先天性半椎体所致脊柱后凸畸形的外科治疗

本文报告16例先天性半椎体所致脊柱后凸畸形的不同手术治疗结果。其中5例行前路手术,4例行后路手术,两组的后凸畸形矫正率均为24％。7例分期行前路加后路手术,则后凸矫正率为43.2％。说明联合使用前路手术(包括半椎体大部切除、脊柱前方松解及支撑植骨)加后路手术(包括椎板切除、Harrington加压棍或Luque氏内固定及脊柱后融合)比单独使用前路或单独使用后路手术矫形效果更加满意。手术对预防迟发性截瘫的发生是有效的,对于减轻已有的截瘫亦有肯定效果。     

Evaluation of deformities and pulmonary function in adolescent idiopathic right thoracic scoliosis

Summary Seventy patients with adolescent idiopathic right thoracic scoliosis had full assessment of their pulmonary function using a computerised pulmonary function system. Their mean age at evaluation was 13.8 years. The following measurements were obtained from anteroposterior and lateral standing and antero-posterior supine bending radiographs: lateral curvature, vertebral rotation, kyphosis, maximum sterno-vertebral distance and apical rib-vertebral angles. Using the above measurements, the flexibility of curve, vertebral rotation and rib-vertebral angle asymmetry were calculated. Patients were classified into three groups on the basis of their predicted vital capacity, to determine whether radiological features of deformity can help identify patients with compromised pulmonary function. The mean Cobb angle and vertebral rotation for the 70 patients were 50° (range 35–100°) and 22° (range 1–44°) respectively. The mean flexibility of curve and vertebral rotation were 52% and 49% respectively. Mean thoracic kyphosis was 25%, ranging from -7 to 55%. Of the patients with Cobb angle less than 90%, 71% had vital capacity less than 80% of predicted values, and of these, 18% had marked compromise of vital capacity (less than 60% of predicted values). Mean values of Cobb angle, vertebral rotational flexibility, kyphosis, rib-vertebral angle asymmetry (in standing as well as supine bending radiographs) differed significantly between patients with more than 80% of predicted vital capacity and those with 60% or less of predicted values. Radiological features indicative of better pulmonary function were: rotational flexibility exceeding 55%, rib-vertebral angle asymmetry (standing) less than 25% and kyphosis greater than 15%. Two deformity parameters—that give a better prediction of pulmonary function than the widely used Cobb angle, vertebral rotational flexibility and rib-vertebral angle asymmetry—were identified in this study.     

Posterior Vertebral Column Resection for VATER/VACTERL Associated Spinal Deformity: A Case Report

The VATER/VACTERL association is a syndrome notable for congenital vertebral malformations, anal atresia, cardiovascular anomalies, tracheoesophageal fistula, esophageal atresia, and renal or limb malformations. Vertebral malformations may include the entire spectrum of congenital spinal deformities, including kyphosis, as was seen in this case. A 14-year-old girl presented to our institution with severe rigid sagittal deformity in the thoracolumbar spine that had recurred following three prior spinal fusion surgeries: the first posterior only, the second anterior and posterior, and the third a posterior only proximal extension. These surgeries were performed to control progressive kyphosis from a complex failure of segmentation that resulted in a 66° kyphosis from T11 to L3 by the time she was 9 years old. Our evaluation revealed solid arthrodesis from the most recent procedures with resultant sagittal imbalance, and surgical options to restore balance included anterior and posterior revision spinal fusion with osteotomies, multiple posterior extension osteotomies with circumferential spine fusion, and posterior vertebral column resection with circumferential spine fusion. She was advised that multiple posterior extension osteotomies would likely be insufficient to restore sagittal balance in the setting of solid arthrodesis from anterior and posterior surgery, and that the posterior-only vertebral column resection would provide results equivalent to revision anterior and posterior surgery, without the morbidity of the anterior approach. She successfully underwent posterior vertebrectomy and circumferential spinal fusion with instrumentation and is doing well 2 years postoperatively. Severe rigid sagittal deformity can be effectively managed with a posterior-only surgical approach, vertebrectomy, and circumferential spinal fusion with instrumentation. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Progression of Congenital Kyphosis in Ishibashi Rats

The development of congenital kyphosis was studied radiographically and histologically in 32 female and 34 male Ishibashi rats between the fourth and thirty-sixth week after birth. The major congenital spinal anomalies were defects of segmentation in the lumbar area. The malformation was classified into four groups according to the state of non-segmentation seen in radiographs. The progression of kyphosis was closely related to various changes at intervertebral spaces. The spinal deformity resulting from narrowing of the intervertebral spaces without bony fusion did not progress with growth, and the epiphyseal plates remained relatively intact unrelated to the existence of disc tissue. The deformity resulting from ventral bony fusion without radiographic bony anomalies showed histologically dysplastic epiphyseal plates on the ventral side. Progression of the kyphosis occurred in this type of deformity. The kyphosis resulting from bony fusion and ventral wedge-vertebrae progressed in the males. Progressive kyphosis appeared to be due to a difference in growth potential between the ventral and dorsal epiphyseal plates.     

THORACIC KYPHOSIS AND LUMBAR LORDOSIS DURING THE GROWTH PERIOD IN CHILDREN

ABSTRACT. The thoracic kyphosis and the lumbar lordosis were studied in 1101 healthy children in consecutive age-groups between 8 and 16 years of age. The sagittal curves were estimated with a spinal pantograph–a noninvasive device–with the child standing in a relaxed position. The accuracy and the reproducibility of this technique are studied and shown to be acceptable. The thoracic kyphosis varied in both boys and girls. The least pronounced kyphosis was seen at the age of 10–12 years. At the age of 8 and 14–16 the mean range of the kyphosis increased statistically significantly. A positive correlation was also seen between the velocity of growth and the range of the kyphosis. In the lordosis, a similar trend could not be seen, but instead a slow continuous increase. A positive correlation was also observed between the ranges of the kyphosis and lordosis in most of the age-groups. An individual variation was, however, seen and wide ranges of kyphosis as well as lordosis must be accepted as normal variations.     

Primary and secondary tissue expansion gives high quality skin and subcutaneous coverage in children with a large myelomeningocele and kyphosis

Summary When operating on a child with a large myelomeningocele and kyphosis, coverage with skin of high quality and a supporting layer of subcutaneous tissue can be difficult. The dermal circulation in the newborn is finite and an extensive mobilisation of the skin is a risky venture. Between 1988 and 2003 five children with large thoraco-lumbal myelomeningocele and kyphosis underwent subcutaneous insertion of silicon tissue expanders due to skin cover difficulties. In three children the skin surface was allowed to granulate over the myelomeningocele. In the other two children closure of the myelomeningocele was attempted but failed leading to secondary epithelialisation. Four of the children had two tissue expanders inserted at the age of 8–12 months; two of them before delayed operation for the myelomeningocele and two before elective spinal column surgery. The fifth child was nine years old when two tissue expanders were inserted before delayed myelomeningocele repair. Saline was injected into the expanders every 3–7 days during six to eight weeks. The expansion treatment was well tolerated. The result was an excellent skin and subcutaneous coverage in four of the children. For the fifth child who was the oldest and obese, one filling port was damaged during one of the injections, leading to insufficient tissue expansion. An extensive skin mobilisation was required and the result was not optimal. Tissue expansion is a simple, but a less known technique for acquiring good skin and subcutaneous coverage in children with large myelomeningocele and kyphosis. The expansion can be done either before delayed myelomeningocele repair or after failed primary operation thus eliminating the need for extensive musculo-cutaneous flaps.     

Clinical and radiological results following cervical arthroplasty

Summary Background. This was a retrospective study of clinical and radiological results of cervical arthroplasty using the Bryan cervical disc prosthesis to evaluate the efficacy of arthroplasty in clinical applications. Methods. A total of 46 patients underwent arthroplasty of a single level using the Bryan disc prosthesis. Clinical outcome was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the neck disability index (NDI). All patients were evaluated using preoperative and postoperative static cervical spine radiographs to compare cervical sagittal balance. Dynamic cervical spine radiographs were used to compare movement at the level of the procedure, movement at the adjacent level and movement of the whole cervical spine. Findings. With the exception of four patients with aggravated neck pain, the NDI and VAS scores decreased significantly in late follow-up evaluations. The range of movement of the whole cervical spine, the functional segmental unit, and the adjacent segments were preserved after arthroplasty. The sagittal alignment of the cervical spine showed kyphosis after surgery but restored lordosis at a later time. The postulated cause of kyphotic changes include “over-milling” at the dorsal endplate, inappropriate angle of disc insertion, structural absence of lordosis in the Bryan disc, removal of posterior longitudinal ligament, and pre-existing kyphosis. Conclusions. Arthroplasty using the Bryan disc appears to be safe and provided a favorable preliminary clinical and radiological outcome. Postoperative kyphosis can be prevented by understanding the biomechanical properties of the Bryan disc. Future studies will need to address the association between postoperative kyphosis, clinical outcome and adjacent segment disease.     

后路截骨矫形内固定治疗胸腰段陈旧骨折合并后凸畸形

目的评价后路经椎弓根楔形截骨矫形内固定术治疗胸腰段陈旧性骨折并后凸畸形的临床疗效。方法回顾性分析2003年7月至2010年7月,采用后路楔形截骨内固定术治疗胸腰段陈旧性骨折并后凸畸形患者31例,其中男21例,女10例;年龄3259岁,平均41.8岁。采用视觉模拟评分（visual analogue scale,VAS）及日本骨科协会（Japanese orthopadeics association,JOA）评分（29分法）评价临床症状的改善情况,测量X线侧位片Cobb角,评价后凸畸形的纠正和植骨融合情况。结果所有患者均获随访,随访时间662个月,平均20个月。后凸Cobb角术前平均为39.6°,术后8.4°;VAS评分术前平均7.1分,术后2.9分;JOA评分术前平均为13.6分,术后24.1分。术前术后比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。无血管神经损伤等严重并发症发生,术后6个月植骨牢固愈合。无内固定松动、断裂等相关并发症。结论后路截骨矫形内固定术可获得满意的减压及矫形效果,同时可植骨融合,重建脊柱稳定性,并发症少,创伤较小,是胸腰段后凸畸形较理想的治疗方法。     

Sagittal balance of thoracic lordoscoliosis: anterior dual rod instrumentation versus posterior pedicle screw fixation

Posterior pedicle screw fixation is now the standard treatment for surgical correction of idiopathic scoliosis and has largely replaced anterior techniques, but there have been reports describing a lordogenic effect of segmental pedicle screw instrumentation in the thoracic spine. This clinical study compared anterior dual rod instrumentation with posterior pedicle screw fixation for idiopathic thoracic lordoscoliosis, including 42 patients (7 male, 35 female; average age 16 years, range 12–34) who underwent posterior pedicle screw fixation (n = 20) or anterior dual rod instrumentation (n = 22) at two centers. The average follow-up period was 33 months (24–108 months). Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with a structural thoracic curve (Lenke 1–3) and thoracic hypokyphosis (T4–T12 < 20°). The main thoracic curve magnitude and sagittal profile on standing radiographs were evaluated. Thoracic kyphosis was significantly restored from preoperatively 10.2° to 23.4° postoperatively in the anterior group and from 7.6° to 12.9° in the posterior group (P < 0.005). Kyphosis improved significantly better in the anterior group than in the posterior group (P < 0.005). The preoperative and postoperative main thoracic curve values were 63° (48–80°) and 25.2° in the anterior group and 60.6° (50–88°) and 23.6° in the posterior group, with no significant differences between the groups. No neurological or other severe complications were observed. Anterior dual rod instrumentation in patients with thoracic lordoscoliosis allows significantly better restoration of thoracic kyphosis than posterior pedicle screw instrumentation.