Inter-rater Accuracy and Reliability of a Palpation Protocol of the C7 Spinous Process Comprising a Combination of 3 Traditional Palpation Techniques

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy and intrarater reliability of a palpatory protocol based on a combination of 3 palpatory methods to identify both the C7 spinous process (C7 SP) and the factors that affect the errors and inaccuracy of palpation.MethodsTwenty-five women between the ages of 18 and 60 years were submitted to a palpation protocol of the C7 SP, and a radiopaque marker was fixed on the skin at the possible location of the vertebrae. A radiograph and a photograph of the cervical spine were obtained in the same posture by a first rater. A second rater performed the same palpation protocol and took a second photograph. The accuracy and measurement error of the palpation protocol of C7 SP were assessed through radiographic images. The inter-rater reliability was estimated by the interclass correlation coefficient and assessed using photographs of each rater. The Pearson's correlation coefficients (r), the Fisher exact test, and the χ² test were used to identify the factors associated with the error and inaccuracy of palpation.ResultsAccuracy of the C7 palpation was 76% with excellent reliability (interclass correlation coefficient = 0.99). There was a moderate correlation between weight and the measurement of palpation error (r = –0.6; P = .003). One hundred percent of inaccuracy palpation was related to the increased soft-tissue thickness (P = .005) in the cervical region.ConclusionThe palpation protocol described in this study was accurate and presented excellent reliability in identifying the C7 SP. Increased weight and dorsocervical fat pad were associated to error and palpation inaccuracy, respectively.     

Depression of the Thoracolumbar Posterior Vertebral Body on the Estimation of Cement Leakage in Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Operations

Background:

The cross-section of thoracolumbar vertebral body is kidney-shaped with depressed posterior boundary. The anterior wall of the vertebral canal is separated from the posterior wall of the vertebral body on the lateral X-ray image. This study was designed to determine the sagittal distance between the anterior border of the vertebral canal and the posterior border of the vertebral body (DBCV) and to analyze the potential role of DBCV in the estimation of cement leakage during percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) or percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP).

Methods:

We retrospectively recruited 233 patients who had osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and were treated with PVP or PKP. Computed tomography images of T11–L2 normal vertebrae were measured to obtain DBCV. The distance from cement to the posterior wall of the vertebral body (DCPW) of thoracolumbar vertebrae was measured from C-arm images. The selected vertebrae were divided into two groups according to DCPW, with the fracture levels, fracture grades and leakage rates of the two groups compared. A relative operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to determine whether the DCPW difference can be used to estimate the degree of cement leakage. The data were processed by statistical software SPSS version 21.0 using independent sample t-test and Chi-square tests.

Results:

The maximum DBCV was 6.40 mm and the average DBCV was 3.74 ± 0.95 mm. DBCV appeared to be longer in males than in females, but the difference was not statistically significant. The average DCPW of type-B leakage vertebrae (2.59 ± 1.20 mm) was shorter than that of other vertebrae (7.83 ± 2.38 mm, P < 0.001). The leakage rate of group DCPW ≤6.40 mm was lower than that of group DCPW >6.40 mm for type-C and type-S, but much higher for type-B. ROC curve revealed that DCPW only has a predictive value for type-B leakage (area under the curve: 0.98, 95% confidence interval: 0.95–0.99, P < 0.001), and when the cut-off value was 4.05 mm, the diagnostic sensitivity and the specificity were 94.87% and 93.02%, respectively.

Conclusions:

Depression of the thoracolumbar posterior vertebral body may be informative for the estimation of cement location on C-arm images. To reduce type-B leakage, DCPW should be made longer than DBCV on C-arm images for safety during PVP or PKP.     

同种异体骨与自体骨填充椎间融合修复脊髓型颈椎病的比较

背景:目前用于颈椎前路的填充材料较多,以自体骨、同种异体骨多见,但自体骨取材引发供骨区出血、感染、术后疼痛等并发症被临床工作者逐渐重视。同种异体骨具有良好的生物相容性及安全性,可作为一种比较理想的融合器填充材料。目的:对比异体骨与自体骨填充椎间融合器结合钢板内固定在脊髓型颈椎病患者颈椎前路融合中的临床修复效果。方法:2012年1月至2013年6月对44例脊髓型颈椎病共44节段实施前路椎间盘摘除、椎间融合联合钢板内固定治疗,取颈前斜切口2.0-3.0 cm,切除椎间盘及后纵韧带,尽量保留终板。其中24例取自体髂骨填充椎间融合器,20例采用同种异体骨填充,以JOA评分、Odom’s疗效评定标准及X线射片评定两组疗效。结果与结论:两组患者均获得12-18个月随访。两组间术后并发症及JOA评分差异无显著性意义。临床疗效评定(Odom’s标准)优良率,同种异体骨组高于自体骨组,差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。术后3,6个月同种异体骨组融合率较自体骨组低,12个月时两组融合率均为100%。影像学结果提示,术后3,6,12个月同种异体骨组与自体骨组融合节段椎间隙高度、前凸Cobb角之间差异无显著性意义(P>0.05)。提示同种异体骨作为椎间融合器填充材料,融合率与自体髂骨相似,并可维持颈椎生理曲度及恢复椎间隙高度,可作为理想的骨填充材料应用于颈椎前路手术。     

C 4-C 6前路固定参数CT影像数字化钉道模拟测量的临床意义

背景：颈椎前路手术虽入路解剖结构较为复杂,风险大,但能固定颈椎主要承重的前柱,固定较为稳定,复发率较低。由于该项技术较新,临床缺乏相关固定参数。
　　目的：对C4-C6前路固定参数进行测量,为该节段前路固定治疗的广泛开展提供参数参考。
　　方法：选取2009年1月至2012年12月进行颈椎检查C4-C6颈椎无病变的35例研究对象的CT影像学资料,男20例,女15例;年龄25-50岁,平均41.2岁。采用Mimics16.01软件对影像资料进行重建测量椎体前后径及左右径,椎体高,椎骨横突孔的前后径与左右径,左右两侧横突孔内侧缘之间距离,左右两侧椎弓根轴线与矢状轴和水平轴的夹角及长度。
　　结果与结论：椎体左右径C4-C6由(26.67±0.25) mm逐渐增长到(32.89±0.12) mm,椎体前后径C4-C6由(6.89±0.12) mm逐渐增长到(8.85±0.44) mm,不同节段间比较差异均有显著性意义(P<0.05)。椎体正中矢状面前、中、后缘高度从C4[前缘(7.99±0.51) mm,中高为(7.09±0.42) mm,后高为(7.76±0.49) mm];到C6[前缘为(9.89±0.45) mm,中高为(8.42±0.75) mm,后高为(8.84±0.26)mm],椎体间比较差异有显著性意义(P <0.05)。椎骨横突孔前后径和左右径均随椎序的增加而逐渐增加(P <0.05)。C4-C6左右两侧横突孔内侧缘距离由(25.10±0.45) mm逐渐增长到(28.89±0.56) mm,不同节段间比较差异均有显著性意义(P <0.05)。椎弓根轴线与矢状轴和水平轴的夹角及长度均随颈椎序数的增加逐渐增大,差异有显著性意义(P <0.05)。     

The Herniated Thoracic Disc: A Review of Literature

Abstract

This literature review discusses the epidemiology and etiology of thoracic disc lesions and describes signs and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, differential diagnosis, and treatment. Data presented in case series reports published between 1985-2001 is summarized: Thoracic disc herniations are more common than previously thought. They may cause mild, moderate, severe or confusing symptoms or be asymptomatic; 49% of cases were in men and 51% in women. Trauma was a precipitating factor in 31%; multiple herniations were reported in 9%. In symptomatic cases, 57% of patients presented with radicular pain, 48% with back pain, 63% with weakness, 60% with sensory complaints, 25% with bowel or bladder symptoms, and 59% with hyperreflexia. Typical presentations of upper, middle, and lower thoracic disc are summarized. Diagnosis is made by correlating clinical signs and symptoms with the results of diagnostic imaging. Surgery is recommended for patients with progressive neurological dysfunction. Research on the efficacy of conservative treatment is lacking in the literature.     

无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤的局部麻醉手术策略

目的探讨局部麻醉下治疗无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤的手术策略及治疗效果。方法回顾分析2004年3月~2009年2月间采用局麻方式治疗的无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤病例62例,根据损伤机制及影像学资料将无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤形成因素分为3类,其中Ⅰ类11例,Ⅱ类34例,Ⅲ类17例。Ⅰ类采用前路减压融合术,Ⅱ类采用后路椎管扩大减压术,Ⅲ类采用后路椎管减压融合术（或前后路联合减压融合术）。根据JOA评分观察手术前后及随访时的神经功能变化并进行对比分析。结果经3个月,6个月,1年及终末随访,其中终末随访JOA评分均较术前明显改善（P〈0.05）,优良率达88.7%。术后出现颈后路表浅感染2例,C5神经根症状5例。未发生医源性神经损伤加重、内固定失败、后路单开门术后再关门等并发症。结论在局麻方式下采用颈前路、后路或前后路联合入路减压（和/或融合）治疗无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤均取得良好疗效,根据影像学表现结合致伤因素在局麻方式下合理选择手术入路是手术成功的关键。     

Immediate Effects of Thoracic Spine Thrust Manipulation on Neurodynamic Mobility

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of thoracic spine thrust manipulation (TSM) on the upper limb provocation test (ULPT) and seated slump test (SST) in individuals with identified neurodynamic mobility impairments. A secondary aim was to determine if correlation existed between the perception of effect and improvements in neurodynamic mobility following a thrust manipulation compared with mobilization.

Intrarater and Inter-rater Reliability of Maximal Voluntary Neck Muscle Strength Assessment Using a Handheld Dynamometer in Women With Headache and Healthy Women

Objective

This study aimed to determine the inter-rater and intrarater reliability, agreement, and minimal detectable change (MDC) of the neck muscle strength test using a handheld dynamometer in healthy women and women with headaches.

32例颈椎术后患者早期神经功能恶化的观察和护理

总结了32例颈椎术后早期神经功能恶化患者的临床护理经验.护理措施包括正确的术前评估、病情的正确判断、正确的给药护理、正确的心理护理与康复训练指导.7例四肢瘫合并呼吸功能障碍者,除1例抢救无效死亡外,其余6例行血肿清除术后症状即刻缓解.另外25例神经症状加重不伴有明显呼吸困难的患者中,15例行原入路探查、血肿清除术或择期二期手术后,症状即刻或逐渐改善;10例未再次手术患者经高压氧治疗后症状不同程度改善.随访6个月,采用日本矫形外科协会(JOA)评分,平均9分.采取积极有效的护理措施可以及时发现早期神经功能恶化,降低致残率,促进患者康复.     

颈椎肿瘤切除手术患者呼吸道并发症的预防与护理

总结了34例颈椎肿瘤切除及内固定手术患者手术前后呼吸道并发症的预防和护理.术前给予呼吸训练、体位准备、物品准备;术后密切观察血氧指标和呼吸情况、切口渗血情况,做好氧疗、气道湿化、拍背、吸痰及气管切开的护理.本组1例患者术后发生右肺不张,经气管插管治疗后好转,其他患者未发生呼吸道感染.认为有效的呼吸道管理是提高手术成功率、减少呼吸道相关并发症的重要保证.