Precise and limited decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis

Summary Fifty-eight consecutive patients with lumbosacral nerve root entrapment due to spinal stenosis were treated with modified microsurgical decompression. Only the clinically relevant sides and levels were decompressed while the spinous processes, the interspinous ligaments, the medial portion of ligamentum flavum and the functionally important parts of the facet joints were preserved. The reviewers rated recovery as good or excellent in 71% of patients while patient self-assessment indicated 76% good or excellent outcome. These data suggest that microsurgical decompression of spondyloarthritic changes can effectively relieve the signs and symptoms of nerve root compression and that with careful evaluation of all available data the number of nerve roots requiring decomperession is often fewer than what is suggested by diagnositic images alone.     

Role of technetium-99m planar bone scanning in the evaluation of low back pain

The records of 1018 patients with low back pain in a tertiary spine referral practice were reviewed. One hundred thirty-nine out of 1018 (13.6%) underwent technetium-99m planar bone scanning as part of their investigation. Seventy-three out of 139 scans (52%) showed increased uptake in some area, but only 27 out of 139 (19.4%) showed increased uptake specifically in the low back. Scans consistently yielded no findings with reference to the back when the prescan diagnosis was spinal stenosis, lumbar pain syndrome, herniated nucleus pulposus, or postlaminectomy syndrome. Some scans gave positive findings in patients with a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease, pseudarthrosis, spondylolisthesis, fracture, infection, metabolic disorder, or tumor. Positive scans were generally obtained early after presentation (within 3 months) and negative scans obtained later (after 6 months), suggesting that clinical suspicion is still the main indication for early scanning. Planar bone scanning was helpful in both diagnosis and therapeutic decisionmaking in many conditions.     

Contrast on T2-weighted images of the lumbar spine using fast spin-echo and gated conventional spin-echo sequences

A prospective study in 31 patients was designed to compare contrast quantitatively using axial conventional, gated spin-echo T2-weighted (T2W) (SE) (asymmetrical echo TE 30 and 80 ms) and axial dual-echo fast spin-echo (FSE) sequences (TE_eff20 and 120 ms) to image lumbar discs, nerve roots, and cerebrospinal fluid CSF. We used two quantitative measures, percent (%) contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), to compare the sequences. The FSE sequence had greater % contrast and CNR on the first and second echo images for both disc and nerve root detection using these scan parameters. An axial FSE sequence, therefore, provided contrast characteristics similar to those of gated axial T2W SE sequence in the lumbar spine, with a 60% saving in acquisition time. The FSE sequence is now our standard axial T2W study for the lumbar spine.     

Morphometric analysis of the thoracic and lumbar spine in Japanese on the use of pedicle screws

The pedicle screw and hook have become popular instruments in treating spinal deformity and disease. This study gathered morphological data on thoracic and lumbar spines in a Japanese population that should serve as useful reference for posterior instrumentation surgery. One hundred and three dry bones were used to investigate the morphology of pedicle and facet in thoracic and lumbar spines. Measurements included the diameter and axial length of pedicle from T8 to L5, height and width of facets and thickness of articular processes from T1 to T12, and axial angle of pedicle from T1 to L5. The diameter and axial length of pedicle were smallest at T8, diameter was largest at L5 and axial length was largest at L3. Height of facets and thickness of articular processes were largest at T12. Men tended to have larger pedicles and facets than women. Transverse angle of pedicle was smallest at T12. These precise data may provide useful information when performing posterior instrumentation surgery and when developing new spinal implant systems for Asians.     

Isovelocity investigation of the lengthening behaviour of the erector spinae muscles

The purpose of this study was to investigate the force-velocity (F/) relationship for the erector spinae muscles in submaximal activation movements, with particular attention to their response during lengthening movements and at lower shortening contraction velocities. Dynamic models that predict lower back muscle forces require reasonable representations of the modulating effect of instantaneous velocity. Ten males were observed performing trunk flexion and extension in the sagittal plane under constant load. Contraction velocities were measured as the first derivative from a devise sensitive to changes in spine curvature, and controlled by a visual feedback system while a constant load was applied through a chest harness. The erector spinae exhibited a yielding phenomenon which causes an abrupt drop in force during constant velocity stretching under constant, submaximal, stimulation. The findings were consistent with previous isovelocity muscle lengthening experiments. Yielding appeared dependent on the level of load/activation supporting the theory of a state-variableF/ relationship. The eccentric behaviour of the lower erectors (L3) seemed independent of velocity and length, while that of the upper erectors (T9) showed a dependence on length. At lower concentric velocities, concavity in torque-velocity curves was noted after a threshold velocity. The findings of this study strongly reinforce the notion that theF/ length relationship is not a continuous hyperbolic relationship during muscle shortening and that the commonly modelled force augmentation effect of lengthening is incorrect, at least for submaximal activation of the extensors of the lower back.     

单双侧椎弓根螺钉固定经椎间孔椎体间融合术治疗腰椎退行性疾病的效果比较研究

目的 分析UPS术、BPS术联合TLIF治疗腰椎退行性疾病(LDD)的效果.方法 选取2013年5月至2014年6月于本院骨科治疗的118例LDD患者作为研究对象,分为UPS术组与BPS术组,每组59例,分别采用两种不同的手术方法进行治疗.结果 UPS术组优良率为91.53％,BPS术组为77.97％,两组优良率比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 UPS术联合TLIF治疗LDD的疗效优于BPS术,治疗LDD患者时可应用UPS联合TLIF的手术方法.     

手术治疗老年性椎管狭窄症的临床研究

目的:探讨老年性腰椎管狭窄症的临床特点及治疗效果.方法: 对2002年1月至2006年1月收治的35例腰椎管狭窄症患者进行前瞻性研究,并进行追踪随访.结果:随访1～4.0年,随访率为100%,优良率91.43%.本组术后共出现并发症7例(20.00%),其中切口感染1例,延迟愈合2例,肺部感染1例,泌尿系感染1例,消化系统功能紊乱2例,经过对症处理后均好转;无腰椎滑脱和椎管再狭窄发生.结论:在积极控制共存疾病的基础上,严格掌握手术指征,把握手术时机,手术减压治疗对老年腰椎管狭窄症神经功能的恢复具有重要作用.     

应用健康教育路径对腰椎间盘突出患者进行健康教育

目的提高健康教育质量，保证患者得到及时有效的健康教育。方法将175例住院患者随机分成2组。实验组进行健康评估，设计健康教育路径表，应用路径表对患者实施健康教育计划：对照组采用常规健康教育方法。结果实验组接受健康教育后的效果和对护理工作的满意度均显著提高p〈0．01（x^2=7．574），健康教育达标率95．74％（90／94）优于对照组74．07％（60／81，x^2=16．690，p〈0．01）。结论腰椎间盘突出患者按健康教育路径实施健康教育，可减轻患者痛苦，缩短住院日，减轻患者经济负担，促进康复，是一种行之有效的工作方式。     

下腰椎骨折并发马尾综合征的手术疗效分析

目的:马尾综合征(CES)包括下腰痛、坐骨神经痛、下肢运动感觉功能障碍、会阴区麻木,以及膀胱直肠功能障碍或丧失,CES的一些认识已经明确,但是临床上采取什么样的治疗最恰当存在争议,有关腰椎间盘突出引起的CES,已经积累了大量的病例资料。但是有关下腰椎骨折引起的马尾综合征临床少有报道。方法:从1998年到2006年,收集17例L2—5腰椎骨折并发马尾综合征的病人,其中车祸伤11例,高处坠落伤6例,脊髓圆锥损伤导致的CES的病例除外,记录所有病例的体征、受伤机制、影像资料、受伤时间、手术方法、神经损伤和恢复情况。结果:所有病例随访至少12个月。所有的病人在出现CES48小时之内进行手术减压治疗,其中14个病人恢复效果满意,另外3个病人虽然在伤后24小时内进行了手术治疗,但是效果不好。双下肢无力在4个月内恢复,膀胱和直肠功能在3个月恢复。总的来看,病人恢复效果的好坏与手术时间的早晚无关。结论根据临床研究,下腰椎骨折引起的CES恢复效果与受伤时马尾损伤的程度密切相关,虽然对于手术的时机存在争议,但是本研究建议在出现CES48小时内施行手术治疗。     

中青年腰椎间盘突出症家庭康复护理

目的探讨中青年腰椎间盘突出症康复护理的方法及效果。方法急性期绝对卧硬板床做牵引治疗（以骨盆牵引法为主）;慢性期注意劳逸结合及腰部活动幅度,红外线照射以活血消肿;康复期注意腰肌、背阔肌功能锻炼。结果42例病人中急性期绝对卧硬板床结合牵引治疗〉60d者10例,随访6个月治愈率达100％,绝对卧床41-60d有7例,治愈6例（86％）;绝对卧床21～40d有14例,治愈10例（71％）;绝对卧床〈20d有11例,治愈5例（45％）,6例暂时症状消失或疼痛减轻,复发经久不能根治。结论中青年腰椎间盘突出经绝对卧硬板床结合牵引治疗足够的时间,治疗效果较好。