Objective To investigate the structural changes during the early stage of spinal cord injury,and the relationships between these structural changes and patients' motor recovery.Methods The clinical data of 25 patients with spinal cord injury collected from 2012 October to 2014 March were analyzed retrospectively.The spinal cord injury patients were split into two groups (Good recoverers group and Poor recoverers group) according to the clinical outcome of motor recovery at 6 months follow-up,and there were 10 Good recoverers (ASIA grade:1 A,4 B,3 C,and 2 D) and 15 Poor recoverers (ASIA grade:7 A,3 B,3 C,and 2 D).The study also recruited 25 matched healthy controls.The mean age of Good recoverers,Poor recoverers and healthy controls were 37.9± 13.9,35.8± 11.5 and 36.5±9.3,respectively.Structural MRI was used to investigate the regions with brain structural changes among the three groups.Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the relationships between these structural changes and patients' motor recovery.Results Compared to healthy controls group,both poor recoverers and good recoverers had significantly decreased cortical thickness in the bilateral primary motor cortex.Poor recoverers exhibited more serious and widespread structural damages,in addition to reduced cortical thickness in the primary motor cortex,poor recoverers also showed decreased cortical thickness in the right SMA and premotor cortex when compared to healthy controls.Compared to the healthy controls group,poor recoverers showed reduced white matter volume in the right primary motor cortex and posterior limb of the internal capsule;good recoverers showed no significant difference in white matter microstructure.Furthermore,these structural changes at the internal capsule and primary motor cortex were associated with the motor recovery rate at 6 months follow-up (r=0.75,P＜ 0.001;r=0.76,P＜ 0.001,respectively).Conclusion These findings suggest that spinal cord injury causes significant anatomical changes in the human sensorimotor system in the early phase,and these structural changes directly affect the motor recovery of spinal cord injury.Future treatment aimed at promoting neural function recovery of spinal cord injury patients should pay close attention to the injured brain.

Objective To explore the strategy and outcomes of surgical treatment of thoracic ossification of ligamentum flavum(OLF),especially combined with ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament,thoracic kyphosis and epidural adhesion.Methods Fifty-three cases of thoracic OLF from January 2003 to December 2009 were reviewed retrospectively.All patients were treated by the methods of en bloc resection of semi-facet and lamina.All patients were followed up for more than half an year,including 32 males and 21 females,aged from 43 to 73 years(average 54.7 years).The lesions located in upper thoracic for 18 patients,and in thoracolumbar for 35 patients.For multi-level or jumping OLF patients,the responsible levels were determined by combination of images and clinical symptoms.For multi-level OLF with ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament(OPLL)or thoracic kyphosis(＞50°),multi-level pedicle screw fixation and correction of kyphosis were performed.For dural adhesion patients,part of cerebrospinal fluid was released with a caudal incision of dural sac resulting in collapse and epidural arachnoid separation.Ossific and adhesion dura mater were removed with integrity of arachnoid.The surgical outcomes were evaluated with preoperative and postoperative thoracic Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)score,Nurick grade and neurologic functional recovery ratio.Results Fifty-three cases were followed up for 6 months to 6 years,with an average of 18 months.The average preoperative JOA score was 4.3±2.3,which significantly increased to 8.3±1.8 after operation.Postoperative neurologic functional recovery rates were 11% to 80%(average 65.8%),including excellent in 18 cases,good in 20,fair in 10,and poor in 5.The excellent or good rate was 71.7%.The mean preoperative Nurick grade was 3.7(2-5 grade)and decreased to 2.3 grade after operation.Conclusion En bloc resection of semi-facet and lamina is a safe and effective method for treatment of thoracic OLF.For the patients with OPLL or kyphosis,pedicle screws fixation and kyphosis correction was beneficial for recovery of neurologic function of thoracic OLF patients.