BACKGROUND: In clinic, many orthopaedic diseases are related to abnormal increase of intraosseous pressure, such as, avascular necrosis of femoral head and osteoarthritis and so on. Percutaneous bone puncture and other methods can decrease intraosseous pressure and release clinical symptoms immediately. Analysis on the changes in intraosseous pressure and medullary blood rheology following drilling decompression can further recognize the occurrence and development of intraosseous pressure OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes in intraosseous pressure and medullary blood rheology following drilling decompression in rabbits.DESIGN: A randomized and controlled trial.SETTING: Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Hospital of Youjing Medical College for Nationalities.MATERIALS: This experiment was carried out at Orthopaedic Department, Affiliated Hospital of Youjing Medical College for Nationalities between March and December 2005. Totally 30 New Zealand purebred white rabbits, of either gender, weighing (2.16±0.35) kg, were provided by Experimental Animals Center of Guangxi Medical University.METHODS: ① Animals grouping and modeling: 30 rabbits were randomly divided into 2 groups: model group and experiment group with 15 in each group. Intraosseous pressure models of the proximal right tibia were created on the rabbits in the two groups and drilling decompression was performed in the proximal tibia of rabbits in the experiment group. ②Measurement of intraosseous pressure of proximal tibia: After rabbits were anesthetized, needle for measuring blood pressure was pricked into the medullary canal at 0.5 cm internal plane up at the tubercle of right tibia.Intraosseous pressure of two groups was measured before and 2 days after decompression with BL-410 biologic functional system. ③ Measurement of medullary blood rheology: Before and 2 days after drilling decompression,medullary blood was extracted and blood rheology was measured with Blood Perfusion Monitor R80 (Vertebral plate type, Version 5.0) in the experiment group.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Value of intraosseous pressure and medullary blood rheology before and after drilling decompression in the proximal right tibia.RESULTS: All the 30 rabbits entered the stage of result analysis. ①Measurement of intraosseous pressure: intraosseous pressure was significantly lower after drilling decompression in the proximal right tibia in the experiment group than in the model group (P ＜ 0.01). It approached normal value of intraosseous pressure of control side [(2.50±0.39) kPa]. Intraosseous pressure in the experiment group was significantly lower after than before drilling decompression (P ＜ 0.01). ② Measurement of medullary blood rheology: Medullary blood viscosity, plasm viscisity, whole blood reduced low-shear viscosity, red cell rigidity index, whole blood high-shear relative viscosity, whole blood low-shear relative viscosity, erythrocyte deformation index and erythrocyte aggregation index at the proximal end of tibia following drilling decompression were significantly lower than those before drilling decompression (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01). Medullary erythrocyte sediment rate and erythrocyte hematocrit did not change significantly (P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: Drilling decompression in proximal right tibia can obviously decrease intraosseous pressure, dilute medullary blood and decrease blood viscosity.

Objective To study the theraputic effect of rebuilt posterior ligamentous complex in the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture.Method From 2003 to 2007,60 patients who had simple thoracolumbar fractures were treated with rebuild of posterior ligamentous complex(group A).At the same time,50 patients with the same condition were treated with ablation of posterior ligamentous complex(group B).Modify Japanese orthopedic association low back pain score(M-JOA)score and Functional Rating scales for Low Back Pain(FRS)score for lumbar function were compared between two groups perioperatively.Results Preoperative M-JOA score for lumbar function of group A was from 19 to 30 score,on average of23.83.M-JOA score of group B was from 17 to 30 score on average of 21.68.There was no significant different between group A and group B(P＞0.05).Postoperative M-JOA score for lumbar function of group A was from 8 to 12 score,on average of 9.05.M-JOA score of group B was from 9 to 14 score.on average of 11.95.There was significant difference between group A and group B(P＜0.01).Preoperative FRS score was 28.85 in group A and 26.56 in group B averagely(P＞0.05)while postoperative FRS score was 68.22(46-84)in group A and 46.87(39-65)in group B(P＜0.05).Conclusion Management with rebuild of posterior ligamentous complex for thoracolumbar fractures contributes to the improvement of the postoperative lumbar function and clinical symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Clinical practice showed that there are certain correlations between postoperative C-reactive protein levels and bone graft fusion time following focal debridement,autologous iliac bone graft,with or without plate internal fixation,for the treatment of spinal tuberculosis.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the correlation between postoperative C-reactive protein levels and bone graft fusion time of spinal tuberculosis patients.METHODS: A total of 60 cases with spinal tuberculosis were selected from January 2007 to December 2009.All patients were underwent focal debridement,autologous iliac bone graft,with or without plate internal fixation,and confirmed by pathology.The C-reactive protein levels were determined at 1,7 and 14 days after operation,and then,according to average changes of C-reactive protein levels,the cases were assigned into 4 groups: 10-25 mg/L served as the mildly increase group,26-50 mg/L as the moderately increase group,51-100 mg/L as the highly increase group,and greater than 101 mg/L as the extremely increase group.Postoperative C-reactive protein levels were examined at 12,16,and 24 weeks after operation,the bone graft fusion was observed by X-ray or CT examination,in addition,bone block fusion time was recorded.All groups of patients with spinal tuberculosis postoperative C-reactive protein diversity and bone graft fusion time were analyzed by variability and correlation analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There were 18 cases in the mildly increase group,21 cases in the moderately increase group,13 cases in the highly increase group,and 8 cases in the extremely increase group.The bone fusion time showed that: there were8 cases equal to or less than 12 weeks,34 cases equal to or less than 16 weeks,and 18 cases equal to or less than 24 weeks.There were significant differences among 4 groups in bone graft fusion times(X2=13.990,P=0.003).Spearman correlation analysis showed that,there was a positive correlation between postoperative C-reactive protein levels and bone fusion time(r=0.420,P=0.001).

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis clearance, bone graft, internal fixation with or without plate for patients with spinal tuberculosis always lead to C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) changes, which are associated with bone graft union time to certain degree.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the correlation between CRP, ESR and bone graft union time in patients with spinal tuberculosis.METHODS: A total of 60 patients with spinal tuberculosis underwent tuberculose focus clearance, autologous iliac bone grafting, and internal fixation without or with plate, including 38 undergoing fixation and 22 not undergoing fixation. They were divided into mild elevation, moderate elevation, high elevation, and extremely high elevation groups according to CRP and ESR. Correlation between CRP, ESR and bone graft union time was analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) CRP: there were 18 cases of mild elevation, 21 of moderate elevation, 13 of high elevation and 8 of extremely high elevation. There were significant differences in bone union time among groups (P=0.003). Spearman correlation analysis showed a correlation coefficient r=0.420, P=0.001, indicating positive correlation between CPR and bone union time. (2) ESR: there were 16 cases of mild elevation, 20 of moderate elevation, 13 of high elevation and 11 of extremely high elevation. There were significant differences in bone union time among groups (P=0.003). Spearman correlation analysis showed a correlation coefficient r=0.414, P=0.001, indicating positive correlation between ESR and bone union time. (3) Bone union was rapider in fixation group compared with non-fixation group, indicating that immediate, strong fixation can benefit bone union.