The optimal radiologic method for assessing spinal canal compromise and cord compression in patients with cervical spinal cord injury. Part II: Results of a multicenter study

STUDY DESIGN: A multicenter, retrospective study using computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging data to establish quantitative, reliable criteria of canal compromise and cord compression in patients with cervical spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate a radiologic assessment tool of spinal canal compromise and cord compression in cervical spinal cord injury for use in clinical trials. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There are few quantitative, reliable criteria for radiologic measurement of cervical spinal canal compromise or cord compression after acute spinal cord injury. METHODS: The study included 71 patients (55 men, 16 women; mean age, 39.7 +/- 18.7 years) with acute cervical spinal cord injury. Causes of spinal cord injury included motor vehicle accidents (n = 36), falls (n = 20), water-related injuries (n = 8), sports (n = 5), assault (n = 1), and farm accidents (n = 1). Canal compromise was measured on computed tomographic scan and T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, and cord compression at the level of maximum injury was measured on T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. All films were assessed by two independent observers. RESULTS: There was a strong correlation of canal compromise and/or cord compression measurements between axial and midsagittal computed tomography, and between axial and midsagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Spinal canal compromise assessed by computed tomography showed a significant although moderate correlation with spinal cord compression assessed by T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Virtually all patients with canal compromise of 25% or more on computed tomographic scan had evidence of some degree of cord compression on magnetic resonance imaging, but a large number of patients with less than 25% canal compromise on computed tomographic scan also had evidence on magnetic resonance imaging of cord compression. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with cervical spinal cord injury, the midsagittal T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging provides an objective, quantifiable, and reliable assessment of spinal cord compression that cannot be adequately assessed by computed tomography alone.     

皮导节段性脊髓诱发电位在脊髓型颈椎病中的应用

本文通过对１０只成兔、 ２０名神经功能正常看、 ３例椎管狭窄症不伴有脊髓功能障碍和 ３０例脊髓型颈椎病者经皮导出的皮导节段性脊髓诱发电位 （ｐｅｒｃｕｔａｎｅｏｕｓ ｓｅｇｍｅｎｔａｌ ｓｐｉｎａｌ ｃｏｒｄ ｅｖｏｋｅｄｐｏｔｅｎｔｉａｌ，ＰＳＳＣＥＰ）进行对比分析研究后，证实了从颈背侧中线皮下导出的Ｐ１、Ｎ１和Ｐ２波不仅能对脊髓型颈椎病做出脊髓功能定位诊断，而且对估计预后和制定正确手术方案都有一定参考和实用价值。     

下颈椎椎弓根螺钉内固定技术在临床中的应用

目的 :探讨下颈椎椎弓根螺钉内固定技术的临床应用。方法 :对2011年9月至2013年7月行下颈椎椎弓根螺钉内固定的32例患者进行回顾性分析,男20例,女12例;年龄21~78岁,平均56.4岁。其中10例为创伤性颈髓损伤,9例为颈椎管内肿瘤,7例颈椎后纵韧带骨化症,6例多节段颈椎病。所有患者术前行X线、CT、MRI及椎动脉MRA等影像学检查,术后及随访时行X线片及CT平扫明确螺钉的位置情况。根据Lee等4级分类法评价置钉的准确性,创伤性患者行ASIA分级评价脊髓功能变化,非创伤性患者采用JOA评分评价神经功能改善情况。结果:32例患者成功置入144枚下颈椎椎弓根螺钉,术后CT显示,0级132枚,1级5枚,2级5枚,3级2枚。有12枚螺钉穿破椎弓根,其中8枚螺钉穿破椎弓根外侧皮质,2枚螺钉穿破椎弓根下侧皮质,穿破椎弓根内侧、上侧皮质螺钉各1枚。术后随访12~33个月,平均(21.0±1.5)个月,6例完全性颈髓损伤患者术后神经功能虽无恢复,但截瘫平面下降1~3个脊髓节段。4例不完全性颈髓损伤患者术后按ASIA损伤分级提高1~2级。22例非创伤性患者术后6个月JOA评分平均(15.9±0.6)分,较术前(11.5±0.8)分明显提高(P<0.01)。所有患者未发现钉棒系统松动、断裂情况。结论:下颈椎椎弓根螺钉固定能提供优秀的三维稳定性。合理选择适应证,术前充分准备以及根据椎弓根形态个体化置钉可以最大限度的降低手术风险及手术并发症,值得临床应用推广。     

Clinical value of magnetic resonance imaging for cervical myelopathy

The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in 115 cases of cervical myelopathy, 121 cases of cervical radiculopathy, and 64 cases of neck pain with no neurologic deficit were prospectively studied to investigate the clinical value of MRI for cervical myelopathy. The MRI findings in the T1-weighted sagittal projection were classified into four groups according to the degree of the compressed deformities of the cervical cord. The degree of compression of the cervical cord on MRI findings showed a significant correlation with the severity of myelopathy, the anteroposterior diameter of the spinal column, and the degree of compression of the dural tube in the myelograms (P less than 0.01). Fifty-one patients of cervical myelopathy had undergone both preoperative and postoperative MRI. Of these, the spinal canal of 47 patients that was well decompressed was recognized according to plain computed tomography (CT). However, 24 (51%) of these 47 patients showed on MRI a deformity in the spinal cord amounting to cord atrophy. The correlation between the clinical function of the spinal cord and the recovery of the cord deformity on MRI at the operative levels was accurately investigated in 34 patients who had no cord deformities in the adjacent intervertebral levels. Twenty patients with cord atrophy had slightly poor clinical results, although no significant difference was found between these 20 and 14 patients with recovery in the cord deformities. From these results, it was evident that T1-weighted MRI is useful in the accurate diagnosis of compression myelopathy, in accurately deciding the level of the disease focus, and in the accurate assessment of the surgical results.     

Is extensive cervical laminoplasty an effective treatment for spinal cord sarcoidosis combined with cervical spondylosis?

Patients with neurosarcoidosis are usually initially treated with steroid administration even when they have concomitant cord compression on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Operative intervention may be indicated in patients with spinal cord sarcoidosis requiring either tissue biopsy for diagnosis or associated with progressive neurologic symptoms. However, there have been no previous reports describing clinical outcomes of laminoplasty for spinal cord sarcoidosis. The objectives of this study are to investigate whether extensive cervical laminoplasty is an effective treatment for spinal cord sarcoidosis combined with spondylotic changes and/or cervical spinal canal stenosis. Open-door laminoplasty was performed in three patients with spinal cord sarcoidosis. All patients received intensive corticosteroid therapy after the operation MRI imaging was performed in all patients before and after the operation. Operative outcomes were not satisfactory and the clinical courses of the patients fluctuated after corticosteroid therapy. Daily life activities were not significantly improved after treatments in any of the three patients, and in the long-term follow-up period the clinical course of one patient was one of inexorable deterioration to a state of quadriplegia. The possibility of spinal cord sarcoidosis should be included in the differential diagnosis, when a distinct high signal intensity area is observed within the spinal cord on T2-weighted MR images in patients with spondylotic changes. Laminoplasty is not an effective intervention for the treatment of spinal cord sarcoidosis even when patients have spondylotic changes and/or a constitutionally narrowing cervical spinal canal. Patients with neurosarcoidosis should be treated first with steroid administration even when they have concomitant cord compression on MRI.     

Enlargement of cervical spinal cord correlates with improvement of motor function in upper extremities after laminoplasty for cervical myelopathy

OBJECTIVE: The correlation between postoperative spinal cord enlargement at the most compressive disc level and clinical outcome is controversial. The relationship between spinal cord enlargement at neurologically symptomatic disc level and clinical recovery has not been explored. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between postoperative spinal cord enlargement at neurologically symptomatic disc level and neurologic outcome. METHODS: We studied 55 consecutive patients between 1995 and 2002. All patients underwent preoperative neurologic examination to determine the neurologically symptomatic disc level of the spinal cord and computed tomographic myelography twice before and 4 weeks after laminoplasty. The cross-sectional areas of both spinal cord and dural sac from C3/4 to C7/T1 disc levels were measured on computed tomographic myelography images. The Japanese Orthopedic Association scoring system was used for clinical evaluation before and 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: Total score improved significantly from 10.2+/-2.8 (SD) to 13.0+/-3.0 after operation. Motor and sensory function scores of upper and lower extremities also improved significantly. The enlargement of spinal cord area at the neurologically symptomatic disc level correlated significantly with improvement in motor function scores of upper extremities (rs=0.421 P=0.0052). However, there were no significant relationships between the enlargement of the spinal cord at the most compressive disc level or that at the dural sac and any categories of Japanese Orthopedic Association scoring system. CONCLUSION: Postsurgical enlargement of the cervical spinal cord at the neurologically symptomatic disc level at 4 weeks postoperatively correlated with recovery of motor function of the upper extremities at 1 year.     

颈椎颈髓损伤早期手术治疗疗效评价（附37例报告）

目的：探讨早期手术对颈脊髓神经功能恢复方面的作用。方法：通过脊髓神经功能评价方法,分析总结一组伤后3d内实施手术减压和／或固定的颈椎脊髓损伤患者的预后。结果：术后第15d,23例脊髓不完全性损伤者运动和感觉神经功能分别改善（ASIA神经功能评分法）9．12和9．30分,相差显著,14例脊髓完全性损伤者运动和感觉功能分别改善0．43和1．43分,有改善。术后12个月随访,9例脊髓不完全性损伤者运动和感觉神经功能分别改善4．00和18．33分,相差显著,6例脊髓完全性损伤运动和感觉神经功能分别改善0．50和1．00分,无显著改善。结论：伤后3d内实施手术脊髓减压和颈椎内固定术,可促进不完全性颈髓损伤神经功能恢复。     

Symptomatic duplication of the vertebral artery

A case is presented of extracranial duplication of the vertebral artery in a patient who had spinal cord symptoms for 26 years. Vertebral angiograms and computed tomography with metrizamide enhancement demonstrated a bypass artery of the duplication compresing the upper cervical spinal cord intradurally at the level of the atlas; this finding was verified at operation. The symptomatology and clinical significance of this rare case are discussed.     

下颈椎损伤改良Moore分类的临床应用研究

目的：探讨改良Moore分类法在下颈椎损伤中的临床应用。方法：2006年8月至2010年3月收治下颈椎损伤患者200例,男165例,女35例;年龄19-88岁,平均52岁。应用下颈椎损伤改良Moore分类全面地描述下颈椎损伤的状态,颈椎损伤严重程度（稳定性）量化评分与有否神经症状表现相结合,根据骨折类型和稳定性、脊髓或神经根受压损伤情况、韧带损伤后的稳定程度及其他参考因素进行分类诊治,选择治疗方法。其中伴有脊髓神经损伤者130例（ASIA评分：A级6例,B级13例,C级43例,D级68例）,不伴有脊髓神经损伤者70例。对伴有脊髓神经损伤的下颈椎损伤患者,根据ASIA评分进行疗效评定;对不伴有脊髓神经损伤的患者,根据影像学检查对颈椎的序列和高度进行观察。结果：前、左、右侧和后柱均损伤35例;前柱损伤33例;前、后柱均损伤90例;前、左侧和后柱均损伤5例;前、右侧和后柱均损伤3例;前、左侧和右侧柱均损伤3例;前、右侧柱损伤2例;前、左侧柱损伤5例;后柱损伤12例;左侧柱损伤7例;右侧柱损伤5例。200例患者中手术治疗98例,非手术治疗102例（其中可以手术而患者家属要求非手术治疗39例）。完全性脊髓损伤患者中3例行手术后脊髓功能无恢复迹象,ASIA分级无变化,但其肢体麻木、疼痛等症状有不同程度的缓解,另3例未手术患者脊髓功能及肢体症状均无变化。不完全性脊髓损伤患者手术后脊髓功能均有一定程度恢复,ASIA评分平均提高1．2级。未手术的不完全性脊髓损伤患者非手术治疗后ASIA评分平均提高0.3级。不伴有脊髓神经损伤者手术后经影像学检查显示均恢复了颈椎的正常序列和高度。结论：根据改良Moore分类法,稳定性量化评分值大于等于4分有下颈椎不稳可能,需要手术治疗,分值越大,手术指征越明显,若伴有脊髓或神经根受压损伤表现者则有绝对手术指征。稳定性量化评分为3分且伴有脊髓或神经根受压损伤表现者一般也有手术指征。稳定性量化评分为3分不伴有脊髓或神经根受压损伤表现者或3分以下者均不需要手术治疗。应用改良Moore分类法有利于下颈椎损伤患者的临床规范化、标准化诊治,以获得较满意的疗效。     

Spinal canal size in ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine

BACKGROUND: The size of the spinal canal is a factor that contributes to the neurologic deficits associated with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). METHODS: Bone-window computed tomography (CT) examinations of the cervical spine in 64 patients with cervical OPLL were reviewed. Forty-two patients underwent surgical treatment (anterior decompression: 16 patients, posterior decompression: 26 patients). The remaining 22 patients were managed conservatively. Selection of the surgical approach, anterior or posterior, was based on the longitudinal extent of cord compression. RESULTS: The mean developmental size of the spinal canal in the posterior decompression group (10.7 mm at C4) was significantly smaller than the other 2 groups. The spinal canal was narrowed by OPLL to 2.9 to 10.0 mm. The proportion of the patients showing motor deficits of the lower extremities significantly increased when the sagittal canal diameter was narrowed to less than 8 mm. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates critical values of CT-determined spinal canal stenosis. Developmental size of the spinal canal and the residual anterior-posterior canal diameters resulting from OPLL spinal cord compression are important factors influencing clinical management and the neurologic state.     

锚定法单开门颈椎管扩大椎板成形术的临床应用

目的:对颈脊髓压迫患者采用锚定法单开门颈椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗,观察其疗效。方法:46例颈脊髓压迫症患者,23例采用锚定法单开门颈椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗,包括男19例,女4例;年龄32~71岁,平均48.4岁,其中12例为脊髓型颈椎病,11例为发育性颈椎管狭窄。23例采用改良Harabayashi单开门法(开门的椎板悬吊于门轴侧小关节囊韧带上)进行治疗,包括男16例,女7例;年龄33~70岁,平均47.3岁,其中14例为脊髓型颈椎病,9例为发育性颈椎管狭窄。观察术前术后颈部轴性症状的发生情况及颈椎总活动度的变化。结果:锚定法组中术前有颈部轴性症状的6例,术后3个月增加到10例,12个月减少到4例。改良Harabayashi组术前有轴性症状的5例,术后3个月增加到20例,12个月为18例。锚定法组术后颈部轴性症状的发生率较改良Harabayashi单开门法低(P<0.001)。与术前相比,锚定法组中术后3个月颈椎总活动度增加4例,8例无变化,减少11例;12个月增加6例,10例无变化,减少7例。改良Harabayashi组中术后3个月颈椎总活动度无增加例数,2例无变化,减少21例;12个月3例无变化,减少20例。锚定法组对颈椎总活动度的影响较改良Harabayashi单开门法小(P<0.001)。结论:锚定术式能明显减少术后颈部轴性症状的发生率,对颈椎总活动度影响小,是治疗颈脊髓压迫症的一种较好的手术方式。     

Advanced imaging of the cervical spine and spinal cord in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: age-matched, double-cohort, controlled study

Purpose  The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome is a common genetic syndrome with a wide spectrum of abnormalities. We have previously described multiple anomalies of the upper cervical spine in this disorder. The objective of this study was to use advanced imaging to further define the morphology of the cervical spine and spinal cord in the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, with a comparison to age-matched controls. Methods  A total of 32 patients with a 22q11.2 deletion underwent advanced imaging (computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging; CT/MRI) of the cervical spine. In 27 patients, space available for the cord (SAC); the sagittal diameter of the vertebral body, spinal canal, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and spinal cord; and the cross sectional area of the spinal canal, CSF, and spinal cord were measured at each cervical level and compared to 29 age-matched controls. Statistical analysis was performed and potential implications were hypothesized. Results  In 22q11.2 patients, advanced imaging identified 40 pathologies not evident on plain radiographs with potential mechanical and/or neurological implications. These patients also had significantly smaller values (P ≤ 0.05) of the following parameters at one or more cervical levels, relative to age-matched controls: width of the vertebral body, spinal canal, CSF, and spinal cord; area of the spinal canal, CSF, and spinal cord. Neurologic symptoms were observed in 4/32 patients, with one patient requiring surgical intervention. Conclusions  Advanced imaging of the cervical spine can detect findings not evident on plain radiographs in the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. CT and/or MRI may be indicated when there is a high index of suspicion for clinical instability or neurologic compromise in order to rule out dynamic encroachment or impending neurologic sequelae. Spinal canal and spinal cord dimensions are reduced in these patients relative to controls with currently unknown clinical significance.     

脊髓型颈椎病手术前后MRI的研究

目的：评价脊髓型颈椎病手术前后MRI表现及临床意义。方法：46例患者颈前路手术前后均行MRI的检查,按脊髓的受压程度及脊髓内信号改变分类,观察比较术前和术后MRI的变化与临床表现的关系。结果：脊髓受压程度与临床症状的严重程度密切相关,受压程度越重,临床表现越重（P＞0．05）,术后脊髓形态无恢复、髓内高信号未消失者术后恢复差。高信号消失或明显降低者术前症状轻,手术效果较好。结论：MRI对脊髓型颈椎病预后判断有重要意义。     

老年颈椎间盘损伤相关的脊髓损伤

目的探讨老年颈椎间盘损伤相关脊髓损伤的临床特点、治疗选择和预后。方法回顾1997年1月~2004年1月间收治的60岁以上有完整随访的82例患者资料,对其临床特点、治疗选择和预后进行分析。结果老年颈椎间盘损伤相关的脊髓损伤伤后JOA评分较低,多合并颈椎不稳,并发症多。MRI图像上72%患者脊髓信号改变为2~4个节段,脊髓信号改变平面多于椎间盘损伤平面,且脊髓信号改变的平面高于椎间盘损伤的平面,非手术治疗3个月与手术治疗术后3个月的JOA改善率卡方检验P<0.05,有显著性差异,根据患者伤后至手术时间隔的不同分组计算术后JOA改善率并行卡方检验显示,伤后24h内手术效果最好,与其余各组比较P<0.01,24h~2周组与2~12周组术后JOA改善率P>0.05,12周以后组与其他各组比较术后JOA改善率P<0.01。结论老年颈椎间盘损伤相关的脊髓损伤症状较重,脊髓损伤平面高于椎间盘损伤的平面,易并发呼吸衰竭。手术治疗效果相对较好,且手术治疗时间越早术后JOA改善率越高。     

前后路Ⅰ期减压术治疗脊髓型颈椎病

目的:探讨脊髓前后受压所导致脊髓型颈椎病的手术治疗方法.方法:采用前路减压植骨自 锁钢板内固定和后路单开门椎管扩大成形术一次性完成的手术方法对26例脊髓型颈椎病(为脊髓前后均受压的脊髓型颈椎病患者)进行治疗观察,其中男9例,女17例;年龄63～81岁,平均69岁.并对其治疗结果进行分析总结.结果:26例获得1.5～6年的随访,22例症状完全消失,4例尚留有轻度手臂麻木.按JOA评分标准:优16例,良6例,可4例,差0例.结论:采用前后路Ⅰ期手术治疗脊髓前后同时受压的脊髓型颈椎病减压彻底、固定可靠、疗效满意,不但使治疗周期大大缩短、复发率明显减少,而且可使脊髓和神经根受压症状得到彻底缓解.     

Developmental stenosis of the cervical spinal canal hyperextension injury]

Sixteen cases of cervical spinal cord injury with developmental stenosis of cervical spinal canal were treated. The numbness and quadriplegia of the patients were caused by hyperextension X-ray of the cervical spine showed no fracture or dislocation but the sagittal diameter of the canal and that of the corresponding cervical vertebral body was less than 0.75. All of the patients were treated by operation including laminoplasty on 12 cases. The numbness and quadriplegia in most of the patients were improved obviously after operation. The mechanism of hyperextension injury on the cervical spinal cord was discussed. When spinal column was extended, annulus fibrosus of disk and ligamentum flavum would enfold into the spinal canal and only a slight force would do severe on the cord. Laminoplasty is the recommended treatment for this kind of lesions.     

伴颈神经根病的无症状颈椎退变性脊髓压迫的治疗

目的探讨伴颈神经根病的无症状颈椎退变性脊髓压迫(asymptomatic spondylotic cervical cord compression,A-SCCC)的治疗。方法回顾分析本院2009年6月~2012年6月收治的34例伴颈神经根病的A-SCCC患者病例资料,患者入院后先接受系统的非手术治疗,如果神经功能无缓解或加重,则行手术治疗,收集患者一般情况及影像学资料,于治疗前后不同时间点通过日本骨科学会(Japanese Orthopaedic Association,JOA)评分评价临床治疗效果。结果34例患者平均随访4个月,其中23例经非手术治疗获得不同程度的改善;11例改善不明显,其中8例改手术治疗,3例患者继续非手术治疗(2例症状逐渐缓解,1例出现脊髓病临床表现)。治疗后及随访期间非手术组与手术组患者JOA评分均较治疗前明显改善,差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。结论多数伴颈神经根病的A-SCCC患者经过系统非手术治疗后病情可以缓解,部分仍需手术治疗,伴颈神经根病或脊髓高信号的A-SCCC不必预防性手术,但需密切观察病情变化。     

Cervical spine clearance in blunt trauma: evaluation of a computed tomography-based protocol

BACKGROUND: Prompt identification of cervical spine injuries has been a critical issue in trauma management. In 1998, the authors developed a new protocol to evaluate cervical spines in blunt trauma. This protocol relies on clinical clearance for appropriate patients and helical computed tomography instead of plain radiographs for patients who cannot be clinically cleared. The authors then prospectively collected data on all cervical spine evaluations to assess the sensitivity and specificity of their approach. METHODS: Any patient without clinical evidence of neurologic injury, alcohol or drug intoxication, or distracting injury underwent cervical spine evaluation by clinical examination. Patients who did not meet these criteria underwent helical computed tomographic scanning of the entire cervical spine. For patients who had neurologic deficits, a magnetic resonance image was obtained. If the patient was not evaluable secondary to coma, the computed tomographic scan was without abnormality, and the patient was moving all four extremities at arrival in the emergency department, the cervical spine was cleared, and spinal precautions were removed. Data were collected for all patients admitted to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital trauma service between 1999 and 2002. The authors selected for analysis patients with blunt trauma and further identified those with closed head injuries (Glasgow Coma Scale score < 15 and loss of consciousness). In addition, all blunt cervical spine injuries were reviewed. RESULTS: During the period of study, 2,854 trauma patients were admitted, of whom 2,603 (91%) had blunt trauma. Of these, 1,462 (56%) had closed head injuries. One hundred patients (7% of patients admitted for blunt trauma) had cervical spine or spinal cord injuries, of which 99 were identified by the authors' protocol. Only one injury was not appreciated in a patient with syringomyelia. Fifteen percent of patients with spinal cord injury had no radiographic abnormality; all of these patients presented with neurologic deficits. The sensitivity for detecting cervical spine injury was thus 99%, and the specificity was 100%. The risk of missing a cervical spine injury in these blunt trauma patients was 0.04%. The authors missed no spine injuries in patients with head injuries. CONCLUSION: The use of the authors' protocol resulted in excellent sensitivity and specificity in detecting cervical spine injuries. In addition, it allowed early removal of spinal precautions.     

Choice of surgical approach for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in combination with cervical disc hernia

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a common spinal disorder that presents with or without cervical myelopathy. Furthermore, there is evidence suggesting that OPLL often coexists with cervical disc hernia (CDH), and that the latter is the more important compression factor. To raise the awareness of CDH in OPLL for spinal surgeons, we performed a retrospective study on 142 patients with radiologically proven OPLL who had received surgery between January 2004 and January 2008 in our hospital. Plain radiograph, three-dimensional computed tomography construction (3D CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine were all performed. Twenty-six patients with obvious CDH (15 of segmental-type, nine of mixed-type, two of continuous-type) were selected via clinical and radiographic features, and intraoperative findings. By MRI, the most commonly involved level was C5/6, followed by C3/4, C4/5, and C6/7. The areas of greatest spinal cord compression were at the disc levels because of herniated cervical discs. Eight patients were decompressed via anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), 13 patients via anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF), and five patients via ACDF combined with posterior laminectomy and fusion. The outcomes were all favorable. In conclusion, surgeons should consider the potential for CDH when performing spinal cord decompression and deciding the surgical approach in patients presenting with OPLL.     

扩大半椎板减压内固定治疗无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤

目的探讨后路扩大半椎板减压内固定术治疗无骨折脱位型颈髓损伤的疗效。方法回顾性分析2001年6月-2008年6月本院采用后路扩大半椎板减压植骨内固定术治疗的47例无骨折脱位型颈髓损伤患者的临床资料,通过随访比较术前、术后的JOA评分并结合影像学检查进行疗效评价。结果所有患者随访10—60个月,平均24h个月,术后脊髓功能均有不同程度改善,JOA评分由术前平均7．6分上升至平均14．9分,植骨均获融合,无血管、神经及内固定相关并发症发生。结论颈椎后路扩大半椎板减压内固定术是治疗无骨折脱位型颈髓损伤的安全有效的方法,但需合理掌握手术适应证。