兔腰神经根的解剖位置及实验性硅胶管压迫程度的测量

目的　确定兔腰神经根的解剖位置及硅胶管在椎间管内压迫神经根的程度。方法　 18只纯种新西兰成年兔 ,雄性 ,随机分为 2组 :A组 6只 ,利用几何作图原理 ,测量脊神经的长度、角度、脊神经在椎间外孔的直径及椎间外孔面积等解剖特点 ;B组 12只 ,采用断层解剖技术 ,6只用于测量冠状面和椎间外孔矢状面上硅胶管的压迫程度 ,6只用于关节突关节矢状面的压迫程度。测量工具主要有 :圆规、量角器和游标卡尺。结果　脊神经长度、与硬脊膜的夹角及椎间外孔面积在不同椎间隙各不相同。L5、L6脊神经长度分别为5 .83± 1.18和 8.94± 1.64mm ,与硬脊膜的夹角分别为 5 5 .2± 11.1和 2 9.6± 4.2°。硅胶管的截面积为椎间管经关节突关节矢状面面积的 2 0 %左右 ,为椎间外孔面积的 5 0 %左右。结论　本模型为脊神经轻度受压实验模型 ,接近于临床椎间盘突出和椎间管狭窄对脊神经的压迫。按照A组实验的结果进行插管 ,实验成功率高 ,不会因硅胶管损伤脊髓和脊神经而影响实验结果     

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia as a rare cause of cervicothoracic spinal cord compression: A case report

BACKGROUNDIntravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is a rare benign reactive vascular lesion that grows into an expansile compressing mass. It most commonly involves the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Spinal involvement is rare, with only 11 reported cases in the literature. We report, to our knowledge, the first case of IPEH in the cervicothoracic spinal canal and present a literature review.CASE SUMMARYA 27-year-old man presented with acute-onset neck pain, numbness, and weakness in his extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an epidural mass in the cervicothoracic (C6-T1) spinal canal and vertebral hemangioma (VH) involving the C7 vertebral body. C6-T1 Laminectomy and radical excision of the mass were performed. Histopathological examinations revealed papillary proliferation of vascular endothelial cells with thrombus formation, and an IPEH diagnosis was made. By his 6-mo follow-up appointment, his symptoms were relieved without recurrence. The possible pathogenesis, clinical and imaging features, differential diagnosis, and management of IPEH were reviewed.CONCLUSIONWe report, to our knowledge, the first case of IPEH in the cervicothoracic spinal canal, treated via complete resection, and showing a favorable outcome. We found a causal relationship between spinal IPEH and VH; this partly explains the mechanism of IPEH.     

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator trial may be used as a screening tool prior to spinal cord stimulator implantation

This is a prospective pilot study looking at the utility of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) trial as a screening tool prior to spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implant to identify patients who may fail a SCS trial. The accepted screening test prior to a permanent SCS implant is a SCS trial. Patients may fail the SCS trial due to several causes of which one is the inability to tolerate stimulation induced paresthesias. Twenty five patients scheduled for a SCS trial for the treatment of refractory pain secondary to Failed Back surgery syndrome underwent a TENS trial and psychological evaluation by personnel uninvolved in the SCS trial. Data was collected by personnel not involved in the SCS trial or permanent placement. Twenty patients completed the study. Data collected included area of coverage, paresthesia tolerance, pain and anxiety measured on a VAS scale. Comparability between the groups were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation, Fisher Exact test and simple regression analysis. We noted a significant correlation between ability to tolerate TENS and SCS induced paresthesias. Statistically significant correlation was also noted between pre SCS trial anxiety score and high pain score during SCS trial. We conclude that there is potential applicability of a TENS trial as a non invasive screening tool which may promote cost effectiveness and decrease unnecessary procedural risks to the patient by avoiding SCS trial in select patients.     

Outcomes after spinal cord injury: comparisons as a function of gender and race and ethnicity

OBJECTIVE: To identify gender and racial and ethnic differences in subjective well-being (SWB), participation, and general health ratings in participants with spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: A multisite, cross-sectional study that used stratified sampling to identify and maximize participation among groups of people traditionally underrepresented in SCI research. SETTING: Four Model Spinal Cord Injury Systems participated in the data collection. The primary site was a large southeastern specialty hospital; the other 3 were in the western and mountain regions of the United States. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 512 participants, 475 of whom were included in the analysis. This group included relatively equal portions of whites, African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanics. Approximately 40% of the sample was women. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measures included 2 measures of SWB (Life Situation Questionnaire-Revised, Older Adult Health and Mood Questionnaire), 1 measure of participation (Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique), and several items from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. RESULTS: The majority of racial and ethnic differences in SWB related to specific life areas (eg, economics, employment), rather than more global outcomes (eg, engagement, health), with whites generally reporting the best outcomes, followed by African Americans. American Indians, and whites generally reported the highest participation scores, whereas limited differences were noted between the racial and ethnic groups on health indicators. Women reported lower satisfaction with health, more poor mental health days, and lower SWB related to home life, but higher SWB related to interpersonal relations. CONCLUSIONS: There are racial and ethnic differences in outcomes after SCI focused primarily on subjective outcomes in areas in which racial and ethnic minorities have traditionally been disadvantaged. The results of this study direct rehabilitation professionals to the outcomes that need to be targeted for intervention to eliminate inequities in outcomes for all persons with SCI.     

Peripheral nerve injury produces a sustained shift in the balance between glutamate release and uptake in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord

Peripheral nerve injury provokes heightened excitability of primary sensory afferents including nociceptors, and elicits ectopic activity in lesioned and neighboring intact nerve fibers. The major transmitter released by sensory afferents in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord is glutamate. Glutamate is critically involved in nociceptive signaling and the development of neuropathic pain. We recorded miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) from neurons in lamina II of the rat dorsal horn to assess spontaneous synaptic activity after spared nerve injury (SNI), a model of chronic neuropathic pain. Following SNI, the frequency of mEPSCs doubled, indicating heightened glutamate release from primary afferents or spinal interneurons. Consistent with this finding, glutamate concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid were elevated at 1 and 4 weeks after SNI. Transmitter uptake was insufficient to prevent the rise in extracellular glutamate as the expression of glutamate transporters remained unchanged or decreased. 2-Methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)pyridine hydrochloride, an antagonist of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5), reduced the frequency of mEPSCs to its preinjury level, suggesting a positive feedback mechanism that involves facilitation of transmitter release by mGluR5 activation in the presence of high extracellular glutamate. Treatment with the β-lactam antibiotic ceftriaxone increased the expression of glutamate transporter 1 (Glt1) in the dorsal horn after SNI, raised transmitter uptake, and lowered extracellular glutamate. Improving glutamate clearance prevented the facilitation of transmitter release by mGluR5 and attenuated neuropathic pain-like behavior. Balancing glutamate release and uptake after nerve injury should be an important target in the management of chronic neuropathic pain.