[Objective]To analysis the unstable pathogeny of the superior cervical congenital deformity for the operative method selection. [Methods]65 patients with congenital superior cervical deformity were treated from January 2003 to June 2007,in which there were 39 male patients,and 26 female patients. The X-ray,CT and MRI were examined generally before operation. In the images,there were 32 cases with formation failure deformity,18 cases with segmentation failure deformity,and 15 cases with abnormal structure deformity. 37 cases with easy reduction and no anterior compression were treated with posterior internal fixation and self cancellous bone graft for fusion. The other 28 cases with impossible reduction and anterior spinal cord compression were treated with anterior odontoid resection and decompression,and then posterior internal fixation and self cancellous bone graft for fusion.[Results]All of the operations were sucesseful without never and vascular injury and other serious complication. There were 47 cases following up 12 to 24 months in the 65 cases,and the mean follow up 15 6 months.One case's broken up titanium rod were treated with replacing new rod and bone graft,and the other cases showing bone fusion. There 28 cases following up in 34 cases with superior cervical pain and resticted movement,in which the pain was decreased or disappeared. There were 19 cases following up in 31 cases with numb limbs and superior never center injury. The preoperative Frankel score showed 5 cases B,8 cases C,and 17 cases D. The postoperative Frankel score of following up cases showd 5 cased C,6 cases D,and 8 cases E,and the score increased one or two degree.[Conclusion]The posterior,or anterior-posterior approach was selected by the condition of congenital superior cervical pathogeny,atlantoaxial reduction and spinal cord compression.

[Objective]To investigate the application of thoracolumbar injury classification and severity thoracolumbar injuty chassification and severityscdre(TLICS)score in spinal fracture caused by earthquake.[Method]Night-five patients with spinal fractures were treated in Chendu Army General Hospital and Chendu Air Force Hosptial by Wenchuan earthquake medical team from Chinese PLA General Hospital.There were 49 males and 46 females with mean age of 48.6 years.The general patient data,injury mechanism,and injury time were recorded.The different treatments were decided by the TLICS score.[Result]There were 107 vertebral fractures in the 95 patients,out of whom 76 patients were injured by building collapsed,and the other 19 by falling from buildings.TLICS score was more than 4 in 36 patients,4 points in 15 patients,less than 4 points in 44 patients.40 patients were treated with open operation,15 patients with vertebraplasty,and the other patients with conservative treatment.[Conclusion]The earthquake spinal fractures can be treated with different treatments based on the different TLICS scores.

Objective To prepare poriferous ?-tricalcium phosphate(?-TCP) particles and investigate the possibility of these particles to serve as bone graft and bone tissue engineering scaffold.Methods Poriferous anorganic bone particles were prepared with healthy bovine cancellous bone by removal of cells,defat and double calcination,finally with ?-TCP remained as the main ingredient.A bone defect was made in rabbit's femur,and it was repaired with poriferous ?-TCP bone graft.The results were observed by X-ray,molybdenum target films,fluorescence label and histology at the 4th,8th and 12th week after operation.Results The nature of cancellous bone structure was still maintained in the poriferous ?-TCP bone graft,even retaining its contour after it was transplanted in the bone defect.At the 4th week after operation,the graft was integrated with neighboring tissues,and the new bone gradually grew in the ?-TCP bone graft pores,with delineation of bone defect remaining clear.There was no obvious absorption of the graft,neither growth of soft tissues or bone tissue into the central part.At the 8th week after operation,the soft tissue further grew into the inside of the ?-TCP bone graft,and little bone tissue grew in the central part.At the 12th week after operation,the graft was firmly surrounded with new bone tissue,the demarcation between the graft and new bone becoming obscure,and the graft was partially absorbed,with thickening of bone trabeculae,which extended into the center of ?-TCP bone.However,the speed and quantity of the new bone formation were deteriorated.Histologic examination also found that the ?-TCP bone graft degenerated slowly with passage of time.Conclusion The poriferous ?-TCP bone graft possesses excellent osteogenesis for repairing a bone defect,and may be used as bone tissue engineering scaffold,though its degradation speed should be ameliorated.

Objective To determine the efficacy of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and carbonated hydroxyapatite cement (CHC) as augmenting biomaterials in the treatment of osteoporosis vertebral compression fractures subsequent to osteoporosis. Methods 58 patients of osteoporosis with vertebral compression fractures were treated with the following methods: vertebroplasty+PMMA (11 cases, 13 vertebra), vertebroplasty+CHC (23 cases, 26 vertebrae), kyphoplasty+PMMA (8 cases, 8 vertebrae), and kyphoplasty+ CHC (16 cases, 19 vertebrae). The height loss and kyphotic angle of vertebral compression fractures were respectively measured from preoperative and postoperative lateral X-ray films, and with them the restored height ratio and kyphosis angle ratio were calculated. Both preoperation and postoperation pain scores were evaluated by Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results No complication was found in all the patients. The restored ratio of both vertebra heights and kyphotic angles by kyphoplasty was better than that by vertebroplasty. There was no difference of filling volume in all the groups. The operation time of vertebroplasty was significantly shorter than that of kyphoplasty. There was no difference in preoperative VAS scores. The VAS scores of PMMA groups were better than that of CHC groups, but the difference was not obvious 4 weeks after operation. Conclusion Vertebral augmentation was a minimally invasive, safe and effective method for the treatment of osteoporosis vertebral compression fractures in patients with osteoporosis. The treatment modality and filling biomaterials should be selected according to the patients' condition.

Objective:To report the clinical manifestations and management of infectious spondylitis following vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty.Methods:Six cases of infectious spondylitis following vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty were analyzed retrospectively which had been treated at Department of Spinal Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital between January 2014 and June 2019. They were 2 males and 4 females, aged from 64 to 81 years. Their visual analogue scale (VAS) scores ranged from 6 to 8 points; their spinal cord function was graded as C in 2 cases and E in 4 according to the American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) grading. All the patients were treated by sub-total resection of the infected vertebra, long segmental pedicle screw fixation and corresponding antibiotics therapy. The therapeutic efficacy was assessed by the inflammation indexes, imaging examinations and clinical manifestations.Results:The 6 patients were followed up for 12 to 42 months(mean 20.4 months). Their operation time ranged from 295 to 455 min (mean 370.8 min) and blood loss from 760 to 2, 250 mL (mean 1 536.7 mL). There were no such serious complications as dural tear, worsening of neurological symptoms or death. The last follow-up revealed normal body temperature and fine incision healing in all patients. Their inflammatory indexes returned to normal. Imaging examinations at the last follow-up showed no displacement of internal implants, no screw loosening or breakage of screws or rods, good bony fusion at the grafting site, and no inflammatory signals from the infected vertebra. At the last follow-up, their VAS for back pain ranged from 2 to 4 points, the ASIA grading was improved from C to D in 2 patients and maintained E in 4. Eventually, 4 patients recovered independent normal walking but 2 required a walker.Conclusions:Infectious spondylitis following vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty can lead to back pain and neurological dysfunction. Sub-total resection of the infected vertebra, long segmental pedicle screw fixation and corresponding antibiotics therapy can result in fine therapeutic outcomes.

BACKGROUND: A new material of porous carbonated hydroxyapatite cement (PCHC) is discovered using foaming technique.The new material characterizes original solidification and forms porous structure.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biomechanical effect of PCHC on repairing cancellous bone defect.METHODS: Among 30 New Land rabbits, 25 ones were considered as surgery group, whose bilateral condyles of femur was used to establish bone defect model (5.5 mm diameter and 12 mm depth). PCHC was implanted into the left side, which was considered as the experimental group, and carbonated hydroxyapatite cement (CHC) was implanted into the right side, which was considered as the control group. Another 5 rabbits were used as normal mechanical control group. Both PCHC and CHC were dip in simulated body fluid (SBF) to test mechanical intension. PCHC and CHC were then implanted into muscles of back in the surgery group. Rabbits Were-sacrificed after 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks postoperatively. Mechanical analysis was tested following intra-bone and intramuscular implantation, and compressive strength was then tested following dipping into SBF.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: PCHC: Intra-bone mechanical strength was lower at 2 weeks, the lowest at 4 weeks, but then closed to intension of normal cancellated bone at 8 weeks, higher than normal cancellated bone at 12 weeks, and recovered to the level of normal cancellated bone at 16 weeks. CHC: Intra-bone strength was higher than that of PCHC at 2 weeks, decreased at 4 weeks, gradually increased at 8, 12, and 16 weeks, but still lower than intension of normal cancallated bone. Compressive strength of both PCHC and CHC was not changed following dipping in SBF; however, compressive strength was changed remarkably following intramuscular implantation. The results demonstrated that PCHC characterized by immobilization in situ and mechanical supporting. Thus it could be used for one kind of bone substitute material to repair the bone defect.

Objective To analyze cause and preventative measures of neurological complications of spinal osteotomy for thoracolumbar and lumbar kyphosis in ankylosing spondylitis.Methods Data of 126 patients with kyphosis caused by ankylosing spondylitis,who had undergone spinal osteotomy in our hospital from January 2006 to January 2012,were retrospectively analyzed.Among them,18 patients developed neurological complications after spinal osteotomy,including 15 males and 3 females,aged from 25 to 56 years.The average preoperative Cobb angle of these patients was 76.3°.According to American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification,all patients were rated as grade E.Results All 18 patients were followed up for 6 to 49 months (average,35 months).The postoperative Cobb angle ranged from 19° to 38° (average,27°).The average Cobb angle was corrected 49.3°.Neurological complications included spinal cord injury (3 cases) and nerve root injury (15 cases).The reasons of spinal cord injury consisted of sagittal migration of vertebra,spinal stenosis due to operation and iatrogenic cervical spine fracture and dislocation.The reasons of nerve root injury included compression injury (2 cases),malposition of screw (1 case) and excessive drag of nerve root during osteotomy (12 cases).Conclusion Nerve injury is one of the most serious complications of spinal osteotomy in the treatment of kyphosis in ankylosing spondylitis.The incidence of the neurological complications could be obviously reduced by fully decompressing,making patients in a proper surgical position,recognizing the pathological nature of ankylosing spondylitis and avoiding sagittal migration of osteotomy part.

BACKGROUND: Carbonated hydroxyapatite cement is a new type material for skeletal repair and hydroxyapatites have been applied in the clinical treatment of skeletal defect.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effective characteristics of carbonated hydroxyapatite cement on repair of skeletal defect by animal experiment.DESIGN: Paired design, self-controlled and verified experiment was applied in the research.SETTING: Orthopedic Institute and Animal Experimental Center of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed in Orthopedic Institute and Animal Experimental Center of Chinese PLA from May 2002 to January 2003, in which, 10 healthy adult male mongrel dogs were applied, body mass weighted varied from 20 to 22 kg.METHODS: Animal model of skeletal defect was prepared on proximal ends of humeri of 10 mongrel dogs thydroxyapatitet were randomized into experimental side and control side. Ceramics repair of skeletal defect was done by carbonated hydroxyapatite cement and high-temperature sintered hydroxyapatite respectively. The animals were sacrificed on the 5th day, 4th, 8th, 12th and 16th weeks successively after operation. The repair effects were performed with X-ray and histological observation.staining.Results of stereomicroscopic and X-ray observations on bilateral skeletal defect: Osseointegration with carbonated hydroxyapatite cement was tight on the experimental side and the interface became unclear gradually with time lasting. The interface between hydroxyapatite and bone was still clear on the and eosin staining and thydroxyapatitet of ground bone with Gimsa staining:On the 8th week on the experimental side, the new bone grew into carbonated hydroxyapatite cement, on the 16th week, the two parts were intermixed and integrated and the bone island was formed around newly generated vessels in carbonated hydroxyapatite cement. On the control side, hydroxyapatite still maintained integrated and the bone interface was clear between hydroxyapatite and bone. On the 16th week, the aggradation of newly generated bone presented on hydroxyapatite surface.CONCLUSION: Carbonated hydroxyapatite cement possesses solidification property in situ, biocompatibility and osseous conductive activity. It is the satisfactory new type material for repair of skeletal defect.

BACKGROUND:Currently, the cement delivery device used in vertebral augmentation vertebral augmentation (vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty) has flat tips that cannot be bent. During surgery, we always choose injection cement by symmetric way to keep the balance of power on the biomechanics of the vertebral body, while the traditional cement delivery tube can only be used in ipsilateral vertebral body.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the feasibility of curved vertebroplasty device for the treatment of thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.
METHODS: Sixty patients (72 vertebral bodies) with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were enroled, including 8 cases of double-level vertebral fractures and 2 cases of three-level vertebral fractures. Al operations applied curved delivery device in percutaneous vertebroplasty. We recorded operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and X-ray imaging data through prospective self control study. Treatment effect was evaluated with modified Oswestry disability index, Visual Analogue Scale scores and the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment. The patients were folowed up for 6 months to 2 years.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Surgery was performed successfuly on al 60 patients. The average operation time was 27 minutes (20-45 minutes) for 50 cases by unilateral transpedicular approach. (2) The mean amount of bone cement in every single vertebral of al 72 vertebrae was averagely 6.4 mL (4.2-9.5 mL). Bone cement distribution had not been found to be biased one-sided without severe leakage. (3) Visual Analogue Scale score and Oswestry disability index were significantly improved at 1 day after treatment (P < 0.05). During the final folow-up, no significant difference was detected as compared with 1 day postoperatively (P > 0.05). (4) The ratio of good quality of life in 1 month than postoperatively (87%) and in the last folow-up (92%) was significantly greater compared with the preoperative ratio (27%) (P < 0.05). (5) These findings confirmed that curved vertebroplasty device in unilateral pedicle puncture could ensure bilateral symmetric distribution of bone cement. Al patients are satisfied with treatment. It is proved to be a feasible simple and safe method.

BACKGROUND: Carbonated hydroxyapatite cement (CHC) s a new kind of biomaterial for bone defect, which is made of powder and fluid, and can be mixed to be pasty to repair various bone defects.OBJECTIVE: To observe the improvement of vertebrae height and pain in patients with osteoporosis vertebral compression fracture (VCF) after vertebroplasty by using a new kind of bone graft biomaterial, taking CHC as the filling material to reinforce the vertebral body.DESIGN: A contrast observation trial taking patients as subjects.SETTING: Department of Orthopaedics, General Hospital of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 34 patients with thoracic or lumbar osteoporosis VCF who received the treatment in the Department of Orthopaedics, General Hospital of Chinese PLA between October 2000 and August 2003. Inclusive criteria: ①Definite diagnosis by CT; ② Informed consents were obtained from the patients. Exclusive criteria: The patients with osteoporosis vertebral compression fractures who suffered vertebral posterior wall fracture. There were 6 males and 28 females, and they were aged (72±13)years; Among the patients, 27 were diagnosed as postmenopausal osteoporosis, 1 as cortical hormone-induced osteoporosis and 6 male patients weresenile osteoporosis.METHODS: ①All the patients were randomly divided into two groups: Experimental group (n =23) and control group (n=11). All the patients were performed percutaneous operation with local anesthenia. All cases were performed percutaneous operation under local anesthesia. Under the C-arm monitored, one side pedicle puncture was performed to enter the anterior column of the involved VCF. Patients of the experimental group were filled with CHC. Patients of control group were filled with polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) with the same way. ② Referred to McGill-Melzack scoring. Among the scale 0-100 mm (0 was no pain, 100 was acute pain), the value indicated the painful intensity and mental assault degree. ＜ 30 scores indicated good, 30-40 basically satisfied and ≥ 50 poor .③ Referred to the method from Lee et al, the preoperative height (A1) and postoperative height (A2) of compression fracture position of VCF were measured according to the lateral X-ray film. At the same time, the upper vertebral height (A3) and the inferior vertebral height (A4) were measured at the same position. The original height (A) of the involved vertebra was calculated as (A)= (A3+A4)/2,and the preoperative vertebral compression rate =(A-A1 )/A, the postoperative vertebral compression rate =(A-A2)/A, the restoring rate = (the preoperative vertebral compression rate-the postoperative vertebral compression rate)/the preoperative vertebral compression rate. ④ The wounds of the patients were observed after operation. The levels of blood routine, serum calcium and serum phosphorus were detected before, one day and one week after operation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Preoperative and postoperative VAS scoring. ② The vertebral compression rate and restoring rate. ③ Wounds were observed after operation. The blood routine, the serum calcium and serum phosphorus were detected before, one day and one week after operation.RESULTS: Totally 34 patients were involved in the result analysis. ①The preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score of experimental group were (91.5±21.7) points, and the postoperative ones were (44.5±27.2) points. The difference of VAS score reduced gradually along with the postoperative time. There was no difference of VAS score between experimental group and the control group 4 weeks after operation. ② The biocompatibility of CHC in the vertebral body was fine. The vertebral compression rate of experimental group was recovered from (43.1±21.4)％ preoperatively to (27.3± 18.5)％ postoperatively. The rate of restored heights was (27.3±18.5)％. ③ All patients obtained Ⅰ stage wound healing, and none of them had infection, inflammatory secretion and nervous symptom. There were no differences in blood routine test, serum calcium, serum phosphorus between patients in two groups. One case filled by PMMA and two cases filled by CHC presented leakage, and none had nervous symptom.CONCLUSION: As the filling materials for vertebropalsty, CHC can restore the vertebral heights and relieve pain safely and effectively, however, its efficacy to relieve pain is not significant as PMMA in the short term.