Duplicated origin of right vertebral artery with rudimentary and accessory left vertebral arteries

Summary We observed a rare cerebrovascular anomaly in a patient with brain-stem infarction. Two right vertebral arteries arose from the subclavian artery and communicated directly with each other under the transverse foramen of the fourth cervical vertebra. The left vertebral artery consisted of a rudimentary artery that arose from the left subclavian artery, ran through the transverse foramen of the sixth cervical vertebra and then tapered down to disappear at the fourth/fifth cervical vertebrae, plus a second, accessory artery that arose from a branch of the left thyrocervical trunk, ran through the transverse foramen of the fifth cervical vertebra and tapered off to disappear at the first/second cervical vertebrae.     

寰椎变异的观测 Ⅰ.中国人寰椎后桥和侧桥的观测

本文对300个寰椎的后桥和侧桥的存在情况作了观察。其中129个寰椎(43.0％)有后部分桥,22个寰椎(7.3％)有后完整桥;34个寰椎有侧部分桥(11.3％),16个寰椎(5.3％)有侧完整桥。经统计学检验,在左右侧后完整桥及左右侧侧完整桥间均无显著性差异。对寰椎横突孔、后弧孔及侧弧孔内径的测量显示,绝大部分后弧孔(92.0％)较同侧横突孔小,且右横突孔与右后弧孔间存在高度显著性差异(P<0.01)。此外,还测量了两种完整骨桥的宽度,探讨了狭小后弧孔对正常椎动脉机能的可能影响,分析了文献中关于寰椎桥的起源。     

Candida albicans osteomyelitis of the spine: progressive clinical and radiological features and surgical management in three cases

Candida albicans vertebral osteomyelitis is rare. Three cases are presented. Without antifungal treatment, they developed spinal collapse and neurological deterioration within 3–6 months from the onset of symptoms. There was a delay of 4.5 and 7.5 months between the onset of symptoms and surgery. All patients were managed with surgical debridement and reconstruction and 12-week fluconazole treatment. The neurological deficits resolved completely. The infection has not recurred clinically or radiologically at 5–6 years follow-up. Although rare, Candida should be suspected as a causative pathogen in cases of spinal osteomyelitis. Without treatment the disease is progressive. As soon as osteomyelitis is suspected, investigations with MRI and percutaneous biopsy should be performed followed by medical therapy. This may prevent the need for surgery. However, if vertebral collapse and spinal cord compression occurs, surgical debridement, fusion and stabilisation combined with antifungal medications can successfully eradicate the infection and resolve the neurological deficits.     

经皮椎体成形术与椎体后凸成形术治疗胸腰椎压缩性骨折的临床疗效比较

目的比较经皮椎体成形术与椎体后凸成形术治疗胸腰椎压缩性骨折的临床疗效。方法对98例胸腰椎压缩性骨折，根据手术方法不同分为椎体成形组和椎体后凸成形组。比较两组术前术后椎体前缘、中线、后缘高度变化，疼痛视觉模糊评分（VAS），手术时间，出血量等方面的差异。结果两组对椎体高度的恢复比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01），VAS、手术时间和出血量比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论经皮椎体成形术与椎体后凸成形术具有创伤小、手术时间短、出血量少等微创优点，而椎体后凸成形术具有较好的复位作用。     

椎动脉形态学异常对后循环短暂性脑缺血发作症状持续时间的影响

目的 探讨椎动脉形态学异常对后循环TIA症状持续时间的影响。
方法 回顾性分析2015年10月-2018年3月在中国科学院大学重庆仁济医院神经内科完成头颈部DSA
或CTA的后循环TIA住院患者临床资料，根据症状持续时间分为<10 min组、10～59 min组和≥60 mi n组，
比较椎动脉形态异常各亚型在3组间的差异。通过多因素Logistic回归分析明确椎动脉形态异常与后
循环TIA症状持续时间之间的关系。
结果 共纳入237例患者，其中症状持续时间<10 min组109例（45.99%）、10～59 min组71例（29.96%）
和≥60 min组57例（24.05%）。一般临床资料的比较显示，性别、椎动脉和基底动脉狭窄率≥50%
在3组间差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。椎动脉形态异常中，动脉粥样硬化性椎动脉狭窄（狭窄
率1%～99%）在3组间的差异具有统计学意义（P =0.004），而一侧迂曲、双侧迂曲、一侧优势、一
侧优势合并迂曲和起源异常在3组间差异均无统计学意义；多因素Logi sti c回归分析显示椎动脉
狭窄（OR 2.500，95%CI 1.381～4.525，P =0.002）、基底动脉狭窄率≥50%（OR 12.066，95%CI
1.446～100.668，P =0.021）是TI A症状持续时间延长的独立影响因素。
结论 椎动脉狭窄和基底动脉狭窄率≥50%是影响后循环TIA症状持续时间延长的独立影响因素。     

Hospital care of osteoporosis-related vertebral fractures

 Resource implications of hospitalization for osteoporosis-related vertebral fracture are sparsely documented. This study utilized data abstracted from a national sample of hospitalized patients to identify characteristics of patients who are hospitalized with vertebral fracture and their patterns of resource utilization. These were compared with patterns observed for hip fracture hospitalizations. Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) for 1997 were used to identify men and women age 45 years and above who had a primary diagnosis of vertebral fracture. After patients whose fractures might have been due to metastatic cancer or severe trauma were excluded, 68 901 individuals hospitalized for vertebral fracture were identified. Seventy-seven percent of these were women, most were white, 75 years and older, and had multiple comorbid diagnoses. Total charges averaged US$8000–10 000 per hospitalization and were higher in men. Mean length of stay was just under 6 days and more than 50% of discharged patients required some form of continuing care. Hospitalizations for vertebral fracture occurred at only one-fourth the rate of those for hip fracture, and created only half the hospital charges per admission. Vertebral fracture accounted for over 400 000 total hospital days and generated charges in excess of US$500 million. This resource impact is considerably higher than has been described in prior studies. Received: 25 June 2002 / Accepted: 13 August 2002 Acknowledgement This research was supported by Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals and Aventis.     

Ex vivo estimation of thoracolumbar vertebral body compressive strength: The relative contributions of bone densitometry and vertebral morphometry

The estimation of vertebral fracture risk in individuals with suspected osteopenia is commonly based on measurements of lumbar spine bone density. The efficacy of vertebral size and deformity, as assessed by vertebral morphometry, in the prediction of fractures has been less studied. In an ex vivo investigation the regional relationships between vertebral size, vertebral deformity, bone density and compressive strength throughout the thoracolumbar spine were examined. In 16 vertebral columns (T1–L5) the bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) of each segment were measured using lateral projection dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the vertebral cancellous density (VCD) and mid-vertebral cross-sectional area (CSA) measured using quantitative computed tomography. Vertebral body heights were determined from mid-sagittal CT scans, and vertical height ratios calculated for each segment. The failure load and failure stress of the isolated vertebral bodies were determined using a material testing device. Separate analyses were performed for the upper (T1–4), middle (T5–8) and lower (T9–12) thoracic, and lumbar (L1–5) segments. In all regions, failure load was strongly correlated with BMD (r=0.82–0.86), moderately correlated with VCD (r=0.60–0.71) and vertebral height (r=0.22–0.49), and poorly correlated with the height ratios (r=0.04–0.33). Failure stress was best predicted by BMD (r=0.73–0.78) and VCD (r=0.70–0.78) but was poorly correlated with all morphometric variables (r=0.01–0.33). The segmental correlations between BMD and VCD ranged fromr=0.49 tor=0.79. For all regions, BMD and VCD were included in the stepwise regression models for predicting failure load and failure stress. Either the mid-vertebral height or CSA were included in all the failure load models, while mid-vertebral height was included in only one of the failure stress models. The results suggest that vertebral deformity and size (as assessed by vertebral morphometry) make only a minor contribution to the prediction of vertebral strength additional to that provided by bone densitometry alone. The consistent regional relationships between variables appear to support the practice of global fracture risk assessment based on lumbar spine densitometry.     

椎动脉型颈椎病的彩色多普勒超声诊断

目的 :观察椎动脉型颈椎病的高频彩色多普勒表现和血流动力学变化。方法 :应用彩色多普勒超声诊断仪 (高频探头 ,频率 7～ 10MHz)检测 138例椎动脉型颈椎病患者 (颈椎病组 )的椎动脉 (VH)内径 (D)、血流速度 (V)和血流量 (Q)、阻力指数 (RI)和搏动指数 (PI) ,观察其形态结构、并与 10 0例 (对照组 )进行对照分析。结果 :颈椎病组VA的V(除平均血流速度外 )、D ,Q ,RI,PI与对照组比较差异有显著性 (P <0 0 1)。结论 :高频彩超显示的椎动脉形态和血流参数变化为临床评价椎动脉型颈椎病治疗效果提供了有价值的依据     

Modic changes following lumbar disc herniation

Only a small proportion (20%) of patients with LBP can be diagnosed based on a patho-anatomical entity. Therefore, the identification of relevant subgroups, preferably on a patoanatomical basis, is strongly needed. Modic changes have been described by several authors as being closely linked with LBP. The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence of Modic changes, their development as well as their association to LBP, previous disc contour, and surgery in patients with previous severe sciatica. This is a longitudinal cohort study where the patients were recruited from an RCT comparing two active conservative treatments, the 181 patients, who at baseline had radicular pain in or below the knee; all underwent a physical examination and MRI. MRI’s, pain history and physical examination of 166 patients were obtained at follow-up 14 months later. The prevalence of Modic changes type 1 increased from 9% at baseline to 29% at follow-up. At that time, a strong association between Modic changes and non-specific LBP was noted. Apparently, Modic changes type 1 was more strongly associated with non-specific lumbar pain than Modic changes type 2. The development of new Modic changes was closely related to the level of a previous disc herniation. A lumbar disc herniation is a strong risk factor for developing Modic changes (especially type 1) during the following year. Furthermore, Modic changes are strongly associated with LBP.