Assessing the Stiffness of Spinal Fusion in Animal Models

The clinical goal of spinal fusion is to reduce motion and the associated pain. Therefore, measuring motion under loading is critical. The purpose of this study was to validate four-point bending as a means to mechanically evaluate simulated fusions in dog and rabbit spines. We hypothesized that this method would be more sensitive than manual palpation and would be able to distinguish unilateral vs bilateral fusion. Spines from four mixed breed dogs and four New Zealand white rabbits were used to simulate posterolateral fusion with polymethyl methacrylate as the fusion mass. We performed manual palpation and nondestructive mechanical testing in four-point bending in four planes of motion: flexion, extension, and right and left bending. This testing protocol was used for each specimen in three fusion modes: intact, unilateral, and bilateral fusion. Under manual palpation, all intact spines were rated as not fused, and all unilateral and bilateral simulated fusions were rated as fused. In four-point bending, dog spines were significantly stiffer after unilateral fusion compared with intact in all directions. Additionally, rabbit spines were stiffer in flexion and left bending after unilateral fusion. All specimens exhibited significant differences between intact and bilateral fusion except the rabbit in extension. For unilateral vs bilateral fusion, significant differences were present for right bending in the dog model and for flexion in the rabbit. Unilateral fusion can provide enough stability to constitute a fused grade by manual palpation but may not provide structural stiffness comparable to bilateral fusion.     

腰椎术后切口积液的探讨

[目的]分析后侧入路腰椎术后切口积液产生的原因，探讨积液的分型并确定相应的治疗策略。[方法]白2001年6月～2006年6月本院共开展1986例经后侧入路的腰椎手术。使用内固定的手术877例，未使用内固定手术1109例，比较两组间切口积液的发生率。将发生积液的病人分为Ⅲ型：Ⅰ型：病因明确型，共28例；Ⅱ型：感染型，共11例；Ⅲ型：病因不明确型，共14例。Ⅰ型病人给予穿刺抽液，对因治疗，营养疗法。Ⅱ型病人给予穿刺抽液，清创，手术灌洗和按药敏给予抗生菌治疗。Ⅲ型病人给予穿刺和预防应用抗生素。[结果]使用内固定组的切口积液率（4．33％）高于未使用内固定组（1．35％）P〈0．01。平均住院日：Ⅰ型14．7d，Ⅱ型：87．6d。Ⅲ型：15．6d。[结论]伴随手术过程的复杂化切口积液率明显增高。给积液分型有助于确定有效的治疗方案。Ⅰ型病人予以穿刺抽液和对因治疗。Ⅲ型治疗的关键是防止转化为Ⅱ型。Ⅱ型治疗比较困难，积极的手术干预和按药敏给予抗生菌是两个关键的治疗方法。     

后路环周融合治疗老年人重度腰椎管狭窄症

[目的]探讨后路环周腰椎融合在老年人重度腰椎管狭窄症的应用和效果。[方法]2001年11月~2004年5月,采用后路腰椎间融合(PLIF)联合后外侧融合(PLF)的环周融合术治疗老年人腰椎管狭窄症83例。随访18~42个月,观察术后并发症,采用JOA评分评估治疗效果,X线片和CT判定植骨融合情况。[结果]术后所有患者12~14 d即可下地行走,3例出现症状性下肢深静脉血栓,10例腰腿痛一过性加重。末次随访腰腿痛明显缓解,JOA评分由术前平均(13.6±3.8)分改善至(22.3±4.6)分。椎间植骨均获骨性融合。[结论]后路环周融合术是治疗老年人重度腰椎管狭窄的安全、有效、合理的选择之一。     

老年性骨质疏松脊柱良性骨折与转移瘤性骨折的MRI鉴别

目的探讨脊椎骨质疏松性压缩骨折的MRI表现及其与转移性压缩骨折的鉴别诊断.资料与方法回顾性分析53例老年性骨质疏松伴压缩性骨折和20例转移性椎体压缩骨折患者的MRI资料.全部病例均行常规MRI检查(矢状位、横轴位).分析两者引起的压缩骨折MRI征象,包括椎体和椎弓根的形态及信号改变、椎间盘增厚、椎体内真空现象和椎旁软组织形态.探讨两者之间的差别.结果两者在椎体和椎弓根形态及信号、椎体内真空现象、椎旁软组织形态上存在非常显著性差异(P＜0.01).结论 MRI能准确显示骨质疏松性压缩骨折的形态及信号,与转移瘤之间有显著差异,大多能对二者做出鉴别诊断.     

脊柱放线菌感染并发脊髓压迫症(附3例报告)

目的探讨脊柱放线菌感染并发脊髓压迫症的临床和影像学特点及治疗方法。方法回顾性分析3例经病理检查证实的本病患者的临床资料。结果3例患者均有颈、胸脊椎及软组织感染和脊髓压迫症状;MRI示病变椎体骨质破坏,颈、胸硬膜外软组织肿块,脊髓受压。病理学检查组织病理学检查证实3例均为放线菌感染,2例表现为炎性肉芽组织伴微脓肿形成,另1例表现为硬膜外脓肿。均予以脓肿清除、脊髓减压术,并给予4~8周大剂量青霉素G静脉滴注,后改口服维持4~6个月,术后及随访3例患者均取得显著的疗效。结论脊柱放线菌感染并发脊髓压迫症临床和影像学表现无特征性,其确诊依赖于病理学和微生物学检查。脓肿引流、椎管内减压术和大剂量抗生素治疗有效。     

腰神经通道卡压综合征病因的探讨

为了探讨腰神经通道狭窄的病因，我们对２２４例腰椎间盘突出及腰椎管狭窄症患者进行了腰神经通道探查手术，结果发现其病因以腰部组织变性为主。除外伤及反复慢性腰部损伤引起腰部病变外，活动少，或很少进行腰部锻炼，体形肥胖也是引起腰神经通道狭窄日趋加重的致病因素。在治疗时强调不只满足于切除突出的椎间盘，应沿神经通道探查，清除一切卡压神经根的病变组织才能获得较好的治疗效果。我们随访１９７例，平均随访３ａ，优良率９３５％。     

经皮弧式椎间盘切除器械治疗腰5骶1椎间盘突出症初步报告

采用经皮弧式椎间盘切除器械治疗Ｌ_５～Ｓ_１椎间盘突出症２２例，２１例成功。术后优良率为８６．４％。该器械能够避开髂嵴阻挡进入Ｌ_５～Ｓ_１椎间隙，并增加椎间盘切除量，提高经皮Ｌ_５～Ｓ_１椎间盘切除成功率。定位正确是成功的关键。     

腰穿放液治疗160例外伤性蛛网膜下腔出血的体会

目的：探讨腰穿放液对外伤性蛛网膜下腔出血的作用。方法：对１６０名外伤性蛛网膜下腔出血的病人行腰穿放液，少则２次，多则７次。结果：所有病人症状均好转，从脑脊液的力学上看脑脊液恢复正常性状的时间缩短，结论：腰穿放液治疗外伤性蛛网膜下腔出血是十分有效的方法，近期内临床症状明显改善，远期并发症减少。     

Rotational occlusion of the vertebral artery at the atlantoaxial joint: is it truly physiological?

We present a patient with vertebrobasilar insufficiency, with vertigo and horizontal nystagmus, induced by turning the head to the right. Angiography demonstrated transient occlusion of the left vertebral artery at the atlantoaxial joint during rotation of the head. The pathogenesis and angiographic findings are discussed.