The value of a pantaloon cast test in surgical decision making for chronic low back pain patients: a systematic review of the literature supplemented with a prospective cohort study

The results of lumbar fusion in chronic low back pain (LBP) patients vary considerably, and there is a need for proper patient selection. Lumbosacral orthoses have been widely used to predict outcome, however, with little scientific support. The aim of the present study was to determine the value of a pantaloon cast test in selecting chronic LBP patients for lumbar fusion or conservative management. First, a systematic review of the literature was carried out in which two independent reviewers identified studies in Medline, Cochrane and Current Contents databases. Three papers met the selection criteria. In the only study with a control group, a significantly better outcome after fusion compared to conservative treatment was found in patients who reported significant pain relief while in a cast (i.e. a positive cast test). The results of lumbar fusion, however, were not significantly different for patients with a positive and those with a negative cast test. In addition to the review, a clinical cohort study of 257 LBP patients, who had been allocated to either lumbar fusion or conservative management by a temporary external transpedicular fixation trial, was performed. Prior to allocation, all had undergone a pantaloon cast test. Patients with no history of prior spine surgery and with a positive pantaloon cast test had a better outcome after lumbar fusion than those treated conservatively (P = 0.002, χ ² test). In patients with previous spine operations the outcomes were poor and the test was of no value. From the literature and the present patient cohort, it was concluded that only in chronic LBP patients without prior spine surgery, a pantaloon cast test with substantial pain relief suggests a favorable outcome of lumbar fusion compared to conservative management. The test has no value in patients who have had previous spine surgery.     

手术治疗胸腰椎结核合并后凸畸形

目的:探讨单切口双入路椎弓根系统内固定、后外侧植骨同期病灶清除、椎间植骨治疗胸腰椎结核合并后凸畸形的疗效。方法:对78例胸腰椎结核合并后凸畸形患者采用单切口双入路行后外侧植骨椎弓根系统内固定,同期病灶清除、椎间植骨治疗,观察患者症状及截瘫改善情况,后凸畸形矫正情况及植骨融合情况。结果:所有患者症状均明显改善,48例合并截瘫的患者中,25例完全恢复正常,7例ASIA分级改善1￣3级;植骨均在术后6个月￣1年融合,治愈率52.08%,好转率14.58%。后凸Cobb角平均矫正28.7°,随访1.4￣6.5年,平均2.6年,后凸角平均丢失2.9°。结论:单切口双入路后外侧椎弓根系统内固定同期病灶清除、椎间植骨可恢复脊柱的即刻稳定性,有利于植骨融合,后凸畸形矫正满意。     

全脊柱截骨矫正严重后凸畸形

[目的]探讨全脊柱截骨矫正脊柱后凸的治疗经验。[方法]全脊柱截骨加椎弓根钉内固定系统闭合及植骨矫正脊柱后凸。[结果]于1984～2005年采用上述方法治疗50例病人。术后全组病例均未发生脊髓损伤，术后临床症状得到不同程度的改善。经历2～15a平均2．4a随访，X线CT复查示螺钉位置良好，无松动断钉。植骨3个月后均达到满意融合。[结论]经全脊柱截骨加有效的内固定手术不仅手术视野开阔操作安全方便；而且截骨和内固定相结合同时完成，是治疗脊柱后凸目前更完善并不断改进一种好方法。     

后路椎体间融合术后融合器脱出的原因及其翻修术

目的：探讨后路椎体间融合术后融合器脱出的原因及其翻修方法。方法：10例后路椎体间融合术后融合器脱出行翻修术的病例，其中腰椎滑脱症5例，腰椎管狭窄症3例，腰椎间盘突出症2例。手术节段为L4／54例，L5／S1 3例，L4／5＋L5／S1 3例；融合器应用BAK（旋入型）7例，聚醚醚酮矩形融合器（PEEK）2例，钛金属矩形融合器1例。于首次术后1～90d内行翻修术。就其脱出原因，再次手术方法及疗效进行分析。结果：融合器脱出的原因：矩形融合器中2例型号太小，1例放置位置偏后；旋入型融合器1例定位错误，其余大都因两枚融合器之间发生碰撞挤压所致。翻修术后获得完整随访资料者8例，随访时间10-36个月，平均17个月，均得到融合，无融合器再次移位或脱出以及内同定的断裂，1例伴有足下垂者遗留患足背伸肌力减弱，其余病例神经症状消除。结论：后路腰椎椎体间融合术后融合器脱出的可能原因有融合器型号偏小导致椎间隙撑开不够，放置位置偏后，两枚融合器不对称或距离太近发生碰撞等。早期、积极的手术翻修能取得较好的疗效。     

Poly-lactic acid and agarose gelatin play an active role in the recovery of spinal cord injury

Objective To investigate the role of poly-lactic acid and agarose gelatin in promoting the functional recovery of the injured spinal cord. Methods Poly-lactic acid ( PLA) or agarose was embedded in the space between two stumps of the hemisectioned spinal cord. Immunohistochemistry was used to show astroglia proliferation and the infiltration of RhoA-positive cells. Locomotor activity recovery was evaluated by testing the function of hindlimbs. Results Astrogli-as and RhoA labeled non-neuronal cells accumulated in the area adjacent to the implant, while the number of RhoA-positive cells was decreased dramatically in the absence of implant. Animals implanted with agarose gelatin recovered more quickly than those with PLA, concomitant with a higher survival rate of the neurons. Conclusion Both PLA and agarose gelatin benefited the recovery of spinal cord after injury by providing a scaffold for astroglia processes. Modulation of the rigidity, pore size and inner structure of PLA and agarose gelatin might make these biodegradable materials more effective in the regeneration of the central nervous system (CNS).     

Malignant schwannoma in the posterior tibial nerve

Our group have studied a patient affected by a malignant schwannoma in the posterior tibial nerve. Schwannomas are uncommon neoplasms that originate from the Schwann cells of the peripheral nerves: the most common forms are benign. Malignant transformation is rarer. The therapy is surgical and the operation undertaken, if possible, should be the amputation. Alternatively, where amputation is not possible due to the specific localisation or due to patient refusal, the alternative must be the largest and most radical excision possible.     

后十字韧带重建后移植物组织学与胶原表型的变化

目的探讨采用半腱肌腱重建后十字韧带（posterior cruciate ligament,PCL）后移植物的组织学与胶原表型的变化.方法取20只成年新西兰大白兔,实验组18只切除右膝PCL后即刻用双股自体半腱肌腱重建,实验组于术后3、6、52周各处死动物2只,12、26周各处死动物6只,切取半腱肌腱移植物;对照组2只直接切取半腱肌腱和PCL.标本采用HE、甲苯胺蓝以及Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原免疫组化染色观察移植物的组织学与胶原表型变化,并与正常半腱肌腱和PCL进行比较.结果常规组织化学染色显示正常半腱肌腱和PCL在细胞构成上有明显的差别,PCL内可见软骨样细胞;重建后的移植物经过坏死、细胞重新长入、胶原形成和重塑阶段,52周时形成的结构类似于正常PCL,但在纤维排列上与正常PCL仍有差异.免疫组织化学染色结果显示正常PCL纤维内部仅有Ⅰ型胶原表达,重建韧带Ⅰ型胶原染色随时间延长从少到多,Ⅲ型胶原染色从多到少,52周时移植物内局部仍有表达.结论采用半腱肌腱重建PCL 52周时移植物和正常PCL结构相似,但仍有差异.     

后路半椎体切除矫治半椎体所致脊柱侧后凸畸形

[目的]评价后路半椎体切除术治疗半椎体所致脊柱侧后凸畸形的临床效果。[方法]2000年5月~2005年11月,采用后路半椎体切除及矫形固定融合术治疗14例完全分节半椎体所致脊柱侧后凸畸形患者。年龄2.5~14.4岁,平均7.4岁,半椎体均为侧后方半椎体,其中胸椎7例,腰椎7例。[结果]手术时间2~7 h,平均4.7h,术中出血量150~2 500 m l,平均560 m。l固定节段2~8个椎体,平均3.5。术后随访6~36个月。平均15.6个月。术后站立位脊柱正侧位X线片示冠状面Cobb's角由术前46.2°矫正到17.3°,平均矫正率62.6%,矢状面Cobb's角由术前48.3°矫正至术后16.2°,平均矫正率68.7%。终末随访时冠状面Cobb's角平均21.7°,丢失4.4°,矢状面Cobb's角平均18.7°,丢失2.5°。围手术期并发症包括:伤口愈合不良2例,术中术后椎弓根螺钉切割椎体2例。[结论]后路半椎体切除可直接去除致畸因素,在冠状面及矢状面均获得良好的矫形效果,与前后路手术相比可缩短手术时间,减少创伤,适用于从胸段到腰段的半椎体畸形。     

后路治疗胸腰椎爆裂骨折

目的：探讨后路环椎管减压，椎弓根钉系统复位固定并植骨治疗胸腰椎爆裂骨折的疗效。方法：1996－2001年，环椎环椎管减压，结合具有钉杆角的椎弓根钉系统复位固定，并横突及小关节突间植骨或椎间植骨治疗128例病人，从伤椎椎体前后缘高度恢复，Cobb角矫正度及神经功能恢复情况评价疗效。结果：128例病人脊髓神经损害无加重，神经功能有不同程度恢复；伤椎高度恢复理想，Cobb角明显减少，植骨融合成功108例（占84．4％），术后部分病例出现伤椎复位度丢失现象。结论：后路环椎管减压内固定治疗胸腰椎骨折效果好，应重视植骨融合以获得良好稳定性。     

Spinal epidural hematoma. Report of a case and review of the literature

We report the case of a thoracic epidural hematoma at the T7-T9 level which occurred after placement of spinal epidural catheter for continuous anaesthesia in acute pancreatitis. The male patient felt a sudden back pain after six days of successful analgesia and became paraplegic 24 hours afterwards. An emergency laminectomy and removal of the hematoma were performed; however, the patient recovered only incompletely.We discuss the clinical signs and symptoms of spinal epidural hematoma as well as its diagnostics and therapy. The controversial views from the literature concernings its etiology are critically reviewed.