无颈椎骨折脱位的急性颈髓损伤

目的探讨无颈椎骨折脱位的急性颈髓损伤的特征和机制.方法对33例无颈椎骨折脱位的急性颈髓损伤病例进行回顾性研究,分析其神经学、X线和MRI检查结果.结果颈髓完全性损伤者8例,不完全性损伤者25例;21例患者有颈椎变性改变(椎间盘间隙狭窄伴有骨赘形成者15例,后纵韧带骨化者6例),3例C5颈椎管Pavlov率小于0.8;30例可见颈髓受压,25例表现为椎旁软组织损伤.结论无颈椎骨折脱位的急性颈髓损伤的重要诱因为颈椎变性改变和发育性颈椎管狭窄,致病原因主要为颈髓受压;MRI检查有利于查明脊髓损伤的部位和机制.     

Clinical and radiological study of ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine

Twenty-seven patients with ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament (OALL) in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) in the cervical region were diagnosed among 2000 individuals during 10 months and analyzed clinically and radiologically by two neurosurgeons. Sex distribution was 20 men and 7 women with ages ranging from 57 to 82 years (average: 72.3 y.o.). Main signs and symptoms were dysesthesia of the upper extremities, stiff neck, dizziness and dysphagia (33%). Three patients had diabetes mellitus, 14 had hypertension, and 15 had hyperuremia. Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) co-existed in 18 patients (66%). Number of vertebral bodies with cervical OALL ranged from 4 to 6 (average: 4.8) and thickness of ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament was from 2 to 6 (average: 3.1) mm. Originally we divided OALL in the cervical region into 3 types, nodular-type; 16 cases, continuous-type; 7 cases, and mixed-type; 4 cases. Small OPLL can be diagnosed by either cervical CT or myelo-CT. DISH is thought to be a benign clinical entity, but patients with OALL in DISH, accompanied by OPLL and those accompanied by dysphasia are frequently encountered and sometimes may be treated surgically.     

An epidemiological survey on ossification of ligaments in the cervical and thoracic spine in individuals over 50 years of age

An epidemiological survey on ossification of the spinal ligaments was performed on a total of 1,058 subjects over the age of 50 years by means of roentgenography of the cervical and thoracic spine. Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the cervical spine was detected in 34 subjects (3.2%) with a predilection for men, whereas OPLL in the thoracic spine was found in 8 (0.8%). There were 325 cases (30.7%) of ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament (OALL) of stage II or above by Forestier's classification in the region from the cervical to thoracic vertebrae, and these cases included a significantly greater number of men. Ossification of the ligamenta flava (OLF) was observed in 48 cases (4.5%). As for the coexistence of ossification of these ligaments, 364 individuals (34.4%) had at least one instance of OPLL and OALL (stage II or above) in the region from the cervical to thoracic spine, and OLF in the thoracic spine.     

下颈椎骨折脱位合并脊髓损伤的外科手术入路选择

目的探讨下颈椎骨折脱位合并脊髓损伤的外科手术入路选择。方法回顾性分析54例下颈椎骨折脱位合并脊髓损伤患者行手术治疗的临床资料。其中颈椎压缩型骨折脱位29例,颈椎爆裂性骨折脱位7例,单侧小关节脱位3例,双侧小关节脱位15例。美国脊髓损伤学会(ASIA)评分：A级21例,B级5例,C级22例,D级6例。43例采用前路手术,11例采用后路手术。结果术中均无大血管、气管、食道、脊髓意外损伤。术后随访12～36个月,平均18个月。无一例发生钢板、螺钉松动、断裂等并发症。植骨于术后12周均获得骨性融合,无假关节、骨不连发生。96．3％患者术后获得完全复位,术后颈椎椎间高度、生理曲度无丢失。完全性脊髓损伤患者术后神经功能均无恢复,但上肢疼痛、麻木有不同程度的缓解。不完全性脊髓损伤患者术后神经功能均有一定恢复,平均ASIA评分提高1～2级。结论采用前路或后路手术治疗下颈椎骨折脱位均能达到良好的解剖复位,根据颈椎损伤的类型采取适合的手术入路是手术成功的关键。     

Co-existence of ossification of the nuchal ligament is associated with severity of ossification in the whole spine in patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament -A multi-center CT study-

Background

Previous studies have shown that patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) often have co-existing ossification of the nuchal ligament (ONL). However, no studies have focused on ONL and its relevance to the severity of OPLL or ossification of other spinal ligaments, such as anterior longitudinal ligament (OALL), ligamentum flavum (OLF), and supraspinous/interspinous ligament (OSIL).

颈椎骨折脱位合并单侧椎动脉损伤的手术治疗

目的探讨合并单侧椎动脉损伤的颈椎骨折脱位的手术治疗风险和临床效果。方法76例合并单侧椎动脉损伤的颈椎骨折脱位患者行前路减压、植骨融合内固定,其中颈椎脱位患者先试行闭合复位,不能复位者,先行后路切开复位,一期再行前路减压、植骨融合。结果76例患者均未出现健侧椎动脉损伤,术前神经功能正常者术后无一例出现神经损害症状,不全瘫患者术后均有不同程度恢复。结论合并单侧椎动脉损伤的颈椎骨折脱位进行合理的手术治疗具有良好的效果。     

无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤的病因与手术疗效观察

目的探讨无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤的病理基础，评价不同手术方法的治疗效果。方法回顾22例分别采用了前路减压、植骨、内固定或后路单开门椎管扩大成形术的无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤病例，分析其术前影像学资料，探讨病理实质；根据术前、术后Frankel分级情况及影像学的变化，判断手术疗效。结果22例无骨折脱位型颈髓损伤病例中，过伸型损伤16例(62．7％)，退变性椎管狭窄15例(68．2％)，先天性椎管狭窄4例(18．2％)。前路手术患者随访见内置物无松动、脱落或断裂，固定节段均获得骨性融合；后路手术患者术后X线正位片显示无再关门现象。14例患者术后MRI检查显示，椎管容积扩大，颈髓受压缓解。3例术后脊髓功能无改善，其余病例均有不同程度恢复。结论颈椎椎管狭窄是无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤的重要病理基础，颈髓过伸性损伤是发生四肢瘫的直接原因。只要术式选择合理、手术操作正确，前、后路手术均能获得较理想脊髓神经功能恢复。     

Application of Piezosurgery in Anterior Cervical Corpectomy and Fusion

Anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) is frequently used to decompress the cervical spine; however, this procedure is risky when dealing with a hard disc or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Piezosurgery offers a useful tool for performing this procedure. In this article, we present a 50 years old man who had cervical spondylotic myelopathy with OPLL at the C ₆ level and segmental stenosis of the cervical spinal canal. When removing the posterior wall of his C ₆ vertebral body and OPLL, piezosurgery was used to selectively cut hard structures piece by piece without injuring delicate soft tissues like the nerve roots and spinal cord. Because there is no bleeding from the bone surface with piezosurgery, it provides a clean operative field.     

Anterior cervical vertebrectomy and interbody fusion for multi-level spondylosis and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament

Multi-level cervical spondylosis and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) are well-documented causes of myelopathy. The choice of surgical procedures remain controversial. Between January 1983 and December 1987, we have performed anterior cervical vertebrectomy in 45 patients with cervical myelopathy caused by multi-level spondylosis and OPLL. They consisted of 19 patients with cervical spondylosis, 12 with OPLL, and 14 with combined lesions of both cervical spondylosis and OPLL. There were 32 men and 13 women. The mean age was 55 years, ranging from 35 to 70 years. In all of our 45 patients, anterior vertebrectomy, discectomy, removal of posterior osteophytes and OPLL, and interbody fusion were done for progressive myelopathy refractory to conservative treatment. In 2 of 45 patients, 5 vertebral bodies were resected; in 3 patients, 4 vertebral bodies were resected; in 12 patients, 3 vertebral bodies were resected, in 19 patients, 2 vertebral bodies were resected; and in 9 patients, 1 vertebral body was resected. Thirty-nine of 45 patients (87%) had good results. Neurological signs did not improve in 5 patients (11%). One patient died because of agranulocytosis secondary to treatment with antibiotics. In conclusion, cervical cord compression caused by lesions located principally in the anterior aspect of the spinal canal may be completely relieved via anterior vertebrectomy, discectomy, removal of the calcified ligament, and fusion.     

影响无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤手术疗效的多因素分析

目的：探讨影响无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤手术疗效的相关因素。方法：对2010年11月至2016年11月被诊断为无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤且接受手术治疗69例患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析,其中男37例,女32例;年龄32~76（51.6±7.3）岁。选择年龄、性别、脊髓损伤ASIA分级、MRI中脊髓损伤长度、Pavlov比值、后纵韧带骨化、椎间盘突出、MRI中脊髓损伤类型、受伤至手术时间、大剂量激素冲击治疗、手术时间、术中出血量12个因素,应用SPSS 22.0软件对数据进行Logistic单因素和多因素分析,筛选出影响手术疗效的各因素,并确定主要影响因素。结果：单因素分析显示脊髓损伤ASIA分级、MRI中脊髓损伤长度、Pavlov比值、后纵韧带骨化、椎间盘突出、MRI中脊髓损伤类型均与手术疗效相关（P<0.05）。对筛选出的因素行多因素分析显示：按照作用强度,影响手术疗效的因素依次为MRI中脊髓损伤类型、MRI中脊髓损伤长度、Pavlov比值、脊髓损伤ASIA分级（P<0.05）。结论：影响无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤手术疗效的因素为MRI中脊髓损伤类型、MRI中脊髓损伤长度、Pavlov比值、脊髓损伤ASIA分级,其中最主要的因素为MRI中脊髓损伤类型和长度。相较于其他患者,术前MRI提示脊髓损伤类型为水肿+出血或者损伤长度≥ 45 mm的患者,手术疗效欠佳的风险更高,术前需与患者及家属充分沟通。     

Ossification of the spinal ligament. A radiographic reevaluation in Bologna, Italy

A radiographic reevaluation of cervical spine films of 1,258 adult patients and of thoraco-lumbar spine films of 488 of these was performed at the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute (Bologne, Italy), in order to detect ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), the anterior longitudinal ligament (OALL), the yellow ligament (OYL) and the nuchal ligament at the cervical level, and OPLL, OALL and OYL at the thoraco-lumbar level. The incidence of OALL, OYL and ossification of the nuchal ligament corresponded with those previously reported in the literature. Cervical OPLL was found in 1.83%, with a definite prevalence in the 45-64 age group where the figure was 2.83%. This incidence is much higher than that hitherto reported in Caucasians, and is nearly the same as that in Japan. Possible explanations for this discrepancy are proposed.     

伴颈椎后纵韧带骨化的颈脊髓损伤临床特点与疗效

目的探讨颈椎后纵韧带骨化（OPLL）患者外伤时脊髓损伤的临床特点及疗效。方法回顾性分析19例脊髓损伤患者OPLL骨化类型与颈髓NRIT2高信号变化范围、手术方式与手术前后脊髓功能变化的关系。结果伴OPLL的颈椎在较轻的外力作用下常可出现较严重脊髓损伤。伤后8h内行甲泼尼龙冲击治疗12例患者,2例死于并发症,10例患者脊髓功能明显改善。手术治疗17例,1例手术后27d死亡,16例患者术后半年颈髓功能Frankel评分改善。结论OPLL患者外伤后脊髓损伤的程度往往较重,骨化类型与NRI颈髓信号改变平面直接相关。甲泼尼龙冲击治疗、手术减压均有助于颈髓功能的恢复。     

Histopathological study of aging of the posterior portion of human cervical vertebral bodies and discs--with special reference to the early ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament ( OPLL ) of the cervical spine is a disease causing spinal canal stenosis and, henceforth , spinal cord compression. This ossification is found approximately in three percent of the adult Japanese, but it is also found to be present among Chinese, Korean and other South-East Asians, whereas the incidence among Caucasians was reported to be significantly low. The etiology of this interesting ossification is still unknown although multidisciplinary studies have been carried out in Japan in recent years. The purpose of the present study is to find an early ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine and to see its relationship with other chronological changes of the surrounding structures. Material and method: One hundred and forty-one cervical spinal columns were obtained en bloc from C2 to C7 from the autopsied bodies at Juntendo University Hospital and at the Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Examiners' Office. There were 89 males and 52 females with a wide age distribution. A 66 year-old male case with advanced continuous OPLL died at Juntendo University Hospital was added to the study. The specimens were either cross-sectioned or sagittally sectioned, and studied soft-ray-roentgenologically and histopathologically. Results: There were specimens after the third decade of life showing micro-ossification along the midline of the posterior aspect of the vertebral body on cross-section as well as micro-ossification or hyperostosis adjacent to the posterior corner of the vertebral body on sagittal section. These micro-ossification or hyperostosis seemed to be a product of a physiological aging process, but could be considered as a precursor of the OPLL . The periosteum was well demonstrated on the posterior aspect of the vertebral body in the first two decades of life, but it became inconspicuous with age. In the adult spine there was no clear delineation between the deep layer of the posterior longitudinal ligament and the fibrous layer of the periosteum . The cambium layer looked absent on hematoxylin-eosin stain. However, on Giemsa stain there appeared a thin layer which would present increased cellular activity between the body and what appeared to be the fibrous layer of the periosteal. This layer was considered to be a 'sleeping cambium layer' for which it was named 'latent periostium layer (LPL)'.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

早期后路椎管减压伤椎椎弓根螺钉内固定治疗中上胸椎骨折脱位

目的探讨早期后路椎管减压伤椎椎弓根螺钉内固定治疗中上胸椎骨折脱位伴脊髓损伤的临床效果。方法对41例中上胸椎骨折脱位患者49椎采用早期后路椎管减压伤椎椎弓根螺钉内固定植骨融合,固定节段4～6节。患者均在72 h内手术。结果 41例均获随访,时间12～46(28±2)个月。脊髓神经功能按ASIA分级:A级6例恢复至B级4例,2例无恢复;B级10例恢复至C级6例、D级3例、1例无恢复;C级15例恢复至D级9例、E级2例,4例无恢复;D级6例恢复至E级3例,3例无恢复;E级4例仍为E级。椎体前缘高度:术前为35.36%±7.48%,术后纠正到91.48%±2.15%,末次随访时为90.56%±1.63%;Cobb角:术前为37°±8°,术后及末次随访为-4°±2°。骨折脱位完全复位,无内固定松动及断裂,末次随访均达到骨性融合。结论早期后路椎管减压伤椎椎弓根螺钉内固定是治疗急性中上胸椎骨折脱位的有效方法,能达到椎体早期复位和脊髓减压目的 ,利于患者早期康复。     

无骨折脱位型颈髓损伤(附17例报告)

17例无骨折脱位型颈髓损伤患者均为颈椎过伸性损伤,X线片示颈椎无骨折、脱位。受伤前患有颈椎病6例;强直性脊柱炎2例。17例中12例行脊髓造影、CT检查,4例椎间盘退变,3例后纵韧带骨化,1例椎体后缘骨刺,3例存在发育性椎管狭窄,2例MRI检查可见脊髓病理改变。发现伤前存在发育性或退行性颈椎管狭窄者,虽受伤外力轻,但脊髓损伤重、脊髓功能也恢复差。     

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.     

Acute cervical cord injury associated with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament

OBJECTIVE: Patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) sometimes present with acute spinal cord injury caused by only minor trauma. In the present study, we reviewed our experience of acute cervical cord injury associated with OPLL to understand the pathomechanisms and to provide clinical information for management of this disorder. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients were retrospectively analyzed. There were 26 men and 2 women, aged 45 to 78 years (mean, 63.0 yr). Most patients experienced incomplete spinal cord injury (Frankel Grade A, 3; B, 1; C, 15; and D, 9). RESULTS: Radiological studies revealed continuous- or mixed-type OPLL in 14 patients and segmental-type OPLL in 14 patients. The sagittal diameter of the spinal canal was reduced to 4.1 to 10 mm at the narrowest level as a result of OPLL. Developmental size of the spinal canal was significantly smaller in the group with segmental OPLL. Magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed that spinal cord injury occurred predominantly at the caudal edge of continuous-type OPLL or at the disc levels. Surgery was performed in 24 patients either by posterior (18 patients) or anterior (6 patients) decompression at various time intervals after the trauma. Twenty patients (71%) displayed improvement in Frankel grade. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates the preexisting factors and pathomechanisms of acute spinal cord injury associated with cervical OPLL. Magnetic resonance imaging is useful to understand the level and mechanism of injury. Further investigation will be needed to elucidate the role of surgical decompression.     

Cervical myelopathy caused by soft-tissue mass in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis

A rare case of cervical spinal cord compression in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH or Forestier’s Disease) caused by a craniocervical mass of soft-tissue is reported. The objective is to describe an uncommon mechanism of spinal cord compression in DISH. Three weeks after a cardiac infarction a 69-year-old man slowly developed spastic tetraparesis. Magnetic resonance tomography showed a craniocervical tumor compressing the spinal cord and a massive DISH of the cervical spine. An extended mass of yellowish amorphous material was removed from between the dura, the posterior odontoid process and the posterior aspect of vertebral body C2 reaching to the upper part of C3.The histologic appearance indicated connective tissue and cell-degenerated cartilaginous tissue. There was no inflammatory component and no evidence of neoplasia. No ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) was found. After removal and craniocervical stabilization the patient’s neurologic function improved remarkably. The increase of mechanical stress on the atlantoaxial segment and enhanced proliferation reaction of the connective tissue in DISH are suggested as the underlying pathomechanisms in the formation of this soft-tissue mass.

     

Fundamental and clinical studies on CT gas myelography of the cervical spine

We applied CT gas myelography at the cervical spinal region and investigated the clinical value of CT gas myelography as a supplementary diagnostic method for the spinal cord and vertebral diseases. Fundamental studies of the conditions of window width and window height and the permitted limit of the angle of incidence were made with phantoms of human neck to establish proper conditions of these factors. In clinical studies, 23 adult persons, who had no abnormality in the cervical spine and in the cervical spinal cord were observed to have normal CT gas myelograms of the cervical region, whereas 37, of clinical cases including 18 of cervical spondylosis, 10 of OPLL, 2 of cervical discopathy, 3 of fracture and dislocation of the cervical spine, 2 of cervical vertebral tumor and 2 of CYL, were found to show clear pathologic findings in the cross sections of the vertebral foramen, subarachnoidal space and spinal cord on the CT gas myelograms. The representative cases of these diseases were presented. The gas myelograms were morphologically classified and investigated in relation to the clinical findings. From the result of these investigations, CT gas myelography appears to be highly useful as a supplementary diagnostic method for diseases of the cervical spine and the cervical spinal cord. Furthermore, we compared the effect of this method with that of CT myelography using metrizamide, a recently developed water-soluble contrast medium.     

Myelotomy for acute cervical cord injury. Report of four cases

Four cases of acute cervical cord injury treated by posterior midline myelotomy are described. The initial neurological examinations of these four patients indicated complete cord lesions. On plain neck X-rays, two exhibited anterior dislocation and two showed no bony injury other than ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Myelography via C1/2 lateral puncture showed complete block of the subarachnoid space in two cases, and incomplete block in the other two. Computed tomographic myelography revealed cord swelling in all cases. Posterior midline myelotomy was performed after administration of a steroid and mannitol, or reduction of spinal dislocation. The time from injury to myelotomy ranged from 5 to 21 hours. No patient developed new deficits postoperatively. During long-term follow-up, which ranged from 10 to 19 months, all patients showed improvement in motor function of the upper extremities. Sensory disturbances also diminished to some degree. However, in one patient, who underwent myelotomy 18 hours after injury and had shown progressive neurological deterioration before surgery, the improvement in motor function was only slight. In this case, earlier myelotomy may have been more beneficial. These results support the indication for myelotomy in cases of acute cervical cord injury with cord swelling. Particularly if performed early, this procedure is effective in preventing secondary neurological damage.