Nonoperatively treated burst fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine in adults: a 23- to 41-year follow-up

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Several studies report a favorable short-term outcome after nonoperatively treated two-column thoracic or lumbar burst fractures in patients without neurological deficits. Few reports have described the long-term clinical and radiological outcome after these fractures, and none have, to our knowledge, specifically evaluated the long-term outcome of the discs adjacent to the fractured vertebra, often damaged at injury and possibly at an increased risk of height reduction and degeneration with subsequent chronic back pain. PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term clinical and radiological outcome after nonoperatively treated thoracic or lumbar burst fractures in adults, with special attention to posttraumatic radiological disc height reduction. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. PATIENT SAMPLE: Sixteen men with a mean age of 31 years (range, 19-44) and 11 women with a mean age of 40 years (range, 23-61) had sustained a thoracic or lumbar burst fracture during the years 1965 to 1973. Four had sustained a burst fracture Denis type A, 18 a Denis type B, 1 a Denis type C, and 4 a Denis type E. Seven of these patients had neurological deficits at injury, all retrospectively classified as Frankel D. OUTCOME MEASURES: The clinical outcome was evaluated subjectively with Oswestry score and questions regarding work capacity and objectively with the Frankel scale. The radiological outcome was evaluated with measurements of local kyphosis over the fractured segment, ratios of anterior and posterior vertebral body heights, adjacent disc heights, pedicle widths, sagittal width of the spinal canal, and lateral and anteroposterior displacement. METHODS: From the radiographical archives of an emergency hospital, all patients with a nonoperatively treated thoracic or lumbar burst fracture during the years 1965 to 1973 were registered. The fracture type, localization, primary treatment, and outcome were evaluated from the old radiographs, referrals, and reports. Twenty-seven individuals were clinically and radiologically evaluated a mean of 27 years (range, 23-41) after the injury. RESULTS: At follow-up, 21 former patients reported no or minimal back pain or disability (Oswestry Score mean 4; range, 0-16), whereas 6 former patients (of whom 3 were classified as Frankel D at baseline) reported moderate or severe disability (Oswestry Score mean 39; range, 26-54). Six former patients were classified as Frankel D, and the rest as Frankel E. Local kyphosis had increased by a mean of 3 degrees (p<.05), whereas the discs adjacent to the fractured vertebrae remained unchanged in height during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Nonoperatively treated burst fractures of the thoracic or lumbar spine in adults with or without minor neurological deficits have a predominantly favorable long-term outcome, and there seems to be no increased risk for subsequent disc height reduction in the adjacent discs.     

经皮等离子消融髓核成形术治疗腰椎间盘突出症: 28例随访报告

目的 探讨腰椎间盘突出症的治疗方法。方法经体格检查，CT和／或MRI检查确诊的腰椎间盘突出症患者28例，采用等离子消融髓核成形术治疗，以Prolo功能和经济结果评定法和VAS评分评定疗效。结果髓核成形组总体治疗成功率82．1％；平均住院时间7．6天，复发率10．8％。并发椎间盘炎1例，进行腰椎融合术后治愈。结论髓核成形术治疗腰椎间盘突出症的满意率较高，复发率低，住院治疗时间短，创伤小，不影响再次手术治疗。髓核成形术是一种安全、有效的治疗腰椎间盘突出症的微创介入治疗新方法。     

选择性腰升静泳造影与碘水脊髓造影对腰椎间盘突出的诊断价值

52例疑为L_(4-5)或L_5～S_1椎间盘突出的患者,同时行选择性腰升静脉造影(SALV)和碘水脊髓造影.43例手术和病理证实46个椎间盘突出.本文对两种检查方法诊断准确性,适应性和并发症进行了比较.临床疑诊为腰椎间盘突出者,脊髓造影可疑或正常,SALV是有诊断价值的.     

椎间盘镜系统治疗腰椎间盘突出症550例

目的探讨椎间盘镜系统治疗腰椎间盘突出症的疗效. 方法改进部分手术器械,采用膝胸坐位,穿刺黄韧带进入椎管等方法,应用METRx进行腰椎间盘取出术550例. 结果随访6～36个月,平均21个月,疗效参考Nakai标准,优478例 (86.9%),良60例(10.9%),可6例(1.1%),差6例(1.1%).疗效差6例再次镜下扩大侧隐窝清理残留髓核疗效转良. 结论 METRx下行腰椎间盘取出术,创伤小、安全、疗效好,值得推广.     

椎弓根固定结合椎体成形术治疗胸腰椎爆裂骨折

目的探讨椎弓根固定结合经椎弓根椎体内植骨行椎体成形术治疗胸腰椎爆裂骨折的疗效。方法采用椎管环形减压、短节段椎弓根螺钉系统固定结合经椎弓根椎体内植骨治疗胸腰椎爆裂骨折116例,其中93例获得随访。术前及术后随访行X线和CT检查,测量伤椎椎体中央高度值,比较植骨后椎体高度的恢复程度,同时观察植骨融合情况。采用配对t检验方法进行统计学分析。结果93例患者术后平均随访24.2个月,90%以上患者伤椎椎体高度恢复并维持良好,无塌陷。伤椎椎体中央高度值犤T12(3.14±0.41)cm,L1(3.33±0.34)cm犦与正常值犤(T12(3.26±0.38)cm,L1(3.47±0.61)cm)犦比较,差异无显著性意义(P>0.05)。未出现植骨操作引起的神经血管并发症。CT显示椎体内植骨块边缘模糊,融合良好,植骨块无吸收现象。结论后路椎管环形减压及内固定时,经伤椎椎弓根进行椎体内植骨行椎体成形术可恢复伤椎椎体高度,重建前、中柱的稳定性,预防术后椎体塌陷的发生。     

外伤性急性颈椎间盘突出症(附19例报告)

本文旨在阐明MRI对急性颈椎间盘突出的诊断价值。19例均有明显的外伤史,X线片无骨折脱位者12例。其中C_(5～6),髓核突出7例,C_(5～6)、C_(1～5),突出5例。有小关节绞锁半脱位者7例,MRI均示损伤间隙有髓核突出。19例均为不全瘫。全部病例经前路椎间盘切除、植骨融合。平均随访15个月,植骨块平均于12周愈合。除1例骨块退出4～5mm外,余位置良好。脊髓功能均有明显恢复。结论:外伤是急性颈椎间盘突出的主要原因,而颈椎间盘突出又是SCIWORA综合征的主要原因。对小关节绞锁半脱位者应考虑同时有椎间盘突出的可能。手术治疗一般效果良好。     

扩大的椎板间开窗治疗腰椎间盘突出伴侧隐窝狭窄（附140例报告）

本组采用的扩大的椎板开窗术治疗腰椎间盘突出合并侧隐窝狭窄140例。结果全部优良，与适应症严格选择和手术损伤小有关。强调切除卡压神经根的侧隐窝后壁外侧，即上关节突的冠状面．不失其脊椎三柱系统的三角结构。俯卧位头低足高，可减少硬膜囊张力避免负损伤。切除棘突下椎板时，用神经拉勾代替神经剥离器易于分离黄韧带，用90度的椎板咬骨钳斜向棘突方向，可满意地切除该部份椎板黄韧带，并可刮切椎板内层。神经根周围滴入醋酸炎舒松A2-3ml，术后疼痛锐减。减压窗口置盖明胶海绵有其争议，作者实践体会放置害处不大，要求病人有“护腰”意识。     

涉及全椎骨之脊柱肿瘤的外科治疗

本文报告了4例涉及椎体及其后部结构的全椎骨肿瘤的外科治疗,介绍了全椎骨切除术的手术方法及手术注意事项。手术采用后路附件切除,上下椎体Steffee钢板内固定,前路椎体切除自体髂骨植骨融合,初步效果满意。本手术难度大、出血多、危险性高,术中采用控制性低血压,以减少出血。     

再手术治疗腰椎间盘突出症临床分析

目的 探讨腰椎间盘突出症再手术原因及处理对策。方法 对31例腰椎间盘突出症再手术的病例进行回顾分析。结果 再手术原因主要为术前诊断及定位错误，椎间盘切除不彻底，对神经根管狭窄认识不足，脊柱稳定结构破坏 多节段椎间盘突出症遗漏，椎管瘢痕粘连等。结论 腰椎间盘突出症手术前诊断及定位需准确，髓核切除要干净，并松解神经根，必要时扩大神经根管，注意维持脊柱神经稳定结构，多节段椎间盘突出术前应斟酌取舍。     

小切口加脊柱花刀治疗髓核骨化性腰椎间盘突出症

为保留腰椎后部结构的完整性，防止术后腰椎不稳，采用小切口单侧小开窗加脊柱花刀治疗旁侧型髓核骨化性腰椎间盘突出症22例，单侧扩大开窗加脊柱花刀治疗中央型髓核骨化性腰椎间盘突出症10例。手术尽可能地保留了腰椎全部结构的完整性，可防止术后腰椎不稳和减少对硬膜和神经根的疤痕粘连。并就32例髓核骨化性腰椎间盘突出症患者CT图像中髓核骨化的形式和形态进行了讨论。