New progress in adjacent segment degeneration/disease

Adjacent segment degeneration/disease (ASD) has been generally accepted as a long‐term complication after spinal surgery. Although the incidence of ASD is not very high, it is gradually recognized to be a very important factor in evaluation of the long‐term effect of spinal fusion. There are many views concerning pathogenic factors and ways of prevention and treatment. The authors review and discuss the current research and this article will describe recent advances in ASD.     

腰椎退变性疾病融合术后邻近节段退变的研究进展

邻近节段退变（adjacent segment degeneration,ASD）是腰椎融合术后邻近节段最常见的病变,其含义较广, 可以泛指融合区邻近节段的所有异常改变。文献报道影像学和症状学邻近节段退变的发生率分别达到了8%～100%和5.2%～18.5%[1]。ASD是在1956年由Anderson在脊柱融合术后邻近节段的退行性滑脱的病例中报道[2],随着内固定器械的日趋成熟,腰椎融合术的成功率明显提高,融合术后所带来的邻近节段退变引起了越来越多人的关注,如何减低或避免邻近节段退变的发生逐渐成为研究热点。     

术前相邻节段退变对腰椎融合术后相邻节段退变及临床疗效的影响

目的:分析腰椎融合术前相邻节段已存在退变因素及对其处理方式的不同对术后相邻节段退变(adjacent segment degeneration,ASD)及临床疗效的影响。方法 :纳入我院2015年7月～2017年12月手术治疗的腰椎管狭窄症患者。入选标准:责任节段为L4～S1,且责任节段的相邻节段不存在不稳定因素。术前及随访时完成腰椎MRI及腰椎正侧伸屈位X线片检查,评估责任节段及相邻节段退变状态。依据术前相邻节段椎管形态及手术处理方式的不同,将患者分为三组:A组,术前L3/4节段椎管形态为0级,手术单纯融合责任节段L4～S1;B组,术前L3/4节段椎管形态≥1级,手术单纯融合责任节段L4～S1;C组,术前L3/4节段椎管形态≥1级,手术将退变的相邻节段一并处理,L3～S1固定融合。术后进行至少1年随访。记录患者术时年龄、性别、术前身体质量指数(body mass index, BMI)、麻醉ASA分级、术后随访时间、手术相关数据,术前及随访时的Oswestry功能障碍指数(Oswestry disability index,ODI)、日本骨科协会(Japanese Orthopaed...     

邻近节段关节突关节退变对腰椎融合固定术后邻近节段疾病的影响

目的:探究邻近节段关节突关节退变对腰椎融合固定术后邻近节段疾病的影响。方法:对2016年6月至2019年6月接受L₅S₁腰椎后路椎间融合固定术(posterior lumbar interbody fusion,PLIF)的138例患者进行回顾性分析。根据术前L_4,5关节突关节是否有退变(采用Weishaupt分级标准)分为退变组68例,无退变组70例。收集两组患者年龄、性别、身体质量指数、随访时间、术前L_4,5椎间盘退变情况(采用Pfirrmann分级)等数据,采用疼痛视觉模拟评分(visual analogue scale,VAS)、Oswestry功能指数(Oswestry disability index,ODI)评估术后1、3个月的临床疗效,分析术后邻近节段疾病(adjacent segment disease,ASD)发生情况以及发生ASD时间。结果:两组患者在年龄、性别、身体质量指数、随访时间、术前L_4,5椎间盘退变情况方面比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.0...     

颈椎人工椎间盘置换后对相邻节段退变的影响

目的:观察单节段颈椎人工椎间盘置换术后相邻节段退变情况。方法:截止到2010年10月在我院行单节段颈椎人工椎间盘置换术后随访20个月以上且资料完整、既往无颈椎手术史的患者80例,置换节段为C3/4 8例,C4/5 15例,C5/6 49例,C6/7 8例;41例为Bryan Disc置换术,39例为ProDisc-C置换术。对比术前和末次随访时X线片、MRI相邻节段退变情况。相邻节段退变定义为X线片上椎间隙高度丢失与术前相比大于10%,形成肉眼可见新生骨赘或原有骨赘增大,前纵韧带钙化;在MRI T2加权像上采用Miyazaki颈椎间盘退变分级方法观察相邻节段椎间盘退变情况。结果:随访20~64个月,平均38个月。末次随访时X线片上160个相邻节段中,8个下相邻节段因肩部X线遮挡而显示不清,符合条件的152个相邻节段中21个(13.8%)出现退变,其中Bryan Disc置换术组退变发生率为10.0%,ProDisc-C置换术组退变发生率为18.1%;47例患者获得了MRI随访,94个相邻节段中14个(14.9%)椎间盘退变分级加重1级,其中Bryan Disc置换术组退变加重发生率为12.5%,ProDisc-C置换术组退变加重发生率为22.7%。未出现相邻节段疾病。结论:颈椎人工椎间盘置换术后平均38个月随访相邻节段退变表现加重者不足15%,不同类型的假体对相邻节段退变的影响可能存在一定差异。     

腰椎融合术后相邻节段退变的相关因素分析

【摘要】 目的：探讨腰椎融合术后影响相邻节段退变（adjacent segment degeneration,ASD）的因素。方法：回顾性分析北京大学第三医院骨科2009年1月~2011年1月因腰椎管狭窄症行腰椎后路融合手术患者109例,其中男39例,女70例,年龄24~79岁,平均54岁。门诊随访2~4年,平均3.4年。测量术前融合节段角度（fusion angle,FA）、融合节段头尾端相邻节段角度（proximal angle,PA;distal angle,DA）、腰椎前凸角（lumbar lordosis,LL）、骶骨倾斜角（sacral slope,SS）、骨盆入射角（pelvic incidence,PI）、融合与非融合相邻节段移位距离（slip distance,SD）等参数。以术后2年时站立位X线片相邻节段滑移≥3mm定义为ASD,将患者分为退变组（A组）和非退变组（B组）。同时记录两组患者性别、年龄、骨密度、融合节段数等。采用t检验及χ2检验比较两组间各指标的差异,应用Logistic回归分析ASD的影响因素。结果：A组18例（16.5%）,B组91例（83.5%）。发生ASD患者均为融合节段头端相邻节段退变。A组患者术前LL为29.8°±12.5°,B组为32.4°±11.2°;A组SS为31.5°±12.1°,B组为37.4°±13.4°;A组FA为18.3°±9.0°,B组为14.8°±10.5°; A组PA为6.8°±3.2°,B组为7.2°±5.2°;A组PI为42.3°±9.8°,B组为49.9°±9.8°;两组比较均有统计学差异（P＜0.05）。两组患者性别、年龄、骨密度、融合节段数及DA等均无统计学差异（P＞0.05）。Logistic回归分析显示PI与ASD发生率有显著相关性（P＜0.05）,SS、LL、FA、PA与ASD发生率无相关性（P＞0.05）。结论：在腰椎融合术后影响ASD的诸多因素中,过小的PI值可能是导致ASD的重要因素。     

腰椎滑脱伴邻近节段退变的诊疗分析

[目的]探讨腰椎滑脱伴邻近节段退变诊断、治疗效果及其临床意义.[方法]自2000年10月～2005年10月,对16例腰椎滑脱伴邻近节段退变患者行切开复位内固定术,采用Prolo腰椎功能评定评估腰椎术后功能,影像学评估椎体滑脱复位程度、椎间隙高度、固定节段前凸的恢复、融合器位置、植骨融合情况及内固定物有无松动等,对X线片结果可疑病例,追加CT检查.[结果]本组14病例获得随访,平均随访时间28个月(16～53个月);术后3个月Prolo评分结果:7分3例,8分7例,9分2例,4分2例,优良率为85.7%;末次Prolo评分结果:7分4例,8分6例,9分4例,优良率为100%;术后6个月有8例达到骨融合标准,占66.7%,术后12个月有13例达到骨性融合标准,占92.9%;1例椎间融合可疑,患者没有临床症状和体征.术后1周复查X线片显示:完全复位10例,占71.4%,4例复位>50%,术后12个月及术次随访复查没有出现复位丢失.术前、术后3个月及末次随访腰椎前凸角分别为26.64°、33.29°、32.36°;术前、术后6个月及末次随访固定节段前凸角分别为15.64°、28.29°、32.36°;椎间隙高度术前、术后分别为6.54 mm、9.62 mm,术前与术后相比有统计学意义(P<0.05).所有患者没有出现伤口感染、神经损伤等并发症,无内固定物断裂、松动;没有出现椎间融合器位置不良、塌陷、移位等并发症.[结论]腰椎滑脱伴邻近节段退变发病率和治疗具有自身的临床特点;采用双节段或三节段固定、融合近、中期临床效果优良,是一种有效、安全的方法.     

Topping-off与融合固定治疗退行性腰椎疾病的临床疗效及邻近节段退变的对比研究

[目的]探讨Topping-off与融合固定治疗退行性腰椎疾病的临床疗效及对比性研究邻近节段的退变情况。[方法]回顾性研究2010年1月~2013年12月本院收治的99例L3~5退行性腰椎病变患者。根据手术方式不同,分为Topping-off组(L_(4~5)PLIF+L_(3~4)Coflex)45例,男21例,女24例,平均年龄61.50岁(46~77岁);融合固定组(L3~5PLIF)54例,男25例,女29例,平均年龄63.70岁(50~75岁)。记录手术时间、术中出血量及术后并发症。选用Oswestry功能障碍指数(Oswestry disability index,ODI)、视觉模拟评分(visual analogue scale,VAS)评价临床疗效。拍摄腰椎平扫MRI及站立位正侧屈伸位X线片,测量并记录术前、术后2年邻近节段L2-3椎间活动度及椎间盘MRI改良Pfirrmman分级,术前、术后2年Coflex置入节段L_(3~4)的椎间活动度,术后2年Topping-off组复合邻近节段活动度(Coflex置入节段L_(3~4)与其上位节段L_(2~3)椎间活动度之和)。[结果]平均随访时间(35.20±7.80)月(24~48月)。Topping-off组手术时间、出血量明显小于融合固定组(P<0.05)。术后2年腰痛及腿痛VAS、ODI评分与术前比较,两组均有明显好转(P<0.05)。术后2年L_(2~3)椎间活动度,与术前比较Topping-off组无明显变化(P>0.05),融和固定组明显增加(P<0.05);组间比较Topping-off组明显小于融合固定组(P<0.05)。术后2年Topping-off组复合邻近节段活动度与融合固定组L_(2~3)椎间活动度比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。术后2年腰椎MRI显示L_(2~3)椎间盘改良Pfirrman分级,Topping-off组明显优于融合固定组(P<0.05)。[结论]Topping-off对比融合固定治疗退行性腰椎疾病,具有创伤小、出血少、临床效果相似的特点,Coflex置入节段承担近端腰椎部分活动与应力,有助于减缓邻近节段的退变。     

颈椎术后邻近节段退变研究进展

脊柱融合固定是众多脊柱疾病行之有效的治疗方法,但随着时间的推移,部分患者手术邻近节段逐渐退变并出现症状,从而引发对其发病率、发病机制、影响因素、预防治疗策略等的大量研究.一般认为颈椎前路融合固定较后路融合固定更易引起邻近节段退变,本身已有退变者术后退变发病率更高.颈椎术后邻近节段退变的确切机制还不清楚,但融合内固定、部位脊柱生理曲度异常等引起生物力学应力改变、邻近节段活动度增加、关节面载荷和椎间盘内压力增加在病程发展中起重要作用.影响邻近节段退变的因素还包括融合节段的多少、融合术式和部位、邻近椎间盘状况、术前疾病类型等.尽可能地保留运动节段能减少邻近节段退变的发生率,人工颈椎间盘置换等治疗效果良好.     

Evidence-based analysis of adjacent segment degeneration and disease after ACDF: a systematic review

Background context

Follow-up studies of patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and interbody fusion (ACDF) have demonstrated varying degrees of radiographic degeneration at adjacent levels, with most cases being asymptomatic (adjacent segment degeneration, ASDeg) and far fewer being symptomatic (adjacent segment disease, ASDz). Controversy remains as to whether these conditions are related to altered biomechanics or represent the natural history of cervical spondylosis at the adjacent segment.

Purpose

To provide an evidence-based analysis of the peer-reviewed literature on clinical studies of ASDeg and ASDz after ACDF.

Study design/setting

Systematic review of existing literature.

Methods

The MEDLINE database was queried for clinical studies reporting ASDeg and/or ASDz after ACDF. Articles written in the English language with a minimum follow-up of 2 years were independently reviewed and analyzed by two authors, and the level of evidence was assigned. Data were pooled to generate summary outcomes and organized by number of levels, technique, and graft/implants.

Results

Of the 238 articles returned from the MEDLINE database query, 14 met inclusion criteria. An average of 168 patients was enrolled per study with an average follow-up of 106.5 months. Graft materials, cage design, plate fixation system, and length of fusion varied widely. Additionally, no clear standard was seen for radiographic assessment modalities (eg, plain lateral radiograph, flexion-extension radiographs, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging). Validated clinical outcome measures were used in 43% (6/14) of the studies. The average incidence of ASDeg was 47.33% (459.14/970) with a range from 16% to 96%. The frequency-weighted average for ASDz was 11.99% (263.70/2,199) with a range from 1.80% to 36.00%. Follow-up ranged from 24 to 296 months with no reliable commonalities, which prohibited a meta-analysis.

Conclusions

This review highlights the heterogeneous methodology of the peer-reviewed literature on ASDeg and ASDz after ACDF and the paucity of high-level clinical data published on these conditions. Despite the low level of evidence to define the incidence of ASDeg and ASDz, it is clear that radiographic ASDeg is more common than symptomatic ASDz, indicating that adjacent segment pathology remains subclinical in a large subset of patients. This analysis underscores the need for standardized radiographic measures in the assessment of ASDeg and validated clinical outcome measures for ASDz after ACDF. Consistent methodology and multi-surgeon collaboration may improve the quality of clinical data on ASDeg and ASDz and elucidate the true etiology and incidence of these conditions.     

Accelerated degeneration of the segment adjacent to a lumbar fusion

Previously reported biomechanical studies on the effects of various types of spinal fusion procedures upon the adjacent segment indicate a significant degree of increased stress at that segment. This study presents 18 patients in whom new symptoms developed from the segment adjacent to a fusion after an average symptom-free interval of 8.5 years (1-38 years). The most common pathologic condition at the adjacent segment was hypertrophic degenerative arthritis of the facet joints. Spinal stenosis was found there in eight cases; severe disc degeneration in five; degenerative spondylolisthesis in two; and spondylolysis acquisita in one.     

Additional decompression at adjacent segments leads to adjacent segment degeneration after PLIF

Purpose

Adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) is one of the major complications of lumbar fusion. Several previous retrospective studies reported ASD after PLIF. However, few reports evaluated whether decompression surgery combined with fusion surgery increases the rate of complications in adjacent segments. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the degeneration in decompressed adjacent segments after PLIF.

Methods

A total of 23 patients (12 men, 11 women; average age, 58.6) who underwent PLIF surgery [1 level (n = 9), 2 levels (n = 8), 3 levels (n = 4), 4 levels (n = 2)] were included. Additional adjacent decompression above or below the level of interbody fusion was performed at 25 levels and no adjacent decompression was performed at 15 levels. We retrospectively investigated ASD by X-ray films of all 40 adjacent segments (above and below fusion level) and clinical outcomes of all 23 cases.

Results

Of the 40 adjacent segments, 19 (47.5 %) showed ASD and 9 (22.5 %) showed symptomatic ASD. In the 19 segments with ASD, ASD occurred in 16 of 25 (64.0 %) segments at decompressed sites compared with 3 of 15 (20.0 %) non-decompressed sites. The ratio of ASD in adjacent segments was significantly higher at decompressed sites than at non-decompressed sites (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

ASD occurs frequently in association with additional decompression above or below the level of PLIF. In cases in which the adjacent segments require decompression, a surgical strategy that preserves as much of the posterior complex as possible should be selected.     

颈椎前路融合术后相邻节段退变的手术治疗

目的：探讨颈椎前路减压融合术后相邻节段退变的手术治疗方法与效果。方法：自2000年3月至2011年3月,采用手术治疗颈椎前路减压融合术后相邻节段退变患者27例,男16例,女11例;年龄48—72岁,平均55．3岁。术后通过JOA评分、影像学检查,评价手术疗效。结果：所有病例获得随访,时间1．8～712年,平均3．6年。病变节段减压充分、脊髓膨隆良好,内固定无松动,无颈椎节段不稳发生。术后神经根性痛消失,神经功能明显改善。术前、术后3d、末次随访JOA评分分别为9．15±3．46,13．96±2．79,13．52±2．91,手术前后比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。椎间高度和生理曲度与术前比较均有明显改善（P〈0．05）。结论：对于有脊髓神经症状体征的相邻节段退变应尽早手术治疗,以解除脊髓压迫,重建脊柱稳定,根据受压部位不同,采用合理的手术方法大多能获得满意的效果。     

颈椎人工椎间盘置换术对相邻节段继发性退变的影响

颈椎人工椎间盘置换术的设计理念是通过保留颈椎手术节段的活动性,减少以往前路减压融合术带来的相邻节段的退变加速。经过将近10年的临床应用和长期随访,我们对于这个先进理念的认识也逐渐深入。从文献报告的数据可以看出,不论是中期随访还是远期随访,颈椎人工椎间盘置换术确实减     

兔腰椎后外侧固定对邻近节段退变的影响及临床意义

目的观察兔腰椎后外侧固定对邻近节段退变的影响。方法成年新西兰大白兔24只,随机分成实验组和对照组,每组12只。实验组行腰椎后外侧横突间钢丝内固定术,并用骨水泥包绕横突及钢丝。对照组仅作相应的暴露而不行固定术。观察术后3个月、6个月时邻近节段椎间隙的影像学改变及椎间盘的组织学变化。结果侧位X片显示术后3个月时邻近的L3-4椎间隙轻度狭窄,6个月时狭窄进一步加重,并可见终板硬化,L6-7椎间隙则无明显狭窄。病理显示术后L3-4椎间盘随时间延长退变逐渐加重,而L6-7椎间盘则无明显退变性改变。结论腰椎后外侧固定会导致邻近节段的退变加速。     

动力内固定系统预防腰椎融合内固定术后邻近节段退变

目的观察在头侧邻近节段加载动力内固定是否有助于降低刚性内固定术后邻近节段的退变。方法筛选2002年1月－2007年7月因腰腿痛（腰椎椎间盘突出症、腰椎椎管狭窄症及腰椎滑脱症）由同一组医师完成腰椎内固定手术的101名患者。分为A组和B组,A组为单纯刚性内固定（72名）,B组为在刚性内固定的头侧邻近节段加载动力内固定（29名）。比较2种手术术后邻近节度退变的发生率、Oswestry功能障碍指数（Oswestry disability index,ODI）及视觉模拟量表（visual analog scale,VAS）评分。结果 A组中有15例患者（20.83%）发生了邻近节段退变,B组中有1例（3.45%）发生了邻近节段退变,两者之间差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。只有最佳恢复期内B组比A组得到了更好的ODI及VAS评分结果且差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;至末次随访期时2组的ODI及VAS评分之间差异并无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论在刚性内固定的头侧邻近节段加载动力内固定确实能有效地预防邻近节段退变的发生,但是其并不能显著地提高远期临床效果。     

腰椎融合术后邻近节段退变的诊断与治疗

目的：探讨腰椎融合术后邻近节段退变的特点及再手术治疗的术式与疗效.方法：回顾性分析2002年1月至2004年12月间收治的10例因腰椎管狭窄症或腰椎滑脱症曾行后路减压、植骨及椎弓根内固定术,术后12～132个月（平均41.6个月）出现新的腰腿痛症状的病例.对所有患者进行影像学检查,与术前资料比较,并行手术治疗.结果：X线片显示融合的上方（1个节段7例,2个节段1例）或下方（1个节段2例）邻近节段出现了退变,首次术前及术后上述邻近节段均未见退变征象.8例MRI显示邻近节段出现了新的椎管狭窄,且有明显的神经压迫.采用后路术式,将减压及固定融合范围向邻近退变节段延伸.经7～36个月平均12.1个月的随访,优良率80%.结论：腰椎融合术后邻近节段退变是术后症状复发的原因之一,应仔细鉴别症状复发的原因.对于有明显神经压迫者,再手术治疗仍可取得较好的疗效.