OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of bilateral vertebral puncture guided by an angle-adjustable linear laser auxiliary device versus free-hand bilateral vertebral puncture. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 47 patients who underwent thoracolumbar percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP) from July 2022 to July 2023. All patients received bilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty, among whom 27 cases underwent conventional free-hand puncture (conventional puncture group) and 20 cases underwent puncture guided by a laser auxiliary device (auxiliary puncture group). In the conventional puncture group, there were 11 males and 16 females, with an average age of (69.6±5.1) years and a disease duration of (6.5±3.8) days;the fractured vertebrae were T₁₁-T₁₂ in 13 cases and L₁-L₂ in 14 cases. In the auxiliary puncture group, there were 7 males and 13 females, with an average age of (70.8±5.6) years and a disease duration of (6.4±3.8) days;the fractured vertebrae were T₁₁-T₁₂ in 7 cases and L₁-L₂ in 13 cases. The operation time, total blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, fluoroscopy duration, radiation dose, puncture success rate, and surgical complications were compared between the two groups. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate low back pain before surgery, 2 days after surgery, and 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: All patients achieved successful puncture, with good postoperative wound healing and no complications. The operation time of the auxiliary puncture group was (12.1±2.6) minutes, which was shorter than that of the conventional puncture group (14.1±2.8) minutes. The total blood loss of the auxiliary puncture group was (228.5±35.8) ml, less than that of the conventional puncture group (257.0±48.3) ml. The fluoroscopy times, fluoroscopy duration, and radiation dose of the auxiliary puncture group were (5.4±1.3) times, (15.9±3.3) seconds, and (159.4±37.4) μSv, respectively, all lower than those of the conventional puncture group (6.4±1.6) times, (18.8±4.6) seconds, (192.2±48.5) μSv, with statistically significant differences(P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in low back VAS scores between the two groups before surgery, 2 days after surgery, or 1 year after surgery(P>0.05). CONCLUSION Both laser auxiliary device-guided vertebral puncture and free-hand vertebral puncture have high success rates and similar postoperative curative effects. However, the laser auxiliary device-guided puncture has shorter operation time, less blood loss, and lower radiation hazard.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Punctures/methods* ; Kyphoplasty/instrumentation* ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Lasers ; Thoracic Vertebrae/injuries* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/injuries*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between the timing of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) and prognosis. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective cohort study. Patients who received TEVAR for BTAI at our institution from October 2016 to September 2023 were divided into 2 categories depending on the injury severity score (ISS) (≤ 25 vs. > 25) and when the TEVAR was performed for BTAI (within 24 h vs. after 24 h), respectively. The analysis included all patients who received TEVAR treatment after being diagnosed with BTAI through whole-body CT angiography. Patients treated with open repair and non-operative management were excluded. After propensity-score matching for various factors, outcomes during hospitalization and follow-up were compared. These factors included demographics, comorbidities, concomitant injuries, cause and location of aortic injury, Glasgow coma scale score, society for vascular surgery grading, hemoglobin concentration, creatinine concentration, shock, systolic blood pressure, and heart rate at admission. The comparison was conducted using SPSS 26 software. Continuous variables were presented as either the mean ± standard deviation or median (Q₁, Q₃), and were compared using either the t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical variables were expressed as n (%), and comparisons were made between the 2 groups using the χ² test or Fisher's exact test. Statistical significance was defined as a 2-sided p < 0.05. RESULTS: In total, 110 patients were involved in the study, with 65 (59.1%) patients having ISS scores > 25 and 32 (29.1%) receiving immediate TEVAR. The perioperative overall mortality rate in the group with ISS > 25 was significantly higher than that in the group with ISS ≤ 25 (11 (16.9%) vs. 2 (4.4%), p < 0.001). Upon admission, the elective group exhibited a notably higher Glasgow coma scale score (median (Q₁, Q₃)) compared to the immediate group (15 (12, 15) vs. 13.5 (9, 15), p = 0.039), while the creatinine concentration (median (Q₁, Q₃)) at admission was significantly higher in the immediate group (90.5 (63.8, 144.0) vs. 71.5 (58.3, 80.8), p = 0.012). The final sample included 52 matched patients. Complications occurred significantly less frequently in the elective group compared to the immediate group (16 (50.0%) vs. 3 (10.0%), p < 0.001). Single-factor analysis of variance showed that complications in hospitalized patients were significantly associated with immediate TEVAR as the sole independent risk factor (odds ratio: 9.000, 95% confidence interval: 2.266-35.752, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION In this propensity-score matched analysis of patients undergoing TEVAR for BTAI, elective TEVAR was significantly associated with a lower risk of complication rates. In this study using propensity-score matching, patients who underwent elective TEVAR for BTAI had lower complication rates than immediate TEVAR.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Aorta, Thoracic/surgery* ; Female ; Endovascular Procedures/methods* ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating/mortality* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Injury Severity Score ; Elective Surgical Procedures ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

In recent years, the widespread application of chest computed tomography (CT) screening has led to a significant increase in the detection rate of pulmonary nodules. As a critical diagnostic tool for early-stage lung cancer, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has emerged as the preferred therapeutic approach for pulmonary nodules. Clinical evidence demonstrates that precise preoperative localization significantly enhances surgical success rates (reducing conversion to thoracotomy), minimizes complications, and shortens operation time. This comprehensive review systematically evaluates six cutting-edge localization techniques: percutaneous puncture-assisted localization, electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) localization, 3D-printed auxiliary localization, basin-analysis-based localization, robotic navigation system localization, and mixed reality (MR)-guided localization. By critically analyzing their operational principles, efficacy, safety profiles, and clinical applicability, this paper aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for optimizing clinical decision-making in pulmonary nodule management.
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Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule/diagnostic imaging* ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/methods* ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules/diagnostic imaging* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy is the primary surgical treatment for lung cancer. A significant factor affecting postoperative recovery is prolonged air leak (PAL). Despite numerous clinical strategies could prevent and manage postoperative PAL, its incidence remains high. Phrenic nerve cryotherapy (PNC) temporarily inhibits phrenic nerve function, causing diaphragm elevation, which reduces thoracic cavity volume, enhances pleural apposition, and mitigates air leakage. This study investigates the efficacy of PNC in preventing postoperative PAL during VATS lobectomy. METHODS: A total of 108 eligible lung cancer patients who underwent surgery at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, from June 2023 to January 2025, were enrolled and randomly assigned to the control group (n=54) and the experimental group (n=54). The patients in both the two groups received VATS lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection, with the experimental group also undergoing PNC during the operation. The baseline characteristics, intraoperative, postoperative indicators and dynamic changes in air leakage between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The baseline clinical characteristics were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of pulmonary air leakage at 24 h after surgery (31.5% vs 29.6%) and the incidence of postoperative PAL (20.4% vs 14.8%) showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). The intraoperative air leak test to 24 hours after surgery revealed that air leakage ceased in 8 cases (32.0%) in the control group, compared to 14 cases (46.7%) in the experimental group. Moreover, during the progression from air leakage at 24 hours post-surgery to postoperative PAL, air leakage ceased in 6 cases (35.3%) in the control group and 8 cases (50.0%) in the experimental group, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.001). Compared to the control group, the patients in the experimental group exhibited more pronounced postoperative diaphragmatic elevation that recovered to a slightly higher than preoperative level by 3 mon after surgery. CONCLUSIONS The combination of PNC and active lung repair can serve as an important intervention for patients at high risk of intraoperative air leakage, reducing the occurrence of postoperative PAL.
Humans ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Lung Neoplasms/surgery* ; Aged ; Phrenic Nerve/physiopathology* ; Cryotherapy ; Pneumonectomy/adverse effects* ; Postoperative Complications/etiology* ; Adult

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 （NF1） is an autosomal dominant hereditary neurological disorder. One of the typical manifestations of NF1 is neurofibroma, which can develop gradually over time. When the volume exceeds 100 cm², it is referred to as giant neurofibroma, representing a tumor-like proliferation of Schwann cells within the nerve fiber sheath. The Department of Otolaryngology at the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University received a rare case involving a patient with giant neurofibromatosis affecting the maxillofacial region, neck, and chest. The patient underwent successful surgical treatment with the collaboration of various medical disciplines.
Humans ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/surgery* ; Neck ; Neurofibromatoses ; Neurofibromatosis 1/surgery* ; Thoracic Neoplasms/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the short-term effectiveness of the anterior and middle columns in thoracolumbar tuberculosis reconstructed with whole autogenous spinous process-laminar bone through posterior approach. METHODS: The retrospective study included 78 patients with thoracolumbar tuberculosis who underwent posterior approach surgery and anterior and middle column bone graft reconstruction between January 2012 and May 2023. Based on the type of autogenous bone graft used, patients were divided into group A (whole autogenous spinous process-laminar bone graft, 38 cases) and group B (autogenous structural iliac bone graft, 40 cases). There was no significant difference of baseline data, such as age, gender, disease duration, involved segment of spinal tuberculosis, and preoperative erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), Oswestry disability index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS) score, the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade, segmental kyphotic angle, and intervertebral height between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, hospital stays, ESR, CRP, VAS score, ODI, bone fusion time, ASIA grade for neurological status valuation, postoperative complications, change of segmental kyphotic angle, change of intervertebral height were recorded and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The operation time in group A was significantly shorter than that in group B ( P<0.05); there was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, and hospital stays between the two groups ( P>0.05). All patients in the two groups were followed up 14-110 months (mean, 64.1 months); there was no significant difference in the follow-up time between the two groups ( P>0.05). The ESR, CRP, ODI, and VAS score at each time point after operation in both groups significantly improved when compared with those before operation, and further improved with the extension of time, the differences were significant ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05) except that the VAS score of group A was significantly better than that of group B at 3 days after operation ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in fusion time between the two groups ( P>0.05). The neurological function of most patients improved after operation, and there was no significant difference in ASIA grade between the two groups at last follow-up ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in segmental kyphosis angle and intervertebral height between the two groups at each time point ( P>0.05), and no significant difference in segmental kyphosis angle, intervertebral height correction and loss were found between the two groups ( P>0.05). In group A, there was 1 case of incision fat liquefaction and 1 case of incision infection; in group B, there was 1 case of deep venous thrombosis, 2 cases of pleural effusion, and 10 cases of pain in bone harvesting area; in both groups, there were 2 cases of gout caused by hyperuricemia. There was a significant difference in the incidence of pain in bone harvesting area between the two groups ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the incidence of other complications between the two groups ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION Whole autogenous spinous process-laminar bone grafting is equivalent to structural iliac bone graft in reconstruction of the anterior and middle columns in thoracolumbar tuberculosis through posterior approach, effectively supporting the stability of the anterior and middle columns of the spine, while resulting in shorter operation time and less postoperative pain in bone harvesting area.
Humans ; Tuberculosis, Spinal/surgery* ; Thoracic Vertebrae/surgery* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Bone Transplantation/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Treatment Outcome ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Operative Time ; Ilium/transplantation*

OBJECTIVE: To explore short-term effectiveness of floating island laminectomy surgery in treating thoracic spinal stenosis and myelopathy caused by ossification of the ligamentum flavum. METHODS: A total of 31 patients with thoracic spinal stenosis and myelopathy caused by ossification of the ligamentum flavum between January 2019 and April 2022 were managed with floating island laminectomy surgery. The patients comprised 17 males and 14 females, aged between 36 and 78 years, with an average of 55.9 years. The duration of symptoms of spinal cord compression ranged from 3 to 62 months (mean, 27.2 months). The lesions affected T _1-6 in 4 cases and T _7-12 in 27 cases. The preoperative neurological function score from the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) was 4.7±0.6. Surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, and complications were recorded. The thoracic MRI was conducted to reassess the degree of spinal cord compression and decompression after operation. The mJOA score was employed to evaluate the neurological function and calculate the recovery rate at 12 months after operation. RESULTS: The surgical duration ranged from 122 to 325 minutes, with an average of 204.5 minutes. The intraoperative blood loss ranged from 150 to 800 mL (mean, 404.8 mL). All incisions healed by first intention after operation. All patients were followed up 12-14 months, with an average of 12.5 months. The patients' symptoms, including lower limb weakness, gait disorders, and pain, significantly improved. The mJOA scores after operation significantly increased when compared with preoperative scores ( P<0.05), gradually improving with time, with significant differences observed among 1, 3, and 6 months ( P<0.05). The recovery rate at 12 months was 69.76%±11.38%, with 10 cases exhibiting excellent neurological function and 21 cases showing good. During the procedure, there were 3 cases of dural tear and 1 case of dural defect. Postoperatively, there were 2 cases of cerebrospinal fluid leakage. No aggravated nerve damage, recurrence of ligamentum flavum ossification, or postoperative thoracic deformity occurred. CONCLUSION The floating island laminectomy surgery is safe for treating thoracic spinal stenosis and myelopathy caused by ossification of the ligamentum flavum, effectively preventing the exacerbation of neurological symptoms. Early improvement and recovery of neurological function are achieved.
Humans ; Male ; Spinal Stenosis/diagnostic imaging* ; Female ; Laminectomy/methods* ; Ligamentum Flavum/pathology* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Thoracic Vertebrae/surgery* ; Adult ; Decompression, Surgical/methods* ; Treatment Outcome ; Ossification, Heterotopic/surgery* ; Spinal Cord Compression/etiology* ; Spinal Cord Diseases/etiology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of percutaneous short-segment injured vertebra pedicle screw fixation combined with bone grafting versus percutaneous short-segment injured vertebra pedicle screw fixation alone for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures. METHODS: The clinical data of 54 patients with single-level thoracolumbar fractures who met the selection criteria between January 2023 and February 2024 were retrospectively analysed. Based on whether bone grafting was performed on the injured vertebra, the patients were divided into a control group (28 cases, percutaneous short-segment injured vertebra pedicle screw fixation alone) and a study group (26 cases, percutaneous short-segment injured vertebra pedicle screw fixation combined with bone grafting using a self-made minimally invasive bone grafting funnel). No significant difference was observed between the two groups ( P>0.05) in baseline data, including age, gender, surgical segment, cause of injury, AO classification, and preoperative anterior-vertebral height compression ratio, mid-vertebral height compression ratio, Cobb angle, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture healing status, removal time of internal fixator, and complications were recorded and compared between the two groups. Effectiveness was assessed using anterior-vertebral height compression ratio, mid-vertebral height compression ratio, Cobb angle, VAS scores, and ODI taken preoperatively, at 1 week postoperatively, and at last follow-up. RESULTS: All patients in both groups successfully underwent surgery. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss in the control group were significantly less than those in the study group ( P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in the follow-up time between the study group [(14.46±2.00) months] and control group [(14.36±1.83) months] ( P>0.05). The fracture healing time of the study group was significantly shorter than that of the control group ( P<0.05). One patient in the study group was found to have bilateral titanium rod breakage by X-ray reexamination at 8 months after operation, and there was no subsequent vertebral height collapse occurred, and the internal fixator was removed following complete fracture healing. The other patients had no complication such as spinal cord injury, internal fixator loosening and breakage. There was no significant difference in the removal time of internal fixator between the two groups ( P<0.05). The anterior-vertebral height compression ratio, mid-vertebral height compression ratio, Cobb angle, VAS score, and ODI significantly improved in both groups at 1 week after operation and at last follow-up ( P<0.05). Among them, the VAS score, and ODI further improved at last follow-up when compared with at 1 week after operation, Cobb angle lost a little at 1 week after operation, while anterior-vertebral height compression ratio and mid-vertebral height compression ratio slightly increased when compared with 1 week after operation, and the differences were significant ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in Cobb angle at last follow-up, VAS score and ODI at 1 week after operation ( P>0.05), while the other indicators in the study group were significantly better than those in the control group at all time points ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION Compared to percutaneous short-segment injured vertebra pedicle screw fixation alone, the technique combined with intravertebral bone grafting can shorten fracture healing time, effectively restore and maintain vertebral body height, correct kyphotic deformity, and improve clinical outcomes for patients with thoracolumbar fractures.
Humans ; Thoracic Vertebrae/surgery* ; Pedicle Screws ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Bone Transplantation/methods* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Operative Time ; Aged

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical efficacy between side-opening and front-opening bone cement injectors in percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP) for the management of thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures(OVCFs). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, comprising 62 patients with single-segment thoracolumbar OVCFs (T₁₁-L₂), who underwent bilateral PKP at our department during the period from June 2020 to October 2021. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the specific bone cement injector employed during the surgical procedure: the side-opening group (n=29) and the front-opening group (n=33). Among them, the side-opening group consisted of 6 male and 23 female patients, with a mean age of (73.32±9.11) years. The front-opening group included 7 male and 26 female patients, with a mean age of (71.29±10.39) years. The variables encompassed essential patient characteristics were recorded, such as gender, age, bone mineral density (BMD), and fracture level (T₁₁-L₂), as well as procedural aspects, including operation duration, cement injection volume, cement distribution type (lobular or diffuse), occurrence of cement leakage, pre-and post-operative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, and vertebral compression ratio. RESULTS: All patients underwent successful surgery, with a mean follow-up duration of (15.37±3.03) months. There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, BMD, fracture level, preoperative vertebral compression degree, and VAS scores between the side-opening group and the front-opening group (P>0.05). The operation time, the mean cement injection volumes, the distribution of bone cement within the vertebrae has no statistically significant difference between two groups(P>0.05). Both the side-opening and front-opening groups showed significant improvements in VAS scores at 3 days and 6 months after operation (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in VAS scores between the two groups at both 3 days and 6 months after the operation (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Side-opening bone cement injectors in bilateral PKP surgery for single-segment thoracolumbar OVCF achieve similar clinical efficacy as front-opening injectors, without significant improvement in cement distribution and containment.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Kyphoplasty/instrumentation* ; Aged ; Bone Cements ; Fractures, Compression/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Thoracic Vertebrae/injuries* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/injuries* ; Osteoporotic Fractures/surgery* ; Middle Aged ; Aged, 80 and over

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of percutaneous pedicle screw combined with unilateral nail placement combined with bone cement strengthening and bilateral nail placement in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracic and lumbar fractures. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was used to analyze the clinical data of 78 patients with osteoporotic thoracic and lumbar fractures admitted from October 2017 to May 2019. According to the surgical method, it was divided into percutaneous pedicle screw combined with unilateral nail placement combined with unilateral bone cement strengthening group(bone cement group) and percutaneous pedicle screw combined with bilateral nail placement(screw group). In the bone cement group, 40 patients included 16 males and 24 females, with a mean age of (62.1±8.1) years old. In the screw group, 38 patients included 18 males and 20 females with a mean age of (65.1±9.3) years old. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay and postoperative complications were compared between two groups. The kyphosis Cobb angle, anterior edge height ratio, central height ratio and pain visual analogue score(VAS) were compared. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 25 to 36 months. The operation time (70.1±17.3) min of the cement group was shorter than that of the screw group (78.6±18.2) min(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss and length of hospital stay(P>0.05). The VAS in the cement group 1 year 1.5±0.5 and the latest follow-up 0.5±0.3 after operation were lower than 1 year 1.8±0.3 and the latest follow-up 0.8±0.4 in the screw group(P<0.05). The kyphosis Cobb angle, anterior edge height ratio, central height ratio in bone cement group, 1 year (6.2±1.2)°, (86.6±3.5)%, (91.1±2.5)%, the last follow-up (6.4±0.7)°, (85.5±3.3)%, (90.5±6.3)% were better than that of the screw group 1 year (6.8±1.4)°, (83.1±2.4)%, (89.9±3.4)% and the latest follow-up (7.1±1.1)°, (82.6±4.1)%, (87.6±5.9)%(P<0.05). There were 3 cases of bone cement leakage in the cement group, all of which had no clinical symptoms;and 2 cases of pedicle screws were extracted in the screw group, and the screws were removed at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION Percutaneous pedicle screw combined with unilateral nail placement combined with bone cement strengthening and bilateral nail placement in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracic and lumbar compression fractures in the elderly can achieve satisfactory efficacy and effectively relieve the pain of patients, but the former internal fixation system is more stable, and the long-term follow-up can effectively maintain the height of the anterior middle column and the correction of kyphosis deformity, and the incidence of chronic low back pain is lower.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Bone Cements ; Middle Aged ; Thoracic Vertebrae/surgery* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Osteoporotic Fractures/surgery* ; Case-Control Studies ; Bone Nails ; Pedicle Screws