单节段颈前路椎间盘切除植骨融合术后颈椎椎间高度和整体曲率的影像学变化

目的 本研究旨在探讨单节段颈椎前路椎间盘切除减压植骨融合术(anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, ACDF)后颈椎椎间高度及颈椎整体曲度的变化。方法 回顾性分析接受单节段ACDF治疗的119名脊髓型颈椎病患者的病例及影像学资料。通过使用患者的颈椎X线平片测量融合前后椎间隙的高度。同时测量侧位片上第2颈椎至第7颈椎的Cobb角,以评估颈椎的整体曲度。通过比较术前和术后的影像学资料,以说明置入椎间融合器对颈椎椎间高度和整体曲度的影响。结果 术后神经功能JOA及Nurick评分较术前明显改善（P<0.01）。术前椎间前高度（anterior intervertebral height, AIH）和椎间后高度（posterior intervertebral height, PIH）均明显低于正常椎间高度（P<0.01）,术后AIH明显升高,恢复正常;术后PIH与术前相比同样明显增加。术后颈椎曲度[（22.36±5.07）°]较术前[（16.53±6.85）°]明显增加（P<0.01）,但是并未恢复至正常曲度。结论 ACDF手术能够完成有效的神经减压改善神经功能,并且该手术能够恢复颈椎退变节段的椎间高度及改善颈椎整体曲度。     

Use of knee height for the estimation of stature in elderly Turkish people and their relationship with cardiometabolic risk factors

The determination of the approximately truest value in height measurement is important in many fields, but it is difficult to perform true measurements, especially in the elderly individuals. We planned to investigate the following items in geriatric Turkish population: to calculate the decrease in height with advancing age by using the standing height measurement and estimated height derived from the knee height; to evaluate the significance of difference between the two measurement methods in the calculation of body mass index (BMI) and waist/height ratio (WHtR); to determine the cut-off value of WHtR according to estimated height in elderly individuals. We studied 551 cases aged between 19 and 97 years. Knee height was measured using a sliding caliper in a sitting position. Linear regression analysis was carried out to derive predictive equations for the estimation of stature with adults (≤50 years of age) according to the gender. This equation was then used to estimate height among elderly subjects. Of the cases, 60.3% were <60 years (mean: 48.75 ± 7.50); 39.7% of the cases were >60 years (mean: 69.51 ± 7.12). Estimated BMI (EBMI) measurements in the females and males >60 years were in average 1.23 kg/m² and 0.92 kg/m² higher than their real BMIs, respectively. EBMI measurements in the females <60 years were 0.32 kg/m² higher than their real BMIs (p < 0.01). There is a statistically significant difference between WHtR in the females of both age groups, and in the males >60 years, as compared to our estimated WHtR (EWHtR) measurements (p < 0.01). The cut-off point of WHtR was 0.61 and 0.58 in the female and male cases of >60 years in our study, respectively. WHtR seemed to be a better anthropometric index that could predict most cardiometabolic risk factors in our study. EWHtR emerged to be a better cardiometabolic risk index especially in the elderly group.     

The role of single immediate loading implant in long class IV Kennedy mandibular partial denture

Background: The treatment of long‐span Kennedy class IV considers a prosthodontic challenge. This study evaluated the integrity of principle abutments in long Kennedy class IV clinically and radiographically, when rehabilitated with conventional metallic partial denture as a control group and mandibular partial overdentures supported with single immediately loaded implant in symphyseal as a study group. Material and Methods: Twelve male patients were divided randomly allotted into two equal groups. First group patients received removable metallic partial denture, whereas in the second group, patients received partial overdentures supported with single immediately loaded implant in symphyseal region. The partial dentures design in both groups was the same. Long‐cone paralleling technique and transmission densitometer were used at the time of denture insertion, 3, 6, and 12 months. Gingival index, bone loss, and optical density were measured for principle abutments during the follow‐up. Results: A significant reduction in bone loss and density were detected in group II comparing with group I. Gingival index had no significant change (p‐value < 0.05). Conclusion: A single symphyseal implant in long span class IV Kennedy can play a pivotal role to improve the integrity of the principle abutments and alveolar bone support.     

Secular Changes in the Morphology of the Skull in Swedish Men

Three hundred and twelve Swedish inductees (average age 18.7 years) were compared with skulls from men aged 18–25 who had died in 1810 regarding skull morphology and the dimensions of the dental arches.

The skull morphology was analysed roentgen-cephalornetrically with profile and postero-anterior roentgenograms. the sizes of the dental arches were measured on casts and directly on the skulls.

The cranium was found to be larger in the inductees than in the skull material. the cranial base was more cnrved in the inductees, which also showed more maxillary alveolar prognathism, proclination of the upper incisors and larger gonion angle. the width of the dental arches between the first molars was smaller in the present day material, while the length of the dental arches was longer.

The results show that parallel to the secular increase in body height there is also secularisation of the morphology of the cranium, including changes also in the cranial base, which suggests a change in the genetic constitution of the population in western Sweden during the last 160 years.     

Surgical procedure and initial radiographic results of a new augmentation technique for vertebral compression fractures

Purpose

Recently, a new minimally invasive technique called ‘vertebral body stenting’ (VBS) was introduced for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. The technique was developed to prevent the loss of reduction after deflation of the balloon and to reduce the complication rate associated with cement leakage.

Methods

The amount of kyphosis correction, improvement of vertebral body height and quantitative cement leakage rate by applying CT-based quantitative volumetry after VBS were measured in 27 patients (55 vertebra) and compared with a control group (29 patients, 61 vertebrae), which was treated with conventional vertebroplasty.

Results

After VBS, a significant improvement was seen in vertebral height, compared to conventional vertebroplasty. The mean improvement in segmental kyphosis and vertebral kyphosis were 5.8° (p < 0.05) and 3.5° (p < 0.05), respectively. In the VBS group, the mean injected volume of cement per vertebral body was 7.33 cm³ (3.34–10.19 cm³). The average amount of cement outside the vertebrae was 0.28 cm³ (0.01–1.64 cm³), which was 1.36 % of the applied total cement volume. In the vertebroplasty group, the applied mean volume of the cement per level was 2.7 cm³ (1–5.8 cm³) and the average amount of cement outside the vertebrae was 0.15 cm³ (0.01–1.8 cm³), which was 11.5 % (0.2–60 %) of the applied total volume of cement.

Conclusion

The frequency of cement leakage after VBS was 25.5 % compared to 42.1 % in the vertebroplasty group. VBS led to a significant decrease in the leakage rate compared with conventional vertebroplasty.     

经皮椎体成形及后凸成形术对临近椎间盘退变影响的回顾性分析研究

[目的]探讨经皮椎体成形术(percutaneous vertebroplasty,PVP)和后凸成形术(percutaneous kyphoplasty,PKP)对临近椎间盘退变的可能影响及其程度。[方法]收集2009年6月～2011年2月济宁医学院附属医院脊柱外科收治的胸腰椎骨质疏松压缩骨折患者共146例,其中纳入本研究的具有完整随访资料患者85例,又按治疗方案的不同,分为保守治疗组20例、PVP组42例、PKP组23例,采集入院时、入院后3 d、出院后12个月、出院后24个月的VAS评分(visual analogue scale/score,视觉模拟评分法)、ODI评分(the Oswestry disability index,Oswestry功能障碍指数)和入院时、出院后12个月、出院后24个月的椎间盘指数和MRI指数,将所有数据资料进行归纳、汇总,应用SPSS 17.0统计软件行数据分析。[结果]PVP组和PKP组均能早期、有效地缓解疼痛、减少卧床时间、治疗满意度高,但出院后24个月的VAS评分和ODI评分分析,PVP组和PKP组无统计学差异(P>0.05)。在出院后24个月的椎间盘指数及MRI指数的比较中发现,PVP组和PKP组较保守治疗组均具有统计学差异(P<0.05),PVP组和PKP组较术前均具有统计学差异(P<0.05),且PKP组较PVP组具有统计学差异(P<0.05)。[结论]PVP和PKP均可加速相邻椎间盘退变,且后者影响更为显著。     

The treatment of patellar tendinopathy

Background

Patellar tendinopathy (PT) presents a challenge to orthopaedic surgeons. The purpose of this review is to revise strategies for treatment of PT

Materials and methods

A PubMed (MEDLINE) search of the years 2002–2012 was performed using "patellar tendinopathy" and "treatment" as keywords. The twenty-two articles addressing the treatment of PT with a higher level of evidence were selected.

Results

Conservative treatment includes therapeutic exercises (eccentric training), extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), and different injection treatments (platelet-rich plasma, sclerosing polidocanol, steroids, aprotinin, autologous skin-derived tendon-like cells, and bone marrow mononuclear cells). Surgical treatment may be indicated in motivated patients if carefully followed conservative treatment is unsuccessful after more than 3–6 months. Open surgical treatment includes longitudinal splitting of the tendon, excision of abnormal tissue (tendonectomy), resection and drilling of the inferior pole of the patella, closure of the paratenon. Postoperative inmobilisation and aggressive postoperative rehabilitation are also paramount. Arthroscopic techniques include shaving of the dorsal side of the proximal tendon, removal of the hypertrophic synovitis around the inferior patellar pole with a bipolar cautery system, and arthroscopic tendon debridement with excision of the distal pole of the patella.

Conclusion

Physical training, and particularly eccentric training, appears to be the treatment of choice. The literature does not clarify which surgical technique is more effective in recalcitrant cases. Therefore, both open surgical techniques and arthroscopic techniques can be used.     

Sizes of Dental Arches in Children with the Pierre Robin Syndrome and Isolated Cleft Palate Aged from 0.2 to Six Years

Abstract

Development of the dental arches and length and weight at birth were studied from 0.2 to 6 years of age in 78 children with Pierre Robin syndrome and 58 with isolated cleft palate. The growth of the maxillary dental arches was similar in both groups before palatal closure. The anterior width of the maxillary arch did not differ between the groups during the six year follow up period, but the depths of the maxillary and mandibular arches were significantly less (< 0.001) in the group with Pierre Robin syndrome compared with those with isolated cleft palates at the age of 3 and 6 years. The mandibular width at the first and second deciduous molars in the group with Pierre Robin syndrome was also significantly smaller (<0.01) than in the other group at the age of 6 years. The weight and length at birth were similar in both groups, and they were slightly lower than among the normal Finnish population.     

Metabolic clues regarding the enhanced performance of elite endurance athletes from orchiectomy-induced hormonal changes

This article examines the metabolic performance of an elite cyclist, Lance Armstrong, before and after his diagnosis with testicular cancer. Although a champion cyclist in 1-day events prior to his diagnosis of testicular cancer at age 25, he was not a contender in multi-day endurance cycle races such as the 3-week Tour de France. His genetic makeup and physiology (high VO2max, long femur, strong heavy build) coupled with his ambition and motivation enabled him at an early age to become one of the best 1-day cyclists in the world. Following his cancer diagnosis, he underwent a unilateral orchiectomy, brain surgery and four cycles of chemotherapy. After recovering, he returned to cycling and surprisingly excelled in the Tour de France, winning this hardest of endurance events 7 years running. This dramatic transformation from a 1-day to a 3-week endurance champion has led many to query how this is possible, and under the current climate, has led to suggestions of doping as to the answer to this metamorphosis. Physiological tests following his recovery indicated that physiological parameters such as VO2max were not affected by the unilateral orchiectomy and chemotherapy. We propose that his dramatic improvement in recovery between stages, the most important factor in winning multi-day stage races, is due to his unilateral orchiectomy, a procedure that results in permanent changes in serum hormones. These hormonal changes, specifically an increase in gonadotropins (and prolactin) required to maintain serum testosterone levels, alter fuel metabolism; increasing hormone sensitive lipase expression and activity, promoting increased free fatty acid (FFA) mobilization to, and utilization by, muscles, thereby decreasing the requirement to expend limiting glycogen stores before, during and after exercise. Such hormonal changes also have been associated with ketone body production, improvements in muscle repair and haematocrit levels and may facilitate the loss of body weight, thereby increasing power to weight ratio. Taken together, these hormonal changes act to limit glycogen utilization, delay fatigue and enhance recovery thereby allowing for optimal performances on a day-to-day basis. These insights provide the foundation for future studies on the endocrinology of exercise metabolism, and suggest that Lance Armstrong's athletic advantage was not due to drug use.     

The relationship of actual height loss with health-seeking behaviors and risk factors in perimenopausal and menopausal women

PURPOSE: To explore whether there is a difference in the perceived height and actual height in the perimenopausal or menopausal woman and discover the difference's effect on osteoporosis health-seeking preventive behaviors and risk factor awareness. DATA SOURCES: Sixty-three perimenopausal and menopausal women, aged 45-70 years, who presented at three Midwestern clinics for their annual physical exam. Data were collected with The Osteoporosis Questionnaire, which included the Osteoporosis Risk Questionnaire, Health-O-Meter height measuring stick, tape measure with inch-rule for arm span measurements, and balance scale for weight. CONCLUSIONS: There were a significant relationship between actual height loss and osteoporosis risk factors (r = 0.41595, p = 0.0007) and a trend for a relationship between adjusted height loss and osteoporosis risk factors (r = 0.2407, p = 0.0574). IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Due to the great expense of current testing for bone mass density loss, the results of this study may help clinicians more readily identify markers for increased risk of osteoporosis through simple height measurements and osteoporosis risk factor assessments during annual visits.