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.     

后路椎体间融合术后融合器脱出的原因及其翻修术

目的：探讨后路椎体间融合术后融合器脱出的原因及其翻修方法。方法：10例后路椎体间融合术后融合器脱出行翻修术的病例，其中腰椎滑脱症5例，腰椎管狭窄症3例，腰椎间盘突出症2例。手术节段为L4／54例，L5／S1 3例，L4／5＋L5／S1 3例；融合器应用BAK（旋入型）7例，聚醚醚酮矩形融合器（PEEK）2例，钛金属矩形融合器1例。于首次术后1～90d内行翻修术。就其脱出原因，再次手术方法及疗效进行分析。结果：融合器脱出的原因：矩形融合器中2例型号太小，1例放置位置偏后；旋入型融合器1例定位错误，其余大都因两枚融合器之间发生碰撞挤压所致。翻修术后获得完整随访资料者8例，随访时间10-36个月，平均17个月，均得到融合，无融合器再次移位或脱出以及内同定的断裂，1例伴有足下垂者遗留患足背伸肌力减弱，其余病例神经症状消除。结论：后路腰椎椎体间融合术后融合器脱出的可能原因有融合器型号偏小导致椎间隙撑开不够，放置位置偏后，两枚融合器不对称或距离太近发生碰撞等。早期、积极的手术翻修能取得较好的疗效。     

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。     

后路半椎体切除矫治半椎体所致脊柱侧后凸畸形

[目的]评价后路半椎体切除术治疗半椎体所致脊柱侧后凸畸形的临床效果。[方法]2000年5月~2005年11月,采用后路半椎体切除及矫形固定融合术治疗14例完全分节半椎体所致脊柱侧后凸畸形患者。年龄2.5~14.4岁,平均7.4岁,半椎体均为侧后方半椎体,其中胸椎7例,腰椎7例。[结果]手术时间2~7 h,平均4.7h,术中出血量150~2 500 m l,平均560 m。l固定节段2~8个椎体,平均3.5。术后随访6~36个月。平均15.6个月。术后站立位脊柱正侧位X线片示冠状面Cobb's角由术前46.2°矫正到17.3°,平均矫正率62.6%,矢状面Cobb's角由术前48.3°矫正至术后16.2°,平均矫正率68.7%。终末随访时冠状面Cobb's角平均21.7°,丢失4.4°,矢状面Cobb's角平均18.7°,丢失2.5°。围手术期并发症包括:伤口愈合不良2例,术中术后椎弓根螺钉切割椎体2例。[结论]后路半椎体切除可直接去除致畸因素,在冠状面及矢状面均获得良好的矫形效果,与前后路手术相比可缩短手术时间,减少创伤,适用于从胸段到腰段的半椎体畸形。     

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。     

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.     

通用型脊柱内固定系统椎弓根螺钉翻修作用的生物力学研究

目的测试自行设计的通用型脊柱内固定系统(generalspinesystem,GSS)椎弓根螺钉以及SOCON、TSRH和Diapason螺钉置入椎体的拔出力及旋入力矩,评价GSS螺钉的翻修作用。方法将36个正常成人腰椎椎体标本随机分为三组,每组12个椎体(24侧椎弓根)。各组标本每个椎体的每侧椎弓根均先拧入CCD螺钉(直径6.0mm,长45mm),行螺钉拔出试验,测试并记录螺钉的最大旋入力矩和最大轴向拔出力。然后各组标本每个椎体均随机选择一侧椎弓根经原钉道拧入GSS螺钉(直径6.5mm,长45mm);第一组另一侧拧入SOCON螺钉(直径7.0mm,长45mm),第二组另一侧拧入TSRH螺钉(直径7.0mm,长45mm),第三组另一侧拧入Diapason螺钉(直径6.7mm,长45mm)。分别测试螺钉最大旋入力矩及最大轴向拔出力。结果第一组GSS螺钉最大轴向拔出力为CCD螺钉的114%,SOCON螺钉为CCD螺钉的108%;GSS螺钉最大轴向拔出力大于SOCON螺钉,差异无显著性(P>0.05);GSS螺钉最大旋入力矩小于SOCON螺钉,差异无显著性(P>0.05)。第二组GSS螺钉最大轴向拔出力为CCD螺钉的127%,TSRH螺钉为CCD螺钉的64%;GSS螺钉最大轴向拔出力大于TSRH螺钉,差异有显著性(P<0.01);GSS螺钉最大旋入力矩大于TSRH螺钉,差异有显著性(P<0.01)。第三组GSS螺钉最大轴向拔出力为CCD螺钉的122%,Diapason螺钉为CCD螺钉的8     

骨肉瘤与活化B淋巴细胞融合疫苗的抗肿瘤效应

目的　建立骨肉瘤与活化 B淋巴细胞融合的肿瘤疫苗 ,探讨其生物学与抗肿瘤特性 .方法　以 50 0 g· L-1 聚乙二醇为融合剂 ,将 C3 h小鼠来源的 HGRPT基因缺陷型 LM9骨肉瘤细胞与脂多糖活化的小鼠 B淋巴细胞进行融合 .经HAT选择性培养基筛选后 ,再观察该融合瘤株的体内外生长特性 ,对小鼠的致瘤性以及抗肿瘤活性 .结果　该融合瘤株体外生长缓慢 ,对 C3 h小鼠无致瘤性 ,杂交瘤细胞细胞表达B7(70 .6% ) H- 2 Kb (53.4% ) ,融合疫苗保护的小鼠可获 1 0 0 %无瘤生存 (8/ 8)而 LM9和射线照射后的 L M9对照组小鼠全部死亡 (0 / 8) ,皮下接种融合疫苗治疗的荷瘤小鼠可获得80 %无瘤生存 .结论　活化 B淋巴细胞融合骨肉瘤细胞可能改变其生物学特性 ,对小鼠有较好的预防和治疗作用 ,说明了细胞融合方法构建的肿瘤疫苗具有潜在的应用价值