人工髓核置换腰椎间盘成形术改善患者腰腿痛症状及腰椎活动度33例随访观察

背景人工髓核椎间盘成形术与人工椎间盘置换术相比,其手术创伤小,操作简单,手术风险也较小.目的观察人工髓核假体置换术对腰椎间盘突出症患者症状的恢复及腰椎活动度改善的效果.设计以患者为观察对象的自身前后对照.单位南方医科大学珠江医院骨科.对象2002-01/2003-10南方医科大学珠江医院收治的腰椎间盘突出症患者施行人工髓核置换术33例,男21例,女12例.方法患者均行人工髓核置换椎间盘成形术.术后3个月复查腰椎X射线观察椎间隙高度和形态.随访8个月.根据患者腰椎间盘突出症症状恢复情况(分为优、良、进步、差)进行腰椎功能测评.主要观察指标患者术后腰腿痛症状及腰椎活动度.结果按意向处理分析,33例患者均进入结果分析.随访时患者腰腿痛症状及腰椎活动度优29例,良好3例,差1例,优良率为96.97%(32/33).术后3个月X射线片显示29例保持正常形态和高度,3例未达到正常的高度,但较术前有增高,未发现邻近椎间隙退行性变加重.结论人工髓核置换椎间盘成形术可以有效的缓解患者腰腿痛症状,恢复脊柱节段的运动,减少邻近椎间隙和关节突的退行性变.     

Gene therapy for degenerative disc disease

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a chronic process that can become clinically manifest in multiple disorders such as idiopathic low back pain, disc herniation, radiculopathy, myelopathy, and spinal stenosis. The limited available technology for the treatment of these and other pathologic and disabling conditions arising from DDD is highly invasive (eg, surgical discectomy and fusion), manifesting a certain degree of complications and unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. Although the precise pathophysiology of DDD remains to be clearly delineated, the progressive decline in aggrecan, the primary proteoglycan of the nucleus pulposus, appears to be a final common pathway. It has been hypothesized that imbalance in the synthesis and catabolism of certain critical extracellular matrix components can be mitigated by the transfer of genes to intervertebral disc cells encoding factors that modulate synthesis and catabolism of these components. The successful in vivo transfer of therapeutic genes to target cells within the intervertebral disc in clinically relevant animal models of DDD is one example of the rapid progress that is being made towards the development of gene therapy approaches for the treatment of DDD. This chapter reviews the ability of gene therapy to alter biologic processes in the degenerated intervertebral disc and outlines the work needed to be done before human clinical trials can be contemplated.     

有限椎板切除术对腰椎管狭窄及中央型腰椎间盘突出的治疗作用

目的：评价有限椎板切除术对腰椎管狭窄症以及中央型腰椎间盘突出症的治疗效果。方法：对我科2000年1月至2003年12月期间随访的采用有限椎板切除术治疗的137例腰椎管狭窄症和(或)中央型腰椎间盘突出症患者的术后症状改善情况进行调查评价。结果：本组病例总数137例,其中男78例,女59例,平均年龄45．6岁,随访时间最长15个月,最短1个月,平均6个月。术后腰痛改善总有效率83％,腿痛改善总有效率96％,仅1例病人由于椎间盘复发行再手术椎间融合治疗。结论：有限椎板切除术能够有效地治疗腰椎管狭窄症以及中央型腰椎间盘突出症,而且能够更好地保存脊椎稳定结构而大大降低并发症的发病率。     

Diskogener Rückenschmerz und degenerative Spinalstenose

Surgery in acute and/or chronic low back pain is still a matter of intensive and controversial discussions. A vast number of minimally invasive or so called semi-invasive procedures have been published in the last 3 decades, but evidence-based data on efficacy and benefit of most of these techniques are still lacking. However, empirical data suggest good or at least satisfactory clinical results for a limited number of procedures if they are applied under restrictive indication criteria. Discogenic low back pain and lumbar spinal stenosis belong to the most frequent diagnoses associated with low back pain. This article gives a survey on definitions, indication criteria and modern surgical or semi- invasive techniques used for the treatment of these two pathologic entities. Discogenic low back pain: This clinical and morphological entity is defined as low back pain arising mainly from disc degeneration. Pain generators are usually nociceptors in the cartilaginous endplates, in the outer anulus fibrosus as well as in the periosteum of the vertebral bodies. Clinical symptoms correlate with morphologic changes detected with MR-imaging (modic type I) or with contained disc protrusions mainly without neurological symptoms. Surgery is rarely indicated, spontaneous remissions occur in more than 60% of all cases. Spinal fusion has been the only surgical option in cases which did not respond to conservative therapy. Recently, electro-thermal modulation of the posterior anulus fibrosus has been published as a semi- invasive technique to relieve low back pain generated by fissures in the outer anulus and ingrowing nociceptors (intradiscal electro-thermal therapy, IDET(TM)). First results are promising, however, prospective randomised studies comparing this technique with conservative therapy are still lacking. The same is true for artificial nucleus pulposus replacement using hydrogel cushions implanted in the intervertebral space after removal of the nucleus pulposus from posterior or through an anterior approach (PDN, prosthetic disc nucleus(TM)). In cases with severe disc degeneration total disc replacement is another innovative option (ProDisc(TM)). Two metal endplates with titanium surface coating are implanted through a minimal invasive anterior approach (mini-laparotomy). A polyethylene inlay anchored in the caudal endplate holds the distance between the endplates and preserves the physiological range of motion between the two vertebral bodies. Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal due to degenerative changes of the disc, the facet joints and thickening of the yellow ligament is a geriatric disease which is diagnosed in increasing numbers within the last 10 years. More than 80% of the patients present with low back pain in association with neurogenic claudication. Neurological symptoms at rest are less frequently found. The spontaneous course shows progressive symptoms in more than 50% of all patients. More than 35% of the patients have associated diseases which might influence the perioperative course, complication rates and outcomes of surgery. Surgery is indicated in patients with progressive neurological symptoms, unacceptable decrease of quality of life or progressive intractable pain. In patients with mainly "leg symptoms" microsurgical mono- or multisegmental decompression is the procedure of choice. If low back pain is predominant and associated with degenerative instability such as degenerative spondylolisthesis or lumbar scoliosis, decompression must be combined with instrumented spinal fusion. In general a restrictive indication for surgery must be recommended especially for spinal fusion procedures. Non-fusion techniques such as intradiscal electro thermal therapy or spine arthroplasty with replacement of nucleus pulposus or total disc show promising early results; however, little is known about the long-term effect. It should be a principle to apply surgery in the least invasive way.     

人工颈椎间盘置换早期运动学分析:55例资料验证

背景:颈椎前路椎间盘切除椎间融合被认为是治疗颈椎病的金标准,但是融合后产生临近节段的加速退变.采用人工颈椎间盘置换治疗颈椎病和颈椎间盘突出症在解除患者脊髓压迫的同时保持了颈椎的活动度和稳定性,恢复椎间盘正常的生物力学特点,防止邻近椎间盘的加速退变.目的:观察颈椎Prodisc人工颈椎椎间盘置换的临床应用效果及术后的运动学变化.方法;选择55例69个椎间盘,其中双节段受损14例:男29例,女26例,年龄48(31-76)岁;脊髓型颈椎病32例,神经根型颈椎病9例,混合型颈椎病14例.取颈椎前横切口或斜切口入路行Prodisc人工颈椎间盘置换.于置换前、置换后3,6,12,24个月观察颈椎正侧位、过伸过屈、左右侧屈位片,JOA评分分析置换前后椎间盘功能改善情况.结果与结论:随访55例69个椎间盘,41例行单节段人工颈椎问盘置换,14例行双节段人工颈椎椎间盘置换.置换后随22(56～48)个月.置换后JOA评分显示椎体功能改善率达56%.置换后手术节段椎间盘矢状面、冠状面活动度与置换前比较差异无显著性意义(P=0.45,0.74),并保持了和邻近间隙同样的活动度和稳定性.说明颈椎人工椎间盘置换后保留了原来的椎间盘的活动度,患者恢复快,对邻近椎间盘的影响小.     

Mobi-C人工颈椎间盘假体置换术患者的护理

【】目的：探讨人工颈椎间盘置换术围术期护理要点。方法：14例颈椎退行性疾病患者,均行经前路椎间盘切除减压、Mobi-C人工颈椎间盘假体置换术,采用颈椎JOA评分评价患者生活质量。术前给予心理指导、入院时进行全面评估、指导患者进行深呼吸咳嗽训练、教会患者颈托的佩戴方法、讲解疼痛评估数字分级法的内容及方法。术后做好体位安置、疼痛护理、导管护理、预防早期并发症的发生、给予康复锻炼等护理措施。结果：所有患者术后切口均Ⅰ期愈合,颈椎JOA评分由术前7～12分上升至术后13～16分。入院后患者疼痛评估数字分级法(NRS)评分由术前颈肩部或肢体疼痛2～3分下降至0分。临床症状缓解,脊髓功能改善。结论：加强人工颈椎间盘置换术围术期护理是保证获得和维持良好治疗效果的有利措施和重要因素。     

Biomechanics of back pain

This paper offers a mechanistic account of back pain which attempts to incorporate all of the most important recent advances in spinal research. Anatomical and pain-provocation studies show that severe and chronic back pain most often originates in the lumbar intervertebral discs, the apophyseal joints, and the sacroiliac joints. Psychosocial factors influence many aspects of back pain behaviour but they are not important determinants of who will experience back pain in the first place. Back pain is closely (but not invariably) associated with structural pathology such as intervertebral disc prolapse and endplate fractures, although age-related biochemical changes such as those revealed by a 'dark disc' on MRI have little clinical relevance. All features of structural pathology (including disc prolapse) can be re-created in cadaveric specimens by severe or repetitive mechanical loading, with a combination of bending and compression being particularly harmful to the spine. Structural disruption alters the mechanical environment of disc cells in a manner that leads to cell-mediated degenerative changes, and animal experiments confirm that surgical disruption of a disc is followed by widespread disc degeneration. Some people are more vulnerable to spinal degeneration than others, largely because of their genetic inheritance. Age-related biochemical changes and loading history can also affect tissue vulnerability. Finally the concept of 'functional pathology' is introduced, according to which, back pain can arise because postural habits generate painful stress concentrations within innervated tissues, even though the stresses are not high enough to cause physical disruption.     

Treatment of the degenerated intervertebral disc; closure,repair and regeneration of the annulus fibrosus

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD) and disc herniation are two causes of low back pain. The aetiology of these disorders is unknown, but tissue weakening, which primarily occurs due to inherited genetic factors, ageing, nutritional compromise and loading history, is the basic factor causing disc degeneration. Symptomatic disc herniation mainly causes radicular pain. Current treatments of intervertebral disc degeneration and low back pain are based on alleviating the symptoms and comprise administration of painkillers or surgical methods such as spinal fusion. None of these methods is completely successful. Current research focuses on regeneration of the IVD and particularly on regeneration of the nucleus pulposus. Less attention has been directed to the repair or regeneration of the annulus fibrosus, although this is the key to successful nucleus pulposus, and therewith IVD, repair. This review focuses on the importance of restoring the function of the annulus fibrosus, as well as on the repair, replacement or regeneration of the annulus fibrosus in combination with restoration of the function of the nucleus pulposus, to treat low back pain. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

T2-3 Thoracic disc herniation with myelopathy

We report a case of thoracic disc herniation in a 53-year-old woman who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with a 2-week history of acute lower back numbness and intermittent fecal incontinence. On examination, she had lower extremity hyperreflexia, an abnormal gait, and lower lumbar pain but lacked any radicular findings. A magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed a large focal paracentral herniated disc at the T2-3 level. The patient underwent successful T2-3 anterior discectomy with T2-3 rib autograft fusion. Nine months after surgery her weakness and gait had improved, but she continued to have recurrent intermittent fecal incontinence. Thoracic disc herniation is an uncommon, but treatable cause of spinal cord compression. Prompt recognition and early treatment are the keys to preventing permanent neurologic sequelae.     

Computational modeling of lumbar disc degeneration before and after spinal fusion

BackgroundAdvancing age and degeneration frequently lead to low back pain, which is the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder worldwide. Degenerative changes in intervertebral discs and musculo-ligamentous incapacity to compensate sagittal imbalance are typically amongst the sources of instability, with spinal fusion techniques being the main treatment options to relieve pain. The aims of this work were to: (i) assess the link between ligament degeneration and spinal instability by determining the role of each ligament per movement, (ii) evaluate the impact of disc height reduction in degenerative changes, and (iii) unveil the most advantageous type of posterior fixation in Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion to prevent adjacent disc degeneration.MethodsTwo L3-L5 finite element models were developed, being the first in healthy condition and the second having reduced L4-L5 height. Different degrees of degeneration were tested, combined with different fixation configurations for Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion.FindingsFacet capsular ligament and anterior longitudinal ligament were the most influential ligaments for spinal stability, particularly with increasing degeneration and disc height reduction. Pre-existent degeneration had lower influence than the fusion procedure for the risk of adjacent disc degeneration, being the highest stability and minimal degeneration achieved with bilateral fixation. Right unilateral fixation was more suited to reduce disc stress than left unilateral fixation.InterpretationBilateral fixation is the best option to stabilize the spinal segment, but unilateral right fixation may suffice. This has direct implications for clinical practice, and the extension to a population-based study will allow for more efficient fusion surgeries.     

Pseudoradicular symptoms in patients exhibiting the lumbar spinal disc disease

Introduction: The goal is to describe occurrences of functional motion system disorders in patients who exhibit the lumbar spinal disc disease. It is assumed that the lower back pain- radicular and pseudoradicular is caused by the lumbar spinal disc disease. Material and methods: Studies were performed in 19 patients who exhibited MRI determined hernia disc in the lumbar spine. Patients were 40-50 years old. Diagnosis of dysfunctions of motion system was determined by utilizing the following manual diagnostic tests: Kibler skin fold test, palpation of spine and pelvis ligaments exams, examination of painfulness processus spinosus, areas of active pain points in muscle tissue; and further examined the state of nerve irritation in accordance to Laseque test and cross Laseque test. Results: The study results indicate symptoms of syndrom pseudoradiatic pain occurred in the majority of examined patients (40-60%). Examination of a localized irritation in the area of dermantom lead to the conclusion that skin pain occurred at L3-S1 levels (60-80% of examined patients) and Th5-Th7 (30-35% of examined patients). The analysis of pain occurrences in the area of pelvis ligaments , lead to the conclusion that all examined ligaments are susceptible for irritations. Conclusions: This particular group of examined patients experienced lower back pain as a result of radicular or/and pseudoradicular pain . Subsequently, any physical therapy treatments in patients who suffer from the lumbars spinal disc disease should be performed individually in each patient because of radicular or pseudoradicular symptoms.     

Internal disc disruption and axial back pain in the athlete

Axial back pain is commonly encountered by the sports medicine physician and has a variety of potential pain generators. Internal disc disruption is an important diagnosis to consider, particularly if there is a history of spinal trauma. The pathogenesis of IDD is not definitively known, although related theories exist. The process may begin with a vertebral endplate fracture followed by an inflammatory degradation of the disc matrix. Annular tears extend from the nucleus pulposus to the periphery and nociceptive nerve endings grow into the inner annulus and become sensitized by the biochemical degradative products. This lowers the pain threshold for mechanical stimulation during normal loading of the lumbar disc. Athletes are at high risk for IDD because of the repetitive axial compressive and torsional forces required in many sports. Diagnostic evaluation includes a thorough history and physical examination, whereas MR imaging is the modality of greatest use. Acute IDD is a symptomatic annular tear that commonly responds to aggressive conservative care delineated in the five-stage rehabilitation program. Chronic IDD may be episodic or constant. Pressure-controlled, provocative discography should be considered for athletes with chronic constant lumbar discogenic pain. Minimally invasive treatment options, such as IDET, may prove useful for a subset of patients with discographically proven IDD. Further clinical and basic science research is needed. Spinal fusion rarely is indicated for the athlete with internal disc disruption and no evidence of instability. Technological advances should continue to contribute to the arsenal of future treatments for internal disc disruption.     

Lumbar disc sequestration mimicking a tumor: Report of four cases and a literature review

BACKGROUNDDisc herniation refers to the displacement of disc material beyond its anatomical space. Disc sequestration is defined as migration of the herniated disc fragment into the epidural space, completely separating it from the parent disc. The fragment can move in upward, inferior, and lateral directions, which often causes low back pain and discomfort, abnormal sensation, and movement of lower limbs. The free disc fragments detached from the parent disc often mimic spinal tumors. Tumor like lumbar disc herniation can cause clinical symptoms similar to spinal tumors, such as lumbar soreness, pain, numbness and weakness of lower limbs, radiation pain of lower limbs, etc. It is usually necessary to diagnose the disease according to the doctor''s clinical experience, and make preliminary diagnosis and differential diagnosis with the help of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and contrast-enhanced MRI. However, pathological examination is the gold standard that distinguishes tumoral from non-tumoral status. We report four cases of disc herniation mimicking a tumor, and all the pathological results were intervertebral disc tissue.CASE SUMMARYThe first case was a 71-year-old man with low back pain accompanied by left lower extremity radiating pain for 1 year, with exacerbation over the last 2 wk. After admission, MRI revealed a circular T2-hypointense lesion in the spinal canal of the L4 vertebral segment, with enhancement on contrast-enhanced MRI suggesting neurilemmoma. The second case was a 74-year-old man with pain in both knees associated with movement limitation for 3 years, with exacerbation over the last 3 mo. MRI revealed an oval T2-hyperintense lesion in the spinal canal at the L4–5 level, with obvious peripheral enhancement on contrast-enhanced MRI. Thus, neurilemmoma was suspected. The third case was a 53-year-old man who presented with numbness and weakness of the lumbar spine and right lower extremity for 2 wk. MRI revealed a round T2-hyperintense lesion in the spinal canal at the L4–5 level, with obvious rim enhancement on contrast-enhanced MRI. Thus, a spinal tumor was suspected. The fourth case was a 75-year-old man with right lower extremity pain for 2 wk, with exacerbation over the last week. MRI revealed a round T1-isointense lesion in the spinal canal of the L3 vertebral segment and a T2-hyperintense signal from the lesion. There was no obvious enhancement on contrast-enhanced MRI, so a spinal tumor was suspected. All four patients underwent surgery and recovered to ASIA grade E on postoperative days 5, 8, 8, and 6, respectively. All patients had an uneventful postoperative course and fully recovered within 3 mo.CONCLUSIONDisc herniation mimicking a tumor is a relatively rare clinical entity and can be easily misdiagnosed as a spinal tumor. Examinations and tests should be improved preoperatively. Patients should undergo comprehensive preoperative evaluations, and the lesions should be removed surgically and confirmed by pathological diagnosis.     

腰椎间盘退变的分子病理学变化及发病机制

背景：腰椎间盘退变是引起腰腿痛的常见原因,椎间盘退变的病理改变及发病机制至今仍未完全明确。目的：介绍腰椎间盘退变的分子病理改变及其发病机制的研究进展。方法：以＂disc histology,disc degenerative disease,disc gene＂等主题词检索PubMed数据库,检索时间为2005/2010年,筛选与腰椎间盘组织学变化和发病机制相关的文献,总结归纳腰椎间盘退变的研究进展和研究结果。结果与结论：共检索到与腰椎间盘退变有关的文章118篇,共纳入30篇。结果表明腰椎间盘退变受多种因素影响,包括基因遗传因素、自然老化和积累性损伤等,基因的多形性是诱发退变的重要前置因素。椎间盘退变可通过免疫反应、机械性压迫或不稳定、血循环障碍和炎性递质等因素导致椎间盘退变性疾病。老化和病理性退变在影像和病理上难以区别,应根据椎间盘退变性疾病的具体情况采取合理的治疗方法,生物学治疗提供了新的治疗思路,但目前仍处在实验研究阶段。     

Heritability of low back pain and the role of disc degeneration

Twin studies suggest that both disc degeneration and back pain have a genetic component. We were interested in estimating the heritability of low back pain in men and examining whether genetic influences on back pain are mediated through genetic influences on disc degeneration. Thus, we conducted a classic twin study with multivariate quantitative genetic models to estimate the degree to which genetic (or environmental) effects on back pain were correlated with genetic (or environmental) effects on disc degeneration. Subjects included 147 monozygotic and 153 dizygotic male twin pairs (N=600 subjects) from the population-based Finnish Twin Cohort. All subjects underwent lumbar magnetic resonance imaging and completed an extensive interview, including back pain history and exposure to suspected risk factors. Disc height narrowing was the degenerative finding most associated with pain history, and was used to index disc degeneration in the models. Statistically significant genetic correlations were found for disc height narrowing and different definitions of back pain, such as duration of the worst back pain episode (r(g)=0.46) and hospitalization for back problems (r(g)=0.49), as well as disability in the previous year from back pain (r(g)=0.33). The heritability estimates for these back pain variables ranged from 30% to 46%. There also were statistically significant, but weaker, environmental correlations for disc height narrowing with back symptoms over the prior year. A substantial minority of the genetic influences on pain was due to the same genetic influences affecting disc degeneration. This suggests that disc degeneration is one pathway through which genes influence back pain.     

Residual complaints following lumbar disc surgery: prognostic indicators of outcome

Physical as well as psychological features might be important prognostic factors for residual complaints following lumbar disc surgery in primary care. No studies have yet investigated both factors simultaneously. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to identify indicators of the short and long-term outcome of residual complaints following lumbar disc surgery. Patients (n=105), aged between 18 and 65 years, were included if they still suffered residual complaints 6 weeks after first-time lumbar disc surgery and had therefore been referred to physiotherapy. All potential indicators were measured at baseline except treatment expectancy, which was measured after two treatment sessions enabling patients to rate treatment expectancy based on their actual perception of the treatment. Dimensions of recovery included perceived recovery, functional status, and pain intensity (back and leg) at the 3-month and 12-month follow-up. It was found that high treatment expectancy was associated with a favorable outcome on perceived recovery and functional status, both at the 3 and the 12-month follow-up. Taking pain medication and a poor functional status at baseline were associated with poor perceived recovery and functional status at both follow-up measurements. Leg pain and back pain at baseline were associated with residual leg and back pain at the 3 and the 12-month follow-up, respectively. The results for perceived recovery and functional status were rather robust. However, for leg pain and back pain, the results were less stable. Apparently, the clinical course to recovery of residual leg pain and residual back pain is not strongly influenced by these indicators.     

椎间盘退行性变的相关生物分子因素

背景：随着年龄的增长,椎体过度活动和超负荷承载使椎体加快出现老化,并在外力的作用下,继发病理性改变,以致椎间盘纤维环破裂,椎间盘内的髓核突出,引起腰腿痛和神经功能障碍。目的：总结椎间盘退行性变的相关生物分子因素的研究进展,并展望其发展趋势。方法：应用计算机检索PubMed数据库;中国知网数据库;万方数据库;维普数据库2000-02/2012-01有关椎间盘退行性变的相关生物分子因素的文献。检索文献包括研究原著及综述,排除重复性研究。结果与结论：共保留32篇文献归纳总结。椎间盘退变是由多种相关因素在长期条件下相互作用而引起的,是一系列脊柱退行性病变的前提和慢性病理过程的基础。椎间盘髓核细胞不仅是残留脊索细胞,而且对于整个椎间盘功能的维持起到重要作用。对髓核细胞在RNA、DNA及蛋白水平相关生物分子因素的研究,为延缓及治疗以及将来扭转和修复椎间盘退行性变提供了可能。     

Two-level percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy for highly migrated upper lumbar disc herniation: A case report

BACKGROUND The technique of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy(PELD)as a transforaminal approach has been used to treat highly migrated lower lumbar disc herniations.However,due to the different anatomic characteristics of the upper lumbar spine,conventional transforaminal PELD may fail to remove the highly migrated upper lumbar disc nucleus pulposus.Therefore,the purpose of this study was to describe a novel surgical technique,two-level PELD,for the treatment of highly migrated upper lumbar disc herniations and to report its related clinical outcomes.CASE SUMMARY A 60-year-old male presented with a complaint of pain at his lower back and right lower limb.The patient received 3 mo of conservative treatments but the symptoms were not alleviated.Physical examination revealed a positive femoral nerve stretch test and a negative straight leg raise test for the right leg,and preoperative visual analog scale(VAS)score for the lower back was 6 points and for the right leg was 8 points.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)demonstrated L2-L3 disc herniation on the right side and the herniated nucleus pulposus migrated to the upper margin of L2 vertebral body.According to physical examination and imaging findings,surgery was the primary consideration.Therefore,the patient underwent surgical treatment with two-level PELD.The pain symptom was relieved and the VAS score for back and thigh pain was one point postoperatively.The patient was asymptomatic and follow-up MRI scan 1 year after operation revealed no residual nucleus pulposus.CONCLUSION Two-level PELD as a transforaminal approach can be a safe and effective procedure for highly migrated upper lumbar disc herniation.     

Psychological screening in the surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation

The specific use of psychological screenings to determine appropriateness for lumbar discectomy surgery and predict outcomes is not well understood. Data from spine surgery as a whole are not likely generalizable to the patient with a significant disc herniation considering surgery. As opposed to most "back pain syndromes," acute and subacute sciatica from disc hemiation has a very high chance of dramatic and lasting improvement with surgery. Recent studies have shown standard psychometric tests used as preoperative screening in this situations fail to predict outcomes in most subgroups. Data from the author's institution suggest severe emotional distress in those patients coming to early surgical intervention does not correlate with adverse outcomes. However, the same psychometric profile in those patients with chronic sciatica pain and disability does predict worse outcomes compared with chronic pain in less emotionally distressed patients. The data suggest that the ability to rapidly relieve pain in the case of disc herniation may limit the morbid effects of psychological distress seen in many back pain syndromes. With prolonged pain and emotional distress, however, adverse and possibly self-perpetuating psychological and social changes may significantly decrease the impact of disc surgery.     

Ultrasound in treatment of back pain resulting from prolapsed intervertebral disc

The efficacy of ultrasound therapy in the management of back pain resulting from rupture of the intervertebral disc was evaluated in 3 groups: treatment, placebo, and control. Range of motion of total flexion and extension, total side flexion and total rotation of the lumbar spine, and subjective assessment of pain were used as criteria to determine the efficacy of treatment. Group comparisons showed statistical significance in favor of the treatment group (p 0.01), leading to the conclusion that ultrasound therapy is significantly effective in the treatment of back pain resulting from prolapse of the lumbar intervertebral disc.