻合，全部神经根变异患者均在MED下完成手术，无一例出现神经根损伤。结论：仔细探查及分离突出髓核周围神经根发出情况．确定有无神经根变异是防止MED治疗腰椎间盘突出症时发生神经根损伤的重要环节之一。     

椎管扩大成形术治疗腰椎管狭窄

目的：探讨椎管扩大成形术治疗腰椎管狭窄的效果。方法：椎板减压后复位，用棘突或髂骨植于一侧开槽处扩大椎管，并进行椎板及关节突关节植骨，对54例随访病人的手术前后临床表现及X线和CT进行比较。结果：随访6—39个月，临床优良率为81．1％。随访X线片显示椎板明显后移，CT测量与术前对比显示椎管内径扩大明显。结论：椎管扩大成形术操作简单，效果满意，术后并发症少，是治疗腰椎管狭窄的又一选择。     

腰椎穿刺术后头痛与卧床时间的关系

目的探讨腰椎穿刺术后平卧时间30min、2h对头痛的影响。方法对794例具有腰椎穿刺术适应证而无禁忌证并排除有关因素的患者，随机分为30min组、2h组。分别观察术后头痛发生率。结果30min组头痛发生率为（8／460）1．74％，2h组为（7／334）2.10％，两组组间比较均无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。结论本研究说明腰穿后卧床时间长短（30min～2h），对腰穿后头痛的发生率无影响，可缩短至30min，没有必要卧床2h，更没有必要卧床4～6h。     

Detailed pathological changes of human lumbar facet joints L1–L5 in elderly individuals

Facet joints play an important role in intervertebral load transmission and are crucial for rotational kinematics. Clinically, the role of facet joints as a possible source of low back pain is seen as controversial and at present is not sufficiently investigated. In this study, human lumbar facet (zygapopyhysial) joints from donors with advanced age were analyzed macroscopically, for degenerative changes. The aim was to determine the extent and morphology of degenerative changes in these joints. Lumbar facet joints (L1–L5) of 32 donors were studied (mean age 80.1±11.2 years). Joint capsules were carefully removed and joint surfaces (5 zones) examined using magnifying glasses and probes. In the result, the majority of facet joints showed cartilage defects of varying extent. Defects were located mostly at the margins of the articular surface, the central zone being relatively well preserved. Defect localization was different between superior (most cartilage defects in superior zone) and inferior (most defects inferiorly) facets. Further, defects were more severe caudal (level of L5) and in older persons. Osteophytes were present in up to 30%, located mostly at the latero-dorsal enthesis of the joint capsule on the superior facet. In conclusion, most margins of the articular facets are subject to degenerative changes in the lumbar spine of elderly persons, the topographical pattern being different in superior and inferior facets. This observation can be explained by the segmental motion patterns during extension/flexion movements of the facets. Sometimes, due to the marginal extension, it is obvious that not all changes can be assessed by CT or MRI.     

腰椎融合术后邻近节段退变的诊断与治疗

目的：探讨腰椎融合术后邻近节段退变的特点及再手术治疗的术式与疗效.方法：回顾性分析2002年1月至2004年12月间收治的10例因腰椎管狭窄症或腰椎滑脱症曾行后路减压、植骨及椎弓根内固定术,术后12～132个月（平均41.6个月）出现新的腰腿痛症状的病例.对所有患者进行影像学检查,与术前资料比较,并行手术治疗.结果：X线片显示融合的上方（1个节段7例,2个节段1例）或下方（1个节段2例）邻近节段出现了退变,首次术前及术后上述邻近节段均未见退变征象.8例MRI显示邻近节段出现了新的椎管狭窄,且有明显的神经压迫.采用后路术式,将减压及固定融合范围向邻近退变节段延伸.经7～36个月平均12.1个月的随访,优良率80%.结论：腰椎融合术后邻近节段退变是术后症状复发的原因之一,应仔细鉴别症状复发的原因.对于有明显神经压迫者,再手术治疗仍可取得较好的疗效.