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.     

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.     

腰椎后路非融合固定系统的临床应用

复习腰椎后路非融合固定系统的设计原理、临床应用及治疗效果等相关文献,与传统的脊柱融合术相比,应用非融合系统可获得很好的疗效,并可以减少邻近节段退变的发生率。     

胸腰椎病变CT监视下穿刺活检路径分析

目的探讨胸腰椎病变CT监视下穿刺活检中穿刺路径的选择方法。方法141例胸腰椎病变临床诊断不清患者，其中胸椎70例，腰椎71例。根据病变位于脊椎的不同部位选择合适的穿刺路径，于CT监视下穿刺取材。穿刺路径：经椎旁路径63例，经椎弓根路径45例，经肋椎关节路径11例，其他路径22例。结果141例中共有128例诊断正确，穿刺结果诊断正确率为90．8％。无并发症发生。结论胸腰椎病变穿刺路径的选择要根据病变的位置不同具体分析。总的原则是安全、取材量多、对患者损伤小。     

The effect of prior back surgery on surgical outcome in patients operated on for lumbar spinal stenosis a matched-pair study

Summary It has been widely observed that the outcome after repeat lumbar surgery is rarely comparable to that of primary surgery. In particular, the results of repeat surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) have not been favourable. We used a matched-pair format in an attempt to decrease the confounding factors so as to determine as exactly as possible the effect of prior back surgery on the LSS patients surgical outcome. The matching criteria were sex, age, myelographic findings, major symptom, and duration of symptoms. From one group of 251 patients without prior back surgery (SO patients) and another of fifty-three patients with one preceding back operation (RS patients), forty-one similar matched patients pairs (one SO and one RS-patient) were formed.There were 8 female and 33 male pairs. The mean age of the SO patients was 51.6 and of the RS patient 51.4 years, and the mean follow-up time was 4.6 and 4.4 years. The assessment of outcome was based on a subjective disability questionnaire. The SO patients fared significantly better than the RS patients (32.1 versus 41.3, P = 0.026). A short time interval between operations in the RS patients had a worsening effect on outcome, but this trend was not significant.We concluded that one preceding back operation had a worsening effect on the outcome of patients operated on for LSS. As a whole, the results of RS patients were unfavourable. The proper time for achieving good surgical results in LSS patients is the initial operation.     

椎管镜技术治疗腰椎间盘突出症并侧隐窝狭窄

目的 :探讨椎管镜技术治疗腰椎间盘突出症并侧隐窝狭窄的临床效果。方法 :采用显微内窥镜椎间盘切除系统治疗腰椎间盘突出症并侧隐窝狭窄 860例。结果 :临床疗效参照NaKai分级 ,70 9例获得随访 ,平均 2年 7个月 ,优 ,5 5 9例 ;良 ,12 7例 ;可 ,2 3例。结论 :椎管镜技术是治疗腰椎间盘疾病安全有效的方法 ,住院时间短 ,恢复快 ,但操作技术有待进一步提高。     

新型记忆合金节段内固定器治疗腰椎峡部裂的实验研究

目的 :设计一种治疗腰椎峡部裂的新型记忆合金节段内固定器 ,测试其材料力学特性 ,并评价其生物力学稳定性。方法 :测量 2 0具干燥完整成人腰椎标本获得数据 ,按数据采用镍钛记忆合金设计固定器并行材料力学测试。取 6具新鲜成人腰椎标本 ,先后形成正常脊柱组、峡部裂组、横突棘突钢丝捆绑组、钩螺钉固定组、Buck螺钉固定组、新研制记忆合金固定器固定组 6组实验模型。利用脊柱三维运动实验机 ,分别测试 6组的前屈 /后伸、左 /右侧弯及左 /右轴向旋转 6种运动的活动范围。结果 :材料力学测试表明其形态记忆功能良好 ,体温状态下会产生稳定可靠的回复力。 6组在前屈、后伸及左右旋转状态 ,峡部裂组稳定性最差 ,同其他 5组差别明显。而使用新研制记忆合金内固定器组可明显恢复腰椎稳定性 ,同正常脊柱组及其他 3种内固定组均无显著差别。另两种状态左右侧弯 6组均无显著性差别。结论 :新设计的内固定器符合腰椎的生物力学要求 ,较先前的半环状内固定器优势明显 ,具有很好应用前景