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.     

大剂量甲基强的松龙冲击治疗急性脊髓损伤疗效分析

目的研究大剂量甲基强的松龙(MP)治疗急性脊髓损伤的临床效果.方法对87例急性脊髓损伤患者进行回顾性研究,根据伤后时间并按自愿选择用药原则分为应用MP治疗组(MP组,45例)和未应用MP治疗组(对照组,42例),以ASIA分级标准进行分级,并比较疗效和并发症.结果两组患者在治疗前后感觉及运动功能均有明显改善(P＜0.05).但MP组的感觉及运动功能恢复均优于对照组(P＜0.05).MP治疗组中24h治疗组(A组)与48h治疗组(B组)并发症发生率比较无显著性差异(P＞0.05),而MP组与对照组比较并发症的发生率明显增加,有显著性差异(P＜0.05).结论早期应用MP大剂量冲击治疗急性脊髓损伤是一项有效措施,但会显著增加患者治疗中并发症的发生率.     

前路减压Z-plate内固定治疗胸腰段爆裂性骨折伴不全性截瘫

目的 探讨胸腰段爆裂性骨折伴不全瘫前路减压内固定优越性以及Z-plate系统的优点。方法 采用前路减压Z-plate内固定治疗胸腰段爆裂性骨折伴不全瘫25例。结果 全部病例均获随访，随访时间6～24个月，平均17个月。按Frankel分级评定有1～3级恢复，随访期间无后凸加重及内固定松动，植骨融合。结论 前路减压Z-plate内固定是治疗胸腰段爆裂性骨折的较好方法。     

脊髓前动脉损伤致脊髓缺血性损伤模型的MRI评价

目的：研究经脊髓前动脉损伤，致脊髓缺血性损伤模型的高场强MRI信号表现特征。方法：选用12只家犬经颈前手术入路，切断脊髓前动脉，经高场强MRI扫描，对照病理分析脊髓前动脉损伤后脊髓的MRI信号变化特征。结果：脊髓前动脉损伤后脊髓MRI表现出异常T2WI高信号，且出现在脊髓前动脉损伤节段的前2／3，多表现为一例受累及或偏向一例。结论：MRI能确定脊髓缺血性损伤的部位及信号特征。     

Occult spinal dysraphism in children: need for early neurosurgical referral

The natural history of occult spinal dysraphism in children is one of progressive and unpredictable neurological deficit. The modern role of neurosurgery is in the prevention of deterioration rather than correction of established disability. A prospective study was carried out on 40 consecutive patients to analyse the referral pattern of children with this condition. The age, reason for referral, clinical history and source of referral was recorded in each case. The reason for referral varied with age. Of the 40 patients studied, only 12 were found to be without neurological deficit at the time of referral. The incidence of progressive neurological deterioration increased with increasing age. The referral source in different age groups varied, but in all age groups relatively few were referred by the general paediatricians or paediatric neurologists. For optimum surgical results, early referral and treatment is desirable and should become our objective.     

Intramedullary pilocytic astrocytomas — a clinical and morphological study after combined surgical and photon or neutron therapy

Ten patients suffering from intramedullary pilocytic astrocytomas (WHO-classification: astrocytoma grade I) were investigated catamnesticly. Combined surgery and radiotherapy was performed. Seven patients received neutron irradiation postoperatively. In four cases the neurological symptoms were improved after follow-up periods ranging from 33 to 89 months. The three other patients died after 6 to 21 months. The autopsy findings of a 14 year old child are presented. Our results are compared with reports in the literature. In addition, long-term problems of the spinal column are discussed. It seems that the combined surgical and neutron therapy improves the prognosis of pencil gliomas.     

嗅神经鞘细胞移植联合应用GDNF促进大鼠脊髓损伤后功能恢复

目的 嗅神经鞘细胞（OECs）移植联合应用胶质源性神经营养因子（GDNF）恢复大鼠脊髓损伤的功能。方法 将成年大鼠分为脊髓半切洞损伤组（A组），脊髓半切洞损伤＋嗅神经鞘细胞移植组（B）和脊髓半切洞＋嗅神经鞘细胞移植＋胶质源性神经营养因子（C组）。手术后应用联合行为评分（CBS），感觉诱发电位（SEP）和运动诱发电位（MEP）检查，测定脊髓功能恢复情况。结果 3组CBS得分A组＞B组＞C组，SEP和MEP潜峰时，均A组＞B组＞C组，统计分析均差异显著性（P＜0．05）。结论 移植嗅神经鞘细胞＋胶质源性神经营养因子能促进损伤脊髓功能的恢复。     

Flow dynamics through spinal needles

We examined the flow pattern produced when liquid dye was actively injected into a fluid medium at various flows through five different commonly used spinal needles. At all flows, the Whitacre-type needles produced a directional stream exiting at an angle from the longitudinal axis. At intermediate rates the stream developed tracks which disappeared at faster rates. The Quincke needle always produced an undeviated stream of dye and did not form tracks at any flow rate. When a perspex plate (representing the spinal cord) was interposed in front of the needle, the dispersion of dye was always unidirectional from the Whitacre needle and bidirectional from the Quincke needle. The dye adhered to the surface of the plate as a concentrated film at slow rates and at faster rates it dispersed turbulently for both types of needle.     

Convergence of occipital nerve and superior sagittal sinus input in the cervical spinal cord of the cat

Co-existence of facial and occipital pain may occur in occipital neuralgia, migraine and cluster headache; suggesting convergence of trigeminal and cervical afferents. Such convergence has been shown in humans and other animals, but the site and extent of this are uncertain. In anaesthetized adult cats, the superior sagittal sinus and occipital nerve were stimulated electrically, and extracellular recordings made in the dorsolateral area of the upper cervical cord using glass-coated tungsten electrodes. Of 49 units in 10 cats, 33 (67%) had input from the superior sagittal sinus and the occipital nerve. Thirteen (27%) had superior sagittal sinus input and 3 (6%) had occipital nerve input. Convergent receptive fields were identified mechanically in 7 units. These experiments in cats show convergent input from occipital nerve and superior sagittal sinus on dorsolateral area units in two-thirds of cases studied. This experimental site of trigeminocervical convergence may relate to referral of pain in occipital neuralgia and other headaches.