颈椎后方韧带复合体也许是多节段颈椎病后路手术的新思路

颈椎病是影响国人乃至全人类最常见的脊柱退行性疾患之一,颈椎病会给病人带来极大的不适和生活困扰。后路减压手术是治疗颈椎病,尤其是多节段颈椎病变最常用的手术方式。然而,后路手术需将颈椎棘突和附着在其上的棘上、棘间韧带部分或完全切除,从而破坏了颈椎后方韧带复合体的功能,术后病人易出现颈椎反曲、鹅颈畸形、颈椎失稳,甚至出现迟发性脊髓神经受压。所以,近年来越来越多的研究开始集中于避免破坏颈椎后方韧带复合体,国内外学者从集中术式改良和手术入路改良两方面进行了一些研究,均直接或间接的证明了保留颈椎后方韧带复合体的手术方式具有更好的治疗效果。故本文就近年来保留颈椎后方韧带复合体的术式研究作一综述,希望能为未来多节段退变性颈椎病后路的治疗提供一个新的思路。     

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Approaches to surgical treatment

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is the leading cause of spinal cord dysfunction in older patients. This review article looks at the natural history of the condition and examines the role of different surgical treatments for it. Anterior and posterior surgical approaches have a role in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy dependent on the number of levels involved and the alignment of the spine. Anterior decompression and fusion is useful in patients who have disease at three or fewer levels or in patients with kyphotic alignment. In more extensive disease, a posterior decompression and fusion is usually best. Canal expansive laminoplasty is useful in the treatment of myelopathy without radiculopathy in a patient with lordotic alignment. With the exception of laminoplasty, nonfusion procedures have little role in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy.     

Impact of longitudinal distance of the cervical spine on the results of expansive open-door laminoplasty

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study in patients who underwent expansive open-door laminoplasty (ELAP) for cervical myelopathy and in whom the cervical alignment was nonlordotic at the final follow-up to analyze the correlation between the longitudinal distance of the cervical spine and surgical results. OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of longitudinal distance of the cervical spine on surgical results of ELAP and to propose a new concept, the redundant spinal cord, that may influence patient selection for ELAP. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Results in many studies have demonstrated that postoperative cervical alignment has significant effect on surgical results, and spines that are malaligned are thought to deteriorate. The current surgical data showed that not all patients with postoperative malalignment had poor surgical results. Patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) tended to have better clinical results than those with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). METHODS: Results in 70 patients who underwent ELAP for cervical myelopathy with postoperative cervical malalignment were investigated. The longitudinal distance index (LDI) was defined as the length of a vertical line between the posteroinferior edges of C2 and C7 divided by the anteroposterior diameter of C4 and was measured on lateral neutral radiographs at final follow-up. Correlation between LDI and surgical results represented by Japanese Orthopedic Association scores and percentage of recovery were analyzed statistically in each patient. RESULTS: Patients with CSM had smaller LDI and better surgical results than those with OPLL. Weak but significant negative correlation was detected between LDI and percentage of recovery, indicating that longitudinal distance of the cervical spine may have some degree of impact on the surgical results of ELAP. CONCLUSION: A decrease in LDI represents shortening of the cervical spine caused by multiple disc degeneration and may influence surgical results of ELAP by inducing redundancy of the spinal cord in patients with postoperative malalignment.     

脊髓型颈椎病预后相关因素的研究进展

脊髓型颈椎病是临床常见的引起脊髓功能障碍的疾病。手术治疗是脊髓型颈椎病的主要治疗手段,然而患者的术后功能恢复差异较大。近年来,影响脊髓型颈椎病预后的因素受到广泛关注,患者的年龄、神经功能、病程、影像学表现、手术方式等相关因素成为脊髓型颈椎病预后研究的重点。目前认为患者年龄越大、术前神经功能状态越差、病程越长,患者预后越差。影像学对患者预后的判断有提示作用,但相关性尚不明确。选择手术方法和入路时应当以充分减压、稳定颈椎序列、保持后伸曲度、有效维持减压、防止并发症为主要原则,因此,脊髓型颈椎病的治疗应根据病情及影像学检查,早期选择合适的手术方式以获得更好的临床预后。     

Principles of surgical treatment of the cervical spine in rheumatoid arthritis

Summary About 20% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis complain about neck problems based on instability and deformity. As a consequence, pain, myelopathy, and severe neurological deficit may occur. Results reported in the literature were not encouraging as regards surgical decompression and stabilization. However, new surgical techniques allow a more aggressive strategy towards the complex problem of the instable cervical spine in rheumatoid arthritis. The most frequent instability of C1/2 can be stabilized by a posterior atlantoaxial screw fixation, a three-dimensional multidirectional construct with few complications. For the inclusion of the occiput into the fusion and the extension of the fusion down to the lower cervical spine, a titanium Y-plate is presented as a successful implant. While through a posterior approach, stability may be achieved, decompression is preferably done by anterior diskectomy or vertebrectomy. Encouraging results with a significant recovery of neurological deficits justify an early intervention in cases of instability of the cervical spine in rheumatoid arthritis.     

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: Techniques,complications, and future directives

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is a well-established surgical intervention for a wide range of degenerative cervical spine pathology, including myelopathy and radiculopathy. Despite the emergence of technical advances including cervical disk arthroplasty, evidence continues to support use of anterior cervical fusion given its effectiveness and safety. Research continues to advance anterior cervical fusion with the development of patient-specific implants and hybrid arthroplasty-fusion surgical approaches. This review summarizes the indications, surgical approach, outcomes, and complications of anterior cervical fusion and offers perspective on future areas of research within the context of newer motion-preserving alternatives, including cervical disk arthroplasty.     

Lower cervical spondylosis and myelopathy in adults with Down's syndrome

Abnormalities in the upper cervical spine resulting in cervical myelopathy in patients with Down's syndrome have been well-documented. However, two adult Down's syndrome patients recently presented with cervical myelopathy secondary to abnormalities of the lower cervical spine. Because of this, 105 Down's syndrome patients with normal upper cervical spines were evaluated clinically and radiographically. They were found to have an increased prevalence of lower cervical spondylosis that significantly correlated with physical findings consistent with cervical myelopathy. Therefore, physicians dealing with Down's patients should closely monitor neurological function and obtain flexion/extension laterals of the cervical spine to evaluate C1-C2 instability and degenerative changes in the lower cervical spine if a change in neurologic status is noted.     

The effects of simple trauma on patients with cervical spine neurofibromatosis: Two case reports

Von Recklinghausen's disease of the cervical spine is rare. Spinal deformities appear to occur only in peripheral neurofibromatosis as opposed to central neurofibromatosis, and such deformities include non-dystrophic and dystrophic changes. We describe two patients with neurofibromatosis of the cervical spine who were subjects of simple trauma, one of whom demonstrated dystrophic and the other nondystrophic changes. The first presented with acute upper cervical spine instability and subluxation, the second with cervical myelopathy. The purpose of this article is to heighten the physician's awareness that such patients have inherent pathology in the cervical spine such that simple trauma can have serious neurological consequences.     

Laminectomy for multi-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy: Review of surgical indications,technique, and outcomes

The surgical management of multi-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) continues to garner debate within the spine community with regards to optimal management. Options include anterior and posterior decompression, with several options available to the surgeon in either approach. The objective of this article is to review the indications, surgical technique, and outcomes of laminectomy with fusion and instrumentation in the management of multi-level CSM.     

Dynamic electrophysiological examination of cervical flexion myelopathy

Cervical flexion myelopathy is thought to arise following compression of the spinal cord by vertebrae or intervertebral discs and dura mater, or from overstretching of the spinal cord induced by cervical spinal flexion. However, the influence of spinal flexion on the spinal cord and the detailed origins of this disease are unknown. In this article the authors report a case of cervical flexion myelopathy in which dynamic electrophysiological examination was performed using an epidural electrode. This investigation showed the real-time influence of flexion of the cervical spine on spinal cord function. This technique was considered to be useful for diagnosis and in decision making for treatment. Anterior fusion was the optimal surgical method for treating this disease.     

Rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine: current techniques for management

The incidence of rheumatoid arthritis in the European and North American population is significant. Rheumatoid arthritis can result in serious damage to the cervical spine and the central neuraxis, ranging from mild instability to myelopathy and death. Aggressive conservative care should be established early. The treating physician should not be lulled into a false sense of security by reports suggesting that cervical subluxations are typically asymptomatic [76-78]. Gradual spinal cord compression can result in severe neurologic deficits that may be irreversible despite appropriate surgical intervention when applied too late. [figure: see text] The treatment of rheumatoid disease in the cervical spine is challenging. Many details must be considered when diagnosing and attempting to institute a treatment plan, particularly surgical treatment. The pathomechanics may result in either instability or ankylosis. The superimposed deformities may be either fixed or mobile. The algorithm suggested by the authors can be used to navigate through the numerous details that must be considered to formulate a reasonable surgical plan. Although these patients are [figure: see text] frail, an "aggressive" surgical solution applied in a timely fashion yields better results than an incomplete or inappropriate surgical solution applied too late. When surgical intervention is anticipated, it should be performed before the development of severe myelopathy. Patients who progress to a Ranawat III-B status have a much higher morbidity and mortality rate associated with surgical intervention than do patients who ambulate. Although considered aggressive by some, "prophylactic" stabilization and fusion of a [figure: see text] relatively flexible, moderately deformed spine before the onset of severe neurologic symptoms may be reasonable. This approach ultimately may serve the patient better than "observation" if the patient is slowly drifting into a severe spinal deformity or shows signs of early myelopathy or paraparesis.     

Total stabilization of the cervical spine in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Certain patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy demonstrate instability in the upper cervical vertebral column associated with marked narrowing of the vertebral canal in the neighboring lower cervical segments. This combination of causative mechanisms creates difficulty in using routine surgical procedures, especially in elderly and severely debilitated patients. We present three cases that typify this situation and illustrate marked resolution of debilitating myelopathy through total posterior fusion of the cervical spine usually incorporating the occiput.     

Long-term follow-up results of anterior interbody fusion applied for cervical myelopathy due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament

STUDY DESIGN: A long-term follow-up study was carried out in 30 patients who underwent anterior interbody fusion for cervical myelopathy associated with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether anterior interbody fusion without decompression is an appropriate surgical method for long-term relief of cervical OPLL myelopathy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Several studies of operative results after posterior decompression for cervical myelopathy due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament have been reported. There has been no report about anterior interbody fusion without decompression. The postoperative results of this treatment method applied in cervical OPLL myelopathy have been evaluated by the authors of the present study for more than 10 years. No reports on such a long-term follow-up study have been published in the literature. METHODS: Thirty patients who underwent anterior interbody fusion for cervical OPLL myelopathy were evaluated clinically and radiographically. The mean follow-up period was 14.7 years (range, 10-23 years). RESULTS: Clinical results were evaluated according to Okamoto's classification. At the time of the final follow-up evaluation, 16 patients had improved in functional score by two grades, and their surgical results were regarded as excellent; eight patients improved by one grade, and their clinical outcomes were regarded as good; five patients showed no change; and the condition of one patient deteriorated. As for radiographic analysis, the type of ossification had changed in four cases. Ossification width and thickness increased in 26 patients. Postoperative alignment of the cervical spine showed kyphosis in three patients, straight spine in 11 patients, and lordosis in 16 patients. CONCLUSION: Anterior interbody fusion without decompression is an effective treatment for cervical OPLL myelopathy that resulted in stable long-lasting conditions.     

Surgical treatment of cervical destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA)

STUDY DESIGN: Sixteen patients with hemodialysis-associated cervical spine disorders underwent surgical treatment. After analysis of the surgical results, the optimum surgical procedures for these disorders were discussed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the surgical results of cervical spine disorders associated with long-term hemodialysis and to propose the optimum surgical procedures for successful outcomes. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There have been few reports regarding surgical results of hemodialysis-related cervical spine disorders. Surgical treatment for this disorder is still challenging. METHODS: Sixteen patients with hemodialysis-associated cervical spine disorders were treated surgically. Duration of hemodialysis ranged from 8 to 27 years (average, 17 years). Before surgery, 14 patients showed severe cervical myelopathy, and the other 2 had radiculopathy in the upper extremities. Ten patients with marked destructive changes underwent circumferential reconstructive surgery involving pedicle screw fixation, anterior strut bone grafting, and posterior and/or anterior decompression. Two patients with cervical radiculopathy underwent posterior nerve root decompression by foraminotomy and fusion by pedicle screw fixation or spinous process wiring. The remaining four patients without spinal instability underwent posterior decompression by open-door laminoplasty. RESULTS: Two patients died during follow-up. Follow-up periods in the surviving 14 patients ranged from 25 months to 92 months (average, 53 months). Marked neurologic recovery was obtained in all patients after surgery. Successful spinal fusion was obtained in all patients except one who underwent posterior fusion by spinous process wiring. Progressive destructive changes with significant instability at the adjacent mobile segments were observed in two patients who underwent circumferential fusion with a pedicle screw system more than 2 years after the initial surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The pedicle screw system achieved a high fusion rate in reconstructive surgery of cervical destructive spondyloarthropathy, even in the presence of severe bone fragility.     

Minimally invasive cervical stenosis decompression

Cervical stenosis and cervical spondylotic myelopathy are common disorders seen by many spine surgeons. Presentation can range from asymptomatic to myelopathy or myeloradiculopathy to lower extremity and gait problems attributed to lumbar disease. Various surgical procedures are practiced in the surgical management of this disease. Posterior cervical laminectomy is a familiar procedure and is the treatment of choice for multilevel disease. With the development of newer instruments and access devices, it has become possible to treat this problem through a minimally invasive approach.     

Cervical spine disorders in farm workers requiring neck extension actions

Background Cervical extension is considered a risk factor for provoking radicular and spinal cord compromise. However, there have been no reports on the relation between extension strain (ES) and cervical spine disorders: degenerative cervical spine disorders, dynamic canal stenosis (DCS), and cervical myelopathy. We performed a cross-sectional study to investigate the relation. Methods Orthopedic examinations were performed on 177 grape-growers (ES-exposed group) and 191 eggplant-growers (control group) between May and August 2000; and patients with degenerative cervical spine disorders, DCS, and cervical myelopathy were identified in the two groups. ES, degenerative cervical spine disorders, DCS, and cervical myelopathy were regarded as exposure variables; and age, sex, and working years were regarded as confounders. In cases where the subject was exposed to each exposure variable, multivariate-adjusted odds ratios to degenerative cervical spine disorders, DCS, and cervical myelopathy and multivariate-adjusted odds ratios regarding cervical myelopathy as the dependent variable were calculated by unconditional logistic regression analysis. Results Multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis showed a significant odds ratio of ES to degenerative cervical spine disorders [2.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62–4.56]. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis showed significant odds ratios for DCS (4.50, 95% CI 2.03–9.96) and age (1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.14) regarding cervical myelopathy as the dependent variable. Conclusions These findings suggested that ES of the cervical spine is a risk factor for degenerative cervical spine disorders, and DCS and the aging process are risk factors for cervical myelopathy.     

Anterior surgical treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is a disease of the cervical spine causing spinal cord compression secondary to spondylosis or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Anterior surgical options include anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, cervical corpectomy, and cervical disc arthroplasty. The surgeon must choose the right surgical option to decompress the cord, restore cervical lordosis, and adequately stabilize the spine. Although these surgical procedures are considered to be highly successful, each one is associated with complications. One must exercise great care when performing anterior cervical surgery and discuss with each patient the risks and benefits of the procedures.     

不同手术方式对多节段连续型脊髓型颈椎病的疗效分析

目的探讨不同手术方式对多节段连续型脊髓型颈椎病疗效的影响。方法选取多节段连续型脊髓型颈椎病48例,排除畸形和创伤病例。根据颈椎曲度不同,分为颈椎曲度正常组和异常组;根据所采取的手术方式不同,分为单间隙减压融合结合椎体次全切除术组、连续椎体次全切除术组以及全椎板切除术组;以术前、术后JOA评分为评估指标进行对比研究。结果在3组术前JOA评分差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）的情况下,单间隙结合椎体次全切除术组术后JOA评分与其他2组相比,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。在颈椎曲度正常组中,连续椎体次全切除术组与全椎板切除术组术后JOA评分差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;颈椎曲度异常组中,连续椎体次全切除术组与全椎板切除术组术后JOA评分比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论不同的手术方式对多节段连续型脊髓型颈椎病的疗效不同。在没有手术禁忌的情况下．颈椎前路手术特别是单间隙减压融合结合椎体次全切除术具有更好的手术疗效．     

Clinical examination of the spine

Clinical examination of the spine is an essential skill to master that will benefit you throughout your medical and surgical career. This article describes the basic anatomy and surface markings of the spine that will aid your examination and also discusses diagnostic tests for common pathologies. The special tests in the spine examination allow clinicians to tailor the examination to the pathology that they are trying to confirm or refute. Details of the tests for scoliosis, myelopathy, cervical and lumbar radiculopathy are also included.     

Anterior cervical debridement and strut-grafting for osteomyelitis of the cervical spine

A retrospective review of the surgical experience in treating 18 patients with osteomyelitis of the cervical spine is reported. The patients ranged in age from 20 to 60 years and all complained of neck pain upon admission. Ten patients had a prior history of intravenous drug abuse, three had previously suffered penetrating injuries of the neck, and one had an extraspinal site of osteomyelitis. Bacteria were isolated in 13 cases and tuberculosis in three. Neurological abnormalities were present in over one-half of the patients, consisting of myelopathy (nine cases) or radiculopathy (four cases). Plain cervical spine films and polytomography demonstrated vertebral and end-plate destruction, spinal instability, and increased paravertebral soft-tissue shadow in all cases. Computerized tomography and, more recently, magnetic resonance imaging have proven helpful in detecting bone involvement and the presence of epidural extension associated with cervical osteomyelitis. The risk of vertebral body collapse, kyphosis, and myelopathy in the osteomyelitic cervical spine has standardized the management of this problem in this institution to consist of skeletal traction, needle aspiration or blood culture for organism identification, anterior cervical debridement, autogenous iliac graft fusion, and intravenous administration of antibiotics. Spinal stability and neurological improvement were achieved in all 18 patients.