Radiographic outcome of vertebral bone bruise associated with fracture of the thoracic and lumbar spine in adults

Bone bruising associated with long bone injury is a defined entity with known radiological, pathologic and clinical features. Vertebral bone bruise (VBB) has been described through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the injured spine, but to date the consequences of this entity are unknown. The objective of this retrospective study was to describe the plain radiographic outcome of MRI-defined VBB associated with thoracic and lumbar spine fracture in adults, and to assess whether VBBs caused abnormalities of the bone–implant interface at instrumented levels. Levels of VBB were identified through analysis of the full spine MRI in a consecutive series of adult patients admitted to a spinal injuries unit for thoracic and lumbar spine fractures. The anterior wedge angles (AWAs) of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae demonstrating VBB were measured on radiographs taken at time of injury and at follow-up. Abnormalities of the bone–implant interface were recorded at instrumented levels associated with VBB on follow-up radiographs. Thirty VBBs were identified in 18 adult patients who had suffered 21 vertebral fractures. At an average follow-up of 19 months (range, 12–30 months), the mean AWAs of the VBB vertebrae at the time of injury and at the most recent follow-up were 3.5° and 3.8°, respectively (p=0.33, paired t-test). A total of 12 out of 30 (40%) bruised levels were instrumented in 13 out of 18 (72%) operated patients. No bone–implant interface failure was observed at these levels. It is concluded that VBB associated with thoracic and lumbar vertebral fracture in adult patients does not appear to cause significant progressive vertebral deformity or bone–implant interface failure.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Transient neurologic deficits associated with thoracic and lumbar spine trauma without fracture or dislocation

Two categories of persistent posttraumatic neurologic deficits of the spinal cord without evidence of a spinal fracture or dislocation have been described previously. Spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCI-WORA) is seen in children. In the elderly, hyperextension injuries causing neurologic deficits without bony injury have also been described. The purpose of this report is to review mechanisms by which transient neurologic deficits occur in the absence of bony disruption. The authors describe four cases in which transient neurologic deficits occurred after blunt trauma to the thoracic or lumbar spine. Their experience indicates that, when neurologic deficits after trauma occur without fracture or dislocation, there is often an underlying structural susceptibility of the axial skeleton.     

Distractible vertebral body replacement for the thoracic and lumbar spine

We retrospectively evaluated the results after corporectomy and vertebral body replacement in 40 patients with thoracic or lumbar spine collapse due to tumour osteolysis, unstable fractures, spondylodiscitis and Paget's disease. They underwent posterior transpedicular instrumentation followed 7 to 21 days later by vertebral body replacement with a distractible device, the "Obelisc" cage, filled up with autogenous/allogeneic bone graft. The mean residual kyphosis after surgery was only 13.8 degrees. After a mean follow-up period of 16.3 months, there was a mean loss of correction of 1.1 degrees. Perioperative complications occurred in 25 patients (62.5%); one died of septic shock, and the others were treated conservatively. Postoperatively, neurological improvement was noted in 8 patients. Using this in situ distractible vertebral body replacement system to achieve intraoperative stabilisation, neurological improvement and minimal postoperative displacement were achieved with an acceptable perioperative risk.     

绝经后妇女骨质疏松性椎体骨折与腰椎骨密度的关系

目的探讨绝经后妇女骨质疏松性椎体骨折与腰椎骨密度的关系。方法选择骨质疏松性椎体骨折的绝经后妇女23例为骨折组,无椎体骨折的25例绝经后骨质疏松妇女为对照组。两组的年龄、绝经年限、身高、体重、体重指数差异无显著性,均行胸腰椎正侧位X线摄片。用双能X线吸收仪（DXA）测量的腰椎（L2-4）前后位骨密度（BMD）、骨矿含量（BMC）和T值。结果骨折组BMD、BMC和T值均低于对照组（P〈0.01）。结论腰椎BMD降低与绝经后妇女的骨质疏松性椎体骨折相关。绝经后骨质疏松妇女应重视BMD变化,预防椎体骨折的发生。     

胸腰椎肿瘤切除人工椎体置换术

目的 观察人工椎体置换术治疗胸腰椎肿瘤的疗效。方法 行肿瘤切除人工椎体置换术治疗胸腰椎肿瘤8例，其中血管瘤1例，骨巨细胞瘤1例，骨肉瘤1例，淋巴肉瘤1例，转移性肿瘤4例；T5 1例，T5.6 1例，T12 2例，L2 2例，L3 2例。结果 随访4～36个月，术前5例胸腰背疼痛伴下肢痛者，4例术后疼痛完全消失，1例胸腰背痛减轻、下肢痛消失；截瘫基本恢复正常。结论 人工椎体置换术是治疗胸腰椎肿瘤的理想方法。     

Experiences with ventral stabilization in vertebral metastases in the area of the thoracic and lumbar spine

43 cases of tumor resection followed by ventral stabilisation are reported in 42 patients with metastases in the spine. Indications for surgery were beginning or incomplete transversal lesion of the spinal cord, bedrest for at least 3 weeks, unsusceible pain caused by instability, or unsuccessful conservative and radiotherapeutic treatment. 46.5% of the cases can be rated as good considering the time of survival and life quality, 18.5% can be judged as a partial success. 7 patients hat to be reoperated in the same level, most of them because of local recurrence. Complications occurred in 40% of the cases. These operations should be performed by a "term of specialists". Postoperative treatment with isotope-, hormone- or radiotherapy is decisive to obtain good results.     

胸椎椎体切除植骨内固定治疗上胸椎骨折脱位

目的　探讨上胸椎骨折脱位经胸手术治疗的方法和临床效果。方法　对 8例上胸椎骨折脱位患者采用经胸入路椎体切除减压椎间植骨椎体侧前方内固定,根据骨折程度分别切除 1~3个椎体,固定节段由T2 ~T8, 5例采用椎体间肋骨条或髂骨块植骨, 3例采用钛网融合器。固定器材采用TSRH 4例,ScoFix2例,中华长城 1例,Ventrofix1例,采用上下单一椎体或多椎体固定。术前Frankel分级:A级 6例,B级 2例,C级 1例。结果　后凸畸形平均矫正18°,术后Frankel分级:A级 4例,B级 2例,D级 1例,E级 2例, 5例经半年以上随访均获植骨融合。1例发生钛网移位,卧床时间延长至术后 3个月使之稳定。结论　经胸手术治疗上胸椎损伤可以同时达到减压、矫形的双重目的,并能有效地重建脊柱稳定加速植骨融合。     

Asymmetrical vertebral collapse from spinal metastasis in lower thoracic and lumbar spine

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between spinal metastasis and osteoporotic compression fractures on plain X-ray images, focusing on asymmetrical vertebral collapse and fracture level.

后路内固定及经椎弓根椎体植骨治疗胸腰椎骨折

2003年1月～2008年12月,本院行后路内固定及经椎弓根椎体植骨治疗21例胸腰椎骨折患者,术后疗效较好,现报告如下。     

Neurological outcome after surgery for thoracic and lumbar spine injuries

Summary New techniques for internal fixation, employed by neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons, provide reduction and stabilization with early mobilization of patients after injuries of the thoracolumbar spine. It has, however, appeared difficult to prove that the neurological outcome after surgery may be superior to conservative treatment.In this study the neurological results after surgery are evaluated in 30 patients with injuries of the spinal cord and/or cauda equina. Canal encroachment was found on tomograms or CT in all patients. The unstable fractures, dislocations or fracture-dislocations were all reduced and stabilized by the Harrington distraction device. However, peroperative inspection revealed that the Harrington instrumentation alone may be inadequate in achieving intraspinal decompression. Additional anterior decompression by posterolateral approach was necessary in 13 of the 30 patients (43%). In this series there was an unexpectedly high rate of dural tears. These were found in 8 patients (27%) and nerve roots (cauda equina) appeared to have herniated through the tear in 6 of the 8 patients. Significant improvement of the neurological deficit was obtained in 22 of the 30 patients (73%), and the improvement rate in patients with incomplete lesions of the spinal cord was 83% (25 of 30 patients). In this series there was a definite trend toward greater neurological recovery when compared to the results obtained in patients treated conservatively.The importance of a neurosurgical approach in diagnosis and treatment of these patients is stressed.     

Does thoracic or lumbar spine bone architecture predict vertebral failure strength more accurately than density?

Summary Trabecular bone microstructure was studied in 6 mm bone biopsies taken from the 10th thoracic and 2nd lumbar vertebra of 165 human donors and shown to not differ significantly between these sites. Microstructural parameters at the locations examined provided only marginal additional information to quantitative computed tomography in predicting experimental failure strength. Introduction It is unknown whether trabecular microstructure differs between thoracic and lumbar vertebrae and whether it adds significant information in predicting the mechanical strength of vertebrae in combination with QCT-based bone density. Methods Six mm cylindrical biopsies taken at mid-vertebral level, anterior to the center of the thoracic vertebra (T) 10 and the lumbar vertebra (L) 2 were studied with micro-computed tomography (μCT) in 165 donors (age 52 to 99 years). The segment T11-L1 was examined with QCT and tested to failure using a testing machine. Results The correlation of microstructural properties was moderate between T10 and L2 (r ≤ 0.5). No significant differences were observed in the microstructural properties between the thoracic and lumbar spine, nor were sex differences at T10 or L2 observed. Cortical/subcortical density of T12 (r ² = 48%) was more strongly correlated with vertebral failure stress than trabecular density (r ² = 32%). BV/TV (of T10) improved the prediction by 52% (adjusted r ²) in a multiple regression model. Conclusion Microstructural properties of trabecular bone biopsies displayed a high degree of heterogeneity between vertebrae but did not differ significantly between the thoracic and lumbar spine. At the locations examined, bone microstructure only marginally improved the prediction of structural vertebral strength beyond QCT-based bone density.     

X线片上胸腰椎椎板外侧缘及上缘与椎弓根关系研究及应用

[目的]研究胸腰椎椎板外侧缘和上缘与椎弓根的解剖关系，寻找一种新的椎弓根置钉的定位方法。[方法]测量107个正常成人胸腰椎平片的椎板外缘垂线与上缘水平线的交点至椎弓根中心的水平及垂直距离。[结果]获得了相关解剖学数据，发现两者有恒定的关系并成功的临床应用40例。[结论]该研究揭示了椎板外侧缘和上缘与椎弓根的解剖关系，为经椎弓根手术提供了一种新的可靠的解剖学定位方法。     

Anterior instrumentation for the treatment of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis of thoracic and lumbar spine

Anterior radical debridement and bone grafting is popular in the treatment of pyogenic infection of the spine, but there remains great concern of placing instrumentation in the presence of infection because of the potentiality of infection recurrence after surgery. The objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of anterior instrumentation in patients who underwent simultaneous anterior debridement and autogenous bone grafting for the treatment of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. The series consisted of 22 consecutive patients who were treated with anterior debridement, interbody fusion with autogenous bone grafting and anterior instrumentation for pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis of thoracic and lumbar spine. The patients were prospectively followed up for a minimum of 3 years (average 46.1 months; range 36–74 months). Data were obtained for assessing clinically the neurological function and pain and radiologically the spinal alignment and fusion progress as well as recurrence of the infection. All the patients experienced complete or significant relief of back pain with rapid improvement of neurological function. Kyphosis was improved with an average correction rate of 93.1% (range 84–100%). Solid fusion and healing of the infection was achieved in all the patients without any evidence of recurrent or residual infection. The study shows that combined with perioperative antibiotic regimen, anterior instrumentation is effective and safe in the treatment of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis of thoracic and lumbar spine directly following radical debridement and autogenous bone grafting.     

The use of autografts for vertebral body replacement of the thoracic and lumbar spine

Thirty-seven patients with fractures of the thoracic or lumbar spine underwent anterior corpectomy (partial or complete) and vertebral body replacement for either destructive lesions from tumor or infection (13 patients) or trauma (24 patients). The vertebral bodies were replaced using either rib (12 patients) or tricortical iliac crest (25 patients) autografts. The Dunn device was utilized in conjunction with the autografts in 19 patients. Posterior stabilization was used in five patients; three prior to anterior stabilization and two after anterior stabilization. Within 2 weeks of the operative procedure, all patients began walking or sitting. Of the 37 patients, 21 with incomplete neurologic deficits improved, and 10 of those went onto complete recovery. Of the 27 patients who have been followed for a minimum of 1 year, 25 have obtained solid fusions, one developed a pseudarthrosis that required regrafting, and one had a delayed union prior to death from metastatic disease. There were two deaths in the immediate postoperative period and three deaths in the first six postoperative wounds due to metastatic disease. The purpose of this study is to present a consecutive series of patients who have undergone corpectomy and vertebral body replacement as well as to define the adequacy of stabilization.     

绝经后女性腰椎T值评分与椎体骨折的关系

目的探讨绝经后女性腰椎骨密度的T值评分与发生椎体骨折的关系。方法选择原发性骨质疏松症女性患者共74例,其中发生椎体骨折患者37例,无椎体骨折患者37例,所有受检者均行正侧位胸腰椎X线摄片证实。两组女性的出生年月、身高、体重、绝经年限等无显著性差异。用双能X线吸收仪(DXA)分别检测正位腰椎(L1-L4)及一侧股骨近段股骨颈的骨密度(BMD)值及T值,统计腰椎部位的T值评分(T-Score),以腰椎T值评分达≤-2.5可入选,并对两组腰椎的T值评分进行统计分析。结果骨折组腰椎T值评分明显低于非骨折组腰椎T值评分(P0.05)。结论绝经后女性发生椎体压缩性骨折与腰椎骨密度的T值评分降低相关。     

腰椎各椎体骨密度的分析

目的分析腰椎各椎体骨密度（ＢＭＤ）的差异。方法对１２１４例在我科进行骨密度检查的２０～８９岁人群,男性３９０例,女性８２４例,除外各种器质性内分泌、消化系统及肿瘤等疾病,用双能Ｘ线骨密度仪（ＤＥＸＡ）测量腰椎ＢＭＤ,通过计算机分析比较各椎体ＢＭＤ值的差异与相互关系,用ＥＸＣＥＬ软件做统计学分析,计数资料进行配对ｔ检验。结果ＢＭＤ值以Ｌ１最低,Ｌ４最高,Ｌ１－２与Ｌ２－４ＢＭＤ女性在４０岁以上有显著差异（Ｐ＜０．００１）,男性在６０岁以上（Ｐ＜０．０５）,８０岁以后无明显差异,女性５０岁以后骨丢失明显快于男性。结论腰椎各椎体ＢＭＤ存在差异,尤以女性明显,其差异与增龄造成的腰椎退行性变的干扰有关     

Conservative treatment of tuberculosis of the thoracic and lumbar spine in adults and children

Summary We have treated 75 cases of spinal tuberculosis with chemotherapy as outpatients. The drugs used were INH, rifampicin and ethambutol for the 48 adults, and INH, rifampicin and PAS for the 27 children. No operations, apart from the evacuation of large abscesses, were carried out. Every patient was followed up for at least three years and the outcome was judged to be favourable in 95%. This is better than in some series in which radical surgery has been used. Although we recognize the advantages of operation in certain circumstances, we believe that our conservative regimen can be confidently recommended for use in less privileged countries, where adequate facilities for hospital treatment may not be available.

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Résumé Nous avons traité médicalement, en malades externes, 75 cas de tuberculose rachidienne. Les médicaments utilisés ont été INH, Rifampicine et Ethambutol chez les 48 adultes, et INH, Rifampicine et PAS chez les 27 enfants. Aucune intervention, hormis l'évacuation d'abcès volumineux, n'a été réalisée. Tous les malades ont été suivis au moins trois ans et le résultat a été jugé bon dans 95% des cas. Ceci est meilleur que certaines séries où l'on a eu recours à une chirurgie radicale. Bien que nous reconnaissions les avantages du traitement chirurgical dans certains cas, nous pensons que notre traitement conservateur peut être recommandé en toute confiance dans les pays tels que la Corée qui ne disposent pas des moyens nécessaires pour soigner ces malades en milieu hospitalier.

     

胸椎胸骨复合型骨折的疗效分析

目的评价胸椎胸骨复合型骨折的不同方式的治疗效果。方法对31例胸椎胸骨复合型骨折病例的治疗进行回顾性分析。31例患者均合并有多处创伤．其中胸椎压缩性骨折15例,骨折脱位11例,爆裂型骨折5例;完全性神经损伤5例,不完全神经损伤16例,无神经损伤10例。手术治疗20例（单纯胸骨手术4例,胸椎手术12例,胸椎胸骨联合手术5例）,非手术治疗11人。结果随访时间0．5～5年,平均2．4年。患者均有不同程度的恢复。术后3例完全性神经损伤患者神经功能无明显改善;2例出现迟发型神经功能损害。余27例病情无加重：16例不完全神经损伤患者中3例恢复正常,9例有改善,4例无改善。结论胸骨胸椎复合型骨折多伴有神经损伤及其他多处创伤,病情复杂多变,应根据患者情况制定个体化治疗方案;早期固定胸骨有助于维持脊柱的稳定性,有效预防或延缓脊柱侧弯等疾患的发生进展。