Two-Year Follow-Up Results of Fluoroscopic Cervical Epidural Injections in Chronic Axial or Discogenic Neck Pain: A Randomized,Double-Blind,Controlled Trial

Study Design: A randomized, double-blind, active-controlled trial.Objective: To assess the effectiveness of cervical interlaminar epidural injections of local anesthetic with or without steroids for the management of axial or discogenic pain in patients without disc herniation, radiculitis, or facet joint pain.Summary of Background Data: Cervical discogenic pain without disc herniation is a common cause of suffering and disability in the adult population. Once conservative management has failed and facet joint pain has been excluded, cervical epidural injections may be considered as a management tool. Despite a paucity of evidence, cervical epidural injections are one of the most commonly performed nonsurgical interventions in the management of chronic axial or disc-related neck pain.Methods: One hundred and twenty patients without disc herniation or radiculitis and negative for facet joint pain as determined by means of controlled diagnostic medial branch blocks were randomly assigned to one of the 2 treatment groups. Group I patients received cervical interlaminar epidural injections of local anesthetic (lidocaine 0.5%, 5 mL), whereas Group II patients received 0.5% lidocaine, 4 mL, mixed with 1 mL or 6 mg of nonparticulate betamethasone.The primary outcome measure was ≥ 50% improvement in pain and function. Outcome assessments included numeric rating scale (NRS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), opioid intake, employment, and changes in weight.Results: Significant pain relief and functional improvement (≥ 50%) was present at the end of 2 years in 73% of patients receiving local anesthetic only and 70% receiving local anesthetic with steroids. In the successful group of patients, however, defined as consistent relief with 2 initial injections of at least 3 weeks, significant improvement was illustrated in 78% in the local anesthetic group and 75% in the local anesthetic with steroid group at the end of 2 years. The results reported at the one-year follow-up were sustained at the 2-year follow-up.Conclusions: Cervical interlaminar epidural injections with or without steroids may provide significant improvement in pain and functioning in patients with chronic discogenic or axial pain that is function-limiting and not related to facet joint pain.     

Analysis of Efficacy Differences between Caudal and Lumbar Interlaminar Epidural Injections in Chronic Lumbar Axial Discogenic Pain: Local Anesthetic Alone vs. Local Combined with Steroids

Study Design: Comparative assessment of randomized controlled trials of caudal and lumbar interlaminar epidural injections in chronic lumbar discogenic pain.Objective: To assess the comparative efficacy of caudal and lumbar interlaminar approaches of epidural injections in managing axial or discogenic low back pain.Summary of Background Data: Epidural injections are commonly performed utilizing either a caudal or lumbar interlaminar approach to treat chronic lumbar axial or discogenic pain, which is pain exclusive of that associated with a herniated intervertebral disc, or that is due to degeneration of the zygapophyseal joints, or due to dysfunction of the sacroiliac joints, respectively. The literature on the efficacy of epidural injections in managing chronic axial lumbar pain of presumed discogenic origin is limited.Methods: The present analysis is based on 2 randomized controlled trials of chronic axial low back pain not caused by disc herniation, radiculitis, or facet joint pain, utilizing either a caudal or lumbar interlaminar approach, with a total of 240 patients studied, and a 24-month follow-up. Patients were assigned to receive either local anesthetic only or local anesthetic with a steroid in each 60 patient group.Results: The primary outcome measure was significant improvement, defined as pain relief and functional status improvement of at least 50% from baseline, which was reported at 24-month follow-ups in 72% who received local anesthetic only with a lumbar interlaminar approach and 54% who received local anesthetic only with a caudal approach. In patients receiving local anesthetic with a steroid, the response rate was 67% for those who had a lumbar interlaminar approach and 68% for those who had a caudal approach at 12 months. The response was significantly better in the lumbar interlaminar group who received local anesthetic only, 77% versus 56% at 12 months and 72% versus 54% at 24 months.Conclusion: This assessment shows that in patients with axial or discogenic pain in the lumbar spine after excluding facet joint and SI Joint pain, epidural injections of local anesthetic by the caudal or lumbar interlaminar approach may be effective in managing chronic low back pain with a potential superiority for a lumbar interlaminar approach over a caudal approach.     

Fluoroscopic Caudal Epidural Injections in Managing Post Lumbar Surgery Syndrome: Two-Year Results of a Randomized,Double-Blind,Active-Control Trial

Study Design: A randomized, active control, double-blind trial. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of fluoroscopically directed caudal epidural injections with or without steroids in managing chronic low back and lower extremity pain secondary to post lumbar surgery syndrome. Summary of Background Data: There is a paucity of evidence concerning caudal epidural injections for managing chronic persistent low back pain with or without lower extremity pain caused by post lumbar surgery syndrome.Methods: This active control randomized study included 140 patients with 70 patients in each group. Group I received 0.5% lidocaine, 10 mL; Group II received 9 mL of 0.5% lidocaine mixed with 1 mL of 6 mg of nonparticulate betamethasone. The multiple outcome measures included the numeric rating scale, the Oswestry Disability Index 2.0, employment status, and opioid intake with assessments at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months posttreatment. Primary outcome was defined as at least 50% improvement in pain and Oswestry Disability Index scores. Patients with a positive response to the first 2 procedures with at least 3 weeks of relief were considered to be successful. All others were considered as failures.Results: Overall in Group I, 53% and 47% of the patients and in Group II, 59% and 58% of the patients, showed significant improvement with reduction in pain scores and disability index at 12 months and 24 months. In contrast, in the successful groups, significant pain relief and improvement in function were observed in 70% and 62% of Group I at one and 2 years; in 75% and 69% of Group II at one and 2 years. The results in the successful group showed that at the end of the first year patients experienced approximately 38 weeks of relief and at the end of 2 years Group I had 62 weeks and Group II had 68 weeks of relief. Overall total relief for 2 years was 48 weeks in Group I and 54 weeks in Group II. The average procedures in the successful groups were at 4 in one year and 6 at the end of 2 years.Conclusion: Caudal epidural injections of local anesthetic with or without steroid might be effective in patients with chronic persistent low back and/or lower extremity pain in patients with post lumbar surgery syndrome.     

腰椎小关节退变的相关因素及生物力学特点

文题释义：腰椎小关节：为相近节段腰椎上位椎体的下关节突与下位椎体的上关节突组成的腰椎后外侧关节,将一个腰椎的椎弓与相邻腰椎的椎弓相连,在腰椎运动中占据着重要的地位。 生物力学：是应用力学原理和方法对生物体中的力学问题定量研究的生物物理学分支,研究范围从生物整体到系统组织,其研究重点是与生理学、医学有关的力学问题。 背景：腰椎小关节退变近年来成为学者们研究的重点,认识腰椎小关节退变的危险因素对于预防以及减少脊柱损害具有关键性作用,并且了解其解剖结构对于治疗脊柱相关疾病及手术实施有着重要的指导意义。 目的：简述腰椎小关节解剖学、组织学特性,总结能够引起腰椎小关节退变的相关危险因素。 方法：利用计算机检索CNKI、万方、维普、PubMed、Elsevier和Web of Science数据库2018年3月至2019年9月有关腰椎小关节退变的文章,检索词为“腰椎小关节,关节囊,关节面方向,神经支配,骨性关节炎,生物力学,下腰痛,椎间盘退变,腰椎滑脱,腰椎退行性脊柱侧弯,lumbar facet joint,joint capsule,articular direction,eneurosis,osteoarthritis,biomechanics,low back pain,intervertebral disc degeneration,umbar spondylolisthesis,lumbar degenerative scoliosis”。查阅相关文章,包括综述、基础研究及临床研究,通过阅读标题及摘要进行初步筛选,排除与主题相关度低的文献,最终共纳入60篇文献进行结果分析。 结果与结论：①腰椎小关节退变的主要危险因素包括年龄、性别、异常应力、关节面方向、关节不对称性、腰椎节段和椎间盘退变;②关节退变后会导致下腰痛、椎间盘退变、腰椎滑脱、退行性脊柱侧弯等临床疾病的发生和发展,严重影响患者的日常生活和工作,降低生活质量。因此,腰椎小关节在脊柱相关疾病的治疗中不应该被忽视。 ORCID: 0000-0002-5700-8674(文王强) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：人工关节;骨植入物;脊柱;骨折;内固定;数字化骨科;组织工程     

Endoscopic Facet Debridement for the treatment of facet arthritic pain - a novel new technique

Study design: Retrospective, observational, open label.Objective: We investigated the efficacy of facet debridement for the treatment of facet joint pain.Summary of background data: Facet joint disease, often due to degenerative arthritis, is common cause of chronic back pain. In patients that don''t respond to conservative measures, nerve ablation may provide significant improvement. Due to the ability of peripheral nerves to regenerate, ablative techniques of the dorsal nerve roots often provide only temporary relief. In theory, ablation of the nerve end plates in the facet joint capsule should prevent reinnervation.Methods: All patients treated with endoscopic facet debridement at our clinic from 2003-2007 with at least 3 years follow-up were included in the analysis. Primary outcome measure was percent change in facet-related pain as measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score at final follow-up visit.Results: A total of 174 people (77 women, 97 men; mean age 64, range 22-89) were included. Location of facet pain was cervical in 45, thoracic in 15, and lumbar in 114 patients. At final follow-up, 77%, 73%, and 68% of patients with cervical, thoracic, or lumbar disease, respectively, showed at least 50% improvement in pain. Mean operating time per joint was 17 minutes (range, 10-42). Mean blood loss was 40 ml (range, 10-100). Complications included suture failure in two patients, requiring reclosure of the incision. No infection or nerve damage beyond what was intended occurred.Conclusions: Our results demonstrate a comparable efficacy of endoscopic facet debridement compared to radiofrequency ablation of the dorsal nerve branch, with durable results. Large scale, randomized trials are warranted to further evaluate the relative efficacy of this surgical treatment in patients with facet joint disease.     

Image-guided facet joint injection

Chronic spine pain poses a peculiar diagnostic and therapeutic challenge due to multiple pain sources, overlapping clinical features and nonspecific radiological findings. Facet joint injection is an interventional pain management tool for facet-related spinal pain that can be effectively administered by a radiologist. This technique is the gold standard for identifying facet joints as the source of spinal pain. The major indications for facet injections include strong clinical suspicion of the facet syndrome, focal tenderness over the facet joints, low back pain with normal radiological findings, post-laminectomy syndrome with no evidence of arachnoiditis or recurrent disc disease, and persistent low back pain after spinal fusion. The contraindications are more ancillary, with none being absolute. Like any synovial joint degeneration, inflammation and injury can lead to pain on motion, initiating a vicious cycle of physical deconditioning, irritation of facet innervations and muscle spasm. Image-guided injection of local anesthetic and steroid into or around the facet joint aims to break this vicious cycle and thereby provide pain relief. This outpatient procedure has high diagnostic accuracy, safety and reproducibility but the therapeutic outcome is variable.     

腰椎退变与不稳的影像学研究

目的：探讨椎间盘退变、小关节骨关节炎与腰椎退变性不稳3者之间的关系。方法：分析120个下腰痛患者的核磁共振影像与脊柱功能位X线片，腰椎不稳分为成角不稳，旋转不稳和水平不稳；椎间盘退变根据T2加权相被分为5级；小关节骨关节炎在T1加权相上被分为4级。结果：椎间盘退变程度和年龄成正相关，差异有显著性意义（P〈0．01）；有26．8％（93个）节段出现腰椎不稳，其中以椎间盘退变程度为1，2级的节段最为多见，与其他各级相比差异有极显著性意义（P〈0．01）；椎间盘退变和小关节骨关节炎呈正相关（J=0．937，P〈0．05），向前水平不稳和椎间盘退变和小关节骨关节炎明显相关，差异成极显著性（P〈0．01）。结论：放射影像测量的腰椎不稳定和小关节骨关节炎和椎间盘退变有明确的相关性。     

Management of chronic pain of cervical disc herniation and radiculitis with fluoroscopic cervical interlaminar epidural injections

Study Design: A randomized, double-blind, active controlled trial.Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of cervical interlaminar epidural injections of local anesthetic with or without steroids in the management of chronic neck pain and upper extremity pain in patients with disc herniation and radiculitis.Summary of Background Data: Epidural injections in managing chronic neck and upper extremity pain are commonly employed interventions. However, their long-term effectiveness, indications, and medical necessity, of their use and their role in various pathologies responsible for persistent neck and upper extremity pain continue to be debated, even though, neck and upper extremity pain secondary to disc herniation and radiculitis, is described as the common indication. There is also paucity of high quality literature.Methods: One-hundred twenty patients were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups: Group I patients received cervical interlaminar epidural injections of local anesthetic (lidocaine 0.5%, 5 mL); Group II patients received 0.5% lidocaine, 4 mL, mixed with 1 mL of nonparticulate betamethasone.Primary outcome measure was ≥ 50 improvement in pain and function. Outcome assessments included Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), opioid intake, employment, and changes in weight.Results: Significant pain relief and functional status improvement (≥ 50%) was demonstrated in 72% of patients who received local anesthetic only and 68% who received local anesthetic and steroids. In the successful group of participants, significant improvement was illustrated in 77% in local anesthetic group and 82% in local anesthetic with steroid group.Conclusions: Cervical interlaminar epidural injections with or without steroids may provide significant improvement in pain and function for patients with cervical disc herniation and radiculitis.     

单侧腰椎弓根螺钉及经椎板关节突螺钉固定与双侧固定的比较

背景：经椎板关节突关节螺钉固定、椎间植骨融合治疗脊柱疾患是一种独特的固定方法,可用于退变性腰椎的融合。 目的：比较采用微创经腰椎间孔椎体融合联合单侧椎弓根螺钉及经椎板关节突螺钉固定与常规开放后路腰椎体间融合术联合双侧椎弓根螺钉固定治疗下腰痛疾病的临床效果。 方法：纳入2010年6月至2012年6月于武警广东总队医院就诊的腰椎间盘突出伴腰椎轻度不稳患者49例,均采用后路减压椎间融合器植骨内固定治疗。其中24例采用微创经椎间孔椎体融合术联合单侧椎弓根螺钉及经椎板关节突螺钉固定,25例采用常规开放后路腰椎体间融合术联合双侧椎弓根螺钉固定,比较两种固定方法的临床疗效。 结果与结论：两种固定方法术后椎体融合率、日本矫形外科协会评分及疼痛目测类比评分改善率差异均无显著性意义(P > 0.05)。可见对无严重不稳的单节段退变性腰椎疾病患者,两种治疗方法的效果相当,均能有效提高椎间融合率,使小关节稳定,解除临床症状,门诊随访满意。但采用微创经椎间孔椎体融合术联合单侧椎弓根螺钉及经椎板关节突螺钉固定的患者手术切口长度、手术时间、术中出血量、术后切口引流液量明显减少(P < 0.05),说明该方法具有创伤小、操作简单的优势。     

Prevalence of facet joint arthrosis in lumbago patients–CT scan evaluation

IntroductionThere are multiple causes of low back pain (LBP), the leading ones being degeneration of intervertebral disc, lumbar spinal stenosis(LSS) and facet joint arthrosis(FJA). There are number of studies done earlier on disc degeneration and LSS, however the studies on facet joint arthrosis are limited and incomplete. Hence the present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of FJA of lumbar spine in lumbago patients of Delhi NCR region of India.MethodThe present study was conducted in the Departments of Radiodiagnosis of Santosh Medical College, Ghaziabad and Safdarjung Hospitals, New Delhi. Thirty eight patients were selected for CT scan imaging after pre-defined questionnaire and informed consent. The images were assessed on Philips Dicom viewer for facet joint arthritic changes.ResultsA high prevalence of 52.6% was seen in cases of LBP. FJA was seen in 80% of female cases and the highest prevalence of arthrosis was seen at lumbar spinal level of L4-L5.DiscussionFacet joint arthrosis plays an important role in low back pain. The prevalence of FJA increases caudally from L1 to L5, with the highest incidence being at the L4–L5 spinal level. The prevalence of FJA is seen more in females than males.     

Significance of interfacet distance, facet joint orientation, and lumbar lordosis in spondylolysis

The aim of this study is to reveal the association between lumbar spondylolysis and several radiologic parameters, which had been suggested to be significant. The authors examine interfacet distance (IFD), facet joint orientation (FJO), and lumbar segmental lordosis (LSL) all together on the basis of lumbar computed tomography (CT) scan of 35 patients with L5 spondylolysis and 36 unaffected control groups. Thirty-five Korean military recruits, aged 19-23 (mean 20.9 years), were diagnosed as L5 spondylolysis by lumber CT scans. As a control group, 36 male Korean military recruits, aged 18-25 (mean 21.3 years), were reconfirmed as not affected by lumbar spondylolysis by CT scan when they visited our hospital complaining of back pain. This study compares IFD, FJO, and LSL for each lumbar segment between the spondylolytic and unaffected groups. We also propose the use of normal mean data of IFD, FJO, and LSL of lumbar vertebrae from 36 Korean young military recruits because each measurement has power as an absolute value, like data from an osteologic collection in other studies. Comparison of IFD between spondylolytic and unaffected individuals reveals significant differences at the L3, L4, and L5 level (P = 0.0384, P = 0.0219, and P < 0.0001, respectively). In the group of spondylolysis, the increase of IFD from L4 to S1 was less pronounced (P < 0.0001) and the LSL at L5-S1 was more lordotic (P = 0.0203). Interfacet distance and lumbar lordosis were significantly different between patients with L5 spondylolysis and individuals without pars defect on L5. In the spondylolysis group, and the increase of IFD from L4 to S1 was less pronounced and the LSL at L5-S1 was more lordotic.     

A controlled trial of corticosteroid injections into facet joints for chronic low back pain.

BACKGROUND. Chronic low back pain is a common problem with many treatments, few of which have been rigorously evaluated. This randomized, placebo-controlled trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy of injections of corticosteroid into facet joints to treat chronic low back pain. METHODS. Patients with chronic low back pain who reported immediate relief of their pain after injections of local anesthetic into the facet joints between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae and the fifth lumbar and first sacral vertebrae were randomly assigned to receive under fluoroscopic guidance injections of either methylprednisolone acetate (20 mg; n = 49) or isotonic saline (n = 48) in the same facet joints. Ninety-five patients were followed for six months and their condition assessed with scales of pain severity, back mobility, and limitation of function. RESULTS. After one month, none of the outcome measures evaluating pain, functional status, and back flexion differed clinically or statistically between the two study groups. Forty-two percent of the patients who received methylprednisolone and 33 percent of those who received placebo reported marked or very marked improvement (95 percent confidence interval for the difference, -11 to 28 percentage points; P = 0.53). The results were similar after three months. At the six-month evaluation, the patients treated with methylprednisolone reported more improvement, less pain on the visual-analogue scale, and less physical disability. The differences were reduced, however, when concurrent interventions were taken into account. Moreover, only 11 patients (22 percent) in the methylprednisolone group and 5 (10 percent) in the placebo group had sustained improvement from the first month to the sixth month (95 percent confidence interval for the difference, -2 to 26; P = 0.19). CONCLUSIONS. We conclude that injecting methylprednisolone acetate into the facet joints is of little value in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain.     

Adjuvant administration of hypertonic saline in lumbar epidural intervention may be associated with successful response in patients with probable neuropathic radicular pain Screened by Douleur Neuropathique 4

Background: Chronic lumbar radicular pain often accompanies neuropathic pain. The treatment may follow a screening for probable neuropathic pain rather than the definitive diagnosis, which is often difficult in daily practice. However, interventional management may have limited effects on symptoms in patients with neuropathic radicular pain refractory to conservative treatments. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the factors associated with successful responses after lumbar epidural intervention in patients with chronic lumbar neuropathic radicular pain determined by Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4).Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 221 chronic lumbar radicular pain patients using a DN4 questionnaire prior to the epidural interventional procedure. The patients were divided into two groups according to the DN4 questionnaire: <4-point DN4 and ≥4 DN4. The numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain intensity, changes in physical functional status, and the use of pain medication were obtained before and 1 month after the procedure. Successful responder was defined based on robust combination of outcome parameters. The factors associated with successful response were analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression.Results: We found 170 (76.9%) patients with DN4 <4 and 51 (23.1%) with a score ≥4. Among the total 221 patients, 129 (58.4%) were successful responders and 92 (41.6%) were non-responders regardless of DN4 score. We observed a significantly lower proportion of successful responders among patients with a DN4 score ≥4 (22, 43.1%) than patients with a score <4 (107, 62.9%) (P=0.012). After adjusting in multivariate regression analysis, the DN4 score was independently associated with response after lumbar epidural intervention (odds ratio [OR]=0.838; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.718-0.978; P=0.025). In subgroup logistic regression analysis according to the DN4 score, adjuvant administration of hypertonic saline during epidural interventions in patients with a DN4 score ≥4 (OR=3.71; CI=1.142-12.457; P=0.029) was associated with the success of the lumbar epidural procedure at 1 month.Conclusion: The adjuvant use of hypertonic saline in lumbar epidural interventions may be effective at least 1 month after the intervention in patients with probable neuropathic lumbar radicular pain ≥4 using the DN4.     

腰椎管内静脉血清中炎性因子与腰椎管狭窄的关系

背景：大量研究表明,局部腰椎管狭窄可导致机体免疫学异常和局部慢性炎症的发生,而慢性炎症才是导致疼痛的主要原因。目前对于炎性因子与腰椎管狭窄症的相关性研究主要集中于椎间盘、小关节及黄韧带上,腰椎管内静脉中炎性因子与腰椎管狭窄的关系尚未见相关报道。 目的：分析腰椎管内静脉血清中白细胞介素1α、肿瘤坏死因子α水平与腰椎管狭窄症的相关性。 方法：选取2011年9月至2013年12月上海市同济大学附属东方医院脊柱外科接受腰椎后路椎板切除减压治疗的腰椎管狭窄症及腰椎爆裂性骨折患者,共51例,评估治疗前腰腿痛目测类比评分及Oswestry功能障碍指数。收集退变性腰椎管狭窄症及腰椎爆裂性骨折患者外周静脉及椎管内静脉血,酶联免疫吸附剂法测定血清中白细胞介素1α及肿瘤坏死因子α水平。 结果与结论：退变性腰椎管狭窄症组椎管内静脉血清白细胞介素1α水平显著高于腰椎爆裂性骨折组,退变性腰椎管狭窄症组椎管内静脉血清白细胞介素1α水平显著高于外周静脉,差异均有显著性意义(P < 0.05)。退变性腰椎管狭窄症组腰椎管狭窄节段越多,静脉血清白细胞介素1α水平越高,但统计学差异不显著。线性相关分析显示,退变性腰椎管狭窄症组椎管内静脉血清白细胞介素1α水平与腰腿痛及功能障碍评分呈显著正相关(r²=0.359 3,P < 0.05;r²=0.526 4,P < 0.05)。提示腰椎管内静脉中炎性因子可能是导致退变性腰椎管狭窄患者腰腿痛及功能障碍的原因之一。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：人工关节;骨植入物;脊柱;骨折;内固定;数字化骨科;组织工程全文链接：     

Controlled medial branch anesthetic block in the diagnosis of chronic lumbar facet joint pain: the value of a three-month follow-up

OBJECTIVES:

To verify the incidence of facetary and low back pain after a controlled medial branch anesthetic block in a three-month follow-up and to verify the correlation between the positive results and the demographic variables.

METHODS:

Patients with chronic lumbar pain underwent a sham blockade (with a saline injection) and then a controlled medial branch block. Their symptoms were evaluated before and after the sham injection and after the real controlled medial branch block; the symptoms were reevaluated after one day and one week, as well as after one, two and three months using the visual analog scale. We searched for an association between the positive results and the demographic characteristics of the patients.

RESULTS:

A total of 104 controlled medial branch blocks were performed and 54 patients (52%) demonstrated >50% improvements in pain after the blockade. After three months, lumbar pain returned in only 18 individuals, with visual analogue scale scores >4. Therefore, these patients were diagnosed with chronic facet low back pain. The three-months of follow-up after the controlled medial branch block excluded 36 patients (67%) with false positive results. The results of the controlled medial branch block were not correlated to sex, age, pain duration or work disability but were correlated with patient age (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Patient diagnosis with a controlled medial branch block proved to be effective but was not associated with any demographic variables. A three-month follow-up is required to avoid a high number of false positives.     

人和大鼠腰椎关节突关节的SP能神经纤维的分布

目的：证实支配腰椎关节突关节的神经支配和化学性质，方法：用逆行荧光素标记结合免疫组化法，研究７只大鼠腰部脊神经节细胞的周围突分支投射到腰椎关节突关节及其递质性质以及３例人腰椎关节突关节囊上神经末梢的化学性质，结果：发现大鼠一侧Ｌ５和Ｌ６之间的关节突关节受同侧Ｌ２－５节段的脊神经节的部分细胞周围突分支支配，其中有３３．３９９％的中型和小型细胞为中ＳＰ能免疫反应阳性，人的关节突关节囊含有ＳＰ阳性的神经     

腰椎关节突关节形态变化及其对腰椎退行滑脱的影响

目的：研究腰椎关节突关节形态变化及其对腰椎退行性变滑脱的影响。方法：随机抽取42例腰椎退行性变滑脱(LDS)、52例腰椎间盘突出症(LDH)的病人的X光、CT进行测量其椎间盘的高度比、关节突关节的角度以及关节突关节的横径数据进行统计处理与分析。结果：与LDH组相比，LDS组的关节突关节角偏矢状角，其椎间盘的高度比以及关节突关节的横径均较少。结论：腰椎关节突关节宽基部横径越小，该关节角度越趋于矢状位，腰椎滑移几率越高。     

CT多平面重建预评估腰椎经皮椎弓根螺钉置入损伤关节突关节的风险

文题释义：CT多平面重组技术：是将扫描范围内所有的轴位图像叠加起来在对某些标线标定的重组线所指定的组织进行冠状位、矢状位及任意角度斜位图像重组,以在不同角度观察影像学图像。 经皮椎弓根螺钉：该技术采用在术中影像检查设备引导下经皮肤小切口置入椎弓根螺钉,与常规开放置钉手术相比明显减少了对椎旁肌的损伤程度,既往学者多关注螺钉与椎弓根壁的位置关系,而较少关注其与关节突关节的位置关系。 背景：经皮椎弓根螺钉内固定技术被广泛应用于治疗腰椎疾病。经皮椎弓根螺钉由于是在术中C形臂X射线引导下操作,对螺钉与关节突关节之间的位置关系难以完全控制,可能导致关节突关节损伤。既往有学者认为体质量指数>29.9 kg/m²、小关节角>35°及年龄<65岁是经皮椎弓根螺钉损伤关节突关节的高危因素。由于不同腰椎椎弓根轴线与关节突关节的位置关系不同,螺钉对关节突关节的破坏是否存在差异目前尚无相关报道。 目的：探讨腰椎CT多平面重建技术在腰椎经皮椎弓根钉置入术前预估螺钉损伤腰椎关节突关节中的价值。 方法：选择100例行经皮椎弓根钉置入内固定治疗腰椎骨折及腰椎退行性疾病的患者,对治疗方案均知情同意,且得到医院伦理委员会批准。于术前CT斜轴位、斜矢状位及斜冠状位调整多平面重建的定位线,重建出椎弓根的切面断层,以斜冠状位线为中心设置直径为6.5 mm的标定圆模拟经皮椎弓根钉轴向截面,观察标定圆侵犯关节突关节程度,设为术前组;术后行腰椎CT检查观察螺钉损伤关节突关节程度,设为术后组。评价2组间不同节段关节突关节损伤螺钉数及组内不同节段关节突关节破坏比率的差异。 结果与结论：①共计置钉478枚,术前组显示标定圆侵犯关节突关节109枚,占比22.8%,其中L₁-L₅标定圆侵犯关节突关节螺钉数及占比分别为6枚(6.8%)、9枚(10.5%)、19枚(18.3%)、30枚(30.0%)和45枚(45.0%);②术后组显示关节突关节损伤115枚,占比24.1%,其中L₁-L₅螺钉损伤关节突关节螺钉数及占比分别为10枚(11.4%)、7枚(8.1%)、15枚(14.4%)、26枚(26.0%)和41枚(41.0%);③McNemar 配对χ²检验不同腰椎节段P值分别为：L₁ P=0.08,L₂ P=0.22,L₃ P=0.20,L₄ P=0.05,L₅ P=0.08,2组结果比较差异均无显著性意义;④Kappa检验2组一致性分别为：L₁ Kappa值=0.67,L₂ Kappa值=0.80,L₃ Kappa值=0.80,L₄ Kappa值=0.87,L₅ Kappa值=0.92;术前组及术后组组内不同节段间关节突关节损伤比率比较差异有显著性意义(P=0.000);⑤提示腰椎CT多平面重建技术可较为准确地判断经皮椎弓根螺钉与关节突关节的位置关系,为判断术后螺钉是否可能侵犯关节突关节提供了一种可靠的预估方法。 ORCID: 0000-0003-4872-2726(张晓芸) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：人工关节;骨植入物;脊柱;骨折;内固定;数字化骨科;组织工程     

椎间盘髓核摘除对腰椎间小关节承载功能影响的实验研究

目的分析椎间盘髓核摘除后腰椎小关节受力大小及变化情况。方法采用8具新鲜脊柱腰骶段(L1~S1)标本,在MTS系统上用压敏片分别测量L3-L4、L4-L5两个节段小关节面在中立位和前屈、后伸位时受力大小;摘除L4-L5椎间盘髓核,重复测量。结果完整脊柱标本中,L4-L5与L3-L4节段关节面受力大小相似:中立位时受力占轴向压缩载荷的15%;前屈10°、20°时受力占压缩载荷的比例减为9%、5%;后伸10°、20°时受力占压缩载荷的比例增至23%、33%。L4-L5椎间盘髓核摘除后,L4-L5节段小关节面在各个运动状态下受力均显著增大,而L3-L4节段小关节受力也有增加的趋势。结论腰椎小关节有一定的承载功能。腰椎间盘切除术后,同一平面及相邻平面小关节受力增加,可能引发腰痛。     

盐酸氨基葡萄糖联合非类固醇类抗炎药治疗小关节退变伴下腰痛

背景：盐酸葡萄糖胺对骨关节炎的治疗作用在膝关节已经得到证实,然而盐酸氨基葡萄糖与非类固醇类抗炎药物联用的治疗腰背痛鲜有报道。 目的：探讨盐酸氨基葡萄糖与小剂量非类固醇类抗炎药物联用治疗腰椎小关节退变伴下腰痛的临床效果。 方法：纳入35例小关节退变伴下腰痛患者,给予口服盐酸氨基葡萄糖750 mg,2次/d,外加双氯酚酸钠缓释片75 mg,1次/d,周期8周。使用Oswestry残疾指数、目测类比疼痛评分和SF-36量表在治疗前,治疗完成时和完成治疗后8周进行评估。 结果与结论：33例完成最终的随访,男女比例为1∶2,平均(41.2±10.3)岁。经过治疗,患者的腰痛和腿痛症状,腰椎功能和生活质量均有显著改善和提高(P < 0.05)。提示,盐酸氨基葡萄糖与小剂量非类固醇类抗炎药物联用对小关节退变伴腰痛患者有一定治疗作用。