Painless root compression following disc extrusion

Summary Three cases of painless root compression following disc extrusion are reported. Each patient showed the typical course of disease with the neurological deficit appearing at the same time as the sciatic pain disappeared. At operation the nucleus pulposus was found in the spinal canal. It is suggested that disappearance of the pain is related to the perforation of the anulus fibrosus and posterior longitudinal ligament by the nucleus pulposus. The operative findings justified early operation in these patients, and prompt surgery is recommended for similar cases.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird über 3 Fälle von schmerzloser Nervenwurzelkompresson berichtet, die im Anschluß an einen Einbruch von Bandscheibengewebe in den Rückenmarkkanal auftrat. Jeder Patient zeigte den gleichen, typischen Krankheitsverlauf: Mit dem Auftreten der neurologischen Ausfälle verschwanden zum gleichen Zeitpunkt die Ischiasschmerzen. Bei der Operation fand sich Gewebe des Nucleus pulposus im Spinalkanal. Es wird angenommen, daß das Verschwinden der Schmerzen mit der Perforation des Anulus fibrosus und des hinteren Längsbandes durch den Nucleus pulposus zusammenhängt. Die intraoperativen Befunde rechtfertigen bei solchen Patienten ein frühes operatives Vorgehen. Für ähnliche Fälle wird deshalb ein sofortiges chirurgisches Vorgehen empfohlen.

     

Treatment of degenerative cervical disc disease with uncoforaminotomy--intermediate clinical outcome

BACKGROUND: Anterior cervical uncoforaminotomy (uncoforaminotomy) is an operative method intended to preserve the functional motion segment of the cervical spine while removing the underlying pathology. Controversy exists concerning the patients best suited for this treatment modality. Furthermore, no long-term outcome analyses have been published. METHODS: Between November 2002 and June 2004, 96 patients underwent single-level uncoforaminotomy in our neurosurgical department for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy. The patients were divided into three groups: A, soft disc; B, hard disc; C, hard and soft disc. Follow-up was performed 2 years after surgery. Clinical outcome was classified according to Odom et al. and to the cervical Oswestry and 11-point box scales for arm and neck pain. RESULTS: Ninety patients (92%) underwent intermediate follow-up examinations at an average of 33 months after surgery. Forty-nine patients were in group A, 24 in group B, and 17 in group C. At discharge, 98% of those in group A, 96% in group B, and 94% in group C showed excellent or good results. In two patients revision surgery was performed within 4 weeks due to recurrent disc herniation. In one patient revision was carried out due to a subcutaneous hematoma. In group B one case of vertebral artery injury occurred. Additionally in one patient of this group revision surgery was performed due to inadequate decompression of the neural foramen. At follow-up 94% of the patients in group A, 89% in group B, and 87% in group C had excellent or good results. The scores on the cervical Oswestry scale and the 11-point-box scale showed no significant differences among the groups. CONCLUSION: Uncoforaminotomy, especially in patients with soft-disc pathologies, is a good operative method for the treatment of radicular pain.     

Diagnosis of cervical disc disease

Summary In a prospective study of 63 surgical patients cervical myelography was compared with MRI to establish the relative value of the 2 diagnostic procedures in patient selection for surgery of ruptured cervical discs and bony nerve root compression. While MRI in the T1-weighted and gradient echo modes matched the diagnostic accuracy of invasive myelography (95%), T1 and T2-weighted MRI images alone were associated with an error rate of 10%. In patients with medial protrusion myelography did not always show the true extent of compression, whereas MRI tended to miss small laterally protruding disc fragments. Cervical myelography continues to have a place in the diagnosis of cervical disc disease, whenever clinical signs and symptoms do not agree with MRI data.     

Syndrome of the cervical plexus caused by high cervical nerve root compression

Lesions affecting the roots of the cervical plexus can cause a syndrome not previously described. The C3-C4 disc space is the most likely to be involved, but pressure on the C5 root can also produce facial, auricular, or retroauricular pain. Motor innervation to the diaphragm can be affected, and even the uppermost disc space at C2-C3 might be implicated. Findings on examination findings are sparse, although sensory impairment in areas of cervical plexus innervation has been observed. In a series of 1000 cervical decompression cases (both anterior and posterior) for disc disease or similar processes, only 10 instances of this syndrome have been found. Paresthesia or episodic shock-like pain affecting the ear, para-auricular, lower occipital, and mandibular areas prompted by head turning or extension are the most common complaints.     

人工椎间盘置换术治疗颈椎间盘疾患的早期观察

目的：探讨人工椎间盘置换术治疗颈椎间盘疾患的早期临床效果.方法：自2004年1月起,对20例单节段或多节段以颈椎间盘退变为主的颈椎病患者进行人工颈椎间盘置换术,男12例,女8例,年龄38～55岁,平均47岁;其中单节段置换14例,两个节段及以上（含两个）置换6例,共28个节段;术后随访6个月至1.5年,对术后神经系统功能恢复情况进行JOA评分,对颈椎曲度、人工颈椎间盘及相邻节段的高度、人工颈椎间盘的活动度以及人工颈椎间盘与椎间隙终板界面间的稳定性及治疗效果进行评价.结果：患者神经系统症状均获得满意改善,影像学随访消失的生理弯曲、后凸畸形均获得满意纠正.置换间隙高度与上下相邻间隙高度相等,颈椎过伸过屈位时置换间隙前高后高变化与相邻椎间隙一致,人工间盘与上下终板间紧密贴合,无透光区、无位移,随访中人工间盘活动度良好,无失稳及脱位发生.结论：颈椎人工颈椎间盘置换手术操作简单,在减压的同时可重建椎间隙高度及生理弯曲,恢复椎间活动度,早期临床疗效良好.     

Bryan人工颈椎间盘置换治疗颈椎间盘突出症

目的 探讨Bryan人工颈椎间盘假体置换治疗颈椎间盘突出症的临床疗效,总结其手术操作要点并分析有关并发症.方法 21例颈椎间盘突出症患者应用Bryan人工颈椎间盘进行颈椎间盘置换,术后常规予以非甾体类药物预防异位骨化.结果 所有患者术后症状明显缓解.术前和术后第1、12个月行JOA评分;摄术前和术后正侧、屈伸、左右侧屈位X线片,观察假体稳定性及置换颈椎节段的活动度.随访12～28个月,术后治疗效果Odom评级:优16例,良4例,可1例,优良率95.2%;JOA评分:术前平均7.9分(6～12分),术后第1个月平均14.1分(9～16分),第12个月平均15.7分(10～17分).置换节段术前和术后第1、12个月活动范围分别平均是:术前7.7°(5.8°～9.1°),术后1个月5.5°(3.9°～7.8°),术后12个月5.5°(4.0°～7.8°).末次随访未发现异位骨化、假体松动、脱落、下沉和颈椎生理曲度的改变.结论 Bryan人工颈椎间盘假体置换术治疗颈椎间盘突出症能明显缓解患者症状,维持颈椎近期正常活动范围和生理曲度,但远期疗效还需长期观察.     

相邻神经根均受累的腰椎间盘突出症

自1992年1月-2002年2月手术治疗腰突症550例，发现有10例单间隙椎间盘突出累及相邻两条神经根，在临床上有其特征，根据我们的经验，作一小结。     

颈椎间盘置换术与颈前路椎间融合术治疗双节段颈椎间盘退变性疾病疗效的Meta分析

目的 :系统评价颈椎间盘置换术(TDR)与颈前路椎间盘切除椎间植骨融合术(ACDF)治疗相邻两个节段颈椎间盘退变性疾病的疗效。方法:检索Pubmed、Medline、Embase等数据库,筛选应用两种手术方式治疗相邻两个节段颈椎间盘退变性疾病的前瞻性临床对照研究;各研究中观察组术式为TDR(TDR组),对照组术式为ACDF(ACDF组);两组病例数均不少于10例;随访时间均不少于2年;术后疗效评价指标至少包括以下指标中的一项:颈痛及上肢痛VAS评分(VAS),颈部功能障碍指数(NDI),健康调查简表SF-36评分(SF-36),术后不良事件(AE)等指标。采用Doowns-Black评分及NOS评分评价纳入研究的质量。结果:共纳入5篇英文文献,2篇为随机对照研究(RCT),3篇为前瞻性队列研究,研究质量Doowns-Black评分均在18分及以上,NOS评价前瞻性队列研究质量均为6星。共纳入593例患者,其中TDR组314例,ACDF组279例。经Meta分析合并效应指标,末次随访时颈痛VAS评分标准化均数差(SMD)及不良事件发生相对危险度(RR)两组比较无显著性差异(P0.05);TDR组上肢痛VAS评分、NDI评分、邻近上节段和下节段屈伸ROM、邻近节段退变低于ACDF组(P0.05),SF36-PCS躯体健康评分及手术节段屈伸ROM SMD高于ACDF组(P0.05)。结论 :相邻两个节段颈椎间盘退变性疾病行TDR的疗效较ACDF具有优势,安全性较高,但需要更多大样本随机对照研究以及更长时间的随访结果来验证。     

Coexistence of cervical and lumbar disc disease

A retrospective analysis of 200 patients requiring cervical disc surgery was performed to determine the frequency of coexistent lumbar disc or spine abnormalities. The duration of follow-up ranged from 5 to 25 years, averaging 14 years. Sixty percent were women and 40% were men, their ages ranging from 25-73 years. Antecedent motor vehicle injury had occurred in 49 cases and work injury to the spine in 23. Sixty-four percent had no history of prior back injury. It was found that over 31% had undergone lumbar disc surgery, and a high number of patients demonstrated abnormal lumbar radiographs or myelograms, including 78 with bulging discs, 100 with major root defects, 78 with minor root defects, 8 with spinal stenosis, and 7 with spondylolisthesis. Myelograms were normal in 22 cases. The sites of lumbar abnormalities included L4-5 (110), L5-S1 (90), and multilevel (8). There was a higher incidence of lumbar disc abnormalities associated with multilevel cervical spondylosis. There also was a relationship between residual symptoms and myelographic abnormalities. Two studies in the authors' institution suggest an autoimmune basis for the frequent coexistence of cervical and lumbar disc disease, namely the demonstration of antigenic properties in the nucleus pulposus and high serum immunoglobulins.     

经皮激光颈椎间盘减压术的临床应用

目的 评价经皮激光颈椎间盘减压术(percutaneous laser disc decompression，PLDD)的临床应用价值。方法 应用PLDD技术对32例临床确诊为颈椎间盘突出症患者的35个间盘(C3-4 4个、C4-5 11个、C5-6 13个、C6-7 7个)，在X线监视下行颈前经皮穿刺、将直径400μm的光导纤维导入病损椎间盘，采用波长1060nm的ND：YAG激光，输出功率15W，发射1s，间隔5s，对髓核进行汽化、减压。根据患者年龄、椎间盘病损程度以及对热效应的反应确定照射剂量，照射剂量为360～1100J。结果 所有患者均获隧访，平均8个月(3～15个月)，疗效评估结果为优16例(50％)、良8例（25％)、可4例（12.5％),差4例(12.5％)。有效率87.5%，优良率75％。各种症状的缓解率分别为颈肩痛80．7％，上肢根性放射痛84.2%，颈髓压迫症60％．颈性眩晕78.5％。无并发症发生。结论 经皮激光椎间盘减压术能有效地缓解颈椎间盘突出症的症状和体征、操作简便、安全、损伤小、恢复快、并发症少。     

The clinical presentation of uppermost cervical disc protrusion

OBJECT: The purpose of this study is to clarify the clinical presentation of the C2-C3 cervical herniation disc. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Uppermost cervical disc protrusion is an uncommon condition. The pattern of large central fragments of nucleus impinging on the highest cervical disc region is often poorly localized according to its clinical presentation. METHODS: Eight patients treated with anterior cervical discectomy with fusion for C2-C3 disc herniation participated in a detailed clinical and radiologic review to determine early detection and clarify potential hazards. Each patient's neurologic function was tested and recorded successively by a team of physicians and qualified physiotherapists. RESULTS: Reviewing the symptomatology, most patients presented ascending radicular symptoms secondary to trivial trauma, characterized by suboccipital pain, loss of hand dexterity, and paresthesia over face and unilateral lateral arm. Six (75%) patients had remarkable improvement postoperatively in neurologic function, except for some residual sensory embarrassment in at least 6 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical neurologic examination provides a less precise anatomic basis, to point to a particular upper cervical disc protrusion. Nonspecific neck and shoulder pain, a variety of cervical radiculopathy, and myelopathy may present. However, this rare spondylotic pattern is usually characterized by impairment of motor and sensory function more in the upper extremities than lower extremities and mostly starting following trauma. Radiculopathy generally outweighs the cord sign. Cruciate paralysis associated with vague diffuse and patch regions of hypesthesia over perioral distribution may help to localize this upper cervical lesion. The present study demonstrates that early detection and adequate anterior decompression may provide excellent outcome.     

颈椎动态稳定器治疗颈椎间盘突出症的早期临床疗效

 目的 探讨应用颈椎动态稳定器(dynamic cervical implant, DCI)治疗颈椎间盘突出症的 安全性及早期临床疗效。方法 2009年 9月至 2010年 12月, 应用颈前路 DCI治疗 31例颈椎间盘突出 症患者, 记录并统计分析手术时间和出血量;采用颈椎残障功能指数(neck disability index, NDI)、日本 矫形外科协会(Japanese Orthopaedic Association, JOA)评分评价神经功能改善情况, 评估患者手术前后 的疼痛视觉模拟评分(visual analogue scale, VAS)。在 X线片上测量术前和末次随访时植入节段的运动 范围、手术节段脊柱功能单位(functional spine unit, FSU)高度与上位椎体高度比值(H/h)等的差异。结果 31例患者的手术时间为(45±15) min, 出血量为(100±30) ml。术后随访 6~20个月, 平均 14个月。术前与 末次随访时植入节段的运动范围(9.6°±4.2° vs. 6.9°±5.3°, P >0.05)、H/h(2.6±0.1 vs. 2.5±0.1, P >0.05)和 FSU的角度(2.6°±5.2° vs. 1.7°±2.9°, P >0.05)差异无统计学意义;而术前与末次随访时 NDI(50.5±16.2 vs. 19.6±4.3, P< 0.05)、JOA评分(12.3±1.6 vs. 13.9±1.8, P< 0.05)及颈痛 VAS (6.3±2.6 vs. 3.1±2.2, P< 0.05)差异有统计学意义。结论 应用 DCI非融合技术治疗颈椎间盘突出症, 手术时间短, 出血少, 可以 早期保留手术节段的运动功能, 维持了椎间高度, 早期临床效果满意。