Intrapelvic intrusion of the lumbosacral spine.

A 34-year-old female fell 7 meters onto her lower back and side, and sustained a nondislocated fracture of the 7th thoracic vertebra, a complex pelvic fracture with symphysiolysis and a left acetabular fracture in combination with a bilateral comminuted sacral fracture and downward intrusion of the lumbosacral spine. There was also a cauda equina-syndrome. Laparotomy with exploration of the lumbosacral area was terminated early because of hemorrhage. Later internal fixation of the fractures was performed by an anterior approach with complete reduction of the bilateral sacral fracture and the lumbosacral spine intrusion. We conclude that an anterior approach to this area gives good visualization, but is hazardous owing to the close proximity of the fractures to the central vessels and retroperitoneal muscles. A posterior approach gives less good visualization but may cause less hemorrhage.     

New percutaneous access method for minimally invasive anterior lumbosacral surgery

Preliminary cadaver, animal, and human studies were performed to determine the feasibility of axial anterior lumbosacral spine access using a percutaneous, presacral approach. Custom instruments were directed under fluoroscopic guidance along the midline of the anterior sacrum to the surface of the sacral promontory where an axial bore was created into the lower lumbar vertebral bodies and discs. Imaging and gross dissection were performed in cadavers and animals. The procedure was used for lumbosacral biopsy in human subjects guided by intraoperative imaging and clinical monitoring. All procedures were technically successful. This study demonstrates the feasibility of the axial access technique to the anterior lower lumbar spine.     

Circumferential fusion of the lumbar and lumbosacral spinet

Summary Seventy-four patients with circumferential fusion of the lumbosacral spine have been assessed after a mean follow up of 49.8 months. For the ventral procedure, an anterior interbody fusion with tricortical iliac bone graft was performed. The additional dorsal fusion was according to various techniques with mainly transpedicular internal fixation. Forty-six patients underwent a one-stage operation while 28 underwent the ventral and dorsal procedure in different sittings. The results favour the technique of a combined anterior/posterior approach for fusion of the lumbosacral spine in patients with instability and deformity of all three columns, such as fractures and spondylolisthesis of more than 50%. Optimal stability with satisfactory reduction of the deformity may be achieved. The one-stage operation proved to be superior, with less complications and a shorter hospital stay.     

Adjacent fracture-dislocations of the lumbosacral spine: case report

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Traumatic fracture-dislocations of the lumbosacral junction are rare, with all previously reported cases involving fracture-dislocations at a single level. No cases of multiple fracture-dislocations of contiguous spinal segments in the lumbosacral spine have been reported. A case of traumatic adjacent fracture-dislocations of the fifth lumbar segment is presented. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: An 18-year-old male patient sustained open lumbar spinal trauma after a motor vehicle accident. A neurological examination revealed an L4 level. Radiographic evaluation of the spine revealed a three-column injury at L5 with spondyloptosis of the L5 vertebral body. Aorto-ilio-femoral angiography revealed no evidence of vascular injury. INTERVENTION: The patient was treated with a combined anterior and posterior approach in a two-stage operation. Six months postoperatively, he was neurologically unchanged; however, he was able to walk with the aid of a cane. Plain films revealed normal alignment of the lumbosacral spine. CONCLUSION: The management of traumatic lumbosacral fracture-dislocations requires careful consideration of retroperitoneal structures and possible exploration of the iliac vessels in addition to spinal reconstruction.     

Five years' experience of retroperitoneal lumbar and thoracolumbar surgery

Retroperitoneal videoscopic spine surgery has been developed in our department since 1994. It has been used not only at the lumbar, but also at the thoracolumbar and lumbosacral level. Thirty-eight patients have been operated on. We have performed 12 thoracolumbar approaches, 23 lumbar approaches, and 3 retroperitoneal lumbosacral approaches. In every case, a video-assisted technique has been employed. These techniques have been used for anterior grafting in 18 cases of fracture, for corporectomy and grafting with or without anterior osteosynthesis in 6 cases of malunion, for cage implantation or isolated grafting in ¶10 cases of degenerative disc disease, and for the treatment of 4 cases of spondylodiscitis. Results were satisfactory for every type of pathology. The complications related to the approach were the same as those seen with open surgery; however, the videoscopic approach seems to us less invasive, with cosmetic benefit, less blood loss, and more rapid recovery. A video-assisted technique appears to be a good compromise between videoscopic technique and open surgery. With the development of these techniques, few indications remain for open anterior surgery on the lumbar spine in our opinion.     

One‐Stage Anterior Approach with Arch Plate to Treat Lumbosacral Tuberculosis

This article describes the arch plate technique for treating lumbosacral tuberculosis. Lumbosacral tuberculosis often leads to the destruction of anterior vertebral columns and presacral or iliopsoas abscess, which requires an anterior approach to achieve thorough debridement. Due to the complexity of the anatomical structure of lumbosacral spine and the high requirement of fixation stability, a combined posterior approach to perform internal fixation is necessary, which is rather traumatic. On the other hand, most of the current anterior lumbosacral internal fixation systems cannot be applied to spinal tuberculosis patients who have irregular bony endplate destruction. The arch plate was designed as a cephalic narrow and caudal wide trapezoid or triangle outline according to the preliminary anatomic research. In terms of the endplate bony destruction, a multidirectional technique was introduced in the arch screws, which enables surgeons to arbitrarily change the direction of the screw in the range of 5°–20°, which increases the length and the inclination angles in the sagittal plane of the implant screw and makes sure that the autologous iliac bone graft fits the irregular bone destruction for maximum stability. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of one‐stage anterior debridement, bone grafting, and arch plate fixation to treat lumbosacral tuberculosis. The risk of intraoperative and postoperative complications, such as injury to major vessels, could be minimized. This surgical procedure had many advantages, including a shorter operation time, less blood loss, and better functional recovery over the conventional combined anterior and posterior approach.     

Five years’ experience of retroperitoneal lumbar and thoracolumbar surgery

Retroperitoneal videoscopic spine surgery has been developed in our department since 1994. It has been used not only at the lumbar, but also at the thoracolumbar and lumbosacral level. Thirty-eight patients have been operated on. We have performed 12 thoracolumbar approaches, 23 lumbar approaches, and 3 retroperitoneal lumbosacral approaches. In every case, a video-assisted technique has been employed. These techniques have been used for anterior grafting in 18 cases of fracture, for corporectomy and grafting with or without anterior osteosynthesis in 6 cases of malunion, for cage implantation or isolated grafting in ¶10 cases of degenerative disc disease, and for the treatment of 4 cases of spondylodiscitis. Results were satisfactory for every type of pathology. The complications related to the approach were the same as those seen with open surgery; however, the videoscopic approach seems to us less invasive, with cosmetic benefit, less blood loss, and more rapid recovery. A video-assisted technique appears to be a good compromise between videoscopic technique and open surgery. With the development of these techniques, few indications remain for open anterior surgery on the lumbar spine in our opinion.     

Vascular anatomy anterior to lumbosacral transitional vertebrae and implications for anterior lumbar interbody fusion

Background context: Anterior approaches to the lumbosacral spine afford the ideal window to the disc for interbody fusion. Vascular injuries represent the most feared complications of such approaches. Unfortunately, the combination of more procedures being performed, more surgeons at the beginning of the learning curve and less invasive techniques of approach combine to increase the risk of vascular injury in the face of altered vascular anatomy.Purpose: To assess cases in which vascular anatomy significantly altered the surgical approach to the lumbosacral junction. Study design/setting: Chart review of operative reports. Patient sample: All patients undergoing anterior lumbar interbody fusion between 1994 and 1997 at one large center. Methods: We reviewed all cases of anterior lumbar interbody fusion performed between 1994 and 1997 to discover cases requiring significant alteration in approach because of vascular variation. Results: One hundred seven consecutive cases were reviewed. Of these, 11 required significant alteration of the approach secondary to vascular variation. All 11 were in cases at the functional lumbosacral junction above a fixed transitional level. In only one case of transition was a usual approach able to be used. Conclusions: A consistent pattern of altered vascular anatomy anterior to the functional lumbosacral junction was found. This pattern is depicted and the surgical alterations required discussed. Such alteration in surgical approach was required in nearly all cases with transitional vertebrae and represented about 10% of cases overall. If anterior lumbar surgery is to be performed at the functional lumbosacral junction in the presence of transitional vertebrae, it is vital that close attention be paid to the vascular anatomy and more open techniques of approach should be considered.     

腰骶神经根管非骨性段狭窄的动态影像学与临床研究

对临床具腰腿痛并脊髓造影显示单或双侧腰骶神经根影中断者，做了椎管斜位伸屈造影（３５例）和动态ＣＴＭ扫描（１３例），观察了根影动态变化。其中１７例术中加用伸屈腰椎拱桥探查了椎管前外侧角与神经根间关系。上述研究结果结合临床症状、体征发现：Ｌ５、Ｓ１神经根受椎管非骨性段挤压机会显著高于Ｌ４神经根。分析认为：常遇的腰骶神经根中断多发生在非骨性段的椎管前外侧角，椎间盘与黄韧带退变是神经根受压的主要病理因素，症状可随体位变动减轻或加重。斜位椎管造影和动态ＣＴＭ对判断不同狭窄节段与指导手术有重要参考价值。     

Anterior Retroperitoneal Lumbosacral Spine Exposure: Operative Technique and Results

We review our two-team operative technique and results of anterior retroperitoneal lumbosacral spine exposure for diskectomy, partial corpectomy, and spinal instrumentation. Seventy-two patients with lumbar spondylosis and associated symptomatic radiculopathy had this exposure between January 1, 2000 and January 1, 2002. A single disc space was isolated in 54 patients. Multilevel exposure was achieved in 18 patients. Main outcome measures included intra- and postoperative complications, blood transfusion requirements, duration of ileus, incidence of erectile/sexual dysfunction, and length of hospital stay. A single small bowel enterotomy and iliac vein laceration, both repaired primarily, were the only intraoperative complications. Perioperative blood transfusions were required in 13 patients (18%). Mean length of postoperative ileus was 3.5 days and average length of hospital stay was 5 days. Postoperative complications occurred in 7 patients (9.7%). These included erectile dysfunction (2), transient unilateral lower extremity paresis (1), acute acalculous cholecystitis (1), femoral vein thrombosis (1), pneumonia (1), and acute myocardial infarction (1). There were no genitourinary or other major vascular injuries. A two-team approach for lumbosacral spine instrumentation via anterior retroperitoneal exposure capitalizes on unique specialty-specific surgical skills. This paradigm facilitates safe lumbosacral spine surgery and major perioperative complications are rare.     

Use of a transplant from the iliac crest with axial blood supply for anterior spondylodesis of the lower lumbar and lumbosacral segments of the spine]

The method of anterior osseoplasic stabilization of inferiolumbar and lumbosacral parts of spine by means of non-free vascularized transplant from the anterior part of the iliac crest has been developed. In the anatomical experiment at 100 objects there have been studied alternative surgical anatomy of vascular transplant pedicle from deep vessels, surrounding the iliac bone, ascertained the possibility of its lengthening at the cost of the muscular-periosteal "cuff". 9 patients have been operated on with positive results. There have been achieved an acceleration of the osseous stabilization of the spine by 1.5-2 times as compared with the traditional methods without essential restructuring of resolution of transplants with vascular connections.     

The split notochord syndrome

A case of combined anterior and posterior spina bifida involving primarily the lumbosacral spine is presented. This is the eighth such case reported in which the intestinal tract communicated with the back via the cleft in the spine. Severe gastrointestinal and central nervous system anomalies are usually present and make for a very poor prognosis.     

Double-level spinal injury resulting in "en bloc" dislocation of the lumbar spine. A case report.

We report the case of a 21-year-old man with a unilateral lumbosacral dislocation together with a fracture of L1 resulting in "en bloc" dislocation, which is difficult to classify from an anatomopathological and biomechanical point of view. Unilateral lumbosacral dislocation is likewise an infrequent injury with less than 10 cases previously reported. Its association results in an anterior displacement to the left of the whole lumbar spine. To our knowledge, this displacement "en bloc" of the lumbar spine represents a rotatory dislocation of the same, an injury which we have not seen described until now in the literature.     

Role of posterior stabilisation in the management of tuberculosis of the dorsal and lumbar spine

We present a prospective study of patients with tuberculosis of the dorsal, dorsolumbar and lumbar spine after combined anterior (radical debridement and anterior fusion) and posterior (instrumentation and fusion) surgery. The object was to study the progress of interbody union, the extent of correction of the kyphosis and its maintenance with early mobilisation, and the incidence of graft and implant-related problems. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score was used to assess the neurological status. The mean preoperative vertebral loss was highest (0.96) in the dorsal spine. The maximum correction of the kyphosis in the dorsolumbar spine was 17.8 degrees. Loss of correction was maximal in the lumbosacral spine at 13.7 degrees. All patients had firm anterior fusion at a mean of five months. The incidence of infection was 3.9% and of graft-related problems 6.5%. We conclude that adjuvant posterior stabilisation allows early mobilisation and rehabilitation. Graft-related problems were fewer and the progression and maintenance of correction of the kyphosis were better than with anterior surgery alone. There is no additional risk relating to the use of an implant either posteriorly or anteriorly even when large quantities of pus are present.     

侧前路病灶清除植骨和单侧钉棒系统固定治疗腰骶段脊柱结核

目的：评价侧前路病灶清除、植骨和单侧钉棒系统固定治疗腰骶段脊柱结核的临床疗效。方法：2003年8月～2006年3月采用侧前路病灶清除、同侧自体髂骨植骨和单侧钉棒系统固定治疗腰骶段脊柱结核患者11例，其中L5 5例，S1 3例，L5～S1 3例。持续性腰痛8例，伴单侧下肢放射痛6例，单侧下肢肌力和痛、触觉减退5例。结果：术中无大血管和神经损伤等严重并发症发生。术后所有患者腰腿痛基本消失：5例下肢肌力和痛、触觉减退者，4例恢复正常，1例好转。4例术后2～7d出现腹胀不适，1例出现逆行射精。随访6～24个月,平均14个月，均获骨性愈合，无钉棒折断、松动等并发症，9例随访1年以上者无结核复发。结论：侧前路病灶清除、植骨和单侧钉棒系统固定是治疗腰骶段脊柱结核的一种有效手术方法。     

Traumatic dislocation of the lumbosacral junction diagnosis, anatomical classification and surgical strategy

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Traumatic lumbosacral dislocation is a rare lesion often characterised by a fracture dislocation of L5-S1 articular facets associated with anterior L5 slipping. Because of its rarity, the surgical strategy of lumbosacral traumatic dislocation remains controversial. We report the most important series of traumatic lumbosacral dislocation. The cases of six men and five women are presented. We discuss the diagnosis and surgical treatment options regarding the different type of lesions. A moderate anterior slipping of L5 over S1 was present in eight cases. The lesion was a bilateral lumbosacral fracture dislocation in eight cases, a pure lateral dislocation in two cases and a unilateral rotatory dislocation in one case. Patients were multiple-trauma patients in eight cases. A radicular deficit was present in two cases. All patients were treated surgically with a posterior osteosynthesis and fusion. A circumferential fusion was made in six cases. In four cases, the anterior fusion was made during the posterior approach. The postoperative course was favorable in all the cases. One patient necessitated secondarily an iterative posterior lumbosacral fixation and anterior fibular bone graft because of a lumbosacral pseudarthrosis. Traumatic dislocation of the lumbosacral junction is a rare and severe spinal fracture which occurs in patients after high energy trauma and could be initially misdiagnosed. We devised a new classification based on anatomical lesions. Treatment is always surgical, requiring reduction, osteosynthesis, and fusion. In case of L5 anterior slipping, it is crucial to assess the L5S1 disc by MRI or surgical exploration for disc disruption. In such case, we recommend to perform circumferential fusion to prevent lumbosacral pseudarthrodesis.     

腹腔镜辅助腰椎前路椎间融合术治疗腰椎退变性疾病

 目的 探讨腹腔镜辅助腰椎前路椎间融合术治疗腰椎退变性疾病的疗效。方法 2006年 1月至 2009年 6月腰椎退变性疾病患者 37例行腹腔镜辅助腰椎前路椎间融合, 男 22例, 女 15例;年龄 16~55岁, 平均 43.7岁。全部病例行血管造影三维 CT检查、17例行椎间盘造影检查, 确定责任椎间盘为 L5S1 21例, L4-5 11例, L3-4 2例, L2-3 2例, L1-2 1例。 29例经腹腔入路、8例经腹膜后入路行椎间盘切除及椎间融合器融合, 3例以骨盆重建钛板固定。术后 3、6、12个月通过 X线或 CT观察植骨融合情况, 3个月时采用中华医学会骨科学分会脊柱学组腰背痛手术评分评价疗效。结果手术时间 60~140 min, 平均 100 min;术中出血 50~300 ml, 平均 120 ml;住: 时间 7~12d, 平均 8d。 2例经腹腔入路患者出现麻痹性肠梗阻。全部病例随访 6~35个月, 平均 18.7个月。疗效为优 23例、良 11例、差 3例, 优良率 91.9%(34/37)。 23例于术后 3个月、12例于术后 6个月植骨融合;2例术后 6个月时椎间前缘高度丢失 1.3 mm和 1.9 mm, 无明显不适症状, 术后 12个月植骨融合。无内植物松动、脱落等并发症。结论腹腔镜辅助腰椎前路椎间融合术创伤小、卧床时间短、并发症少。经腹腔入路术后肠梗阻相对多见。在选择手术入路时应考虑术者经验和下腰椎前方大血管的解剖位置。     

Traumatic anterior lumbosacral dislocation caused by hyperextension mechanism in preexisting L5 spondylolysis: a case report and a review of literature

Of many reports referring to injury mechanism in anterior lumbosacral dislocation, there were none concerning hyperextension mechanism. We report a case of a 46-year-old man with preexisting L5 spondylolysis sustaining traumatic complete anterior lumbosacral dislocation. The operative findings, together with the radiologic findings, strongly suggested that the dislocation occurred by hyperextension mechanism. Open reduction was done by applying force of distraction with flexion using a rod and screw system, followed by the internal fixation from the L3 to S1 vertebrae and the postero-superior iliac spine. The lumbosacral dislocation was reduced to 77%. At the follow-up at 5 years after surgery, bony union was obtained and the patient could move with a wheelchair although the neurologic deficit in lower extremities observed preoperatively did not recover. Preexisting L5 spondylolysis was considered to increase the potential for anterior lumbosacral dislocation by additional force of compression with hyperextension. Posterior instrumentation using a rod and screw system was considered a useful method for reduction, decompression, stabilization, and fusion.     

一期前路病灶清除植骨融合内固定治疗多椎体脊柱结核

目的:总结一期前路病灶清除、自体骨植骨融合及前路内固定治疗多椎体脊柱结核的临床效果。方法:1998年5月～2008年5月收治多椎体脊柱结核(≥3个椎体,包括跳跃性病灶)患者41例,病灶分布为C4～S1,颈椎2例,胸椎14例,胸腰段19例,腰椎4例,腰骶椎2例。伴截瘫者7例,Frankel分级C级4例,B级2例,A级1例。伴后凸成角21例。均采用一期前路病灶清除、自体骨植骨融合及内固定术治疗,随访观察治疗效果。结果:随访12个月～10年,平均67个月。7例截瘫患者术后1年神经功能较术前均有恢复。后凸畸形术前平均Cobb角23.5°,术后平均11.5°,末次随访时平均丢失3.8°。内固定松动1例,伤口及植骨延迟愈合2例。所有患者均骨性融合,结核无复发。结论:多椎体脊柱结核患者采用一期前路病灶清除、自体骨植骨融合、前路内固定治疗可取得良好效果。