腰椎椎间盘MRI T2加权信号强度变化的探讨

目的：探讨腰椎间盘Ｔ２加权ＭＲＩ信号变化与年龄、椎间隙位置和椎间盘突出的关系。材料和方法：本文收集了１６５例患者（８２５只腰椎间盘），其中正常６１９只，突出２０６只，２０１只手术证实。患者分为正常和突出两组，每组分６个年龄段；信号强度分为三型：强、不规则和低三型。检查方法均采用ＳＥ程序（ＴＲ２０００ｍｓ，ＴＥ４０，８０ｍｓ）。全部资料经统计学处理。结果：在正常椎间盘，年龄影响主要在２０岁组与３０岁至７０岁以上组，３０岁组与５０至７０岁以上组之间；椎间隙位置影响主要在腰（４－５）与腰（１－２，２－３，３－４），腰５骶１与腰１－２，２－３，３－４之间。在伴有突出的椎间盘，年龄影响主要在２０岁组与３０，６０及７０岁以上组之间：椎间隙位置影响主要在腰（４－５）与腰５骶１之间。结论：两组椎间盘信号变化均与年龄和椎间隙位置有关，各型信号的椎间盘均可发生突出。     

Transfemoral lumbar epidural venography.

Lumbar epidural venography performed in 107 patients with normal or nondiagnostic myelograms resulted in correct preoperative diagnosis in 25 of 27 patients (92%) with herniated disc disease and three of six patients (50%) with nerve root compression without associated disc herniation. Compression or occlusion of an epidural and/or radicular vein at the disc level is the most significant venographic abnormality. Potentially confusing venographic findings such as flow defects, extravertebral veins mimicking epidural veins, and occlusion of radicular veins by the catheter must be recognized to prevent false diagnoses. Lumbar epidural venography is valuable for the diagnoses of herniated lumbar discs not demonstrated by myelography.     

Gadolinium enhancement of vertebral endplates following lumbar disc surgery

Gadolinium enhancement may be normal in the vertebral endplates adjacent to previously operated intervertebral discs. To determine the frequency of this finding and to differentiate this normal healing process from early lesions due to focal infection, we studied 135 patients who had undergone surgery for herniated lumbar disc, and compared them with 249 unoperated patients with radicular symptoms and 15 with known spondylodiscitis. Hypointense foci which enhanced with gadolinium were identified in the endplates of 25 (18.5%) of the operated patients, 9 of whom required a second operation for recurrent disc herniation, at which time the absence of infection was confirmed. Gadolinium enhancement within the endplates adjacent to the operated disc occurs during normal healing after surgery. Care should be taken before invoking a diagnosis of focal infection or secondary spondylodiscitis.     

Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR in thoracic disc herniations

Summary The Gd-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance findings in two patients with herniated thoracic intervertebral discs are reported. The first patient was a 56-year-old woman with a small subligamentous T6-7 disc herniation, slightly lateralized to the right. The second patient was a 51-year-old man with a central and right posterolateral disc herniation, including a large calcified fragment, at the T8-9 level. The nonenhanced MR examination revealed the presence of an extradural mass lesion in both patients, impinging upon the dural sac and compressing and displacing the spinal cord posteriorly. The lesion was slightly hypointense on both T1- and T2-weighted spin echo sequences. Following intravenous injection of Gd-DTPA in a dosage of 0.1 mmol/kg body weight, enhancement of the posterior longitudinal ligament was noted and triangular areas of contrast uptake were seen to occur in the epidural space above and below the herniated disc. At surgery, they were found to correspond to dilated and congested epidural veins.     

Are paraspinal muscle quantity,lumbar indentation value,and subcutaneous fat thickness related to disc degeneration? An MRI-based study

IntroductionThe aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between lumbar disc herniation and Goutallier classification (GC), lumbar indentation value, and subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness.Methods102 consecutive patients (59 female and 43 male) with lumbar back pain, numbness, tingling, or pain in the lower extremity indicating radiculopathy who had undergone lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and had an intervertebral disc herniation in the L4-5 level, were included in the study. 102 patients who have undergone lumbar MRI in the same time period and have no disc herniation were chosen to be the control group and were selected so as to match the herniated group for sex and age. All these patients’ scans were re-interpreted regarding paraspinal muscle atrophy (using the GC), lumbar indentation value, and subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness in the L4-5 level.ResultsThe Goutallier score was higher in the herniated group, compared with the non-herniated group (p < 0.001). There was no statistical difference between herniated and non-herniated groups regarding lumbar indentation value (LIV) and subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (SATT). A Goutallier score of 1.5 provided the highest sensitivity x specificity value to indicate the disc herniation according to the statistical results. The individuals with a Goutallier score of 2, 3, and 4 have 2.87 times more likely to have disc herniation in their MRIs than the ones with a score of 0 and 1.ConclusionParaspinal muscle atrophy seems to be related to the presence of disc herniations. The cut-off value of GC to indicate the disc herniation in this study might be useful to predict the risk for disc herniation regarding the Goutallier score. The LIV and SATT measured in magnetic resonance images were randomly distributed between individuals with herniated and non-herniated groups, and statistically, no relationship was observed between these groups regarding these parameters.Implications for practiceThe effect of the parameters studied in this research on disc herniations are expected to be an added value to the literature. The awareness of risk factors for intervertebral disc herniations might be used in preventive medicine to predict the risk and understand the tendency of an individual for disc herniations to occur in the future. Further investigations are needed to establish whether there is a causal relationship or correlation between these parameters and disc herniation.     

GRE OP和SE T1加权像在腰椎间盘突出症中的检查对比

目的比较梯度回波反相位T1加权(GRE OP T1WI)和自旋回波T1加权(SE T1WI)在腰椎间盘突出症中的应用效果。方法50例腰椎间盘突出症患者进行GRE OP T1WI和SE T1WI扫描。分别观察正常椎体、椎间盘、脑脊液、脊髓、腰椎附件在GREOP T1WI的表现,并对GRE OP T1WI和SE T1WI序列对突出椎间盘的信号和显示的清晰度进行比较。结果GRE OP T1WI所有椎间盘的信号均高于SE T1WI,GRE OP T1WI对椎间盘突出的显示比SE T1WI更清晰。结论GRE OP T1WI比SE T1WI更清晰快速地显示椎间盘突出症。     

Observer variation in the evaluation of lumbar herniated discs and root compression: spiral CT compared with MRI

Spiral CT is considered the best alternative for MRI in the evaluation of herniated discs. The purpose of this study was to compare radiological evaluation of spiral CT with MRI in patients suspected of herniated discs. 57 patients with lumbosacral radicular syndrome underwent spiral CT and 1.5 T MRI. Two neuroradiologists independently evaluated 171 intervertebral discs for herniation or "bulge" and 456 nerve roots for root compression, once after CT and once after MRI. We compared interobserver agreement using the kappa statistic and we performed a paired comparison between CT and MRI. For detection of herniated or bulging discs, we observed no significant difference in interobserver agreement (CT kappa 0.66 vs MRI kappa 0.71; p = 0.40). For root compression, we observed significantly better interobserver agreement at MRI evaluation (CT kappa 0.59 vs MRI kappa 0.78; p = 0.01). In 30 of 171 lumbar discs (18%) and in 54 of 456 nerve roots (12%), the observers disagreed on whether CT results were similar to MRI. In the cases without disagreement, CT differed from MRI in 6 discs (3.5%) and in 3 nerve roots (0.7%). For radiological evaluation of lumbar herniated discs, we found no evidence that spiral CT is inferior to MRI. For evaluating lumbar nerve root compression, spiral CT is less reliable than MRI.     

Magnetic resonance demonstration of hyperintense herniated discs and extruded disc fragments

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is useful in evaluating a variety of spinal pathologies including intervertebral disc disease. Herniated discs are commonly believed to undergo premature degeneration and produce low intensity signal on T2-weighted images. We reviewed 154 patients who were studied for disc herniations or other pathology. Fifty-nine (38%) had disc herniations and 7 of these (5%) had a fragment that was hyperintense with respect to the adjacent intervertebral disc on T2-weighted images. It is hypothesized that some disc fragments may contain a higher water content that causes prolongation of the T2 signal. The bright signal which is therefore seen on long TR long TE (T2-weighted) images may be a useful sign suggesting herniation or extrusion.     

CT- and fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous discectomy for lumbar radiculopathy related to disc herniation: a comparative prospective study comparing lateral to medial herniated discs

Objective

To evaluate and compare two groups of patients with sciatica due to intervertebral disc herniation with no neurologic deficit. The groups consisted of patients with intervertebral disc herniation in a medial location (group 1) and those in a lateral location (group 2).

Materials and methods

A total of 200 patients were included in the study and were followed for a minimum of 6?months. In our series, we treated 80 postero-lateral herniated discs (40% of cases), 46 postero-medial herniated discs (23%), and 74 foraminal herniated discs (37%). Level L3-L4 was treated in 30 cases (15%), L4-L5 in 98 cases (49%), and L5-S1 in 72 cases (36%). The procedure was performed under dual guidance: fluoroscopic and CT. A helical probe was activated. It penetrates the herniated disc and causes the pulpous material to be mechanically evacuated through the probe. All 200 patients were followed for a minimum of 6?months.

Results

In group 1, the patients had a mean pain score of 7.9?±?2.5 VAS units (range 6?C10 units) prior to intervention. This was reduced to 3.2?±?2.1 VAS units (range 0?C10 units) at 48?h follow-up and increased to 3.9?±?1.2 VAS units (range 0?C10 VAS units) at 1?month follow-up and further reduced to 2.7?±?1.2 units (range 0?C10 VAS units) at 6?month follow-up. In group 2, the patients had a mean pain score of 8.2?±?3.2 VAS units (range 6?C10 units) prior to intervention. This was reduced to 2.8?±?1.5 VAS units (range 0?C10 units) at 48?h follow-up and decreased to 1.5?±?0.9 VAS units (range 0?C10 units) at 1?month and further reduced to 1.1?±?0.5 VAS units (range 0?C10 units) at 6?months.

Conclusion

Our study showed that results were more satisfactory for the hernia located laterally (postero-lateral, foraminal, and extra-foraminal) as compared to the hernia located posteromedially.     

Percutaneous automated lumbar nucleotomy

The results of percutaneous automated lumbar nucleotomy in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation were assessed in a series of 39 patients. The technique consists of mechanical decompression of the herniated intervertebral disc without total excision. Only one-space discs were treated by this method. Sciatica was the predominant clinical symptom in 30 cases, and lumbar pain in 9 cases. Good to very good results were obtained in 70% of patients with sciatica and in 55% of patients with lumbar pain. After 4 cases of nucleotomy performed after failure of nucleolysis were excluded, the proportion of very good results rose to 77% in sciatica. Conversely, it seems that a number of failed nucleotomies can be treated by nucleolysis. Nucleotomy is very well tolerated and deserves to be used as first-line treatment of single and radiologically well documented lumbar disc herniations.     

Recurrent postdiskectomy low back pain: MR-surgical correlation

The preoperative MR findings in 11 patients, all of whom had developed recurrent low back pain after surgery for herniated lumbar intervertebral disk, were correlated with the surgical findings to determine possible criteria for distinguishing recurrent disk herniation from postoperative scar (extradural fibrosis). The preoperative MR findings agreed with the surgical findings in seven of eight patients with recurrent disk herniation and in six of nine individuals with extradural fibrosis. The most important parameters in differentiating recurrent herniated disk from extradural scar were the configuration and margination of the extradural mass rather than its signal characteristics. The most reliable MR sign for recurrent herniated disk was the presence of a sharply marginated focal polypoid disk protrusion beyond the posterior margins of the adjacent vertebral bodies shown to best advantage on sagittal T1- and T2-weighted and axial T1-weighted spin-echo MR images. Disk herniations usually maintained isointensity with the intervertebral disk of origin, while extradural fibrosis exhibited variable signal intensity. The preoperative diagnosis of extradural fibrosis on MR was based primarily on its irregular configuration and extension. This study suggests that preoperative differentiation between scar and recurrent herniated disk is possible with MR when morphology and topography are considered in addition to signal intensity.     

C臂引导下髓核造影指导臭氧消融治疗腰椎间盘突出症的应用价值

目的:观察C臂引导下椎间盘髓核造影对指导臭氧髓核氧化治疗腰椎间盘突出症中臭氧注射量及注射方式的临床应用价值。方法:52例腰椎间盘突出症患者在C臂监视引导下,穿刺成功后行椎间盘髓核造影。根据纤维环是否破裂,破裂部位、形态,以及突出相应平面后纵韧带是否破裂等,确定椎间盘突出类型,并决定注射方式及注射量。所有患者介入术后均随访3～12个月。结果:依据椎间盘髓核造影结果,将椎间盘突出的情况分成纤维环未破裂型、纤维环破裂型及后纵韧带破裂型。依据上述分组次序,臭氧的注射量依次增加5ml,而注射时间依次递减约1～2min。术后随访结果表明,其显效率、有效率、无效率分别为73.08%,17.31%,9.61%,总有效率(显效和有效)为90.39%。结论:利用C臂引导髓核造影技术指导臭氧消融治疗腰椎间盘突出症的臭氧注射量及注射方式,有更好的针对性,对减轻患者术中痛苦、提高疗效有重要指导意义。     

MRI和CT椎间盘造影对腰椎间盘破裂诊断的比较研究

目的 比较MRI、CT椎间盘造影（CTD）对腰椎间盘破裂的诊断价值。方法 选择有慢性下腰痛病史、无典型的神经根性症状和体征、CT平扫和MR检查无腰椎间盘突出征象的16例患者行MR和CTD配对检查；制定统一的CTD分型及阳性椎间盘的标准；观察诱发腰痛与椎间盘内注射对比剂剂量之间的关系。结果 16例（21个腰椎间盘）MR和CTD的配对检查，CTD显示12个腰椎间盘为2型、1个腰椎间盘为5型，合计13个为阳性椎间盘，MRI显示6个腰椎间盘纤维环后方可见高信号区，为椎间盘破裂的间接征象，7个腰椎间盘仅显示退行性改变。结论 CTD是显示椎间盘破裂直接征象的惟一方法；诱发腰痛与腰椎间盘破裂类型有关。常规MRI仅能显示部分腰椎间盘破裂的间接征象，要明确腰椎间盘破裂需行CTD。     

Pathophysiology of low back pain during exposure to microgravity

Astronauts exposed to microgravity frequently report low back pain. This pain is described as moderate to severe in intensity. This condition warrants investigation as low back pain may hinder an astronaut's ability to perform challenging tasks by virtue of disruption of sleep and, subsequently, mental concentration. It is reported by astronauts that a "fetal tuck position" described as knees to chest position relieves back pain. It is possible that the pathogenesis of back pain in microgravity is discogenic (or mechanical) and somatic, referred from the sinuvertebral nerves due to excessive expansion of the lumbar intervertebral discs associated with reduction of gravitational compressive loads in space. The fetal tuck position may increase lumbar intervertebral disc hydrostatic pressure by flexion and transfer of spinal compressive forces toward the anterior region of the lumbar discs, subsequently reducing disc volume. Moreover, this position may reduce Type IV mechanoreceptor facilitation and nerve impulse propagation from the sinuvertebral nerves of the annulus fibrosus, and thus diminish low back pain perception. Elongated posterior soft tissues (apophyseal joint capsules and ligaments) with spinal flexion may potentially stimulate Type I and II mechanoreceptors. This neutralizes substance P in the spinal cord dorsal horn by increasing naturally occurring opioids such as enkephalins. Separately, other investigators have reported a higher incidence of herniated discs (HNP) in astronauts postflight. Further studies of countermeasures are recommended to prevent excessive spinal elongation and disc expansion, reduce low back pain in microgravity, and simulate 1-G disc homeostasis, which may also help prevent HNPs postflight.     

单节段腰椎间盘突出症保守治疗与单纯髓核摘除术的远期效果观察

目的 分析比较保守治疗与单纯髓核摘除术对单节段腰椎间盘突出症的远期疗效及其影像学变化,为临床治疗腰椎间盘突出症提供参考.方法 回顾性分析1983年1月-2008年6月收治且随访10年以上的182例单节段腰椎间盘突出症患者的病例资料.其中保守治疗组73例,男49例,女24例,L4-L5突出44例,L5-S1突出29例,随访时间17.61±3.87年;手术治疗组109例,均采用单纯髓核摘除术治疗,男71例,女38例,L4-L5突出68例,L5-S1突出41例,随访时间17.17±3.47年.通过对两组患者临床表现、影像学变化、神经功能评定、病变间隙及其头侧邻近节段椎间隙高度变化、病变间隙头侧邻近节段退变发生率的比较研究,观察保守治疗与单纯髓核摘除术治疗单节段腰椎间盘突出症的远期疗效.结果 保守治疗组73例中8例因出现间歇性跛行而行椎管减压手术,手术治疗组109例中13例因原间隙椎间盘突出复发行二次手术.随访终点手术治疗组病变间隙高度(0.62±0.15cm)显著低于保守治疗组(0.69±0.13cm,P＜0.05),而Oswestry评分(23.9％±6.3％)、病变间隙头侧邻近节段椎间隙高度(0.83±0.11cm)与保守治疗组(分别为23.3％±6 5％、0.82±0.11cm)比较差异无统计学意义.保守治疗组5例、手术治疗组9例出现影像学退行性不稳定表现,但均无明显临床症状.依据UCLA标准,保守治疗组8例(12％)、手术治疗组23例(22％)出现病变间隙头侧邻近节段退变,两组邻近节段退变发生率比较差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 保守治疗与单纯髓核摘除术治疗单节段腰椎间盘突出症均可获得较好的远期效果.单纯髓核摘除术后远期病变椎间隙高度明显变窄,邻近节段退变较少引发临床症状.     

MRI导引椎间盘切割联合臭氧治疗颈椎间盘突出症

目的 探讨应用0.23 T开放性MR导引,椎间盘切割联合臭氧治疗颈椎间盘突出症的疗效.方法 经MRI证实为颈椎间盘突出症的患者7例8个椎间盘,侧突型5个、旁中央型2个、中央型1个.在0.23 T开放式MR及iPath 200光学追踪系统的导引下,自健侧颈前外侧进针,避开颈动脉鞘、甲状腺、食管及椎动脉等结构,穿刺至椎间盘中心,并继续进针至椎间盘突出部分.应用椎间盘切除器切除突出部分后注射60 μg/ml O_2～O_3混合气体2 ml,然后退针至椎间盘中心髓核处,切除部分髓核组织并注入60 μg/ml O_2～O_3混合气体2 ml.术后随访:4例经电话随访、3例经门诊随访,随访时间6个月,观察患者临床症状改善情况.疗效评价采用Williams术后评价标准.结果 疗效评估优5例、良1例、可1例.本组除1例术中感觉颈部一过性疼痛外,其他患者无并发症出现.结论 开放性MR导引经皮颈椎间盘切割联合臭氧消融治疗颈椎间盘突出症安全、有效、创伤小.     

CT导引联合注射胶原酶治疗腰椎间盘突出症的技术与临床应用研究

目的 探讨CT导引下联合注射胶原酶于腰椎间盘突出物表面和突出物内治疗腰椎间盘突出症的技术和疗效。方法 对155例经CT检查证实、临床诊断为腰椎间盘突出症的患者在CT导引下分别于椎间盘突出物表面和突出物内注射胶原酶。L3－4、L4－5采用经椎间孔进针法,L5－S1多采用经小关节内缘、穿黄韧带、达硬膜外进针法。结果 穿刺成功率为100％,经术后3个月至3年的随访,146例疗效优良,优良率为94．2％。随访期间34例进行CT复查,其中32例可见原腰椎间盘突出物变小或消失,疗效均为优、良。2例无变化,疗效为差。2例并发椎间盘炎,经抗炎治疗治愈。结论 CT导引联合注射胶原酶是治疗腰椎间盘突出症安全、有效的方法。     

Serial changes on MRI in lumbar disc herniations treated conservatively

Using serial MRI, we studied 32 patients with herniated lumbar discs, treated conservatively, to clarify the natural history of this condition. MRI was performed in the acute stage, then 6 months and 1 year later. On axial images, the proportion of the cross-sectional area of the spinal canal occupied by the herniated disc was 31.9% on the average on the initial scan, 28.7% 6 months and 25.3% 1 year later. The size of the herniation decreased by more than 20% in 11 patients (34%), by 10–20 % in 8 (28%) and was unchaged in 12 (38%). The height of the disc slightly decreased with time, but there was no significant change in the angle of lordosis in the affected segment. The initial MRI revealed degeneration of all affected discs, and progressive degeneration was observed in 9 patients. The more degenerate the disc and the larger the initial herniation the more the size of the herniated fragment decreased.     

腰椎曲度变直与中青年腰椎间盘突出症的相关性研究

目的：探讨腰椎曲度变直与腰椎间盘突出症的相关性。方法收集曲度变直和曲度正常的中青年腰椎间盘突出症患者各80例进行回顾性分析,记录患者的年龄、性别、病程、职业分类和腰椎 MRI表现。治疗6个月后随访复查,记录复发情况并测量弓顶距离。结果2组患者的年龄、性别比及病程大致相似;曲度变直组患者以久坐久站人员为主,高达70%,而曲度正常组以传统体力工作人员稍多(P<0.05);曲度变直组患者弓顶距离较治疗前增大(P<0.05);曲度变直组患者以 L4/L5椎间盘突出占多数,而曲度正常组患者以 L5/S1椎间盘突出占多数(P<0.001);曲度变直组患者复发率高于曲度正常组,2组患者中复发患者的平均弓顶距离均较未复发患者的小(P<0.05)。结论腰椎曲度变直组患者 L4/L5节段椎间盘突出和复发的发生率均较高。腰椎生物力学结构平衡的恢复和重建方面的有利于患者的疗效和功能恢复。