Comparison of endoscopic spine surgery and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for degenerative lumbar disease: A meta-analysis

This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of endoscopic spinal surgery (ESS) and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) for degenerative lumbar disease (DLD) through meta-analysis. The Medline (via PubMed), Cochrane, Scopus, and Embase databases were searched for studies that evaluated the outcomes of ESS and MIS-TLIF in DLD, including visual analog scale (VAS) score for low back pain, VAS score for leg pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and complications published between January 2000 and August 2020. Two authors extracted the data independently. Any discrepancies were resolved by a consensus. Four comparative studies were identified. No significant differences were found between the ESS and MIS-TLIF groups in terms of VAS score for back pain, VAS score for leg pain, and ODI, except for complication rate. The complication rate was higher in the ESS than in the MIS-TLIF group. A literature review identified four comparative studies reporting the clinical outcomes of ESS and MIS-TLIF for DLD. Despite the heterogeneity, a limited number of meta-analyses showed that the clinical outcomes between the two groups were not significantly different except for complication rate. Hence, further large-scale multicenter studies are required to validate our results.     

退变性腰小关节疼痛的发病机制

腰椎小关节关节囊及关节组织中有大量神经末梢分布,这些神经纤维来自脊神经后支的内侧分支, 解剖学上每个小关节至少接受两个脊柱节段的神经支配。但是患有腰椎小关节损伤的患者有时会有下腰部、大腿前方、腹股沟等部位疼痛,说明腰小关节的神经支配分的复杂性,腰椎小关节的这种支配方式形成了十分复杂的腰腿痛发病机制。腰小关节骨性关节炎同其他关节的骨性关节炎一样,表现为软骨面的病损,软骨下骨的硬化及骨赘形成,关节腔狭窄,关节囊增厚及滑膜增生等改变。细胞因子及其受体的高表达是退行性骨关节炎形成的重要诱因,基中最重要的是白细胞介素1β和肿瘤坏死因子α。     

Functional disability after instrumented stabilization in lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis: a follow-up study

Low back pain (LBP) is a widespread health problem and a major contributor to increasing health costs and lost work days. Different pathologies cause LBP and one of these is lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (SPL). There are no generally accepted and standardized methods for assessing the outcome of patients treated for degenerative lumbar SPL. This study aims to assess quality of life after surgery for lumbar degenerative SPL through the adoption of outcome measures. We studied 76 patients treated, for degenerative lumbar SPL, with spinal stabilization, decompression and bilateral dorsolateral fusion, followed up for at least two years. We used the Roland-Morris (RM) scale and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) to assess the quality of life of the patients before surgery and at follow up. Each patient was pre-operatively studied through standard and dynamic x-rays, CT scan and MRI of lumbar column. Relationships between clinical, radiological and disability scores, grouped by categories, were tested. The sample comprised 25 males and 51 females. Mean age was 59.6 years (SD 12.2). The mean duration of symptoms (from clinical onset to surgery) was 23.42 months (median 13, range 4-100 months). In about half of the cases, duration of symptoms before surgery was >12 months. At follow up, the fusion rate was 85.5%, and the ODI score was significantly reduced: an improvement of <20 points in 35.7% of patients, and of >20 points in 55.7%. On the RM scale, 59.4% of patients had a reduction >5 points, 13.1% a reduction of 2-4 points, and 27.5% an unchanged or worse score. There was no significant reduction in RM scale and ODI scores in patients with fusion versus pseudoarthrosis. Instrumental pedicle screw fixation and arthorodesis seem to be very effective in improving quality of life, as shown by the reduced disability scores at follow up.     

微创脊柱外科技术与脊柱退行性疾病

正国际上通常把60岁以上人口占总人口比例达10%,或65岁以上人口占总人口比例达7%作为国家或地区进入老龄化社会的标准[1]。按照此标准,我国2000年即已进入老龄化社会;截至2014年,我国65岁及以上人口达137.55×106人,占总人口的10.1%[2]。随着人口老龄化进程的加速,增龄性疾病日益受到重视。颈椎病、腰椎管狭窄等脊柱退行性疾病在老年人群中发病率较高,以颈椎病为例,     

Minimally invasive surgery compared to open spinal fusion for the treatment of degenerative lumbar spine pathologies

This clinical study prospectively compares the results of open surgery to minimally invasive fusion for degenerative lumbar spine pathologies. Eighty-two patients were studied (41 minimally invasive surgery [MIS] spinal fusion, 41 open surgical equivalent) under a single surgeon (R. J. Mobbs). The two groups were compared using the Oswestry Disability Index, the Short Form-12 version 1, the Visual Analogue Scale score, the Patient Satisfaction Index, length of hospital stay, time to mobilise, postoperative medication and complications. The MIS cohort was found to have significantly less postoperative pain, and to have met the expectations of a significantly greater proportion of patients than conventional open surgery. The patients who underwent the MIS approach also had significantly shorter length of stay, time to mobilisation, lower opioid use and total complication rates. In our study MIS provided similar efficacy to the conventional open technique, and proved to be superior with regard to patient satisfaction, length of hospital stay, time to mobilise and complication rates.     

单、双侧后外侧椎弓根钉置入并植骨融合治疗退变性腰椎滑脱的随机对照

背景：节段融合辅以椎弓根钉置入内固定治疗退变性腰椎疾病可提高融合率。 目的：比较单、双侧椎弓根钉置入内固定并植骨融合治疗退变性腰椎滑脱的临床疗效和融合率。 方法：将退变性腰椎滑脱患者随机分为2组,分别行双侧与单侧椎弓根钉置入内固定并植骨后外侧融合。 结果与结论：两组患者失血量、输血量、住院时间、手术并发症、临床疗效、融合率和对临近间盘的影响方面差异无显著性意义。单侧内固定组手术操作时间较双侧内固定组明显缩短(P < 0.001)。双侧内固定组置入186枚椎弓根螺钉中有3枚穿透皮质刺激神经根而行二次手术;单侧内固定组置入90枚螺钉未发生与螺钉置入相关的并发症。表明退变性腰椎滑脱患者行单侧和双侧椎弓根钉置入并植骨内固定后外侧融合效果相同,但单侧内固定成本费用低、节省手术时间,置钉时穿破椎弓根皮质刺激神经根的风险小。     

斜外侧腰椎间融合术治疗退行性腰椎疾病一例

正患者女性,48岁,主因反复腰腿痛3年,加重伴间歇性跛行3个月,于2015年8月12日入院。患者3年前无明显诱因出现间断性腰部胀痛伴双臀和双大腿疼痛,活动和行走无明显受限,劳累后加重、卧床休息后缓解,当地医院行腰椎CT检查显示,L4-5椎间盘突出,临床诊断为L4-5椎间盘突出症。予牵引、理疗、敷中药(具体药物不详)等治疗后好转,但上述症状反复发作,时轻时重。3个月前腰痛和双下肢放射痛加重,尤以右侧显著,伴间歇性跛行,当     

Outcome assessment in lumbar spine surgery: the patient's perspective

At present, there is an increasing interest in evaluating the outcome of lumbar spinal surgery from the patient's perspective. For this purpose, numerous self-report questionnaires for patients have been developed during last two decades. Recently, a core set of five domains has been recommended by an international panel of experts in order to assess patients with back pain: pain intensity and frequency, back specific function, general health status, work status and patient satisfaction. Also, several specific questionnaires to measure these domains, such as the Oswestry Disability Index, the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, or the Short-Form 36, have been selected. In this paper, information about elementary features, properties and interpretation of these questionnaires, as well as recommendations of the international panel, are provided. Some adaptations to these statements for use in our country are suggested. In the discussion advantages, disadvantages and controversies related to the employment of questionnaires, and the need of further research on this field, are emphasized.     

Efficacy of surgery and type of fusion in patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis

Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS) can be treated by several surgical procedures. However, the choice of procedure and use of instrumentation remain controversial. In this retrospective study of 81 patients with DLSS, 43 patients received decompression and posterolateral fusion without instrumentation, and the surgery for 38 patients was supplemented with posterior transpedicular screw fixation. Both surgeon-based (Fischgrund criteria) and patient-based (Medical Outcome Trust Short-Form 36 [SF-36] questionnaire) standards were used to assess the clinical outcomes. An excellent to good result was achieved in 71.6% of patients and there was no significant difference 6.2 years later between groups with or without instrumentation (Z = 0.0358, p > 0.05). SF-36 data revealed significant postoperative improvement (p < 0.01), and there was no significant difference between the two groups (t = 1.67, p > 0.05). Successful fusion occurred in 87% of patients with instrumentation versus 67% of the patients without instrumentation (χ² = 4.23, p < 0.05). Thus, surgical treatment of DLSS generally results in satisfactory outcomes. Transpedicular screw fixation may not improve clinical outcomes and the use of posterior instrumentation should be adopted cautiously.     

Central plasticity resulting from chronic low back pain in degenerative disorders of the spine

<正>Degenerative disorders of the spine are the most common cause of chronic low back pain(c LBP);in Western Europe alone,billions of euros are spent each year on both conservative and surgical treatments for c LBP.And though only 5%of all patients with low back pain suffer from lumbar disc herniation(LDH),more than 30%of the     

Intraoperative wound infiltration with bupivacaine in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery

We conducted a randomized double-blind trial to evaluate the effect of intraoperative wound infiltration with bupivacaine 0.25% (1 ml/kg) compared to placebo (NaCl 0.9% 1 ml/kg) in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. Fifty-two patients were entered in the trial and 50 completed it. Two methods of wound infiltration were assessed: (a) infiltration after partial wound closure and (b) infiltration prior to wound closure. Postoperatively patients received morphine sulfate on demand. Visual analog pain scores were recorded every 2 h for 12 h after the operation. Analgesia requirements were recorded over the duration of the study for each patient. The patients who received bupivacaine infiltration prior to wound closure had significantly reduced pain scores in the recovery room and used significantly less morphine in the first 2 h following the procedure. They also had reduced pain scores and reduced morphine demand in the first 10 h but this did not reach statistical significance. No difference was noted between the placebo group and those receiving infiltration after partial wound closure. It is concluded that infiltration of bupivacaine is a simple and safe aid in obtaining analgesia in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery provided that it is infiltrated prior to wound closure.     

MRI影像测量腰椎黄韧带厚度与退变性椎间盘的关系

背景：腰椎间盘退变和黄韧带增厚都被认为是与老化的变化相关。然而,却很少见用MRI评价黄韧带肥厚自然病程的报道。 目的：用MRI评价黄韧带厚度与年龄、椎间隙水平及椎间盘退行性变的关系。 方法：MRI测量178例患有腰腿痛的患者的L2/3、L3/4、L4/5、L5S1水平712条黄韧带的厚度。并检验黄韧带厚度与年龄和椎间隙水平及椎间盘退行性变的关系。 结果与结论：黄韧带的厚度随着年龄的增加而增加。然而,L4/5、L5S1水平黄韧带厚度的增加要比L2/3、L3/4水平明显。在L4/5水平,在20~29岁年龄段的患者黄韧带厚度已超过3 mm。所有的患者如果L2/3水平黄韧带肥厚(> 3.0 mm),那么其余个水平的黄韧带均肥厚。在老年患者中,黄韧带的厚度和椎间盘的退行性变没有相关性。提示在20~29年龄段的患者黄韧带已经开始变厚,而黄韧带的增厚不是随着椎间盘的退变屈曲凸入椎管内的。L2/3水平黄韧带的厚度可以作为一个多水平腰椎管狭窄的指示剂。     

A comparison of successful versus failed nonoperative treatment approaches in patients with degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine

Identifying an optimal composition of nonoperative therapies to trial in patients suffering from degenerative lumbar spine conditions prior to surgical management remains challenging. Contrasting successful versus failed nonoperative treatment approaches may provide clinicians with valuable insight. The purpose of this study was to compare the nonoperative therapy regimens in degenerative lumbar spine disorder patients successfully managed conservatively versus patients who failed primary treatment and opted for lumbar fusion surgery. Clinical records from patients diagnosed with lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis from 2007 to 2017 were gathered from a comprehensive insurance database. Patients were separated into two cohorts: patients managed successfully with nonoperative therapies and patients who failed conservative therapy and underwent lumbar fusion surgery. Nonoperative therapy utilization by the two cohorts were collected across a 2-year surveillance window. A total of 531,980 adult patients with lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis comprised the base population. There were 523,031 patients (98.3%) successfully treated with conservative management alone, while 8,949 patients (1.7%) ultimately failed nonoperative management and opted for lumbar fusion. Conservative therapy failure rates were especially high in patients with a smoking history (2.1%) and those utilizing lumbar epidural steroid injections (LESIs) (3.7%). A greater percentage of patients who failed conservative management utilized opioid medications (p < 0.0001), muscle relaxants (p < 0.0001), and LESIs (p < 0.0001). Patients who failed nonoperative management spent more than double than the successfully treated cohort (failed cohort: $1806.49 per patient; successful cohort: $768.50 per patient). In a multivariate logistic regression model, smoking, obesity and prolonged opioid use were independently associated with failure of nonoperative treatment.     

Perioperative outcome and cost-effectiveness of spinal versus general anesthesia for lumbar spine surgery

Background and aimGeneral anesthesia (GA) is the most commonly used anesthetic technique for spinal surgery. This study aimed to compare spinal anesthesia (SA) and GA in patients undergoing spinal surgery, in terms of perioperative outcome and cost effectiveness.Materials and methodsThe study included 80 patients with ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) physical status I–II. The patients were randomized to receive SA (n = 40) or GA (n = 40). Heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), blood loss, duration of surgery, duration of anesthesia, surgeon satisfaction, and duration in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) were recorded. Postoperative analgesic requirement, nausea and vomiting (PONV), perioperative hemodynamic variables, and anesthetic costs were determined.ResultsHR and MABP were significantly higher in the GA group than in the SA group at the end of surgery and at PACU admission. Duration of anesthesia, surgeon satisfaction, postoperative analgesic requirement, and anesthetic costs were significantly higher in the GA group. Mean blood loss was lower in the SA group than in the GA group, but the difference was not significant. Duration of surgery, duration in the PACU, perioperative hemodynamic variables, and complications were similar in both groups.ConclusionsSA could be considered a reliable alternative to GA in patients undergoing lumber spine surgery, as it is clinically as effective as GA, but more cost effective.     

Symptomatic progression of degenerative scoliosis after decompression and limited fusion surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis

Significant degenerative scoliosis together with lumbar spinal stenosis increases the complexity of planning a surgical intervention for iatrogenic instability may be introduced by decompression in the midst of the curve, especially at or near the curve apex, that may lead to more rapid progression of a deformity, especially if surgery is at, or is near, the apex of the curve and a listhesis is present. Surgical options include simple laminectomy, a laminectomy with limited fusion, or an extensive fusion that addresses the overall curve, but there is no consensus as to the best approach. There is scant information in the literature about specific instances of failure of a limited surgical approach from which any instructive lessons may be learned. We report a surgical failure in a 59-year-old woman with degenerative lumbar stenosis and scoliosis from L3–5 and L3–4 disc herniation treated with a simple hemilaminectomy and discectomy, a subsequent fusion for symptomatic progression of deformity, and a third surgery to fuse the entire scoliotic curve after development of severe deformity, pain, and neurological deficits. We conclude that surgical decision-making should take into consideration any risk factors for deformity progression as well as overall sagittal and coronal balance and advise that similar patients be followed for a lengthy period following surgery to monitor for stability.