The neuroradiographic diagnosis of lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus: I. A comparison of computed tomography (CT), myelography, CT-myelography, discography, and CT-discography

The accuracy of five imaging modalities for the diagnosis of lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) is compared prospectively in 124 patients, all of whom underwent surgical exploration. All tests were read independently of each other and the level of confidence in each diagnosis was recorded. The results are based on negative (106) as well as positive (125) findings at the 231 disc sites (level and side) explored. Computed tomography-discography (disco-CT) was the most accurate test (87%) compared to 77% for CT-myelography (myelo-CT), 74% for CT, 70% for myelography, 64% for disc injection pain, and 58% for discography. The false positive rate was lower for disco-CT (19%) than for myelo-CT (24%), CT (24%), and myelography (30%). The false negative rate was also lower for disco-CT (8%) than for myelo-CT (22%), CT (29%), and myelography (30%). Disco-CT was the most accurate test (94%) in patients who had prior disc surgery compared with 81% for myelo-CT, 80% for CT, and 74% for myelography. Disco-CT was also the most accurate test for patients with foraminal HNP (91% compared with 71% for CT, 65% for myelo-CT, and 58% for myelography). Disc injection reproduced the patient's clinical pain pattern in only 36% of herniated discs. This test has high specificity (89%), but low sensitivity (43%). The risks from myelography followed by discography within a 72-hour period are similar to those reported for myelography alone. Disco-CT is the most accurate of these tests (P less than 0.05) for the diagnosis of lumbar HNP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Characteristics of nerve root compression caused by degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis with scoliosis

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: In degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis with scoliosis (DLS), many authors stated that nerve root compression is almost always seen on the concave side of the scoliosis, and L4 and L5 nerve roots are the most often involved. However, there are few reports on the relationship between nerve root compression and the pattern of scoliosis. PURPOSE: To investigate the factors that may contribute to radiculopathy in DLS and their association with the pattern of the scoliosis. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. METHODS: Twenty-two consecutive patients with DLS with radiculopathy were examined. The symptomatic nerve roots were determined by pain distribution, neurological findings and nerve root infiltration using lidocaine. The compressive factors were diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging or myelography, discography, computed tomography after myelography or discography and radiculography. The pattern of scoliosis was determined in plain radiographs. We evaluated the correlation between the affected nerve root and the compressive factors or the pattern of the scoliosis. RESULTS: The L3 root was affected in 23% of patients; L4 root in 68%, L5 root in 55% and S1 root in 18%. L3 and L4 roots were more compressed by foraminal or extraforaminal stenosis on the concave side of the curve, whereas L5 and S1 roots were commonly affected by lateral recess stenosis on the convex side. The Cobb angle and the lateral slip of the cases in which L3 or L4 root was affected were significantly larger than in cases in which L5 or S1 root was compressed. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of radiculopathy caused by DLS, it is important to bear in mind that L3 or L4 roots were more strongly compressed by foraminal or extraforaminal stenosis at the concave side of the curve, whereas L5 or S1 nerve roots were affected more by lateral recess stenosis at the convex side of the curve.     

Transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy in the treatment of foraminal and extraforaminal lumbar disc herniations

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the endoscopic technique, as applied to patients with foraminal and extraforaminal disc herniations, and to report the outcome and complications. A retrospective analysis was performed of 35 consecutive cases of foraminal and extraforaminal lumbar disc herniation managed by posterolateral endoscopic discectomy. Pain was measured by means of the Visual Analog Score. Patient satisfaction was evaluated by the Macnab outcome criteria. The median follow-up period was 18 months (range 10 to 35 months). The mean Visual Analog Score improved from 8.6 before the surgery to 3.2 after the surgery. Overall, excellent or good outcomes were obtained in 30 (85.7%) of the 35 patients at the last follow-up examination, with both these outcomes showing statistically significant improvement (P<0.01). There were no complications related to the surgery, nor was any spinal instability detected. Three patients (8.6%) experienced persistent radiculopathy and subsequently underwent open microdiscectomy at the same level. We concluded that transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy is safe and efficacious in the treatment of foraminal or extraforaminal disc herniations. However, proper patient selection is paramount to ensure a satisfactory outcome after decompression of foraminal and extraforaminal disc herniations.     

Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy for far lateral lumbar disc herniations: prospective study and outcome of 66 patients.

BACKGROUND: Extraforaminal disc herniations represent up to 11% of all lumbar herniated discs. Numerous surgical approaches have been described. Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PED) is one of the minimally invasive techniques; after mastering this procedure it is a practical method that is used for treatment of foraminal or extraforaminal disc herniation. The outcome of PED for treatment of foraminal or extraforaminal disc herniation has been studied. METHOD: A total of 66 patients with foraminal or extraforaminal lumbar disc herniation was treated by applying the PED technique between January 1998 and June 2005. The positions of the herniated disc levels were L2-3 (n=5, 8%), L3-4 (n=19, 28%) and L4-5 (n=42; 64%). The selected patients had no previous surgery, appropriate conservative therapies were done before the operations, and MRI was the main diagnostic method with the clinical findings. Evaluation of the patients with clinical examinations, visual analogue pain scale (VAS) and Oswestry scale was performed preoperatively, on postoperative day 7 and in the postoperative 6-12 months period. RESULTS: In two patients (n=1, L4-5 and n=1, L3-4) disc material could not be removed with PED, so discectomy was performed with microscopic visualization during the same session. Three patients (n=3, L4-5) were reoperated on three to six months after primary surgery due to recurring disc problems with microscope visualization. In two patients (n=2, L4-5) root nerves were partially damaged, and in two patients (n=2, L4-5) root nerves were impinged by the working channel. These 4 patients had dysesthesias from just after surgery to a mean of 45 days after surgery. One of recurrent cases was among these patients. Neurological examinations showed minimal muscle weakness of the quadriceps femoris and diminished sensation of the L4 dermatomal area in patients with partial nerve root damage. This patient improved and the neurologic examination became normal with disappearance of the dysesthesia. There was no sign of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RDS). With these two patients VAS and Oswestry scales scores decreased significantly early in the postoperative follow-up. The postoperative 6-month average scores are favourable in comparison with the average score at postoperative day 7. The postoperative 12-month scores showed no significant differences to those of postoperative month 1. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy is a minimally invasive method and offers many benefits to the patient, but extensive surgical practice is needed to become a capable surgeon. Consequently this technique can only be a treatment option on appropriate patients. This study reconfirmed that the removal of fragmented disc material is achieved and offers a pain-free status.     

经椎间孔内镜下椎间盘摘除术初步体会

目的 评价经椎间孔内镜下椎间盘摘除术治疗椎间孔内或极外侧椎间盘突出症疗效.方法 选取2005年1月到2006年12月间32例连续接受经椎间孔内镜下椎间盘摘除术治疗患者,年龄18岁至46岁(平均28.3岁).通过临床量表和问卷的形式以VAS评分和Macnab标准比较手术前后腰腿痛的缓解程度.结果 所有患者均为单节段病损.其中5例为腰3-4、其余27例为腰4-5椎间盘突出.两例术后出现短暂小腿及足外侧感觉减退,另一例由于手术减压不完全,3d后行切开减压.平均随访20.8月(15～27月),平均VAS评分由术前的7.8降到术后的3.4.根据Macnab标准,优良率为93.7%.结论 经椎间孔内镜下椎间盘摘除术是治疗椎间孔内或极外侧椎间盘突出症的理想方法.     

Comparison of computed tomography myelography and magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of cervical spondylotic myelopathy and radiculopathy.

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional retrospective radiologic study. OBJECTIVES: To establish concordance rates between interpretations of computed tomography myelography and magnetic resonance imaging in patients with degenerative cervical spine disease. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Observed discrepancies in interpretation of computed tomography myelography and magnetic resonance imaging question the reliability of comparisons between these two methods. METHODS: This study blindly and randomly evaluated cervical computed tomography myelography and magnetic resonance imaging in 20 patients referred for clinically diagnosed cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, myelopathy, or both. The discovertebral joints, facet joints, lateral recesses, cord size, spinal canal, and neural foramina also were evaluated with graded scales. All results were subjected to the kappa statistic for strength of agreement. RESULTS: Agreement for interpretation of the discovertebral junction occurred in 144 of 240 sites (60%), indicating only moderately good intermethod concordance (kappa = 0.44). Intermethod agreement on the characterization of facet joint disease was only moderately good (143 of 160 sites; 89.4%; kappa = 0.52), and on characterization of lateral recess disease was poor (125 of 160 sites; 78.1%; kappa = 0.20). On degree of spinal canal compromise, there was agreement within one grade in 199 of 240 sites (82.9%; kappa = 0.42). Intermethod agreement on neural foraminal encroachment and cord size was only moderately good (kappa = 0.42 and 0.46, respectively). Computed tomography myelography tended to upgrade the spinal canal narrowing and neural foraminal encroachment. CONCLUSIONS: For most parameters of interpretation, the degree of concordance between computed tomography myelography and magnetic resonance imaging is only moderately good, with discrepancies noted especially in the differentiation of disc and bony pathology. These methods should be viewed as complementary studies.     

Role of computed tomography in the radiological evaluation of painful radiculopathy after negative myelography: foraminal neural entrapment

Thirty-five patients with an unremarkable or a negative water-soluble contrast myelogram and a diagnosis of foraminal neural entrapment made or more firmly established by computed tomography (CT) were detected in evaluating 950 patients presenting for myelography. The CT criterion of foraminal neural entrapment was the presence of a mass displacing epidural fat and encroaching on the neural intervertebral foramen or lateral recess so as to compromise an emerging nerve root. The entrapment (confirmed operatively) was due to a laterally prolapsed disc (16 cases), superior articular hypertrophy (4 cases), lateral recess stenosis (3 cases), posterolateral vertebral bone lipping (2 cases), tumors (6 cases), postoperative scarring (2 cases), spondylolisthesis (1 case), and synovial cysts that encroached on the neural foramina (1 case). CT is an important additional investigation in patients with a painful radiculopathy and a negative or equivocal water-soluble contrast myelogram.     

Clinical presentation and anatomic position of L3-L4 disc herniation: a prospective and comparative study

OBJECTIVE: A prospective, controlled cohort study was conducted to assess the anatomic transverse location and clinical presentation of L3-L4 disc herniation compared with lower lumbar levels. METHODS: This study prospectively identified 37 patients diagnosed with L3-L4 disc herniation (study group) and 52 patients diagnosed with L4-L5 and L5-S1 herniation (control group). The following clinical data were collected: age, femoral stretch test, motor strength, sensation, and deep tendon reflexes. The anatomic transverse location of the disc fragments was assessed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging and was classified as either central, posterolateral, foraminal, or far lateral. RESULTS: The patients in the study group were older than the patients in the control group, and neurologic deficit was more common. The transverse location was foraminal and extraforaminal in 59% of the study group compared with 27% of the control group. These differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of foraminal and far lateral disc herniation is significantly higher at the L3-L4 level compared with lower lumbar levels. When examining an older patient complaining of thigh pain, special attention should be given to the quadriceps strength, patellar reflex, and femoral stretch test. The L3-L4 foraminal and extraforaminal area should be assessed carefully.     

极外侧型腰椎间盘突出症的诊治分析

目的探讨极外侧型腰椎间盘突出症（FLLDH）的诊治特点和术式选择。方法23例FLLDH患者中,其中椎间孔型14例,椎间孔外型9例。23例患者中腰痛8例（占31％）,下肢痛21例（占91％）,直腿抬高试验10例（43％）,CT或MRI可清楚地显示位于椎间孔或孔外缘突出的椎间盘。分别采用经后正中入路椎板扩大开窗术,椎间孔切开和椎弓根内固定植骨融合术,或经肌间隙入路髓核摘除术。疗效按Macnab标准评估。结果22例患者经平均3．6年随访,优15例,良4例,可3例,无差,优良率达86％。在可的3例中,其中1例为经旁正中入路手术,另2例为椎间孔型FLLDH,周缘钙化。结论症状和体征表现常以较高神经节段受损为主,下肢痛是主要症状,CT或MRI是诊断的主要依据。对椎间孔型FLLDH可采用椎板间扩大开窗术;对椎间孔外型FLLDH则需行经椎间孔切开术并辅以经椎弓根内固定植骨融合,亦可采用经肌间隙入路髓核摘除术。     

椎间孔及椎间孔外腰椎间盘突出症的手术治疗

目的 比较三种没术式在椎间孔及椎间孔外腰椎间盘突出症治疗中的优、缺点,探讨各自的最佳适应证。方法对本院１９９２年８月－１９９８年４月间手术治疗的３４例椎间孔及椎间孔外腰椎间盘突出症病例进行随访,了解其术后症状改善情况,并同时摄Ｘ线片观察手术对局部稳定性的影响,平均随访２９个月。结果 经峡部外缘入路手术１９例,手术时间平均６２分钟,平均出血量５８ｍｌ,手术总优良率９３％。经椎板、峡部关节突切除途径５     

Diagnostic findings in painful adult scoliosis.

The purpose of this study was to document the diagnostic findings in a group of adult patients presenting with both scoliosis and pain. Fifty-five adults were evaluated by medical history, physical examination, radiography, myelography followed by computed tomography, discography followed by computed tomography, and single- and dual-photon densitometry. Curves were 49% adult degenerative onset, 44% idiopathic. The older degenerative patients had myelographic defects most commonly within the primary curve and multiple abnormal, not necessarily painful, discs throughout the lumbar spine on discography. The idiopathic group had myelographic defects most commonly in a compensatory lumbar or lumbosacral curve. On discography, all idiopathic patients had at least one abnormal, painful disc, and 88% had their pain reproduced. Pain-producing pathology was frequently identified in areas that would not have been included in the fusion area according to accepted rules for treatment of idiopathic scoliosis.     

椎间盘造影在决定腰椎融合节段中的作用

目的 评估椎间盘造影术在决定选择腰椎间融合节段中的应用价值.方法 对17例下腰痛(共56个椎间盘)进行椎间盘造影.根据临床症状、辅助检查、椎间盘造影结果制定手术计划,采用椎间盘切除,腰椎间融合术.术前、术后给予VAS、ODI评分以及影像学评估.结果 本组均成功进行了椎间盘造影.椎间盘造影阳性20个,其中MRI显示只有17个为异常椎间盘.在椎间盘造影阴性的36个椎间盘中,18个MRI显示正常.MRI检测症状椎间盘的假阴性率为15%,假阳性率为50%.17例均接受了腰椎间融合术.ODI评分,术前平均51%,术后1周,1、3、6、12个月结果平均为15%,融合率100%,无一例发生并发症.VAS术前平均7分(6～9分),术后平均2分(0～4分),临床效果良好.结论 椎间盘造影术可避免不必要的腰椎融合,临床症状、辅助检查结合椎间盘造影可以提供更多的信息以更准确地选择融合节段.     

经皮椎板间隙入路L5S1椎间盘切除术

目的探讨经皮椎板间隙入路内窥镜激光辅助椎间盘切除术治疗L5S1椎间盘突出症的疗效。方法回顾性研究2002年5月至2003年12月收治的L5S1椎间盘突出症病例168例,全部采用局麻下经皮椎板间隙入路内窥镜激光辅助椎间盘切除术,男92例,女76例;年龄18～73岁,平均42.8岁。依据Yeung分型,中央型22例、旁正中型120例、椎间孔型23例、椎间孔外侧型3例。其中钙化突出椎间盘8例,游离椎间盘19例。骶髂间距平均38.6mm。结果随访5～19个月,平均8.3个月。手术时间30￣90min,平均45min;平均住院时间1.3d。临床结果以MacNab标准评定,优73例(43.5%),良79例(47.0%),可8例(4.8%),差8例(4.8%);优良率90.5%。1例发生术中显微髓核钳断裂,8例术后MRI显示病变椎间盘减压不彻底、症状体征未改善,1例发生椎间盘炎,26例出现术后一过性感觉麻木。无一例发生死亡、硬脊膜破裂及脑脊液漏、血管损伤。结论L5S1的椎间盘突出可以采用经皮椎板间隙入椎管途径的内窥镜激光辅助椎间盘切除术,特别适用于髂嵴较高的患者。     

极外侧腰椎间盘突出症的临床分型及手术方式选择

目的 提出极外侧腰椎间盘突出症的新的临床分型,为手术方式的选择提供依据.方法 按照椎间盘突出的位置及其临床症状将极外侧腰椎间盘突出症分为椎管内椎间孔内型(Ⅰ型)、椎间孔内型(Ⅱ型)和椎间孔外型(Ⅲ型).据此对2002年1月至2007年1月收治的38例极外侧椎间盘突出症患者进行临床分型,并结合临床分型选择(1)经横突间椎间盘切除;(2)经椎管部分关节突切除、潜行椎间盘切除;(3)经椎管椎间盘切除+经后路椎体间融合(PLIF)等手术方式.38例患者中男性25例,女性13例;平均58.4岁.其中L_(3～4) 17例、L_ (4～5) 13例、L_5S_1 8例.单纯椎间盘突出23例,合并椎管狭窄15例.所有病例均表现为突出节段出口根受压的症状和体征,其中Ⅰ型中的7例同时伴有下位神经根受压的表现,15例合并椎管狭窄者存在间歇性跛行,21例有明确的腰痛症状.手术前后行根性疼痛VAS评分,术后采用MacNab方法进行临床疗效评定.结果 按照新的临床分型,38例患者中Ⅰ型10例、Ⅱ型19例、Ⅲ型9例.经横突间行椎间盘切除5例,经椎管部分关节突切除、潜行椎间盘切除7例,经椎管椎间盘切除+PLIF 26例.随访时间6个月～4年10个月,平均2年11个月.VAS评分术前平均为7.4分,术后2周为2.7分,末次随访为3.1分.末次随访MacNab评定结果:优20例、良12例、可5例、差1例,优良率为84.2%.并发症:伤口表浅感染1例、减压不满意者1例、脑脊液漏1例.未见内固定断裂、松动等.结论 新的临床分型,对认识极外侧腰椎间盘突出症的病理变化及选择手术方式等具有重要的意义.     

Imaging evaluation of the candidate for percutaneous lumbar discectomy

Percutaneous lumbar discectomy has been advocated as an alternate means of treating lumbar disc disease. A disc treatable by this method must not be free in the spinal canal and cannot be above or below the disc space. Magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and discography all can be valuable in selecting patients for percutaneous lumbar discectomy.     

Lumbar canal stenosis: Results in 40 patients surgically treated

Summary Authors present the clinical and neuroradiological characteristics of 40 patients treated for lumbar canal stenosis during a 10 years experience. The usefulness of computed tomography in comparison with myelography and plain X-rays of the spine is stressed. The surgical treatment was wide laminectomy involving one or more levels (two to four) plus an eventual foraminotomy but without discectomy. All patients were followed up and in 85% of cases a reduction of clinical symptoms was observed. Residual symptoms were also present in some of the improved patients, they generally accepted them without great dismay.     

Percutaneous endoscopic treatment of foraminal and extraforaminal disc herniation at the L5-S1 level

Background  

Microsurgery of foraminal and extraforaminal disc herniation at the L5-S1 level remains a challenge because of the limited access by a high iliac crest, the sacral ala, large transverse processes of L5 and hidden disc fragments lateral to the zygapophyseal joint. Our aim was to present the outcome of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) of these lateral and far lateral disc herniations at the L5-S1 level using the newly described foraminal retreat technique in a group of patients with similar preoperative diagnostic studies.     

Far lateral lumbar disc herniations: 3- to 14-year results

A retrospective review of 38 patients who underwent surgical treatment for far lateral lumbar disc herniation (FLLDH) using two different techniques is reported. Between October 1986 and October 1997, we operated on 38 patients with FLLDH: 12 had extraforaminal disc herniation and 26 had foraminal disc herniation. Plain roentgenograms, computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance (MR) images were obtained before surgery. Postoperative outcomes showed a relief of clinical symptoms with recovery of neurological signs. There was no difference among the results encountered in the two surgical groups. A diagnosis of level based on physical examination alone is difficult. The combined use of CT and MR imaging helps to confirm the exact localization of disc herniation. Received: 5 November 2001/Accepted: 18 December 2001     

Magnetic resonance imaging in the preoperative evaluation of cervical radiculopathy

Forty patients with cervical radiculopathy were examined preoperatively with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI was used alone in 27 (68%) of the 40 patients; the remainder also had computed tomography in conjunction with myelography. The primary criterion on MRI for a clinically significant lesion was asymmetrical narrowing of the subarachnoid space in the region of the nerve root. Surgical confirmation of the abnormality was obtained in all 40 cases. The operative findings were a herniated nucleus pulposus (32 of 40 patients), spondylosis (2 of 40 patients), or a combination of the two (6 of 40 patients). MRI identified a surgical lesion (herniated nucleus pulposus, spondylosis, or both) in 37 of the 40 (92%) patients. We think MRI is the only preoperative imaging examination necessary in most cases of cervical radiculopathy.