Larger pain extent is associated with greater pain intensity and disability but not with general health status or psychosocial features in patients with cervical radiculopathy

Pain as a result of cervical radiculopathy (CR) can be widespread, nondermatomal and individually specific, but the association between pain extent and other clinical features has never been explored. The objective of this study is to investigate whether pain extent relates to clinical variables including pain intensity in addition to health indicators including disability, general health, depression, somatic anxiety, coping strategies or self-efficacy.An observational cohort study was conducted. Participants were recruited from 4 hospital spinal centres in Sweden. Pain extent was quantified from the pain drawings of 190 individuals with cervical disc disease, verified with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compatible with clinical findings (examined by a neurosurgeon), that show cervical nerve root compression. Pain extent was evaluated in relation to neck pain, arm pain, and headache intensity. Multiple linear regression analysis were then used to verify whether pain extent was associated with other health indicators including disability, health-related quality of life, depression, somatic anxiety, coping strategies and self-efficacy.Pain extent was directly related to neck, arm and headache pain intensity (all P < .01). Multiple linear regression revealed that pain extent was significantly associated only to the level of perceived disability (P < .01).Increased pain extent in people with CR is associated with higher headache, neck and arm pain intensity, and disability but not measures of general health, depression, somatic anxiety, coping strategies or self-efficacy.     

针刺太溪、复溜治疗神经根型颈椎病疗效观察

目的观察针刺太溪、复溜穴治疗神经根型颈椎病的临床疗效。方法将80例神经根型颈椎病患者分为治疗组40例和对照组40例,治疗组选择针刺太溪、复溜穴进行治疗,对照组则选取与病变椎体相对应的双侧颈夹脊穴进行治疗。结果治疗组与对照组近期疗效与远期疗效差异不明显。结论针刺太溪、复溜穴治疗神经根型颈椎病疗效与针刺局部颈夹脊穴作用相当,但取穴少而精,有利于临床推广应用。     

神经根型颈椎病椎间孔内神经根受压的原因分析及减压方式选择

目的:分析神经根型颈椎病患者椎间孔内神经根受压的原因,选择合理的减压方式。方法 :2010年1月~2013年8月,我院共收治神经根型颈椎病患者178例,其中56例为椎间孔内神经根受压所致的单侧神经根型颈椎病,术前VAS评分为8.99±1.01分(7~10分);颈椎功能障碍指数(NDI)为41.15±7.12分(37~49分)。根据术前影像学资料判断椎间孔内神经根受压的原因分为3组:单纯椎间盘压迫,14例(A组);单纯骨性压迫,22例(B组);混合压迫(椎间盘+骨性压迫),20例(C组)。A组切除椎间盘至钩椎关节,适当扩大椎间孔,取出突出髓核;B、C组切除椎间盘至钩椎关节后,将钩突基底部内侧磨平,充分显露钩突后部、上位椎体后下角及钩椎关节间隙,刮除上位椎体后下角及部分增生的钩突。减压后均行椎间植骨内固定。使用Surgimap软件测量患者术前颈椎双斜位X线片上病变节段的双侧椎间孔面积,将健侧与患侧的椎间孔面积进行对比。比较3组患者术前及末次随访时VAS评分和NDI,同时比较3组的手术时间、术中出血量和术后住院时间。结果:3组患者术前健侧椎间孔面积无显著性差异(P0.05),B组和C组的患侧椎间孔面积均较A组明显狭窄(P0.05);B组和C组无显著性差异(P0.05);B组和C组的患侧椎间孔面积均较各自的对侧椎间孔面积明显狭窄(P0.05);而A组患侧椎间孔面积较对侧无明显狭窄(P0.05)。3组患者均顺利完成手术,B、C组与A组相比术中出血量较多,手术时间和术后住院天数较长(P0.05);B组与C组比较无显著性差异(P0.05)。术后3组患者均无神经症状加重、感染及脑脊液漏等并发症发生。56例患者均获得随访,随访时间27.2±8.9个月(12~52个月),3组术前VAS评分和NDI比较无显著性差异(P0.05),末次随访时亦无显著性差异(P0.05);3组末次随访时与术前比较均有显著性差异(P0.05)。结论:术前根据影像学资料分析神经根型颈椎病患者椎间孔内神经根受压的原因,进行针对性的减压手术可取得良好效果。     

Dorsal Epidural Intervertebral Disk Herniation With Atypical Radiographic Findings: Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Background/Objective: Intervertebral disk herniation is relatively common. Migration usually occurs in the ventral epidural space; rarely, disks migrate to the dorsal epidural space due to the natural anatomical barriers of the thecal sac.

Design: Case report.

Findings: A 49-year-old man presented with 1 week of severe back pain with bilateral radiculopathy to the lateral aspect of his lower extremities and weakness of the ankle dorsiflexors and toe extensors. Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium revealed a peripheral enhancing dorsal epidural lesion with severe compression of the thecal sac. Initial differential diagnosis included spontaneous hematoma, synovial cyst, and epidural abscess. Posterior lumbar decompression was performed; intraoperatively, the lesion was identified as a large herniated disk fragment.

Conclusions: Dorsal migration of a herniated intervertebral disk is rare and may be difficult to definitively diagnose preoperatively. Dorsal disk migration may present in a variety of clinical scenarios and, as in this case, may mimic other epidural lesions on magnetic resonance imaging.     

Electrical impedance myography in the diagnosis of radiculopathy

Introduction: We sought to determine whether electrical impedance myography (EIM) could serve as a diagnostic procedure for evaluation of radiculopathy. Methods: Twenty‐seven patients with clinically and radiologically diagnosed cervical or lumbosacral radiculopathy who met a “gold standard” definition underwent EIM and standard needle electromyography (EMG) of multiple upper or lower extremity muscles. Results: EIM reactance values revealed consistent reductions in the radiculopathy‐affected myotomal muscles as compared with those on the unaffected side; the degree of asymmetry was associated strongly with the degree of EMG abnormality (P < 0.001). EIM had a sensitivity of 64.5% and a specificity of 77.0%; in comparison, EMG had a sensitivity of 79.7% but a specificity of 69.7%. Conclusions: These findings support the potential for EIM to serve as a new non‐invasive tool to assist in diagnosis of radiculopathy; however, further refinement of the technique is needed for this specific application. Muscle Nerve 48:800–805, 2013     

21例颈椎前路手术的加速康复外科理念应用体会

目的 探索加速康复围手术期管理方法在颈椎前路手术中的作用。方法 回顾分析2019年7月至2021年6月我科收治的42例颈椎病患者,其中加速康复组和传统组各21例,比较两组患者围手术期资料（手术时间、出血量、引流放置时间、离床活动时间、术后住院时间）、临床疗效、吞咽功能。结果 两组基线资料差异无明显统计学意义（P>0.05）。在围手术期资料方面,加速康复组手术时间、术中出血量与传统组无明显差异（P>0.05）,而引流管放置时间、术后离床活动时间、术后住院时间均较传统组短（P<0.05）。在临床疗效方面,两组术后1天、1月、6月VAS评分及术后1月、6月JOA评分均较术前明显改善（P<0.05）,加速康复组术后1天VAS评分优于传统组（P<0.05）,其余时点及VAS评分、JOA评分两组间无明显统计学差异（P>0.05）。在吞咽功能评分方面,加速康复组在术后1天、术后1月轻度及以下吞咽困难比例较传统组高,中度吞咽困难患者比例较低（P<0.05）,而术后6月两组吞咽困难评分差异无明显统计学意义（P>0.05）。在术后并发症方面,加速康复组出现1例皮肤浅层感染,2例尿潴留,传统组出现1例肺部感染,经过保守治疗后好转,无再次手术患者,无其他重大并发症。结论 加速康复理念运用于颈椎前路手术中,可改善围手术期疗效,缩短住院时间,有利于提高患者手术体验。     

郑氏“颈四步”手法治疗神经根型颈椎病疗效研究

目的:探究郑氏“颈四步”手法治疗神经根型颈椎病(CSR)的临床疗效,以及对患者临床症状、颈部生物学相关参数的影响。方法:选取60例CSR患者,按照随机数字表法分为观察组和对照组,每组各30例。观察组予郑氏“颈四步”手法治疗,对照组予一般推拿治疗,比较两组治疗总有效率、疼痛改善情况、颈功能活动度和椎间孔内臂丛神经根内径。结果:观察组治疗总有效率为86.67%,高于对照组的63.33%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后,两组颈痛量表(NPQ)、视觉模拟评分(VAS)均降低,左旋转、右旋转、左侧屈和右侧屈等颈功能活动度明显改善,C_5～7神经根内径明显减小,且观察组的NPQ、VAS评分低于对照组(均P<0.05),各方向颈功能活动度大于对照组(均P<0.05),C_5～7神经根内径小于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:郑氏“颈四步”手法治疗CSR疗效较好,可有效缓解患者颈肩疼痛,改善颈椎活动度,缓解神经根水肿。     

经Delta通道椎间孔镜治疗神经根型颈椎病

目的:探讨经Delta通道椎间孔镜治疗神经根型颈椎病的早期临床疗效及安全性。方法:对2017年9月至2018年7月收治的10例神经根型颈椎病患者行经Delta通道后路椎间孔镜下椎间盘摘除术,其中男6例,女4例;年龄30～62(41.5±4.3)岁;均为单侧根性症状,其中C_(4,5) 2例,C_(5,6) 5例,C_(6,7) 3例。所有患者CT及MRI检查提示无后纵韧带骨化及黄韧带钙化等影像学表现,颈椎动力位X线片无颈椎不稳,经系统非手术治疗6周以上,疗效欠佳。观察患者术前及末次随访时颈肩痛VAS评分、JOA评分、NDI评分、颈椎生理曲度、颈椎病变节段椎间高度和稳定性的改变。结果:所有手术顺利完成,无脊髓、神经根或大血管损伤情况的发生。手术时间70～120 min,平均90 min;术中出血量30～90 ml,平均40 ml。10例患者均获得随访,时间6～14个月,平均9个月。所有患者术后神经根性疼痛缓解满意,神经功能有所改善。VAS评分由术前的7.15±2.01降至末次随访时的1.59±0.83;JOA评分由术前的12.57±1.24升至末次随访时的16.42±0.58;NDI评分由术前的41.82±4.71提高到末次随访时的9.59±3.52;末次随访与术前比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。颈椎生理曲度D值由术前的(8.21±0.84) mm升至末次随访时的(10.89±0.96) mm (P0.05)。病变节段椎间高度术前、末次随访时分别为(5.62±0.59)、(5.60±0.57) mm,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。末次随访时颈椎动力位X线片未见颈椎失稳。结论:经Delta通道后路椎间孔镜下椎间盘摘除术治疗神经根型颈椎病能取得较为满意的疗效,且不影响颈椎的稳定性,安全性可靠,值得临床应用。     

Upregulation of GLT‐1 by treatment with ceftriaxone alleviates radicular pain by reducing spinal astrocyte activation and neuronal hyperexcitability

Cervical nerve root injury commonly leads to radicular pain. Normal sensation relies on regulation of extracellular glutamate in the spinal cord by glutamate transporters. The goal of this study was to define the temporal response of spinal glutamate transporters (glial glutamate transporter 1 [GLT‐1], glutamate‐aspartate transporter [GLAST], and excitatory amino acid carrier 1) following nerve root compressions that do or do not produce sensitivity in the rat and to evaluate the role of glutamate uptake in radicular pain by using ceftriaxone to upregulate GLT‐1. Compression was applied to the C7 nerve root. Spinal glutamate transporter expression was evaluated at days 1 and 7. In a separate study, rats underwent a painful root compression and were treated with ceftriaxone or the vehicle saline. Glial glutamate transporter expression, astrocytic activation (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP]), and neuronal excitability were assessed at day 7. Both studies measured behavioral sensitivity for 7 days after injury. Spinal GLT‐1 significantly decreased (P < 0.04) and spinal GLAST significantly increased (P = 0.036) at day 7 after a root injury that also produced sensitivity to both mechanical and thermal stimuli. Within 1 day after ceftriaxone treatment (day 2), mechanical allodynia began to decrease; both mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were attenuated (P < 0.006) by day 7. Ceftriaxone also reduced (P < 0.024) spinal GFAP and GLAST expression, and neuronal hyperexcitability in the spinal dorsal horn, restoring the proportion of spinal neurons classified as wide dynamic range to that of normal. These findings suggest that nerve root‐mediated pain is maintained jointly by spinal astrocytic reactivity and neuronal hyperexcitability and that these spinal modifications are associated with reduced glutamate uptake by GLT‐1. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

High-frequency (10 kHz) spinal cord stimulation (SCS) as a salvage therapy for failed traditional SCS: A narrative review of the available evidence

Introduction

Traditional spinal cord stimulation (t-SCS) has been used to treat chronic pain for over 50 years. However, up to 30% of patients undergo explant, with the main indication being loss of efficacy (LoE), and few alternative treatment options exist for these patients. Strategies to mitigate LoE commonly include conversion to another type of SCS (termed ‘salvage’ or ‘rescue’). This review summarizes the existing literature concerning the efficacy and safety of 10 kHz SCS as a salvage therapy.

Methods

We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov , and other sources between January 2009 and April 2021. Records were retained if the authors reported clinical outcomes with a minimum of ≥ 3 months of follow-up in patients implanted with a Senza® 10 kHz SCS system in an effort to treat t-SCS LoE.

Results

Ten articles were eligible for inclusion, reporting 3 prospective studies and 7 retrospective reviews. In the single study that salvaged patients without a repeat trial prior to surgery, 81% of patients were responders (≥ 50% pain relief from baseline), with mean pain relief of 60%. Among repeat-trial studies, the responder rate ranged from 46% to 80%, and mean pain relief from 47% to 68%. No unanticipated therapy-related safety issues were reported among the included articles.

Conclusion

Preliminary data suggest that chronic back and/or leg pain patients with t-SCS LoE can experience improved and durable pain relief after conversion to 10 kHz SCS. However, additional research is needed to define predictors of success and establish whether salvage without a repeat trial is a viable conversion method.