The safety of awake tracheal intubation in cervical spine injury

As a referral centre for cervical spine injuries, we have routinely performed awake tracheal intubation when intubation was indicated. A retrospective case control study was undertaken to review the frequency of neurological deterioration and aspiration associated with our approach. Neurological deterioration was assessed by a change in level of injury or neurological grade at admission and discharge. Four hundred and fifty-four patients with critical cervical spine and/or cord injuries were reviewed over an eight-year period. A case group of 165 patients underwent tracheal intubation awake within two months of injury. A control group of 289 remained unintubated during the same period. A comparison of spinal neurological status between admission and discharge revealed no statistically significant difference in neurological deterioration between the two groups. This occurred despite a greater injury severity score in the case group. No evidence of aspiration during intubation was documented. We conclude that awake tracheal intubation is a safe method of airway management in patients with cervical spine injuries.     

Laminectomy for cervical myelopathy

STUDY DESIGN: Cervical laminectomy with or without fusion, or laminoplasty, successfully address congenital or acquired stenosis, multilevel spondylosis, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), and ossification of the yellow ligament (OYL). To optimize surgical results, however, these procedures should be applied to carefully selected patients. OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical, neurodiagnostic, appropriate posterior cervical approaches to be employed in patients presenting with MR- and CT-documented multilevel cervical disease. To limit perioperative morbidity, dorsal decompressions with or without fusions should be performed utilizing awake intubation and positioning and continuous intraoperative somatosensory-evoked potential monitoring. SETTING: United States of America. METHODS: The clinical, neurodiagnostic, and varied dorsal decompressive techniques employed to address pathology are reviewed. Techniques, including laminectomy, laminoforaminotomy, and laminoplasty are described. Where preoperative dynamic X-rays document instability, simultaneous fusions employing wiring or lateral mass plate/screw or rod/screw techniques may be employed. Nevertheless, careful patient selection remains one of the most critical factors to operative success as older individuals with prohibitive comorbidities or fixed long-term neurological deficits should not undergo these procedures. RESULTS: Short- and long-term outcomes following dorsal decompressions with or without fusions vary. Those with myelopathy over 65 years of age often do well in the short-term, but demonstrate greater long-term deterioration. Factors that correlated with greater susceptibility to deterioration include advanced age (>70 years at the time of the first surgery), severe original myelopathy, and recent trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Success rates of laminectomy with or without fusion, or laminoplasty may be successfully employed to address multilevel cervical pathology in a carefully selected population of patients.     

脊柱脊髓开放性损伤21例救治

目的探讨脊柱脊髓开放性损伤的临床特点、治疗及预后情况。方法21例脊柱脊髓开放性损伤患者,男17例,女4例;年龄15~47岁,平均25岁。损伤部位胸脊髓15例,腰脊髓5例,颈脊髓1例。术前ASIA分级A级8例,B级5例,C级6例,D级2例。6例伤口内有异物存留。21例均行急诊手术清创,根据损伤具体情况,行椎管探查、血肿清除、异物取出术。结果术后死亡1例(占4.8%),椎管感染1例(占4.8%),发生脑脊液漏2例(占9.5%)。1例术后脊髓损伤程度加重,2例术后神经功能有不同程度的恢复。术后ASIA分级A级9例,B级4例,C级5例,D级2例,E级1例。结论脊柱脊髓开放性损伤需在充分地术前准备下急诊手术治疗,术前应了解是否有异物存留,手术探查可以减少感染、出血等并发症的发生。     

Surgery for cervical spinal cord compression in patients with multiple sclerosis

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to investigate the clinical and paraclinical features, treatment, and outcomes of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and coexisting spinal cord compression secondary to either cervical spondylosis or cervical disc disease. Patients with MS commonly experience neurological disabilities that present as myelopathy associated with bladder dysfunction. For some patients with MS, however, this neurological deterioration may result from coexisting spinal cord compression attributable to either spondylosis or a herniated disc. Overlapping symptoms of the two conditions do not allow clear clinical determination of the underlying cause of worsening. METHODS: Patients with MS who underwent cervical decompression surgery were selected. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed, to collect data on their pre- and postoperative clinical courses. RESULTS: Nine women and five men with definite MS were selected for cervical decompression surgery to treat neurological deterioration considered to be at least partially attributable to spinal cord compression. The most common symptoms were progressive myelopathy (n = 13), neck pain (n = 11), and cervical radiculopathy (n = 10). Bladder dysfunction was notably absent among these patients with MS with moderate disabilities. Surgical intervention was frequently delayed because the neurological deterioration was initially thought to be attributable to MS. The majority of patients experienced either improvement or stabilization of their preoperative symptoms in the immediate postoperative period; three subjects (21%) maintained this improvement after a mean follow-up period of 3.8 years. No MS relapses, permanent neurological worsening, or serious complications resulting from surgery or general anesthesia were noted. CONCLUSION: Carefully selected patients with MS and cervical spinal cord compression secondary to either spondylosis or disc disease may benefit from surgical decompression, with minimal associated morbidity. Clinical features (especially neck pain and cervical radiculopathy) and magnetic resonance imaging may assist clinicians in differentiating between the two conditions and may guide appropriate treatment without undue delay.     

Laminectomy and posterior cervical plating for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: effects on cervical alignment,spinal cord compression,and neurological outcome

OBJECTIVE: Multilevel anterior decompressive procedures for cervical spondylotic myelopathy or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament may be associated with a high incidence of neurological morbidity, construct failure, and pseudoarthrosis. We theorized that laminectomy and stabilization of the cervical spine with lateral mass plates would obviate the disadvantages of anterior decompression, prevent the development of kyphotic deformity frequently seen after uninstrumented laminectomy, decompress the spinal cord, and produce neurological results equal or superior to those achieved by multilevel anterior procedures. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 38 patients who underwent laminectomy and lateral mass plating for cervical spondylotic myelopathy or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament between January 1994 and November 2001. Seventy-six percent of patients had spondylosis, 18% had ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, and 5% had both. Clinical presentation included upper extremity sensory complaints (89%), gait difficulty (70%), and hand use deterioration (67%). Spasticity was present in 83%, and weakness of one or more muscle groups was seen in 79%. Spinal cord signal abnormality on sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was seen in 68%. Neurological evaluation was performed using a modification of the Japanese Orthopedic Association Scale for functional assessment of myelopathy, the Cooper Scale for separate evaluation of upper and lower extremity motor function, and a five-point scale for evaluation of strength in individual muscle groups. Lateral cervical spine x-rays were analyzed using a curvature index to determine maintenance of alignment. Each surgically decompressed level was graded on a four-point scale using axial MRI to assess the adequacy of decompression. Late follow-up was conducted by telephone interview. RESULTS: Laminectomy was performed at a mean 4.6 levels. Follow-up was obtained at a mean of 30.2 months after the procedure. The score on the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scale improved in 97% of patients from a mean of 12.9 preoperatively to 15.58 postoperatively (P < 0.0001). In the upper extremities, function measured by the Cooper Scale improved from 1.8 to 0.7 (P < 0.0001), and in the lower extremities, function improved from 1.0 to 0.4 (P < 0.0002). There was a statistically significant improvement in strength in the triceps (P < 0.0001), iliopsoas (P < 0.0002), and hand intrinsic muscles (P < 0.0001). X-rays obtained at a mean of 5.9 months after surgery revealed no change in spinal alignment as measured by the curvature index. There was a decrease in the mean preoperative compression grade from 2.46 preoperatively to 0.16 postoperatively (P < 0.0001). There was no correlation between neurological outcome and the presence of spinal cord signal change on T2-weighted MRI scans, patient age, duration of symptoms, or preoperative medical comorbidity. CONCLUSION: Multilevel laminectomy and instrumentation with lateral mass plates is associated with minimal morbidity, provides excellent decompression of the spinal cord (as visualized on MRI), produces immediate stability of the cervical spine, prevents kyphotic deformity, and precludes further development of spondylosis at fused levels. Neurological outcome is equal or superior to multilevel anterior procedures and prevents spinal deformity associated with laminoplasty or noninstrumented laminectomy.     

Is extensive cervical laminoplasty an effective treatment for spinal cord sarcoidosis combined with cervical spondylosis?

Patients with neurosarcoidosis are usually initially treated with steroid administration even when they have concomitant cord compression on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Operative intervention may be indicated in patients with spinal cord sarcoidosis requiring either tissue biopsy for diagnosis or associated with progressive neurologic symptoms. However, there have been no previous reports describing clinical outcomes of laminoplasty for spinal cord sarcoidosis. The objectives of this study are to investigate whether extensive cervical laminoplasty is an effective treatment for spinal cord sarcoidosis combined with spondylotic changes and/or cervical spinal canal stenosis. Open-door laminoplasty was performed in three patients with spinal cord sarcoidosis. All patients received intensive corticosteroid therapy after the operation MRI imaging was performed in all patients before and after the operation. Operative outcomes were not satisfactory and the clinical courses of the patients fluctuated after corticosteroid therapy. Daily life activities were not significantly improved after treatments in any of the three patients, and in the long-term follow-up period the clinical course of one patient was one of inexorable deterioration to a state of quadriplegia. The possibility of spinal cord sarcoidosis should be included in the differential diagnosis, when a distinct high signal intensity area is observed within the spinal cord on T2-weighted MR images in patients with spondylotic changes. Laminoplasty is not an effective intervention for the treatment of spinal cord sarcoidosis even when patients have spondylotic changes and/or a constitutionally narrowing cervical spinal canal. Patients with neurosarcoidosis should be treated first with steroid administration even when they have concomitant cord compression on MRI.     

Multi-slice spiral CT 3-dimensional reconstruction tech-nique to treat multi-segmental degenerative spinal steno-sis with traumatic instability of lower cervical spine

Objective: To study the feasibility of multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) 3-dimensional reconstruc-tion technique in assisting cervical pedicle screw fixation (PSF) and double-door laminoplasty to treat multi-segmen-tal degenerative spinal stenosis with traumatic instability (MDSTI) of lower cervical spine.Methods: From September 2006 to August 2007, PSF combined with double-door laminoplasty was performed in 9 patients with MDSTI of lower cervical spine. MSCT 3-dimensional reconstruction techniques, including volume rendering (VR) and multi-planar reconstruction (MPR), were used to assist preoperative diagnosis and measurement to guide the procedure. MPR was performed after operation. In coronal view, the degree of screw perforation was mea-sured precisely and the different positions of pedicle screws were divided into three grades according to Richter's method. In axial view, the canal sagittal diameter and trans-verse area of every laminoplasty level were measured.Results: Nine patients with MDSTI of lower cervical spine underwent PSF (total 44 screws). According to the classification of Richter, 72.7% (32/44) was in Grade 1 and 27.3% (12/44) was in Grade 2. No screw perforation occurred in Grade 3 and no screw revision was done for misplacement.No iatrogenic damage was observed. Double-door laminoplasty was performed in total 42 volumes. The post-operative sagittal diameter and transverse area of cervical spinal canal were significantly increased (P<0.05). The confi-dence intervals of mean increased ratio were 23.43%-40.65% in sagittal diameter and 23.18%-42.07% in transverse area. Six months after laminoplasty, based on MSCT axial view, complete union between "open door" and allograft bone was obtained in 76.19% of volumes (32/42), and allograft bone was absorbed partly in 23.81% (10/42). A solid union in bilateral gutters was achieved in all cases. They were followed up from 6 months to 1 year (mean 7.8 months). Post-operative neural function recovery in two cases improved 2 ASIA grade, 5 cases improved 1 grade and 2 cases remained the same as preoperative grade. No cases had lower ASIA grade.Conclusion: Assisted with MSCT 3-dimensional re-construction technique, PSF combined with double-door laminoplasty can be performed more safely and effectively to treat patients with MDSTI of lower cervical spine.     

下颈椎损伤改良Moore分类的临床应用研究

目的：探讨改良Moore分类法在下颈椎损伤中的临床应用。方法：2006年8月至2010年3月收治下颈椎损伤患者200例,男165例,女35例;年龄19-88岁,平均52岁。应用下颈椎损伤改良Moore分类全面地描述下颈椎损伤的状态,颈椎损伤严重程度（稳定性）量化评分与有否神经症状表现相结合,根据骨折类型和稳定性、脊髓或神经根受压损伤情况、韧带损伤后的稳定程度及其他参考因素进行分类诊治,选择治疗方法。其中伴有脊髓神经损伤者130例（ASIA评分：A级6例,B级13例,C级43例,D级68例）,不伴有脊髓神经损伤者70例。对伴有脊髓神经损伤的下颈椎损伤患者,根据ASIA评分进行疗效评定;对不伴有脊髓神经损伤的患者,根据影像学检查对颈椎的序列和高度进行观察。结果：前、左、右侧和后柱均损伤35例;前柱损伤33例;前、后柱均损伤90例;前、左侧和后柱均损伤5例;前、右侧和后柱均损伤3例;前、左侧和右侧柱均损伤3例;前、右侧柱损伤2例;前、左侧柱损伤5例;后柱损伤12例;左侧柱损伤7例;右侧柱损伤5例。200例患者中手术治疗98例,非手术治疗102例（其中可以手术而患者家属要求非手术治疗39例）。完全性脊髓损伤患者中3例行手术后脊髓功能无恢复迹象,ASIA分级无变化,但其肢体麻木、疼痛等症状有不同程度的缓解,另3例未手术患者脊髓功能及肢体症状均无变化。不完全性脊髓损伤患者手术后脊髓功能均有一定程度恢复,ASIA评分平均提高1．2级。未手术的不完全性脊髓损伤患者非手术治疗后ASIA评分平均提高0.3级。不伴有脊髓神经损伤者手术后经影像学检查显示均恢复了颈椎的正常序列和高度。结论：根据改良Moore分类法,稳定性量化评分值大于等于4分有下颈椎不稳可能,需要手术治疗,分值越大,手术指征越明显,若伴有脊髓或神经根受压损伤表现者则有绝对手术指征。稳定性量化评分为3分且伴有脊髓或神经根受压损伤表现者一般也有手术指征。稳定性量化评分为3分不伴有脊髓或神经根受压损伤表现者或3分以下者均不需要手术治疗。应用改良Moore分类法有利于下颈椎损伤患者的临床规范化、标准化诊治,以获得较满意的疗效。     

颈椎管扩大成形术的术式及有关问题探讨

应用颈椎管扩大成形术治疗１６例颈椎疾患，其中发育性颈椎管狭窄症６例、多椎间隙颈椎间盘病７例、颈椎后纵韧带骨化症３例。８例行双开门式颈椎管扩大成形术，３例双开门式十中央植骨固定术，５例行单开门式颈椎管扩大成形术，本组病例经５个月以上（平均１５个月）随访，疗效满意。作者认为经后路多节段颈椎管扩大成形术既能获得有效的脊髓减压，又能维持颈椎的稳定性。     

无骨折脱位型急性中央颈脊髓损伤的手术疗效分析

目的分析评价无骨折脱位型中央颈脊髓损伤的手术治疗效果。方法自2000年5月至2005年4月,手术治疗了52例无颈椎骨折脱位型中央颈脊髓损伤患者,均经术前影像学检查证实。所有患者都接受损伤段颈椎前路或后路减压、融合和内固定手术。住院期间每日进行症状和体征的观测,脊髓功能采用美国脊柱损伤协会（ASIA）标准进行评分,以线性回归分析方法评价手术对患者ASIA评分的影响。随访患者的最终脊髓功能恢复情况,时间从12～42个月,平均29个月。结果手术后ASIA恢复曲线明显较手术前抬升（P〈0．01）。最终随访时所有患者的ASIA运动、针刺觉和轻触觉评分分别为（91±7）,（107±6）和（107±6）分,均较术前有明显好转（P〈0．01）。结论对损伤水平的脊柱充分减压和固定,可以给水肿的脊髓创造一个宽松和稳定的膨胀空间,加速脊髓功能的早期恢复,改善远期效果。     

Treatment of posttraumatic syringomyelia

Object This paper presents results of a prospective study for patients undergoing surgery for posttraumatic syringomyelia between 1991 and 2010. Methods A group of 137 patients with posttraumatic syringomyelia were evaluated (mean age 45 ± 13 years, mean follow-up 51 ± 51 months) with pre- and postoperative MRI and clinical examinations presenting in this period and followed prospectively by outpatient visits and questionnaires. Surgery was recommended for symptomatic patients with a progressive course. Short-term results were determined within 3 months of surgery, whereas long-term outcomes in terms of clinical recurrences were studied with Kaplan-Meier statistics. Results Three groups were distinguished according to the type of trauma: Group A, patients with spinal trauma but without cord injury (ASIA E, n = 37); Group B, patients with an incomplete cord injury (ASIA C or D, n = 55); and Group C, patients with complete loss of motor function or a complete cord injury (ASIA A or B, n = 45). Overall, 61 patients with progressive symptoms underwent 71 operations. Of these operations, 61 consisted of arachnolysis, untethering, and duraplasty at the trauma level (that is, decompression), while 4 ASIA A patients underwent a cordectomy. The remaining procedures consisted of placement of a thecoperitoneal shunt, 2 opiate pump placements, and 2 anterior and 1 posterior cervical decompression and fusion. Seventy-six patients were not treated surgically due to lack of neurological progression or refusal of an operation. Neurological symptoms remained stable for 10 years in 84% of the patients for whom surgery was not recommended due to lack of neurological progression. In contrast, 60% of those who declined recommended surgery had neurological progression within 5 years. For patients presenting with neurological progression, outcome was better with decompression. Postoperatively, 61% demonstrated a reduction of syrinx size. Although neurological symptoms generally remained unchanged after surgery, 47% of affected patients reported a postoperative improvement of their pain syndrome. After 3 months, 51% considered their postoperative status improved and 41% considered it unchanged. In the long-term, favorable results were obtained for Groups A and C with rates for neurological deterioration of 6% and 14% after 5 years, respectively. In Group B, this rate was considerably higher at 39%, because arachnolysis and untethering to preserve residual cord function could not be fully achieved in all patients. Cordectomy led to neurological improvement and syrinx collapse in all 4 patients. Conclusions The technique of decompression with arachnolysis, untethering, and duraplasty at the level of the underlying trauma provides good long-term results for patients with progressive neurological symptoms following ASIA A, B and E injuries. Treatment of patients with posttraumatic syringomyelia after spinal cord injuries with preserved motor functions (ASIA C and D) remains a major challenge. Future studies will have to establish whether thecoperitoneal shunts would be a superior alternative for this subgroup.     

The cause of neurologic deterioration after acute cervical spinal cord injury

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review was performed to identify patients at risk for secondary neurologic deterioration after complete cervical spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE: To examine the causes of early neurologic deterioration in patients with complete spinal cord injury at a regional spinal cord injury center. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: After complete spinal cord injury, neurologic deterioration occurs in a subgroup of patients. Despite anecdotal reports, no study has clearly identified the subgroups at highest risks. METHODS: One hundred eighty-two patients with complete spinal cord injury were identified among 1904 consecutive patients with acute spinal trauma evaluated from March 1993 through September 1999. Parameters analyzed included demographics, mechanism of injury, American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) level on admission and during hospital stay, onset of ascension, blood pressure, hemoglobin, febrile episode, heparin administration, and the timing of operation and traction. Radiographs of patients with ascending complete spinal cord injury were reviewed with attention to fracture type and neurologic and vascular injuries. RESULTS: Twelve of 186 patients with ASIA Grade A (6.0%) complete spinal cord injury had neurologic deterioration during the first 30 days after injury. No patients with penetrating injuries had deterioration. A significant association between death and ascension was observed. The onset of ascension of the injury could be categorized into three discrete temporal subsets. Early deterioration (less than 24 hours) was typically related to traction and immobilization. Delayed deterioration (between 24 hours and 7 days) was associated with sustained hypotension in patients with fracture dislocations. Late deterioration (more than 7 days) was observed in a patient with vertebral artery injuries. CONCLUSION: Delayed neurologic deterioration in complete spinal cord injury (ASIA A) is not rare. Specific causes were identified among discrete temporal subgroups. Management of complete spinal cord injury can be improved with recognition of these temporal patterns and earlier intervention.     

Cervical malalignment after laminoplasty: relationship to deep extensor musculature of the cervical spine and neurological outcome

OBJECT: The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between preservation of the insertion of the deep extensor musculature of the cervical spine at C-2 and postoperative cervical alignment, especially differences between cases involving male and female patients, as well as the relationship between the loss of cervical lordosis and neurological outcome after laminoplasty. METHODS: The authors reviewed the records of 50 patients who underwent laminoplasty to elevate the C-3 lamina with repair of the deep extensor musculature (Group A) and 31 patients who underwent laminoplasty by C-3 dome laminotomy or laminectomy (Group B). They compared the degree of cervical lordosis after laminoplasty with preoperative measurements. Neurological function at last follow-up was also compared with preoperative assessments. RESULTS: In Group A, the mean values for pre- and postoperative cervical lordosis were 14.5 and 10.9 degrees, respectively (p > 0.18). In female patients, however, the pre- and postoperative means were 14.4 and 3.7 degrees, respectively (p < 0.004). In Group B, the overall means for pre- and postoperative cervical lordosis were 17.3 and 19.1 degrees, respectively (p > 0.48); the corresponding means for female patients were 15.0 and 14.1 degrees (p > 0.83). The mean percentages of neurological recovery were 54.1% in Group A and 54.8% in Group B. CONCLUSIONS: Preservation of the insertion of the deep extensor musculature to the C-2 spinous process prevented significant changes in cervical alignment after laminoplasty, even among female patients. Neurological recovery was not affected by the loss of cervical lordosis.     

下颈椎双侧关节突脱位复位方式探讨

[目的]探讨下颈椎双侧关节突脱位的复位方式及治疗效果。[方法]2000年～2005年6月收治下颈椎双侧关节突脱位患者22例，其中13例行MRI检查，9例有椎间盘突出，占69．2％。依据复位前是否切除损伤的椎间盘分为2组，分析复位后神经损伤的变化。[结果]未切除损伤的颈椎间盘，复位中1例、复位后3例神经症状加重。（ASIS）分级，C—A1例，C—B1例，C—D2例。切除组复位后神经症状无1例加重。[结论]下颈椎双侧关节突脱位大多数并发椎间盘突出，未切除椎间盘复位可能加重神经损伤。前路损伤椎间盘切除、复位、椎间植骨可1次完成，不但能避免各种继发性损伤，而且可即刻稳定，便于护理，融合率高。     

Results of cervical laminoplasty and a comparison between single and double trap-door techniques

Thirty-seven patients were studied for an average of 32.1 months after canal-expansive laminoplasty for the treatment of multiple-level cervical stenosis caused by spondylosis, ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament, prolapsed intervertebral disc, and other conditions. Short-term and medium-term results were recorded clinically, using the scoring system proposed by the Japanese Orthopedic Association. The canal expansion was also recorded with radiological studies. The improvement rate was good to excellent in 58.3% of the patients. Postoperative neurological deterioration occurred in only four patients. Poorer results were observed in female patients and in those in whom surgery was delayed. Surgery within 12 months of onset of symptoms gave good results. Serious complications occurred in only two patients. There were 12 patients who were treated with the single trap-door (unilateral) laminoplasty and 25 patients treated with the double trap-door (sagittal splitting of the spinous processes) laminoplasty; their results were compared. There was no significant difference in neurological outcome between the two methods.     

颈椎椎弓根钉固定结合单开门椎管扩大成形治疗颈椎管狭窄伴无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤的临床研究

目的探讨颈椎椎弓根钉固定结合单开门椎管扩大成形治疗颈脊髓前方无局限性压迫、颈椎不稳定的颈椎管狭窄伴无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤的临床疗效。方法自2006-06--2011-03纳入颈椎管狭窄伴无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤44例。包括脊髓中央综合征26例,前脊髓损伤综合征12例,Brown-Sequard综合征4例,其他2例。结果所有患者均顺利完成手术。获12—60个月随访40例,平均（25．2±17．6）个月,末次随访时JOA脊髓功能评分改善率为68．5％;但双上肢功能恢复较差,出现双手不同程度肌肉萎缩5例;X线片检查显示颈椎生理曲度良好,无断钉、断棒及颈椎失稳;CT检查显示螺钉位置良好,椎管扩大成形满意,无门轴断裂及再关门。结论颈椎椎弓根钉固定结合单开门椎管扩大成形治疗颈脊髓前方无局限性压迫、颈椎不稳定的颈椎管狭窄伴无骨折脱位型颈脊髓损伤可取得较满意疗效。     

Combined laminoplasty with posterior lateral mass plate for unstable spondylotic cervical canal stenosis--technical note

A technique of combined expanding laminoplasty using longitudinal interspinous iliac bone graft with posterior lateral mass plate is described for the treatment of cervical canal stenosis associated with spinal instability. A 52-year-old male and a 76-year-old female presented with cervical myelopathy. Imaging studies demonstrated spondylotic cervical canal stenosis associated with spinal instability. Posterior stabilization with lateral mass plate by the Axis Fixation System was performed after expanding laminoplasty using interspinous iliac bone graft. The symptoms improved and instability and malalignment (in the female patient) also improved after surgery. This combined surgical technique allows decompression of the spinal cord, immediate internal fixation by plate fixation, and subsequent long-term stabilization by interspinous bony fusion. This technique is indicated in selected patients with multiple segment spondylotic cervical canal stenosis associated with instability and/or malalignment of the spinal column for which simultaneous decompression and stabilization are required.     

前后路联合颈椎管扩大成形术治疗严重脊髓型颈椎病

目的评价前后路联合颈椎管扩大成形术治疗脊髓型颈椎病伴发育性颈椎管狭窄的临床效果。方法我科于2007年3月～2010年12月间应用该手术方式治疗22例严重脊髓型颈椎病患者。其中,发育性颈椎管狭窄合并颈椎间盘退行变突出17例,发育性颈椎管狭窄发育合并后纵韧带钙化5例。手术前后通过神经功能JOA评分、颈部轴性症状评估和颈椎动态侧位片、颈椎MRI进行临床疗效比较。结果 22例患者均获随访,平均随访时间24（3～36）个月。根据JOA评分,术后优良率为81.8%（18/22）,颈部轴性症状减轻,X线检查未见颈椎不稳,MRI示颈髓压迫解除。结论前后路联合颈椎管扩大成形术治疗脊髓型颈椎病合并发育性颈椎管狭窄是一种疗效好且效果稳定的手术方法。     

Post-traumatic syringomyelia following complete neurological recovery

OBJECTIVE: To describe the later neurologic deterioration secondary to the appearance of a post-traumatic syringomyelic cavity, in a patient who, in the initial phase, had an incomplete spinal cord lesion (ASIA C), which improved to ASIA E. METHODS: A 52-year-old male patient who, at the age of 19 (1965), suffered a spinal cord injury. He presented with a fracture of the sixth and seventh cervical neurological segment at the time of the lesion, evolving to ASIA E. Nine years after the traumatism, he began to feel pain accompanied by a sensory and motor deficit. RESULTS: With the aid of myelography and MRI, the existence of a syringomyelic cavity was detected, which extended from the fourth to the seventh cervical segments. The patient was operated on, on various occasions, placing a syringo-subarachnoid shunt. The neurological status of the patient continued to deteriorate and, at present, he has a complete lesion below the fourth neurological cervical segment with a partially preserved sensitive area up to T1. CONCLUSION: The development of the syringomyelic cavity could be one of the causes of later neurologic deterioration in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury with neurological recovery 'ad integrum' in the initial phase of spinal cord injury.     

ASIA脊髓损伤分类标准在颈髓损伤患者神经功能评定中的应用

目的：探讨ASIA标准在颈髓损伤患者神经功能评估中的意义。方法：应用ASIA标准对139例急性颈髓损伤患者的神经功能情况进行回顾性评估。结果：82例完全性脊髓损伤患者中5例逆转为不完全性损伤，77例无逆转者随访时ASIA感觉、运动评分有明显增加。57例不完全性颈髓损伤患者感觉、运动功能改善明显优于完全性损伤患者。结论：完全性颈髓损伤患者可能逆转为不完全性颈髓损伤，并且可有明显节段性神经功能恢复。在脊髓损伤神经功能评定中，ASIA感觉、运动评分具有重要意义。