Anterior lumbar fusion using a hybrid interbody graft

Summary This is a radiographic report of 40 patients (20 men, 20 women) who underwent anterior lumbar interbody fusions (73 levels) utilizing a “hybrid” interbody graft composed of femoral cortical allograft (FCA) bone and iliac crest cancellous autograft bone. The average age at surgery was 38 years (range 17–64 years), and follow-up averaged 1.4 years (range 1.0–2.4 years). Nineteen of the patients had undergone previous lumbar surgery. Thirty-two patients (63 levels) underwent anterior fusion combined with some type of posterior fixation, and eight patients (10 levels) had no posterior fixation. Types of posterior fixation included: for 20 patients (36 levels) Steffee variable screw placement fixation, for 10 patients (23 levels) translaminar facet screws (TFS), for 1 patient (3 levels) Knodt rods and for 1 patient (1 level) facet screws. Based on the persistence of lucent lines at the graft-host interface, three patients (one level each) were felt to have non-unions at their latest follow-ups at 1.4, 1.5 and 2.0 years, respectively. Two of these patients had no posterior fixation, and the other had TFS fixation. The overall fusion rate was 96% (70 of 73 levels). The fusion rate for all levels treated with posterior fixation was 98% compared with 75% for those without fixation. Intervertebral disc heights (IVDH) were measured on all films and corrected for magnification with computer assistance. On average, the IVDH was increased postoperatively but returned to preoperative values at follow-up. IVDH loss was independent of the type of instrumentation used. No complications arose from the use of the hybrid graft. Incorporation of the allograft portion of the graft is slow and was felt to be complete in only 7 of the 73 levels at follow-up. We conclude that the hybrid interbody graft technique is a safe and reliable method for performing anterior lumbar interbody fusions and should be combined with some type of posterior fixation. Long-term follow-up will be required to assess the behaviour of the allograft until incorporation is complete.     

Delayed pain response after lumbar discography

Summary The delayed onset of symptomatic pain following lumbar discography (with no immediate pain response) is described in six patients, five with a minimum 2-year follow-up. It is usually seen in patients with nearly normal disc morphology who have incomplete or discrete annular tears that are not filled at the time of injection. Later (2–12 h in this study), dye leakage occurs through these lesions, thereby precipitating the discogenic pain This phenomenon may be missed and is probably more common than previously believed due to early discharge from the hospital, the patient expecting discomfort after the invasive study (hence no complaint is made), and the clinician being unaware of this delayed symptom, thereby not asking about it in follow-up. Close patient questioning regarding a delayed onset of symptomatic pain after discography is, therefore, an essential element in diagnostic information following this study.     

Temporal arteritis presenting with scalp ulceration

We report the case of a 75-year-old-woman who presented with bilateral scalp ulcerations and blindness, accompanied by severe headache and scalp tenderness, due to bilateral temporal arteritis without systemic involvement. A biopsy taken from the border of an ulceration showed evidence of giant cell arteritis. She was treated with oral prednisone, 60 mg per day. The ulcerations healed in a few weeks but the vision loss was irreversible. This case highlights for temporal arteritis the importance of accurate and timely diagnosis as well as the need for prompt therapy with systemic steroids in order to avoid major complications, namely loss of vision. It also demonstrates that scalp necrosis and ulcerations are skin signs associated with a poor prognosis.     

Recurrent locking of knee joint caused by intraarticular migration of bioabsorbable tibial interference screw after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction

Two cases are reported in which, after ACL reconstruction with autologous hamstring grafts, tibial polylactide interference screws migrated into the knee joint. Clinically, both patients presented with recurrent locking of the joint. In one case, a broken 15 mm-long tip of the screw was found intra-articularly. In the other case, the whole screw had migrated into the joint cavity. The degradation process of polylactic acid, operative technique and bone quality are discussed as possible reasons for these complications.     

关节镜下采用四股和八股腘绳肌肌腱双束重建前十字韧带的比较研究

目的比较关节镜下采用四股和八股腘绳肌肌腱双束重建前十字韧带的临床效果。方法2001年9月至2002年8月,将76例陈旧性前十字韧带损伤患者随机分为两组进行双束重建。一组采用四股腘绳肌肌腱移植物:取同侧半腱肌肌腱,做成两个两股肌腱移植物,分别重建前十字韧带前、后束;一组采用八股腘绳肌肌腱移植物:取同侧半腱肌肌腱做成一个四股肌腱移植物重建前束,取同侧股薄肌肌腱做成另一个四股肌腱移植物重建后束。按照IKDC、Lysholm和Tegner膝关节评分标准评价疗效。结果四股肌腱移植物组有33例、八股肌腱移植物组有35例获得随访,随访时间1～3年,平均16个月。四股肌腱移植物组KT-1000检查示,双侧膝关节前向松弛度差异<3mm者25例(75.8%,25/33),3～5mm者5例(15.2%,5/33),6～10mm者3例(9.1%,3/33);轴移试验阴性28例(84.8%),阳性5例(15.2%)。八股肌腱移植物组KT-1000检查示,双侧膝关节前向松弛度差异<3mm者33例(94.3%,33/35),3～5mm者2例(5.7%,2/35);轴移试验阴性34例(97.1%),阳性1例(2.9%)。根据IKDC检查标准,四股肌腱移植物组有29例(87.9%,29/33)、八股肌腱移植物组有34例(97.1%,34/35)为正常或者接近正常,Lysholm评分分别为(90.2±2.9)分和(97.3±1.7)分,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论关节镜下采用八股腘绳肌肌腱较采用四股腘绳肌肌腱双束重建前十字韧带能够明显提高膝关节稳定性。     

Can we predict the outcome of a partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament? A prospective study of 43 cases

The concept of partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has been confirmed by arthroscopic examination and palpation. We present a prospective study of 43 patients who were diagnosed arthroscopically as suffering from a partial rupture of the ACL by the same surgeon. The patients followed a rehabilitation protocol and were examined by an independant observer after 5 years. Twenty-five patients had a stable knee, whereas 18 eventually suffered a complete ACL rupture. ACL partial rupture is easily recognizable with arthroscopy, but the quantity and state of the still intact fibres is difficult to assess. Received: 20 April 1996 Accepted: 17 December 1996     

板股韧带的MRI研究及临床意义

目的　明确板股韧带正常MRI表现 ,建立由它所致假撕裂与外侧半月板后角真撕裂的鉴别方法。资料与方法　采用 6 0侧正常膝进行矢状和冠状位MR扫描 ,观察板股韧带的MRI表现。结果　板股韧带显示率为88.3% (5 3侧 ) ,其中板股前韧带为 2 6 .7% (16侧 )、板股后韧带为 86 .7% (5 2侧 )和两条韧带同时存在为 2 3.3% (14侧 )。板股韧带在矢状像上表现为位于后交叉韧带前或后方的类圆形或短棒状低信号结构 ,而在冠状像上表现为自外侧半月板后角至股骨内侧髁外侧面的条带样低信号结构。在矢状像上 ,5 2 .8% (2 8/5 3)板股韧带与外侧半月板后角之间显示出一线样高信号 ,被称为假撕裂 ,易与外侧半月板后角撕裂混淆。但假撕裂仅有两种走行方向即后下斜行 (2 1/2 8)或垂直方向 (7/2 8)。结论　根据假撕裂位置、方向以及冠状像和连续矢状面的观察 ,可正确区分外侧半月板后角真假撕裂     

肌腱结嵌压固定法重建前交叉韧带生物力学实验研究

目的探讨绳肌腱结嵌压固定法重建前交叉韧带(ACL)影响初始固定效果的相关因素及对策。方法采用猪膝关节模拟重建ACL不同术式,即绳肌腱结股骨隧道嵌压固定和胫骨端肌腱编织缝合骨桥打结固定法,与骨-髌腱-骨两端界面螺钉固定法,比较其生物力学初始固定最大拔出载荷、抗拉刚度和位移等生物力学指标。结果最大抗拉载荷肌腱结组与正常ACL组接近,无显著性差异;肌腱结组大于骨-髌腱-骨界面螺钉固定组。抗拉载荷在100N和400N时的位移两组无显著性差异。胫骨端肌腱编织缝合骨桥上打结固定组最大抗拉载荷大于BPTB界面螺钉固定组和肌腱编织缝合后界面螺钉固定组。抗拉刚度正常ACL组>骨-髌腱-骨组>绳肌腱结组。最大位移正常ACL<髌腱骨组<肌腱结组。结论绳肌腱结嵌压固定法抗拉强度和刚度完全可以满足重建后ACL的生理需求;术中克服位移因素,是有效防止ACL重建术后松弛的关键。     

三种颈前路钢板重建对维持颈椎曲度和高度的比较

目的对3种不同颈椎前路钢板系统重建并维持颈椎融合节段曲度和高度的作用进行比较.方法 2002年1月～2004年6月,行颈前路减压,自体髂骨植骨,钢板内固定术122例;男85例,女37例,年龄14～70岁.根据采用Orion、Zephir、Codman 3种颈椎前路钢板系统分为A组37例、B组39例及C组46例.于术前、术后1周和随访时摄颈椎侧位X线片,测量融合节段的曲度和高度,并比较其变化及3组间差异.结果术后患者均获随访6～35个月,平均17.3个月.术后6个月3组患者术段颈椎均获骨性融合.且术后1周时颈椎融合节段曲度和高度较术前明显改善(P＜0.05),但最后1次随访时和术后1周比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),3组间比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 3种钢板系统均能有效重建并维持颈椎融合节段曲度和高度,近期效果优良.