OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of 3D printing spinal external fixator combined with McKenzie therapy for patients with lumbar dics herniation (LDH). METHODS: Sixty patients with LDH between January 2022 and January 2023 were enrolled. Among them, 30 patients were given McKinsey training. According to different treatment methods, all patients were divided into McKenzie group and McKenzie + 3D printing group, 30 patients in each group. The McKenzie group provided McKenzie therapy. The McKenzie + 3D printing group were treated with 3D printing spinal external fixation brace on the basis of McKenzie therapy. Patients in both groups were between 25 and 60 years of age and had their first illness. In the McKenzie group, there were 19 males and 11 females, with an average age of (48.57±5.86) years old, and the disease duration was (7.03 ±2.39) months. The McKenzie + 3D printing group, there were 21 males and 9 females, with an average age of (48.80±5.92) years old, and the disease duration was(7.30±2.56) months. Pain was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and lumbar spine function was assessed using the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. VAS, ODI and JOA scores were compared between two groups before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 12 months. The VAS for the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were(6.533±0.860), (5.133±1.008), (3.933±0.868), (2.900±0.759), (2.067±0.640), (1.433±0.504), respectively. In the McKenzie group, the corresponding scores were (6.467±0.860), (5.067±1.048), (4.600±0.968), (3.533±1.008), (2.567±0.728), (1.967±0.809), respectively. The ODI of the McKenzie group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were (41.033±6.810)%, (37.933±6.209)%, (35.467±6.962)%, (27.567±10.081)%, (20.800±7.531)%, (13.533±5.158)%, respectively. For the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group, the corresponding ODI were(38.033±5.605)%, (33.000±6.192)%, (28.767±7.045)%, (22.200±5.517)%, (17.700±4.836)%, (11.900±2.771)%, respectively. The JOA scores of the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were(8.900±2.074), (13.133±2.330), (15.700±3.583), (20.400±3.480), (22.267±3.084), (24.833±2.640), respectively. In the McKenzie group, the corresponding scores were(9.200±2.091), (12.267±2.406), (15.333±3.198), (18.467±2.240), (20.133±2.751), (22.467±2.849), respectively. Before the initiation of treatment, no statistically significant differences were observed in the VAS, ODI, and JOA scores between two groups (P>0.05). At 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment, the VAS in the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group was significantly lower than that in the McKenzie group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The comparison of ODI between two groups at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment revealed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). At 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment, the JOA score in the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group was significantly higher than that in the McKenzie-only group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of 3D printed functional spinal external fixation brace with McKenzie therapy can significantly improve and maintain lumbar function in patients with LDH.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/surgery* ; External Fixators ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Adult ; Braces ; Treatment Outcome

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a common spinal deformity in adolescents, with potential causes etiologies associated with mesenchymal stem cells, genetic factors, histological features, and biomechanical aspects. Biomechanically, the pelvis, serving as the central and majort load-bearing structure, exhibits morphological and alignment abnormalities highly correlated with the development of AIS. Recent studies have extensively explored three-dimensional pelvic parameters and kinematics, demonstrating that abnormal pelvic characteristics may contribute to AIS onset and progression and are increasingly incorporated into clinical interventions. This review summarizes sagittal and coronal features of the spine-pelvis, as well as the influence of three-dimensional kinematic features on the pathogenesis of AIS, providing insights for advancing the study of spine-pelvis features related to AIS.
Humans ; Scoliosis/pathology* ; Adolescent ; Spine/pathology* ; Pelvis/pathology* ; Biomechanical Phenomena

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of unilateral biportal endoscopic discectomy(UBE) and percutaneous interlaminar endoscopic discectomy(PIED) in the treatment of highly migrated lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 43 patients with highly migrated LDH who underwent spinal endoscopic surgery between January 2022 and December 2023. In the UBE group 22 patients included 8 males and 14 females, aged 49 to 59 years old with a mean of (54.13±2.07) years old. In the PIED group 21 patients included 11 males and 10 females, aged 49 to 59 years old with a mean of (55.04±2.80) years old. Perioperative parameters including intraoperative blood loss, operative time, and fluoroscopic exposures were compared between groups. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and modified MacNab criteria. Complications during the perioperative period and follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: In the PIED group, there were 3 cases of nerve injury, 1 case of residual nucleus pulposus, and 1 case of dural injury. In the UBE group, there was 1 case of nerve injury and 1 case of cerebrospinal fluid leakage. No infections or major bleeding occurred in either group. All patients completed surgery and were followed up for at least 12 months. The UBE group had significantly more intraoperative blood loss (39.09±6.10) ml and more fluoroscopic exposures (6.45±0.26) than the PIED group (34.05±5.62) ml and (3.24±0.28) with significant difference (P<0.05). Preoperative VAS and ODI showed no significant differences between two groups (P>0.05). Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in VAS and ODI postoperatively (P<0.001). At the 3rd days postoperatively, the UBE group had a significantly lower leg pain VAS (2.27±0.20) than the PIED gruop(2.95±0.24) with significant difference (P<0.05), but no significant differences were observed at the first or 12th months (P>0.05). No significant differences in ODI were found between two groups during follow-up (P>0.05). At the 1st month postoperatively, according to modified MacNab criteria, 15 patients got excellent results, 4 good, and 2 fair in PIED group;and 18 patients got excellent results, 2 good, and 2 fair in UBE group, with no significant difference between two groups(P>0.05). CONCLUSION Both PIED and UBE are effective surgical methods for treating highly migrated LDH. Compared with PIED, UBE involves slightly longer operative time, more blood loss, and more fluoroscopic exposures, but carries a lower risk of nerve injury.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/surgery* ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Diskectomy, Percutaneous/methods* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy of conventional transforaminal endoscopic technique and I See transforaminal endoscopic technique in the treatment of recurrent L₅S₁ lumbar disc herniation with high iliac crest. METHODS: A total of 36 patients with recurrent L5S1 lumbar disc herniation with high iliac crest after posterior small-incision discectomy, admitted from May 2016 to May 2023, were selected. They were divided into the conventional transforaminal endoscopy group and the I See transforaminal endoscopy group according to the different transforaminal endoscopic techniques adopted, and all patients in both groups underwent lateral transforaminal spinal canal decompression and discectomy. There were 18 patients in the conventional transforaminal endoscopy group, including 11 males and 7 females, with an age of (52.24±6.68) years;the I See transforaminal endoscopy group also had 18 patients, including 12 males and 6 females, with an age of (50.75±7.79) years. The perioperative indicators (operation time, number of intraoperative radiographs, and length of hospital stay) were compared between two groups. The clinical efficacy was evaluated using the visual analogue scale(VAS) for pain, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA) low back pain score, and the modified MacNab criteria before and after surgery. RESULTS: All patients achieved gradeⅠincision healing, with no infection cases. The operation time of the I See group was (64.25±16.67) minutes, which was significantly shorter than that of the conventional transforaminal endoscopy group (89.11±17.24) minutes, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). The number of intraoperative radiographs in the I See group was (5.20±2.29) times, which was significantly less than that in the conventional transforaminal endoscopy group(19.16±3.68) times, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). The VAS and total JOA scores of both groups at the 3rd day, the 3rd month after surgery, and the last follow-up were significantly lower than those before surgery, with statistically significant differences(P<0.05);however, there were no statistically significant differences in VAS and total JOA scores between two groups at the 3rd day, the 3rd month after surgery, and the last follow-up (P>0.05). According to the modified MacNab criteria for efficacy evaluation:in the conventional transforaminal endoscopy group, 14 cases were excellent and 4 cases were good;in the I See transforaminal endoscopy group, 15 cases were excellent and 3 cases were good;there was no statistically significant difference in efficacy between two groups(Z=0.177, P=0.674). CONCLUSION Both transforaminal endoscopic techniques have good clinical effects in the treatment of recurrent L₅S₁ lumbar disc herniation with high iliac crest, resulting in significant improvement of postoperative symptoms, and they are safe, reliable, and minimally invasive surgical methods. Compared with the conventional transforaminal endoscopy, the I See transforaminal endoscopic technique has shorter operation time and fewer intraoperative radiographs, so it is generally the first choice.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/surgery* ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Ilium/surgery* ; Adult ; Diskectomy/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the early clinical efficacy, safety, and application value of one-hole split endoscopy (OSE)-assisted transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(TLIF) in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 17 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases who underwent OSE-assisted TLIF between June 2023 and June 2024. There were 10 males and 7 females, with a mean of (55.30±6.52) years old ranging 43 to 65 years. The disease duration ranged from 3 to 36 months with a mean of(12.4±13.3) months. The disease distribution was as follows:lumbar disc herniation (7 cases), lumbar spinal stenosis (5 cases), and lumbar spondylolisthesis (2 cases). Operative time, incision length, intraoperative blood loss, number of intraoperative fluoroscopic exposures, time to ambulation, postoperative hospital stay, and complications were recorded. The dural sac area at the affected segment, visual analogue scale (VAS) for low back pain and leg pain, and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively. The modified MacNab criteria were used to evaluate the surgical outcome at the final follow-up. RESULTS: All 17 patients successfully underwent surgery and were followed up for 3 to 15 months with a mean of (8.4±3.3) months. The operative time was 120 to 200 minutes with a mean of (143.2±22.0) minutes, the incision length on the decompression side was 1.80 to 4.00 cm with a mean of (2.56±0.65) cm, intraoperative blood loss was 50 to 300 ml with a mean of (161.2±72.5) ml, the number of fluoroscopic exposures was 15 to 38 with a mean of (23.4±6.5), time to ambulation was 24 to 72 hours with a mean of (49.2±11.9) hours, and postoperative hospital stay was 3 to 9 days with a mean of (4.9±1.5) days. Two patients developed transient lower limb pain and numbness, which completely resolved with conservative treatment. The postoperative dural sac area was (121.47±14.90) mm², which was significantly larger than the preoperative area (51.47±7.69) mm²(P<0.001). The VAS for low back pain were (6.23±1.64), (2.94±1.43), and (1.94±0.75) at preoperation, 3 days postoperation, and final follow-up, respectively;the VAS for leg pain were (7.06±1.43), (2.35±1.17), and (2.06±0.90) at the same time points. The VAS at all postoperative time points were significantly lower than preoperative scores (P<0.001). The ODI at final follow-up was (25.29±8.15)%, which was significantly better than the preoperative ODI of(82.35±5.16)%(P<0.001). At the final follow-up, the MacNab surgical outcome was excellent in 11 cases, good in 4 cases, and fair in 2 cases. CONCLUSION OSE-assisted TLIF is an effective, safe, and minimally invasive technique with a gentle learning curve for the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases, capable of effectively relieving symptoms and improving function.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Adult ; Aged ; Spinal Fusion/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/surgery* ; Spondylolisthesis/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical symptoms and MRI outcomes of patients with ruptured lumbar disc herniation(LDH) through a multicenter randomized controlled study, and to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Yiqi Huoxue formula() in the treatment of this disease. METHODS: A total of 160 outpatients and inpatients with ruptured LDH admitted to 4 medical centers from January 2023 to June 2023 were selected and randomly divided into the Yiqi Huoxue formula group and the control group, with 80 patients in each group. In the Yiqi Huoxue formula group, there were 43 males and 37 females, with an age of (41.03±9.56) years and a disease duration of (10.45±25.37) days, and the patients were treated with Yiqi Huoxue formula. In the control group, there were 34 males and 46 females, with an age of (42.14±8.73) years and a disease duration of (11.31±21.14) days;during the acute phase, patients in this group could take celecoxib capsules orally, and methylcobalamin orally at the same time. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), changes in the volume of herniated disc tissue on MRI, herniation rate, and absorption rate were recorded at the time of enrollment and during follow-ups at the 3rd, 6th, and 12th month after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 156 patients completed the clinical follow-up, and 4 patients withdrew midway. The clinical symptoms of all patients who completed the study were relieved to varying degrees, and reabsorption of herniated disc tissue was observed in all patients in the Yiqi Huoxue formula group after treatment. For the JOA score:in the Yiqi Huoxue formula group, it was (10.73±2.76) points before treatment and (24.65±2.19) points at the 12th month after treatment;in the control group, it was (11.01±1.20) points before treatment and (17.07±3.26) points at the 12th month after treatment. For the ODI score:in the Yiqi Huoxue formula group, it was (26.21±3.55) points before treatment and (5.65±2.19) points at the 12th month after treatment;in the control group, it was (27.92±2.51) points before treatment and (9.09±2.15) points at the 12th month after treatment. At the 12th month after treatment, the JOA and ODI scores of both groups were better than those before treatment, and the scores of the Yiqi Huoxue formula group were better than those of the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). In terms of the herniated disc volume and herniation rate on MRI, the Yiqi Huoxue formula group was superior to the control group, with statistically significant differences(P<0.05). Reabsorption occurred in 56.96%(45/79) of patients in the Yiqi Huoxue formula group, which was significantly higher than the 37.66%(29/77) in the control group. CONCLUSION After treatment with Yiqi Huoxue formula, patients with ruptured LDH show significant improvement in clinical symptoms and a marked reduction in the volume of herniated discs. During the follow-up period, no obvious adverse drug reactions are observed in patients, and no recurrence of symptoms is found at the last follow-up, indicating that the formula has safe and reliable efficacy.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/drug therapy* ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of automatic pressure-controlled pressure cupping in patients with lumbar disc herniation, and compare it with traditional cupping. METHODS: A total of 100 patients diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation from January 2022 to August 2024 were selected and divided into two groups:the automatic pressure-controlled pressure cupping group (controlled pressure cupping group) and the traditional cupping group (control group), 50 cases in each group. In the controlled pressure cupping group, there were 18 males and 32 females, with an age of (51.98±12.69) years;in the control group, there were 16 males and 34 females, with an age of (51.32±12.05) years. The visual analogue scale(VAS), comfort score, and lumbar range of motion were observed before treatment and after the 1st, 3rd, and 7th treatments to evaluate the efficacy and safety. RESULTS: All patients completed the treatment intervention, with complete follow-up data collected. No adverse reactions or complications occurred during treatment and follow-up. After the 3rd treatment, the VAS score of the controlled pressure cupping group was (2.38±0.49), which was lower than that of the control group (2.94±0.68), with a statistically significant difference (P<0.001). In the controlled pressure cupping group, the VAS scores after the 1st, 3rd, and 7th treatments were significantly better than those before treatment (P=0.026);in the control group, the VAS scores after the 3rd and 7th treatments were better than those before treatment, but the difference was not statistically significant(P=0.182). Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) on VAS scores at different time points in both groups showed that there were statistically significant differences in inter-group, time, and interaction effects (P<0.05). After the 1st treatment, in the controlled pressure cupping group, 0 patients felt comfortable, 42 patients (84%) felt mild discomfort, and 8 patients (16%) felt moderate discomfort;in the control group, 0 patients felt comfortable, 28 patients (56%) felt mild discomfort, and 22 patients(44%) felt moderate discomfort;the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P=0.005). After the 3rd treatment, in the controlled pressure cupping group, 30 patients(60%) felt comfortable, 20 patients (40%) felt mild discomfort, and 0 patients felt moderate discomfort; in the control group, 9 patients (18%) felt comfortable, 41 patients (82%) felt mild discomfort, and 0 patients felt moderate discomfort;the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in comfort between the two groups after the 7th treatment(P>0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in lumbar range of motion between the two groups before and after treatment(P>0.05);compared with before treatment, the lumbar range of motion of both groups after treatment was significantly improved, with statistically significant differences (P<0.001). CONCLUSION Automatic pressure-controlled pressure cupping can effectively relieve symptoms in patients with lumbar disc herniation, with excellent safety.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/physiopathology* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Lumbar Vertebrae/physiopathology* ; Cupping Therapy/methods* ; Pressure ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome

The connection between tendons and bones is called the tendon bone connection. With the continuous improvement of national sports awareness, excessive exercises and the related intensity are prone to damage the tendon bone connection. Tendon bone healing is a complex repair and healing process involving multiple factors, and good tendon bone healing is a prerequisite for its physiological function. The complexity of tendon bone structure also poses great challenges to the repair of tendon bone injuries. In recent years, researches have found that stem cells, growth factors, macrophages, and other factors are closely related to the healing process of tendon bone injuries, among which macrophages play an important role in the healing process. The authors reviewed relevant research literature in recent years and summarized the role of macrophages in tendon bone healing, in order to provide new ideas and directions for treatment strategies to promote tendon bone healing.
Humans ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Wound Healing ; Animals ; Tendons/physiology* ; Bone and Bones/injuries* ; Tendon Injuries

PURPOSE: Lateral compression (LC) injuries account for more than two-thirds of all pelvic fractures. The goal of surgical treatment is to provide adequate stability and early mobilization. The consensus on posterior fixation of such injuries is strong in the literature; however, the necessity of anterior ring fixation is not clear. Therefore, this study was formulated to determine the practicability of posterior-only fixation in LC injuries. METHODS: Between March 2015 and May 2020, all patients with LC type pelvic ring fractures who were admitted and operated upon in a single level 1 trauma center were included in this cross-sectional observational study. Demographic data, co-morbidities, treatment, types of surgical fixation, concomitant injuries and surgeries, surgical complications, length of hospital stay, injury to weight bearing duration, and follow-up period were documented. Functional outcome and quality of life were assessed using Majeed score and SF-36 questionnaire. Non-normally distributed data were presented as median (Q₁, Q₃) and normally distributed data were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used for correlation analysis. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients were included, with a mean age of 29.8 years. All patients were managed operatively with posterior-only fixation. The median Majeed score was 90 (76, 95). The median physical component summary score was 69.37 (38.75, 85.62). The median mental component summary score was 63.95 (39.25, 87.87). There was no significant difference compared to population norms of both physical component summary and mental component summary. Injury to weight bearing time correlated significantly (p = 0.002) with Majeed score as well as SF-36 score (p = 0.044). No other variable had a significant association with outcomes. CONCLUSION Posterior-only fixation is sufficient for fixing LC injuries with up to 80% of cases having good to excellent functional outcomes. However, comparative studies with larger sample sizes are needed for further validation.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Pelvic Bones/surgery* ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Quality of Life ; Adolescent ; Length of Stay

PURPOSE: The fixation method commonly employed worldwide for treating unstable fractures of the posterior pelvic ring is the percutaneous iliosacral screw technique. However, prolonged operation time and frequent fluoroscopies result in surgical risks. This study aimed to investigate whether a new triangulation method could reduce operative and fluoroscopy times and increase the accuracy of screw placement. METHODS: This study is a real-world retrospective cohort analysis that examined a patient cohort who underwent percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2022. Inclusion criteria were patients (1) diagnosed with posterior pelvic ring instability who underwent pelvic fracture closed reduction and percutaneous S1 transverse-penetrating iliosacral screw placement and (2) aged >18 years. Exclusion criteria were: (1) combined proximal femoral fractures, (2) severe soft tissue injury in the surgical area, (3) incomplete imaging data, and (4) declining to provide written informed consent by the patient. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the screw insertion method: conventional and triangulation methods. Screw placement and fluoroscopy times recorded by the C-arm were compared between the 2 methods. The accuracy of screw placement was evaluated by Smith grading on postoperative CT. Normality tests were conducted to assess the distribution of the quantitative variables and the Chi-square test was used to compare the qualitative variables. RESULTS: The study included a total of 94 patients diagnosed with posterior pelvic ring instability, who underwent percutaneous iliosacral screw placement. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 46 patients treated with the conventional surgical method and 48 patients received the triangulation method. The operation time (61.13±9.69 vs. 35.77±6.27) min and fluoroscopy frequency times (52.15±9.29 vs. 24.40±4.04) of the triangulation method were significantly reduced (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The use of a triangular positioning technique for the surface positioning of percutaneous iliosacral screws could reduce the operative time and fluoroscopy frequency. And the screw placement accuracy using this new method was comparable to that using other conventional methods.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Bone Screws ; Pelvic Bones/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Fluoroscopy ; Aged ; Sacrum/surgery* ; Operative Time