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.     

Early experience with laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection

Background: Laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection (LAPR) has not been fully evaluated as a technique in the treatment of rectal and anal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the early experience with laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection at Washington University Medical Center. Methods: A prospective analysis was performed on the first 21 patients undergoing the procedure at Washington University Medical Center. Indications for surgery included rectal cancer (14 patients), anal squamous cell cancer (four patients), inflammatory bowel disease (two patients), and anal melanoma (one patient). Results: The procedure was converted to open procedure in four patients (19%). The mean (±SEM) operative time and blood loss for completed and converted LAPR were 239 ± 11 min and 424 ± 43 ml, respectively. Postoperative hematocrit dropped a mean of 8.3% ± 1.2% SEM; five patients required blood transfusion (24%). Wound complication occurred in four patients (19%; three perineal, one trocar site). Bowel function returned after a mean of 3 days, and mean postoperative hospital stay for the completed LAPR group was 5 days. Mild pain was experienced by 81% of patients (17/21) while 19% (4/21) noted moderate pain, usually of the perineal wound. The mean duration of patient-controlled analgesia use was 2 days. During the 1–44-month follow-up, six patients (29%) died from cancer (stage III or IV at operation) and only one patient developed local recurrence in the pelvis (5%). There were no trocar-site implants of cancer. Furthermore, there was no relationship between prior abdominal operations, the amount of blood loss, postoperative drop of hematocrit, or blood transfusion requirement and the length of hospitalization or complication rates. Conclusion: Laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection is a feasible alternative to the conventional open technique in both cancer and colitis patients. Received: 23 April 1996/Accepted: 8 July 1996     

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.     

Arthroscopic distal clavicle resection

The acromioclavicular joint is a potential source of pain in the shoulder. There are a variety of disorders that can affect this joint, including distal clavicle osteolysis, posttraumatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Nonoperative treatment for this condition with nonsteroidal medication and activity modification can alleviate the pain. When conservative treatment is exhausted, surgical resection of the distal clavicle is often necessary. Arthroscopic resection of the distal clavicle preserves the acromioclavicular ligaments to prevent postoperative distal clavicle instability. The procedure is performed in either the beach chair or lateral position and requires the use of a shaver, electrocautery, and a burr for soft tissue and debridement and bone resection.     

急性左半结肠癌梗阻一期切除吻合治疗39例

目的：探讨左半结肠癌致急性肠梗阻的手术处理方法。方法：回顾分析1995－2001年间39例左半结肠癌致肠梗阻一期切除吻合术的外科临床效果。结果：全组39例病人均采用梗阻近端肠管减压灌洗，并留置盲肠造瘘管术后接负压吸引，术后均一期愈合，未出现吻合口漏。随访2例中，1例存活率58％，3年存活率16％，5年存活率8％。结论：严格掌握手术适应症和基本操作，在病情允许时，对左半结肠癌急性肠梗阻行一期切除吻合手术是可行的。     

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。     

Surgical relevance of diagnostic imaging techniques in pretherapeutic staging of carcinoma of the esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum

Summary. The increasing spectrum of therapeutic options for tumors of the gastrointestinal tract has resulted in a refinement of the pretherapeutic diagnostic strategies. The diagnostic approach in surgical institutions that are focused on primary surgical resection will therefore be much less sophisticated than in institutions who propose a selective therapeutic approach based on the pretherapeutic tumor stage and prognostic parameters. Pretherapeutic assessment of the depth of tumor infiltration, i. e. the T-category, is essential because most further diagnostic and therapeutic decisions are based on this information. This can today be achieved with a high degree of accuracy by endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography. Early T-stages (T1–2) are usually an indication for primary surgical resection and, after exclusion of distant metastases, no further diagnostic studies are required. In patients with locally advanced esophageal, gastric or rectum tumors (T3–4) multimodal therapeutic concepts should be considered. This usually requires additional diagnostic studies. None of the available diagnostic imaging modalities today allows satisfactory pretherapeutic assessment of lymph node metastases. The assumed nodular status should therefore currently not influence therapeutic decisions. Essential is, however, the assessment of distant metastases, since the documentation of distant tumor spread will change the therapeutic approach to a palliative situation. Detailed histologic and molecular-biologic assessment of tumor characteristics is growing in importance. This not only provides therapeutically relevant information regarding tumor grading, but opens the door towards a modern molecular diagnostic approach. It can be expected that in the near future a vast amount of relevant prognostic information can be obtained from endoscopic tumor biopsies, which may soon alter our therapeutic concepts.      

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     

颈动脉切除术的临床研究

目的 探讨颈部恶性肿瘤侵犯颈总动脉和I或颈内动脉以及颌面部难控制大出血时对颈总动脉和颈内动脉的外科处理方法及其并发症、后遗症的预防。方法 回顾性分析1990年－2000年行颈总或I和颈内动脉结扎、切除术的6例临床资料。结果 本组均为男性，年龄17－66岁。其中颈部复发性转移癌浸润颈总动脉、颈内动脉3例，鼻咽癌放疗后颈部溃疡侵犯颈总动脉1例，上颌骨中央性血管瘤大出血1例，鼻咽纤维轿管瘤术中、术后大出血1例。单纯结扎、切除颈总动脉4例，颈总及颈内动脉同时结扎、切除2例。经随访，术后短暂性肢体偏瘫2例，脑梗塞、永久性偏瘫1例，无任何并发症3例。无手术死亡病例。结论 颈动脉切除术对已累及颈动脉的颈部恶性肿瘤是一种有效的治疗手段，对于颌面颈难以控制的致命性大出血是一种有效的急救措施。单纯切除颈总动脉所产生的术后并发症的发生率比颈总动脉和颈内动脉同时切除低；而已先期或同时切除颈外动脉，出现并发症的机会更大。术后酌用抗凝或溶栓药物对于脑血栓、脑梗塞的防治作用有待进一步研究。