Five-year outcome of surgical decompression of the lumbar spine without fusion

As the average life expectancy of the population increases, surgical decompression of the lumbar spine is being performed with increasing frequency. It now constitutes the most common type of lumbar spinal surgery in older patients. The present prospective study examined the 5-year outcome of lumbar decompression surgery without fusion. The group comprised 159 patients undergoing decompression for degenerative spinal disorders who had been participants in a randomised controlled trial of post-operative rehabilitation that had shown no between-group differences at 2 years. Leg pain and back pain intensity (0–10 graphic rating scale), self-rated disability (Roland Morris), global outcome of surgery (5-point Likert scale) and re-operation rates were assessed 5 years post-operatively. Ten patients had died before the 5-year follow-up. Of the remaining 149 patients, 143 returned a 5-year follow-up (FU) questionnaire (effective return rate excluding deaths, 96%). Their mean age was 64 (SD 11) years and 92/143 (64%) were men. In the 5-year follow-up period, 34/143 patients (24%) underwent re-operation (17 further decompressions, 17 fusions and 1 intradural drainage/debridement). In patients who were not re-operated, leg pain decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from before surgery to 2 months FU, after which there was no significant change up to 5 years. Low back pain also decreased significantly by 2 months FU, but then showed a slight, but significant (p < 0.05), gradual increase of <1 point by 5-year FU. Disability decreased significantly from pre-operative to 2 months FU and showed a further significant decrease at 5 months FU. Thereafter, it remained stable up to the 5-year FU. Pain and disability scores recorded after 5 years showed a significant correlation with those at earlier follow-ups (r = 0.53–0.82; p < 0.05). Patients who were re-operated at some stage over the 5-year period showed significantly worse final outcomes for leg pain and disability (p < 0.05). In conclusion, pain and disability showed minimal change in the 5-year period after surgery, but the re-operation rate was relatively high. Re-operation resulted in worse final outcomes in terms of leg pain and disability. At the 5-year follow-up, the “average” patient experienced frequent, but relatively low levels of, pain and moderate disability. This knowledge on the long-term outcome should be incorporated into the pre-operative patient information process.     

Evaluation of ABM/P-15 versus autogenous bone in an ovine lumbar interbody fusion model

A prospective, randomized study was performed in an ovine model to compare the efficacy of an anorganic bovine-derived hydroxyapatite matrix combined with a synthetic 15 amino acid residue (ABM/P-15) in facilitating lumbar interbody fusion when compared with autogenous bone harvested from the iliac crest. P-15 is a biomimetic to the cell-binding site of Type-I collagen for bone-forming cells. When combined with ABM, it creates the necessary scaffold to initiate cell invasion, binding, and subsequent osteogenesis. In this study, six adult ewes underwent anterior-lateral interbody fusion at L3/L4 and L4/L5 using PEEK interbody rings filled with autogenous bone at one level and ABM/P-15 at the other level and no additional instrumentation. Clinical CT scans were obtained at 3 and 6 months; micro-CT scans and histomorphometry analyses were performed after euthanization at 6 months. Clinical CT scan analysis showed that all autograft and ABM/P-15 treated levels had radiographically fused outside of the rings at the 3-month study time point. Although the clinical CT scans of the autograft treatment group showed significantly better fusion within the PEEK rings than ABM/P-15 at 3 months, micro-CT scans, clinical CT scans, and histomorphometric analyses showed there were no statistical differences between the two treatment groups at 6 months. Thus, ABM/P-15 was as successful as autogenous bone graft in producing lumbar spinal fusion in an ovine model, and it should be further evaluated in clinical studies.     

神经刺激器定位腰丛-坐骨神经联合阻滞在老年人下肢手术的应用

目的探讨神经刺激器定位下行腰丛-坐骨神经联合阻滞在老年人下肢手术中的应用,以硬膜外麻醉作对照,观察其对老年病人血流动力学的影响和术后的不良反应。方法60例拟行单侧下肢手术的老年病人,随机分为腰丛-坐骨神经联合阻滞（NER）和硬膜外麻醉（EPI）。记录麻醉前,麻醉开始后15、30、45、60min,术后1h的收缩压（SBP）、舒张压（DBP）和心率（HR）,以及感觉、运动神经阻滞起效及恢复时间、镇痛维持时间、效果。结果麻醉开始后15min。EPI组病人DBP降低明显,随后30、45、60min及术后1hEPI组病人的SBP、DBP均明显低于NER组;NER组感觉、运动神经阻滞起效时间均小于EPI组,恢复时间明显长于EPI组。结论神经刺激器定位下行腰丛-坐骨神经联合阻滞,成功率高,血流动力学平稳,并发症少,起效迅速,镇痛时间长,是老年病人进行单侧下肢手术较好的麻醉方法。     

前路减压植骨内固定治疗胸腰椎爆裂性骨折

目的探讨前路减压植骨融合内固定手术在治疗胸腰椎爆裂性骨折的疗效。方法回顾性分析2000年5月～2005年3月前路减压植骨融合內固定治疗胸腰椎爆裂性骨折58例。骨折节段—单椎体骨折:T101例,T114例,T1213例,L118例,L211例,L32例;双椎体骨折:T12与L16例,L1与L23例。结果平均随访13.5个月,按Frankel分级评定神经功能恢复1级以上。影像学检查比较,未发现明显的矫正度丢失。植骨块位于中央、己融合,无假关节形成及內固定失败。结论前路减压植骨内固定治疗胸腰椎爆裂性骨折,减压更彻底、更安全,能较好地重建前中柱稳定性。     

Effectiveness of shared decision-making intervention in patients with lumbar degenerative diseases: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of shared decision-making (SDM) intervention among patients with lumbar degenerative diseases (LDDs) in terms of decision self-efficacy, control preferences, SDM process, decision satisfaction, and conflict.MethodsA total of 130 outpatients with LDDs recruited from orthopedic or rehabilitation clinics were randomly assigned to the SDM intervention (n = 67) or comparison (n = 63) groups. Patients in the intervention group received decision aids (DAs) with decision coaching and those in controlled group received standard educational materials from a health educator. The primary outcome was decision self-efficacy, and secondary outcomes were control preference, SDM process, conflict, and satisfaction.ResultsThe SDM intervention significantly improved decision self-efficacy (mean difference [MD] = 7.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7–12.5, partial η² = 0.05) and reduced conflict (MD = −7.0, 95% CI: −12.2 to −1.9, partial η² = 0.06), especially in patients without family involvement, compared with the health education group. However, no significant between-group differences were observed in other outcomes.ConclusionSDM intervention improved SDM self-efficacy and reduced conflict in patients with LDDs.Practice ImplicationsClinicians can integrate DAs and decision coaching in SDM conversations. SDM intervention seems to engage patients in decision-making, especially those without family involvement.     

下腰椎板间隙的影像解剖学测量及其临床意义

目的　应用影像解剖学测量腰椎板间隙参数,探讨其临床意义。 方法　观察145例腰椎间盘突出症患者的腰椎正位片,比较患侧（症状组）与健侧（对照组）椎板间隙形态,根据不同性别分别测量L4/5以及L5/S1节段双侧椎板间隙的高度、宽度和面积;通过腰椎三维CT测量腰椎板间隙的有效直径并进行统计分析。 结果　在腰椎正位片上健侧L4/5、L5/S1的椎板间隙多呈椭圆形,而患侧的椎板间隙以三角形和扁圆形多见;患侧腰椎板间隙狭窄发生率为68.1%,L4/5节段发生率为65.1%,L5/S1节段71.0%;高度改变的同时伴随宽度的改变;腰椎三维CT测量结果表明,76.5%的患者患侧椎板间隙有效直径小于工作通道直径,其中72.3%位于L4/5节段,80.6%位于L5/S1节段;男性椎板间隙的高度、宽度、面积以及有效直径其均值大于女性,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;总体上,L5/S1节段椎板间隙的高度、宽度、面积以及有效直径的均值大于L4/5节段。 结论　腰椎间盘突出症与椎板间隙的改变存在密切联系,掌握腰椎板间隙的高度、宽度、面积以及有效直径,可指导微创手术方式的选择及术中操作。     

双开窗治疗中央型腰椎间盘突出症及远期疗效分析

目的探讨双开窗手术治疗中央型腰椎间盘突出症及其远期临床疗效。方法回顾性分析我院在2001年6月至2005年2月期间行双开窗手术治疗中央型腰椎间盘突出症并有完整随访资料的患者42例,全部病例术前均行X线片、CT或MRI检查发现中央型腰椎间盘突出,患者同时出现双侧腰骶臀部症状或交替性腿部症状,且症状与影像学相符。对所有患者通过JOA腰背痛手术治疗评分、Macnab评定标准和生活质量量表进行评分。结果42例患者随访6个月至9年,平均6．2年,随访患者JOA评分为（23．58±6．35）;根据Macnab疗效标准,优36例,良4例,可2例,优良率达85．71％,无同节段症状复发和腰椎失稳现象发生。结论双开窗有限手术能彻底减压并维持脊柱的稳定性,且远期疗效好,是治疗中央型椎间盘突出症有效的可靠的方法。     

电针配合健腰操治疗腰椎间盘突出症疗效观察

目的:验证电针配合健腰操治疗腰椎间盘突出症的疗效.方法:50例患者均予电针治疗,穴取十七椎、腰阳关、环跳、阳陵泉为主,并配合健腰操锻炼.分别于治疗前、治疗第4个月后、治疗第7个月后评定总体症状总分值,进行疗效比较.结果:治疗4个月后总体症状总分值为15.30±5.66,治疗7个月后为19.08±4.57,均明显高于治疗前的7.42±2.20(均P<0.01),治疗7个月后优于治疗4个月后(P<0.01).不同证型患者治疗后分值差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),以血瘀型效果最好,肝肾亏虚型其次.结论:电针配合健腰操对腰椎间盘突出症的治疗有显著疗效,并随着治疗时间的延长,效果也越明显.     

温通针法治疗腰椎管狭窄症临床观察

目的观察温通针法和普通针刺治疗腰椎管狭窄症（LSS）疗效差异性,提倡临床运用针刺手法。方法 154例LSS患者按随机数字表随机分为对照组（77例）和治疗组（77例）,在治疗前后采用LSS症状体征评分、脊髓功能评分、生活质量评分、疗效、随访等方面比较。结果两种方法治疗LSS在症状体征评分、脊髓功能评分、生活质量评分、疗效、随访等方面有差异（P〈0.05）。结论 两种针刺方法对LSS都有治疗作用,温通针法疗效优于普通针刺方法,且疗效较稳定。     

腰椎间盘突出症的骶管注射疗法

目的：探讨骶管注射疗法对腰椎间盘突出症的临床作用。方法：将90例腰椎间盘突出症的患者,随机分为生理盐水组、地塞米松低剂量组、地塞米松高剂量组、曲安奈德低剂量组、曲安奈德高剂量组和丹参注射液组,每组15例。每组患者均按照各自的组方配制成20mL的溶液给予骶管注射。治疗前及治疗后即刻、1周和2周均使用改良的日本矫形外科学会（M-JOA）腰痛评分标准和疼痛视觉模拟评分（VAS）进行临床疗效评价。结果：治疗前各组患者M-JOA腰痛评分和VAS评分比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;治疗后即刻各组患者的VAS评分与治疗前比较均有降低（P〈0.05）,但M-JOA评分与治疗前比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;骶管注射治疗后,糖皮质激素各组的M-JOA评分与VAS评分比生理盐水组和丹参注射液组降低明显（P〈0.01）,但生理盐水组和丹参注射液组、糖皮质激素各剂量组之间的M-JOA评分与VAS评分相比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。治疗后1周,曲安奈德组的M-JOA评分与VAS评分降低比地塞米松组明显（P〈0.05）,但治疗后2周,曲安奈德组与地塞米松组的M-JOA评分与VAS评分比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论：腰椎间盘突出症的骶管注射疗法中,中药制剂的作用与生理盐水无异;起关键作用的是糖皮质激素,且临床运用中最好遵循低剂量给药和水剂优先的原则。