颈椎小关节突脱位闭合复位前后椎间盘和脊髓的损伤变化

目的　观察颈椎小关节突脱位闭合复位前后椎间盘和脊髓的损伤变化。方法　 16例颈椎小关节突脱位患者 ,7例单侧小关节突脱位 ,9例双侧小关节突脱位 ,在X线透视下行颅骨牵引闭合复位 ,并于复位前后进行神经功能和颈椎MRI检查 ,比较椎间盘脱出和脊髓实质损伤的变化。结果　 16例均闭合复位成功 ,复位前 5例有明显椎间盘脱出 ,4例有椎间盘撕裂 ,7例无明显椎间盘损伤。复位成功后 ,4例椎间盘脱出仍存在 ,大小无变化 ;1例原脱出椎间盘明显缩小 ,无新椎间盘脱出发生。14例复位前后脊髓信号无变化 ,2例复位后出现MRIT2 加权高信号增强。 16例复位后无一例出现神经功能恶化。结论　颅骨牵引闭合复位不会诱发或加重椎间盘脱出 ,进而造成继发性脊髓功能损伤     

Two-level disc herniation in the cervical and thoracic spine presenting with spastic paresis in the lower extremities without clinical symptoms or signs in the upper extremities.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: There is no report in the literature of two-level disc herniation in the cervical and thoracic spine presenting with spastic paresis/paralysis exclusively in the bilateral lower extremities. PURPOSE: To identify the clinical characteristics of specific myelopathy resulting from C6-C7 disc herniation through a case with spastic paresis in the lower extremities without upper extremities symptoms due to separate disc herniation in the cervical and thoracic spine, which was surgically removed in two stages. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A case report. METHODS: A 48-year-old man developed a gait disturbance as well as weakness and numbness in the lower extremities. Thoracic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a T11-T12 disc herniation, which was removed under the surgical microscope through a minimally invasive posterior approach. He improved, but 2 months after surgery developed recurrent numbness and spasticity. On this occasion, no evidence of recurrence of the thoracic disc herniation could be identified, but cervical MRI demonstrated a compressed spinal cord at the C6-C7 level. The patient had no neurological findings in the upper extremities. The herniated disc at C6-C7 was removed under the surgical microscope with laminoplasty. RESULTS: The symptoms gradually improved after surgery. At the present time, 2 years and 9 months after the initial operation, the patient had a stable gait and was able to work. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience suggests that in the diagnosis of patients with spastic paresis and sensory disturbances in the lower extremities, spinal cord compression should be explored by imaging studies not only in the thoracic spine but also in the cervical spine, especially at the C6-C7 level, even if the symptoms and abnormal neurological findings are absent in the upper extremities.     

Cervical Radiculopathy Due to Disc Herniation with Adjacent Facet Hypertrophy: Case Report

We report a rare case of cervical radiculopathy associated with facet hypertrophy and disc herniation. The patient was a 38-year-old woman with sudden-onset left arm pain. As conservative therapy failed to alleviate her symptoms she was referred to us. On physical examination she manifested no neurological deficits except pain and dysesthesia in the left C7 territory. Computed tomography revealed hypertrophic ossified changes in the left T1 facet joint with encroachment on the spinal canal. Magnetic resonance imaging showed compression of the spinal cord at C6/7 by disc herniation at C6/7. Anterior cervical decompression and fusion by corpectomy (C7 corpectomy and C6/T1 fixation with a titanium cage) ameliorated her pain. Facet hypertrophy in a morphologically normal cervicothoracic spine is extremely rare and its etiology is unknown. We speculate the possibility that our patient harbored a congenital anomaly and that the morphologic changes were the consequence of an injury she sustained in a traffic accident.     

颈椎闭合复位对椎间盘和脊髓损伤的影响

目的探讨下颈椎小关节脱位闭合复位的临床疗效。方法46例颈椎小关节脱位患者,24例单侧小关节脱位,22例双侧小关节脱位,在透视下行颅骨牵引闭合复位,并于复位前后进行神经功能和颈椎MRI检查,借以比较复位前后椎间盘损伤和脊髓实质性损伤的变化情况。结果46例中39例在透视下行颅骨牵引闭合复位,其中34例复位成功,5例未成功,成功率87％。34例中复位前MRI显示存在明显椎间盘突出者7例,椎间盘撕裂4例,复位后有6例椎间盘脱出仍存在,大小无明显变化;1例原脱出椎间盘明显缩小,无新椎间盘脱出发生。33例在复位前后脊髓信号无明显改变,1例复位前脊髓无明显改变者,复位后出现T2加权高信号。结论1、透视下颅骨牵引闭合复位是一种安全有效的治疗方法,通常情况下不会诱发或加重椎间盘脱出,进而造成继发性脊髓功能损伤。2、MRI对颈椎小关节脱位合并椎间盘和脊髓损伤的诊断、预后的参考价值高,但不应因行MRI检查而耽误闭合复位。     

Anterior cervical microforaminotomx: Disc preservation technique

Ideal surgical treatment for a cervical disc herniation would be complete removal of ruptured disc fragments or spondylotic bony spurs although the remaining intervertebral disc would be preserved to maintain the motion segment. Conventional surgical treatment for a cervical disc herniation has been either an anterior discectomy with or without bone graft fusion or a posterior foraminotomy. Neither of the conventional surgical treatments are ideal because the anterior discectomy technique sacrifices a motion segment completely, and the posterior foraminotomy technique provides limited access to compressive lesions. An anterior cervical foraminotomy technique was developed to achieve those ideal goals by Dr Jho. Jho's anterior foraminotomy is approached in a way that is very similar to the conventional anterior cervical discectomy. However, instead of complete removal of the intervertebral disc, a small anterior foraminotomy hole is made at the unilteral uncovertebral joint. Only herniated disc fragments or compressing bony spurs are removed via a 5-mm anterior foraminotomy hole under the operating microscope. The nerve root is decompressed under direct vision along the segment from its origin at the spinal cord to the exit site behind the vertebral artery. The remaining intervertebral disc is preserved to maintain the functioning motion unit. Jho's anterior cervical foraminotomy technique is described in this report along with the experience of more than 100 patients.     

Anterior Spinal Artery Syndrome in a Patient with Cervical Spondylosis Demonstrated by CT Angiography

A few published reports have described anterior spinal artery syndrome (ASAS) with cervical spondylosis based on clinical presentation and/or MRI study, but no photographs of anterior spinal arteries were provided in these studies. Here we present a case of ASAS with cervical spondylosis in a CT angiography (CTA) study. A previously healthy 31‐year‐old man was diagnosed with acute ASAS with cervical spondylosis. Neurological examination revealed four‐limb weakness predominant in the distal part of the upper limbs and superficial sensory impairment below the cervical region. T2‐weighted images on MRI showed an area of hyperintensity in the gray matter of the cervical cord from C₃ to C₅ with a disc herniation at the C_4,5 vertebral level. CTA demonstrated that ASA was occluded at level C_4,5, which coincided with the location of disc herniation. Anterior spinal cord decompression and fusions were performed. The patient tolerated the procedure well and had complete resolution of his exertionally dependent myelopathic symptoms 1 week later. In conclusion, although ASAS with cervical spondylosis is rare, it can be diagnosed based on clinical symptoms and MRI and identified by CTA of ASA. A good neurological prognosis is anticipated after anterior spinal cord decompression and fusion is performed if disc herniation is responsible for ASA occlusion.     

非手术治疗无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤预后的多因素分析

目的 :探讨影响非手术治疗无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤预后的因素。方法 :回顾性分析2009年1月至2012年12月接受非手术治疗的122例无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤患者的临床资料,其中男84例,女38例;平均年龄(52.37±13.27)岁(18~83岁)。选择年龄、性别、受伤原因、受伤至治疗时间、脊髓损伤ASIA分级、MRI脊髓损伤类型、脊髓损伤范围、有效颈椎管率、椎间盘突出Pfirrmann分级、椎间盘突出节段、椎间盘韧带复合体损伤、大剂量甲基强的松龙冲击治疗12个可能对非手术治疗预后产生影响的因素,应用单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析,研究其对预后的影响。结果:单因素分析显示MRI脊髓损伤类型、脊髓损伤范围、有效颈椎管率、椎间盘突出Pfirrmann分级、椎间盘突出节段及脊髓损伤ASIA分级均对预后有显著影响(P均0.05)。进一步行多因素分析,按照其作用强度,影响预后的主要因素依次为:MRI脊髓损伤类型、脊髓损伤范围、有效颈椎管率、椎间盘突出Pfirrmann分级、脊髓损伤ASIA分级(P均0.05)。结论 :影响非手术治疗无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤预后的主要因素是MRI脊髓损伤类型及范围,同时与有效椎管率、椎间盘突出程度及脊髓损伤ASIA分级相关。对于选择非手术治疗需谨慎,仅适用MRI检查提示脊髓信号无改变或水肿程度轻且范围局限者,其余则建议积极手术治疗。     

Strain on intervertebral discs after anterior cervical decompression and fusion

STUDY DESIGN: An analysis of the change in strain distribution of intervertebral discs present after anterior cervical decompression and fusion by an original method. The analytical results were compared to occurrence of herniation of the intervertebral disc on magnetic resonance imaging. OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the influence of anterior cervical decompression and fusion on the unfused segments of the spine. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There is no consensus regarding the exact significance of the biomechanical change in the unfused segment present after surgery. METHODS: Ninety-six patients subjected to anterior cervical decompression and fusion for herniation of intervertebral discs were examined. Shear strain and longitudinal strain of intervertebral discs were analyzed on pre- and postoperative lateral dynamic routine radiography of the cervical spine. Thirty of the 96 patients were examined by magnetic resonance imaging before and after surgery, and the relation between alteration in strains and postsurgical occurrence of disc herniation was examined. RESULTS: In the cases of double- or triple-level fusion, shear strain of adjacent segments had increased 20% on average 1 year after surgery. Thirteen intervertebral discs that had an abnormally high degree of strain showed an increase in longitudinal strain after surgery. Eleven (85%) of the 13 discs that showed an abnormal increase in longitudinal strain had herniation in the same intervertebral discs with compression of the spinal cord during the follow-up period. Relief of symptoms was significantly poor in the patients with recent herniation. CONCLUSIONS: Close attention should be paid to long-term biomechanical changes in the unfused segment.     

颈胸腰多发性椎间盘突出伴椎管狭窄症

目的 探讨同时发生在颈、胸、腰段的联合性多节段椎管狭窄的临床特点及治疗方法。方法 采用回顾性研究方法对手术治疗颈、胸、腰段的联合性多节段椎管狭窄的病例进行总结分析。结果 7例病人均同时患颈胸腰三处椎管狭窄。椎间盘突出、后纵韧带骨化、椎板及小关节增生肥大为造成颈胸腰椎管狭窄的主要病因。病人接受一处椎管减压3例，二处椎管减压3例，三处椎管减压1例。结论 同时发生在颈胸腰的椎管狭窄因各节段椎管狭窄致病原因复杂，脊髓受压迫时间较长，临床症状上多样化，易于相互影响。治疗上应先对各部位病情及影像学结果综合后作出轻重缓急的判断，以安排治疗上的先后次序。     

Surgery for cervical spinal cord compression in patients with multiple sclerosis

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to investigate the clinical and paraclinical features, treatment, and outcomes of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and coexisting spinal cord compression secondary to either cervical spondylosis or cervical disc disease. Patients with MS commonly experience neurological disabilities that present as myelopathy associated with bladder dysfunction. For some patients with MS, however, this neurological deterioration may result from coexisting spinal cord compression attributable to either spondylosis or a herniated disc. Overlapping symptoms of the two conditions do not allow clear clinical determination of the underlying cause of worsening. METHODS: Patients with MS who underwent cervical decompression surgery were selected. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed, to collect data on their pre- and postoperative clinical courses. RESULTS: Nine women and five men with definite MS were selected for cervical decompression surgery to treat neurological deterioration considered to be at least partially attributable to spinal cord compression. The most common symptoms were progressive myelopathy (n = 13), neck pain (n = 11), and cervical radiculopathy (n = 10). Bladder dysfunction was notably absent among these patients with MS with moderate disabilities. Surgical intervention was frequently delayed because the neurological deterioration was initially thought to be attributable to MS. The majority of patients experienced either improvement or stabilization of their preoperative symptoms in the immediate postoperative period; three subjects (21%) maintained this improvement after a mean follow-up period of 3.8 years. No MS relapses, permanent neurological worsening, or serious complications resulting from surgery or general anesthesia were noted. CONCLUSION: Carefully selected patients with MS and cervical spinal cord compression secondary to either spondylosis or disc disease may benefit from surgical decompression, with minimal associated morbidity. Clinical features (especially neck pain and cervical radiculopathy) and magnetic resonance imaging may assist clinicians in differentiating between the two conditions and may guide appropriate treatment without undue delay.     

Anterior cervical foraminotomy for unilateral radicular disease

STUDY DESIGN: A clinical series of patients with unilateral radiculopathy treated with the anterior cervical foraminotomy procedure. OBJECTIVE: To establish procedural techniques and clinical and radiologic outcomes for the anterior cervical foraminotomy procedure. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Cervical radiculopathy is typically caused by unilateral disc herniation or uncovertebral osteophytes that compress the ventral aspect of the nerve. Direct removal of a cervical lesion causing radicular symptoms without concomitant fusion seems to be an ideal treatment in selected patients. The indications for an anterior cervical neural foraminotomy are limited to unilateral radicular symptoms at one or two levels, with minimal neck pain. METHODS: Twenty-one patients were treated with the anterior cervical neural foraminotomy procedure during a 3-year period with follow-up from 6 to 36 months. There were 13 men and 8 women (age range, 27-58 years). Fourteen patients had symptomatic soft disc herniation, and 7 had uncovertebral osteophytes confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and/or myelogram and computed tomography. Sixteen patients had a single anterior cervical neural foraminotomy, and 5 had procedures at adjacent levels. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (91%) had improved or resolved radicular symptoms, and 2 (9%) had persistent radicular symptoms necessitating further surgery (one two-level anterior cervical neural discectomy and fusion and one posterior foraminal decompression). CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with the anterior cervical neural foraminotomy procedure have equivalent or better outcomes than those who undergo current cervical procedures. It appears to be a good alternative procedure for carefully selected patients with unilateral cervical radiculopathy and avoids a fusion of the disc space.     

胸椎间盘突出症的外科治疗

目的 探讨胸椎间盘突出症的临床特点、手术与术后近期疗效的关系。方法 17例胸椎间盘突出症患者均行后方入路侧前方减压术，其中3例合并颈、腰椎间盘突出症患者先后或同时予以手术。结果 全部病例术后症状无加重，14例得到随访，平均4年2个月(6个月～6年)，优良率78．4％(11／14)。结论 临床表现以胸髓损害为主，侧前方减压摘除椎间盘是手术治疗胸椎间盘突出症的安全、有效方法，同时应注意勿忽视多发椎间盘突出症(颈、腰)等合并病变的处理。     

Cervical spine lateral approach for myeloradiculopathy: technique and pitfalls

BackgroundThe authors describe the rationale of cervical spine lateral approach technique to manage spondylotic myeloradiculopathy with its advantages, disadvantages, complications, and pitfalls.MethodsThe cervical lateral approach could be indicated to treat spondylotic myeloradiculopathy where anterior compression is predominant and the spine is straight or kyphotic without instability.ResultsUsing the present approach the lateral aspect of the cervical spine is easily reached and the vertebral artery is well controlled. The lateral part of the pathological intervertebral discs, uncovertebral joints, vertebral bodies and posterior longitudinal ligament are removed as necessary and decompression tailored to each patient to completely free the nerve roots and/or spinal cord.ConclusionThe cervical lateral multilevel corpectomy/foraminotomy technique allows wide anterior decompression of the spinal cord and complete unilateral nerve root decompression preserving spinal stability and physiological spinal motion.     

Risk factors for outcome and complications of dorsal foraminotomy in cervical disc herniation

BACKGROUND: Dorsal foraminotomy is a standard operative procedure for lateral cervical disc herniation. Factors associated with surgical complications and clinical outcome in dorsal foraminotomy of cervical disc herniation were evaluated in a retrospective cohort study. METHOD: Thirty-nine patients were operated upon for unilateral, monosegmental, mediolateral cervical disc herniation (+/- associated spondylosis) from 1997 to 1999. Preoperative radiologic imaging and surgical reports were analyzed. Motor disfunction, neck irritation, and radicular pain were evaluated. Outcome was ranked according to modified Odom's criteria at 6 weeks and 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: Six weeks after injury 7 of 39 patients (18%) showed neck irritation. No new neurologic deficit was seen. All patients with preoperative paresis improved; two had early relapses of a medial soft disc prolapse (2/39). Residual radicular pain was seen in 3 of 39 patients (8%) within 30 days postoperatively, necessitating surgical revision. Factors of surgical failure were associated spondylosis (2/3) and residual mediolateral disc protrusion (1/3). In one patient with associated spondylosis, local pain due to a symptomatic fracture of the lateral process of D1 resolved after revision. Duration of preoperative radicular pain was identified as a risk factor for unfavorable outcome. CONCLUSION: In lateral cervical disc herniation, associated spondylosis or medial disc protrusion poses a significant risk of surgical failure and complications of dorsal foraminotomy. Reducing the radicular failure rate by enlarging the bony decompression may lead to local failure. In well-selected patients with a lateral cervical free disc fragment, dorsolateral foraminotomy is successful and safe.     

Das spontane spinale epidurale Hämatom

Spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma (SSEH) is a rare and serious condition. Four cases of SSEH are presented in this paper, three of which were in the cervical segment while one involved the entire spine. In two of these four cases the diagnosis was not made until late in the course, and persisting neurological deficits resulted; one case was diagnosed early and the neurological outcome was good; and in one the decompression achieved was inadequate, owing to intraoperative complications. Laminectomy was performed in all four cases for the purpose of decompression of the spinal cord but at different intervals after the onset of symptoms and with different neurological outcomes. The prognosis of SSEH depends heavily on the time that elapses between the onset of symptoms and the surgical treatment. The diagnostic procedure of choice is MRI.     

Sciatica caused by cervical and thoracic spinal cord compression.

STUDY DESIGN: Two case reports of sciatica that was considered to be caused by cervical and thoracic spinal cord compression. OBJECTIVES: To point out that sciatica can be an initial major symptom in patients with cervical or thoracic spinal cord lesions. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Usually, tract pain caused by cord compression is considered to be diffuse and does not resemble sciatica. METHODS: Medical history, physical findings, and the results of imaging studies were reviewed in one case of cervical cord tumor and one case of thoracic kyphosis. RESULTS: In both cases, sciatica was the initial and major symptom. Imaging studies showed no lesion in the lumbar spine. In one patient, a cervical dumbbell tumor was found to compress the cervical cord, and in the other the spinal cord was severely compressed at the thoracic kyphosis. The sciatica disappeared immediately after decompression surgery in both cases. CONCLUSIONS: Leg pain resembling sciatica can be caused by cord compression at the cervical and thoracic level. Thoracic kyphosis may be a causative factor in sciatica, in addition to spinal cord tumor and disc herniation, which have been reported previously.     

脊髓型颈椎病术后颈椎间盘突出自行消失的原因探讨

目的：了解脊髓型颈椎病颈椎管扩大成型术后，颈椎间盘突出自行消失的原因并由此提出脊髓型颈椎病新的致病学说。方法：自１９９４年６月～１９９８年５月对脊髓型颈椎病行后路单开门椎管扩大成型术患者行临床及ＭＲＩ检查。结果：８例患者，术后４～１３个月，平均５．８个月复查时，颈椎ＭＲＩ检查发现，其术前ＭＲＩ显示的颈椎间盘突出影像消失，相应部位硬膜、脊髓无压迫。结论：（１）颈椎间盘退变突出后，出现颈椎节段性不稳定，刺激突出间盘周围组织，产生炎症性反应；（２）颈椎间盘突出、颈椎退变或颈椎管狭窄，致硬膜外腔压力增高，导致硬膜外静脉回流障碍，出现硬膜外静脉瘀滞、怒张。上述为脊髓型颈椎病发病的又一可能因素     

颈椎脊髓损伤并呼吸功能不全的诊治

目的研究在基层医院对颈髓损伤并呼吸功能不全的诊断和治疗。方法15例患者采用颈前路椎体次全切除、植骨融合及钛钢板内固定术治疗，手术前后辅以机械通气。结果不完全损伤者6例，ASIA分级平均提高2级，5例生活可自理，其中2例恢复工作。完全损伤者9例，其中3例死亡，其余呼吸功能恢复正常，但ASIA分级无变化。结论早期诊断、早期手术减压并辅以机械通气法是治疗颈髓损伤并呼吸功能不全的关键。     

Endogenous-lesioned cervical disc herniation: a retrospective review of 9 cases

The purpose of this study was to analyze the pathogenic mechanisms, clinical presentation, and surgical treatment of cervical disc herniation without external trauma. Between 2004 and 2008, 9 patients with cervical disc herniation and no antecedent history of trauma were diagnosed with cervical disc herniation and underwent surgical decompression. Pathogenic mechanisms, clinical presentation, surgical treatment, and prognosis were analyzed retrospectively. In 6 patients, herniation resulted from excessive neck motion rather than from external trauma. An injury from this source is termed an endogenous-lesioned injury. Patients exhibited neurologic symptoms of compression of the cervical spinal cord or nerve roots. In the other 3 patients, no clear cause for the herniation was recorded, but all patients had a desk job with long periods of head-down neck flexion posture. After surgery, all patients experienced a reduction in their symptoms and an uneventful recovery. Cervical disc herniation can occur in the absence of trauma. Surgical decompression is effective at reducing symptoms in these patients, similar to other patients with cervical disc herniation. Surgical treatment may be considered for this disorder when the herniation becomes symptomatic.     

颈椎间盘突出症：附89例临床分析

报告８９例颈椎间盘突出症（急性５８例，慢性３１例）。重点就本症的诊断及与颈椎病的鉴别诊断进行了分析。急性颈椎间盘突出症以发病中有明确颈部外伤史、受伤当时出现急性颈脊髓／神经根损害表现、 Ｘ线片无颈椎骨折脱位及椎管狭窄，无椎管内韧带骨化等为特征；慢性颈椎间盘突出症则以发病年龄较轻（平均３６．８岁），病情发展较快，Ｘ线片无椎间关节退行性改变，椎间盘突出多为１～２个间隙等特点而不同于颈椎病．