Delayed post-traumatic cervical instability

BACKGROUND

Cervical spine instability is a clinical entity whose biomechanical and radiological features have been widely discussed by many authors. On the other hand, the subject of delayed post-traumatic cervical instability is often surrounded by confusion due to its difficult nosologic framing; the aim of this study is to contribute to the matter.

METHODS

A cooperative study was organized by the Study Group for Spinal Surgery of the Italian Society of Neurosurgery to evaluate cervical trauma patients surgically treated more than 20 days after the traumatic event. From a total number of 172 patients, twenty-five were admitted to the study, because neuroradiological investigations performed during the acute phase had shown either an absence of traumatic lesions or only minimal lesions judged to be stable. For this reason these 25 patients had not been treated by either surgery or immobilization in a halo vest. Some time after trauma, this group of patients clearly demonstrated evidence of unstable lesions requiring surgical treatment, following the appearance of new clinical signs or on neuroradiological follow-up.

RESULTS

Re-examination of the neuroradiological investigations performed during the acute phase made it possible to identify elements that might have led us to suspect the presence of ligamental lesions: microfractures, dislocations less than 3 mm, and inversion of physiological lordosis.

CONCLUSIONS

This review clearly indicates that patients with even mild cervical trauma must be scrupulously evaluated during the acute phase and that in some cases it is advisable to perform a more detailed neuroradiological investigation.     

前路经枢椎体寰椎侧块螺钉固定术

目的 建立一种新的寰枢椎内固定术式,用来治疗难以实施后路内固定的病例。方法 使用纯钛制成的固定螺钉,做颈前路暴露,经枢椎针两枚螺钉分别拧人左、右寰椎侧块,达到区椎的即刻稳定。结果 １０例手术患者,平均随访１９个月,其中７例螺钉固定位置良好,寰枢椎达到稳定,死亡１例。结论 经枢椎体寰椎愉螺钉固定术是一种比较可犊的寰枢椎内固固定方法,尤其适用于难以施行后路内豁达一术的病例。     

Ten- to 15-year outcome of surgery for lumbar disc herniation: radiographic instability and clinical findings

The most appropriate treatment for radiculopathy associated with disc pathology is still controversial. Since 1934, surgical treatment has consisted of hemilaminectomy and removal of the herniated material. Many authors believe that these procedures may cause degenerative spondylosis and vertebral instability. Several surgical methods have been proposed, but the long-term effects are still being debated. In addition there appear to be few well-designed outcome studies on the management of this disease. In the present study, 150 patients were selected for surgery with strict criteria and all treated with the standard technique. The series was evaluated by subjective analyses (Roland questionnaire; 120 patients), objective examinations (68 patients – 56.6%) and radiographic studies including dynamic views (analyzed by the Taillard and Boxall methods) to establish the presence of vertebral instability (50 patients – 41.6%). The subjective and objective analyses showed a high rate of good results. Radiographic studies showed vertebral instability in 30 cases, but only 9 were symptomatic. Recurrences were not observed and only a few patients suffered from leg pain. The standard procedure for lumbar disc herniation showed good results at 10- and 15-year follow-up. Received: 25 June 1998 Revised: 1 October 1998 Accepted: 19 October 1998     

Primary reconstruction of the medial collateral ligament in combined injury of the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments Short-term results

We describe our experiences with 22 patients who underwent acute surgical intervention for complete combined injury of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) in our hospital. In all patients, an arthroscopically guided repair of the MCL was performed, while the torn ACL was treated non-surgically. Primary reconstruction of the MCL in patients with complete disruptions of the MCL complex as well as the ACL reduces combined anteromedial instability to an isolated problem of the ACL. As a result of this treatment, the condition of 15 of 22 knees was improved, after an average duration of follow-up of 2 and a half years. In conclusion, our treatment strategy of an immediate repair of the MCL and reconstruction of the ACL when conservative treatment has failed seems safe and effective. Received: 30 January 1997 Accepted: 25 September 1997     

Injury of the anterior longitudinal ligament during whiplash simulation

Anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) injuries following whiplash have been documented both in vivo and in vitro; however, ALL strains during the whiplash trauma remain unknown. A new in vitro whiplash model and a bench-top trauma sled were used in an incremental trauma protocol to simulate whiplash at 3.5, 5, 6.5 and 8 g accelerations, and peak ALL strains were determined for each trauma. Following the final trauma, the ALLs were inspected and classified as uninjured, partially injured or completely injured. Peak strain, peak intervertebral extension and increases in flexibility parameters were compared among the three injury classification groups. Peak ALL strains were largest in the lower cervical spine, and increased with impact acceleration, reaching a maximum of 29.3% at C6-C7 at 8 g. Significant increases (P<0.05) over the physiological strain limits first occurred at C4-C5 during the 3.5 g trauma and spread to lower intervertebral levels as impact severity increased. The complete ligament injuries were associated with greater increases in ALL strain, intervertebral extension, and flexibility parameters than were observed at uninjured intervertebral levels (P<0.05).This research was supported by NIH Grant 1 R01 AR45452 1A2 and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation     

创伤性肩关节后方不稳定的关节镜表现与MR关节造影的对比研究

目的　对创伤性肩关节后方不稳定关节镜下表现与MR关节造影 (MRA)的影像进行对比分析。方法　诊断为创伤性肩关节后方不稳定的 2 7例 (2 7肩 ) ,均在术前接受MRA检查 ,然后都在关节镜下进行检查和治疗。所有的MRA影像、关节镜下表现均记录在光盘内。结果　创伤性肩关节后方不稳定MRA影像表现分为三型 :Ⅰ型为后侧关节囊轻度分离 ,没有移位 ,伴盂唇损伤 ;Ⅱ型为不完全撕裂 ,囊性变 ;Ⅲ型为完全撕裂 ,关节囊袋明显增大 ,轮廓丧失。将创伤性肩关节后方不稳定的关节镜下表现分为四型 :Ⅰ型为关节盂缘不完全撕裂 ;Ⅱ型为边缘型裂纹 ;Ⅲ型为侵蚀状磨损 ;Ⅳ型为瓣状撕裂。MRA影像表现和关节镜下表现之间存在对应关系 ,MRI影像的Ⅰ型与关节镜下表现的Ⅰ型对应 ,MRA的Ⅱ型与关节镜的Ⅱ型对应 ,MRA的Ⅲ型与关节镜Ⅲ型和Ⅳ型对应。结论　通过对创伤性肩关节后方不稳定关节镜下表现与MRA影像的对比分析 ,有利于提高对创伤性肩关节后方不稳定影像诊断的认识     

上颈椎不稳前路内固定方式的选择

目的:探讨上颈椎不稳前路内固定手术方式的选择及治疗效果。方法:自2000年3月至2010年9月,采用寰枢椎前路内固定手术治疗上颈椎不稳83例,男59例,女24例;年龄20～68岁,平均42岁。其中齿状突螺钉内固定36例,寰枢椎前路经关节螺钉内固定16例,C2,3前路钢板内固定23例,齿状突螺钉联合寰枢椎经关节螺钉内固定5例,齿状突螺钉联合C2,3钢板内固定2例,寰枢椎经关节螺钉联合C2,3钢板内固定1例。结果:1例颈脊髓完全损伤患者,行寰枢椎经关节螺钉内固定,术后1个月死于肺部感染。其余病例获得随访,时间8个月～3年,平均15个月。无椎动脉及脊髓损伤,所有病例寰枢椎获得稳定。36例齿状突螺钉内固定及5例齿状突联合寰枢椎经关节螺钉内固定者,未植骨,齿状突骨性愈合。寰枢椎经关节螺钉内固定病例:1例并发肺部感染死亡;1例齿状突ⅡC型粉碎性骨折并寰枢关节前脱位,齿状突及植骨未骨性愈合,但寰枢关节纤维连接无不稳定表现;1例寰枢椎陈旧性前脱位Ⅰ期前路寰枢椎经关节螺钉内固定,Ⅱ期后路Brooks钢丝内固定后路植骨,寰枢椎骨性融合。其他病例均植骨并获骨性融合。结论:上颈椎不稳患者,根据不同的骨折及不稳类型,选择相应的前路内固定,可取得较好疗效。     

经皮前路侧块螺钉内固定植骨融合治疗C1,2不稳

目的　创建一种经皮前路侧块螺钉内固定植骨融合治疗C1,2 不稳的手术方法。方法　取 4 0名正常人影像学测量寰枢椎正位、侧位片的标准角、安全角、椎动脉内壁至寰椎上下缘中点连线的距离等相应数据 ,并用自行研制手术器械 ,对 15例C1,2 创伤性不稳的患者。男 10例 ,女 5例 ;寰枢椎 (半 )脱位 7例 ,陈旧齿状突骨折伴脱位 1例 ;Jefferson骨折 3例 ;C1前弓骨折 4例。在C臂X光机监视下行经皮前路侧块螺钉内固定前路植骨融合技术治疗 ,并分析其治疗结果。结果　正位片上其标准角右侧为 2 4 0°± 3 7° ,左侧为 2 3 8°± 1 8°;安全角右侧为 15 2°～ 30 3° ,左侧为 14 8°～ 32 1°;椎动脉内壁至寰椎上下缘中点连线的距离右侧为 (5 6± 2 2 )mm ,左侧为 (5 8± 1 9)mm ;侧位片的标准角为 2 4 1°± 1 8° ;安全角为 12 6°～ 2 6 8°。 15例患者内固定均获得了满意效果 ,螺钉位置佳。无脊髓、椎动脉和食管损伤等并发症发生。穿刺创口无感染。结论　经皮前路侧块螺钉内固定治疗C1,2 不稳操作简单 ,出血少 ,创伤小 ,恢复快 ,可一期行侧块关节固定植骨融合。手术有一定风险 ,如使用合理的配套器械 ,并熟悉其解剖特点 ,在X线透视下正确选择进针点、角度和深度 ,操作规范 ,此技术是安全的。     

用Gallie术式治疗寰枢关节不稳定的临床问题研究

目的研究寰枢椎后路内固定融合术治疗寰枢关节不稳或脱位的相关临床问题。方法回顾138例由创伤或畸形所致的寰枢关节不稳或脱位的外科治疗,其中齿突发育畸形伴寰枢椎脱位62例,齿突骨折或横韧带断裂伴寰枢关节不稳或脱位54例,寰枢椎半脱位伴旋转畸形22例,全部采用Gallie技术,6例合并使用侧块经关节螺钉固定,此6例患者术后采用简易颌胸围领固定,其余患者均采用头颈胸石膏或颌胸石膏固定。随访1～12年,平均3年5个月。结果根据Sumi评价标准：优70例(50．7％),良40例(29．0％),中15例(10．9％),差13例(9．4％)。9例植骨延迟愈合,经加强外固定治愈,2例植骨不愈合者行翻修手术,1例出现脊髓损伤并发症。结论Gallie融合术是治疗寰枢椎不稳或脱位的有效术式,术前的牵引复位及术后可靠的外固定是治疗成功的必要的辅助手段。精细的穿钢丝或钛缆技术、寰椎后弓去皮质、寰枢椎后弓间植骨块维持生理高度是手术成功的关键。寰枢椎后路融合失败者必须在明确适应证和目的的情况下采取翻修手术。