Objective Method discussion of measuring curvature of cervical endplate based on reverse engineering software.Methods The CT scan images data (From C2 to C7) of 8 normal males were selected and inputted into Mimics 10.0 software for 3D reconstruction and separation (cervical spine is divided into C1-C7 isolated reconstructed 3D images).Another software NX Imageware 13.2 is used for further curvature measuring in lines named left,middle,right,anterior,middle,posterior which are derived from each superior and inferior endplate.In each line,15 different points which can perfectly show morphologic characters of the endplate are selected for statistic comparing between different points in the same endplate,different lines in the same endplate,different endplates in the same individual and the same endplate in different individuals.In addition,the correlation between the concavity and the width and depth of endplate is also analyzed.Results From inferior endplate of C2 to that of C6,except superior endplate of C7,there is significant difference between different points in the same line (P＜0.05),while it is opposite in the compare between lines in the same endplate,different endplates in the same individual and the same endplate (except inferior endplate of C4) in different individuals (P＞0.05).It showed significant correlation between the concavity and the width and depth of endplate.Conclusion Reverse engineering software is feasible to be used in evaluate morphologic characters of normal cervical endplate as a new method for measuring the detail parameters of them,it also explore the laws of the curvatures of cervical endplate initially and both of them will be of great use for cervical interbody cage design.

Objective To summarize the clinical features and diagnostic flow of cervical spondylosis with proximal upper extremity amyotrophy;and further analyze the clinical effect of cervical anterior decompression and fusion on cervical spondylosis with proximal upper extremity amyotrophy.Methods Twenty-two cases of cervical spondylosis with proximal upper extremity amyotrophy were analyzed retrospectively from June 2006 to December 2013.Seventeen males and 5 females with an average age of (55.73 ± 8.64) years (38 to 68 years) were included.The mean preoperative course of disease was (19.2 ± 21.86) months (1-72 months).Clinical symptoms,imaging findings and electrophysiological findings were analyzed.The muscular strength recovery of atrophic muscles was evaluated by Manual Muscle Testing (MMT).The clinical improvement rate was evaluated by the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score,and the clinical satisfaction was assessed at followed up.Results The muscles involved in patients of cervical spondylosis with proximal upper extremity amyotrophy are mainly the deltoid muscle,biceps and scapula levator muscle.Most cases of imaging findings showed multi-segmental degeneration,of which C4,5,C5,6 segments were most common.Neuroelectrophysiological examination showed that affected muscles experienced obvious denervation and decreased action potential.The average follow-up time was (44.14 ± 20.51) months (14 to 102 months).At the last follow-up,the JOA score (16.29 ±0.59) in 17 cases was higher than preoperative (15.12 ± 0.93),the difference was statistically significant (F=51.814,P=0.000),and the average improvement rate was 73.3％.MMT assessment showed that 19 patients (86.4％) in this group had muscle strength recovery for more than 1 grade at the last follow-up.The average clinical satisfaction was 83.7％.Conclusion The clinical diagnosis of cervical spondylosis with proximal upper extremity amyotrophy requires a combination of clinical symptoms,imaging findings and neurophysiological examination results for comprehensive judgment.Anterior cervical decompression and fusion in the treatment of cervical spondylosis with proximal upper extremity amyotrophy patients can achieve good clinical results.

Based on a comprehensive questionnaire survey and analysis of factors which trans formation of Scientific and Technological Achievements in Medical,some strategies to accelerate transformation were proposed by this paper.

Objective To investigate the preoperative evaluating accuracy of liver cancer using one-stop imaging quantification technique of 320 row CT and its clinical application value.Methods 42 patients with primary mass-forming liver cancers underwent one-stop imaging by 320 row CT,including enhancement imaging,perfusion quantification,liver volume quantification and angiogra-phy.After surgery,the volume of excised livers were measured.Liver function was also evaluated.Results After liver perfusion quantification,significant differences in hepatic artery flow,portal venous flow and hepatic artery perfusion index were found be-tween the 42 cases of mass-forming liver cancers and normal liver tissues (P <0.05).No significant difference was found between preoperative quantified liver volume and postoperative measured liver volume (P >0.05).The diagnostic accuracy by CT angiogra-phy was up to 40/42 cases (95.2%)through surgical verification.The diagnostic accuracy of large blood vessels and the first or sec-ond level branches were 100%.Conclusion The quantitative analysis of one-stop imaging technique by 320 rows CT can accurately evaluate the liver perfusion,angio-architecture and liver volume before surgery.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the surgical techniques and 2-year follow-up results of Mast Quadrant-assisted modified transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).MethodsFrom September 2006 to October 2008,54 patients with single-level lumbar degeneration disease were treated by Mast Quadrantassisted modified TLIF.Under the guidance of C-arm,the Mast Quadrant's retractor was placed and the lower articular process of the upper vertebrae and 1/2-2/3 of the lamina,flavum ligament and hyperplastic cohesive part of the lower articular process were removed,the nerve roots and the central canal were decompressed.After cleaning up intervertebral disc space,bone grafting and pedicle screw fixation were achieved.Visual analogue scale(VAS) and Oswestry disability index(ODI) results,as well as the fusion rate at the last follow-up were analyzed.ResultsAll patients were treated by Mast Quadrant-assisted modified TLIF,in which 51 patients were followed up for 2 years.An average operating time was(178.7±63.2) min,and an average blood loss was (224.2±136.5) ml; an average postoperative drainage loss was (117.2±91.4) ml,and an average postoperative stay was(5.8±3.6) d.There were statistic significances between pre- and post-operative ODI and VAS scores,respectively.At last follow-up,51 patients were achieved radiographic fusion without internal fixation failure and other complications.ConclusionMast Quadrant-assisted modified TLIF had a good vision,was relatively safe and easy to be acceptable by surgeons,and which had a good clinical results for the patients with single-level lumbar degenerative disease.

Objective To investigate causes and treatment strategy of cage retropulsion after lumbar interbody fusion.Methods Data of 11 patients with cage retropulsion after lumbar interbody fusion from December 2005 to October 2011 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.There were 7 males and 4 females.Their age ranged from 36 to 78 years (average,52.3 years) at the time of the primary operation.Six cases occurred cage retropulsion 0.5 to 3 months after the primary operation,while 5 cases occurred cage retropulsion 14 to 36 months after the primary operation.The causes of cage retropulsion were analyzed.Moreover,corresponding managements were performed and results were recorded.Results The early cage retropulsion was associated with mismanagement of intervertebral space,too much residual of nucleus pulposus,insufficient erasion of cartilage end plate,too small size of cage,malposition of cage,insufficient fixation and so on.The late cage retropulsion was associated with improper choice of surgical strategies,multi-level fusion,preoperative unsteady of vertebrae,advanced age,osteoporosis,diabetes and so on.Three patients underwent conservative treatment and 8 patients underwent revision surgery.All 11 patients were followed up for 6 to 72 months (average,34 months).There was no re-migration of cage,fusion failure,pedicle screw loosening and other complications during the follow-up period.Conclusion The causes of cage retropulsion after lumbar interbody fusion were complex and diverse,and the time of cage retropusion had some clinical value for the cause analysis.It was more advisable to make an individualized treatment program based on the causes of cage retropulsion,clinical manifestations and imaging results.

Objective To explore the electrophysiological charaterstics of upper extremities nerves on the patients with Hirayama disease (HD),amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),and distal cervical spondylotic amyotrophy (DCSA).Methods The data of electrophysiological examination of the upper limbs of 87 patients with HD,83 with ALS and 28 with DCSA were reviewed retrospectively.Seventy-two patients with HD among 87 had unilateral upper limb's amyotrophy and the other 15 ones had bilateral amyotrophy.There were 30 patients had unilater upper limb's amyotrophy and 53 ones had bilateral amyotrophy from the group of patients with ALS; 20 patients with DSCA were affected unilaterally and 8 ones were bilaterally affected.Results Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) evoked by ulnar stimulation had a lower ampititude compared with that evoked by median stimulation in HD patients.In ALS cases that was just the opposite.However,the CMAPs were similar in DCSA cases.The mean ratio of CMAP amplitude by ulnar stimulation to by median stimulation was 0.58±0.40 in HD group; 2.28±1.25 in ALS and 1.31±0.63 in DCSA.The differences in the three groups were statistical significance.The U/M CMAP ratio was less than 0.6in 62 patients with HD,3 with ALS and 1 with DCSA,and more than 1.7 in 73 cases (57 ALS,12 HD and 4 DCSA).Conduction velocities (CV) of the sensory and motor nerves,the amplitude of the sensory nerve action potential in bilateral limbs,and the CMAP amplitude of the unaffected limb were normal in all cases.Conclusion This study could concluded that the severity of amyotropy in hypothenar mucles were higher than that in thenal muscles in patients with HD; there was just opposite in ALS cases and similar in DSCA.

Objective To measure the related anatomical parameters of lumbosacral nerve root and adjacent structures by magnetic resonance neurography,and to analyze operative safety of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in Chinese people.Methods A total of 12 healthy volunteers,including 6 males and 6 females,underwent magnetic resonance neurography of lumbosacral nerve root using a Siemens 3.0T MRI machine.The Osirix software was used to reconstruct the three-dimensional imaging and measure the following anatomic parameters: 1) the distance between the nerve root and the superior pedicle; 2) the distance between the nerve root and the inferior pedicle; 3) the angle between the nerve root and the sagittal plane; 4) the distance between the superior and inferior nerve roots; 5) the distance between the superior and inferior pedicles.Results L1-L5 nerve roots got a good imaging by magnetic resonance neurography in all 12 volunteers.The distance between the nerve root and the superior pedicle and the angle between the nerve root and the sagittal plane gradually became smaller from L1 to L5.But the variation in the distance between the nerve root and the inferior pedicle and the distance between the superior and inferior pedicles was not obvious.The distance between the nerve root and the inferior pedicles,which was closely related to the operating space of TLIF,ranged from (8.99±0.88) mm to (10.72±1.01) mm for males and from (7.76±0.46) mm to (8.54±0.65) mm for females; it was less than 10 mm in each segments in the majority of subjects,and the data of females was significantly smaller than that of males.No significant differences were found in parameters between the left and right sides in the same segment.Conclusion Based on the above anatomical study and measurement analysis,we believe that there is some harassment to the upper nerve root in TLIF for Chinese patients,and for some patients there is a certain injury risk.

Objective To investigate the risk factors and treatment strategy in treating adjacent segment diseases (ASD) after anterior cervical decompression and fusion.Methods Fourteen patients with ASD after anterior cervical decompression and fusion from December 2005 to August 2012 were analyzed.The overall curvature of the cervical spine,local curvature of surgical segments,and the distances between the plate and the upper and lower intervertebral space were measured and analyzed.10 males and 4 females,age at initial surgery was 36 to 68 years old,the mean was 52.0±11.0 years old.The secondary surgery was taken,according to the number of involved segments and other factors.Anterior decompression and fusion and internal fixation was taken to patients who segment number ≤2 without severe ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament or ossification of the ligamentum flava; posterior decompression and laminoplasty was conducted in patients whose segment number ≥3,but not accompanied with significant kyphosis,instability and serious ossification of the ligamentum flava; and posterior laminectomy and fusion was performed in patients with significant kyphosis,instability and not suitable for anterior decompression due to technical reasons,as well as patients with serious ossification of the ligamentum flava.Results The average time of occurrence of ASD after the initial surgery was 9.3±4.4 years,and the average age of reoperation was 61.3±12.4 years old.The overall curvature of the cervical spine,surgical segment local curvature after the initial surgical procedure were 12.4°± 10.8 o,1.5o±6.8o,respectively; and the distances between the plate and the upper and lower interyertebral space were:0.9± 1.8 mm,3.8±3.2 mm.The secondary surgeries were taken as follows:9 cases anterior decompression and fusion and internal fixation,3 cases posterior decompression and laminoplasty,and 2 cases posterior laminectomy and fusion.All 14 patients were followed up 30.4± 17.8 months,and the average improvement rate of Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores at the last follow up was 73.9％±9.7％.Conclusion The smaller distance between the plate and neighboring intervertebral space,and poorer local curvature of surgical segments might be the risk factors for ASD after anterior cervicad decompression and fusion.The appropriate secondary surgery was taken after comprehensive analysis of the number of adjacent segments,compression factors,cervical curvature and other factors.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of different surgical approaches on multi-level cervical spondylosis in elderly patients.Methods A total of 53 aged patients with multi-level cervical spondylosis (≥70 years old) who received operation in our department during May 2007 to May 2014 were retrospectively studied, and divided into anterior cervical surgical group (n=22) and posterior cervical group (n=31), according to the surgical approach.The operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, hospitalization time, postoperative complications, Japanese orthopedics association (JOA) scores, Neck disability index (NDI), postoperative subjective improvement of clinical symptoms and spinal fusion of the two groups were evaluated and compared respectively.Results The mean operative time was longer in the anterior surgical group than in the posterior surgical group [(2.7±0.5)h vs.(1.9±0.3) h, P＜0.05].The average blood loss of the anterior surgical group was less than that of posterior surgical group [(90.0±50.4) ml vs.(160.7±40.5)ml, P＜0.05].The hospitalization time of the anterior surgical group was less than that of posterior surgical group [(10.3±2.5) d vs.(15.7±3.6) d, P＜0.05].Postoperative JOA score of anterior surgical group was higher than that of posterior surgical group 6 months after surgery [(14.7 ±0.8)vs.(13.8±1.2), P＜0.05], while there was no significant difference in JOA score between the two groups up to the last follow-up [(14.8±1.2) vs.(14.7±1.8), P＞0.05].NDI score was lower in anterior surgical group than in posterior surgical group 3, 6, 12 months after operation and at the last follow-up.Among the 41 patients, radiographic outcomes showed that there were 16 cases of anterior surgical group with no bony fusion at the follow-up 3 months after operation, and all the 16 patients achieved bony fusion at the follow-up 1 year after operation, and there were 4 cases with titanium mesh subsidence (＜ 3 mm).Conclusions Both anterior cervical decompression and fusion and posterior cervical single open-door laminoplasty have good efficacy in the treatment of multilevel cervical spondylosis in elderly patients, which have advantages on the limb functional recovery time and cervical function assessment.When anterior cervical surgical contraindications were excluded, the anterior cervical decompression and fusion may be a good choice for the treatment of multilevel cervical spondylosis in aged patients.