Objective To introduce the method of C2,3 pedicle screw fixation for management of unstable Hangman fractures and evaluate the clinical effects.Methods From October 2001 to October 2005,26 cases with unstable Hangman fractures were treated using Axis and Vertex pedicle screw system.According to the classification system designed by Levine depending on the radiological manifestations of Hangman fractures,there were unstable fractures in 26 cases,who were subdivided into type Ⅱ in 11 cases,type ⅡA in 10 cases and type Ⅲ in 5 cases.There were 18 males and 8 females,aging from 21 to 56 years with an average of 38.5 years.According to Frankel scale,graded as spinal injury D in 6 cases and E in 20 cases.Points of entry for C2 screw insertion were located at the entrance at the posterior aspect of lateral mass.The drill bit was parallel to both of the medial and superior border of C2 pars interarticularis(usually 15?-25? cephalad to the transverse plane and 20?-25? medial to the sagittal plane).The screw hole in the posterior cortex was overdrilled.3.5-4.0 mm screws(26-30 mm,determined by depth gauge)were drived in after the cortex being tapped.The points of screw penetration for the C3 pedicles was slightly lateral to the center of the articular mass and close to the inferior margin of the inferior articular process of the cranially adjacent vertebra.The insertion angle of the pedicle screw was 35?-45? medial to the midline in the transverse plane.3.5-4.0 mm screws,determined by depth gauge were drived in after the cortex being tapped.The whole procedure was done under monitoring of "C"-arm fluoroscopy for safety and accuracy.Results All patients were followed up from 6 to 54 months,with the average of 29 months.There were no screw loosing and breakage,and no spinal cord and vertebral artery injury after surgery.3 screws were placed too close to the vertebral artery canal in C2 and 7 screws in C3,but without clinical consequences.There were 16 cases in excellent,7 good,3 fair according to Mayo(McGrory)scores.Conclusion C2,3 pedicle screw fixation is a effected method for management of unstable Hangman fractures,which proved its value as a method achieving solid bony fusion combined with low rate of complications.

Objective To evaluate the effects of different approaches on the management of the middle and distal thirds of the humeral fractures.Methods 93 patients were divided into two groups randomly.48 cases were treated by the posterior approach and 45 cases by the anterolateral approach.Results In the anterolateral approach group complication of radial nerve injury occurred in 12 cases and nonunion in 5 cases.While in the posterial approach group Complication of radial nerve injury in 4 cases and nonunion in 2 cases.No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of associated bone union,while significant difference existed between the two groups in terms of associated radial nerve injury.Conclusion The posterior approach is a better choice and safer in management of the middle and distal thirds of the humeral fractures.

ObjectiveTo investigate application of the anterior cervical pedicle screw in the lower cervical spine.MethodsTwenty disarticulated human vertebrae(C3-C7) were evaluated with computed tomography for pedicle morphometry Parameters included vertebral body height,vertebral body depth,vertebral body width,outer pedicle width,outer pedicle height,pedicle axis length,transverse section angle,sagittal section angle,transverse intersection point distance and sagittal intersection point distance.On the basis of these data,the screw channel was determined and the screws were inserted in the specimen.Five patients underwent surgical reconstruction using anterior pedicle screw fixation.After surgery,physical examination and roentgenograms and CT scans were performed in all patients.ResultsThe transverse section angle increased from C3(45.7°±4.0°) to C5(52.1°±5.9° ),but decreased from C6(47.8°±6.7°) to C7(44.4°± 8.3°).The sagittal section angle gradually increased from C3 (93.4°±7.2°) to C6( 112.1°±6.2°) but decreased a little to C7(102.7°±8.5°).The distances in transverse section was about 1.97-3.98 mm and in sagittal section was 3.4-7.5 mm.Anterior pedicle screws were inserted successfully in all specimens without critical pedicle wall perforations.Patients were permitted to ambulate the next day after surgery with a cervical collar.Postoperative neurological improvement was observed in all cases.Postoperative radiographic evaluation confirmed proper insertion of anterior pedicle screws without pedicle perforaton.The average follow-up time was 10.6 months.No anterior pedicle screw breakage and loosening was observed.ConclusionThe entry point in anterior pedicle screw should located in 5mm to upper endplate and near anterior median line.The transverse section angle should be 45.7°-52.1°and the sagittal section angle should be 93.4°-112.1°.The lengths of the screw should be about 32 mm.

AIM: To study the expression of endostatin in ischemic myocardium of myocardial infarction(MI) rats in various periods and the correlation with VEGF expression and microvascular density(MVD).METHODS: Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats after myocardial infarction were randomly divided into 7,14,21 and 28 days group.The sham group was normal control group(eight rats in each group).The expression of endostatin,VEGF and MVD in ischemic myocardium were observed by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: The expression of endostatin significantly increased in the ischemic myocardium after MI,peaked at 7 days,then gradually decreased at 14,21 and 28 days.The endostatin level at 28 days was the same as the shams.The changing trends of expression of endostatin in ischemic myocardium after MI were similar to that of VEGF and were significantly correlated with the MVD.CONCLUSION: The expression of endostatin increased in ischemic myocardium of myocardial infarction rats.The changing trends of endostatin were similar to that of VEGF and positively correlated with the MVD.These data suggest that endostatin may modulate ischemic myocardium angiogenesis after myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE:To preparation Ru'an mixture,and establish its quality standard and observe its therapeutic efficacy.METHODS:Ru'an mixture was prepared with Radix Bupleuri and Ramulus Cinnamomi and Radix Angelicae Sinensis as raw material.Radix Bupleuri,Radix Paeoniae Alba,and Radix Angelicae Sinensis were identified by TLC and the content of Tanshinol was determined by HPLC.RESULTS:The TLC spots of Radix Bupleuri,Radix Paeoniae Alba,and Radix Angelicae Sinensis were all clear.The linear range of Tanshinol was 0.203～2.030?g(r=0.999 8).The total effect rate in Ru' CONCLUSION:Ru'an mixture is reasonable in preparation technique,controllable in quality.

Objective To study the blood supply of the flap accompanying vessels of the cutaneous nerves in the lower leg, and to design the reversed flap for clinical reference. Methods Anatomic observation was performed on 30 adults’ lower extremity specimens perfused via pressure with red latex through femoral arteries. Results Superficial peroneal nerves, sural nerves and saphenous nerves were all nourished by their accompanying arteries which, anastomosed with the cutaneous perforating branches of other arteries, also nourish the corresponding skin areas. Conclusion The blood supply of the reversed island flap accompanying vessels of the cutaneous nerves in the lower leg is reliable and so it is possible to design long flaps along the cutaneous nervous axis.

With ever-increasing knowledge of biomechanics and anatomy of pelvis,more and more findings have been made on the integrated sacroiliac joint system.The sacroiliac complex plays a very important role i n the functions of pelvis due to its specia l biomechanical features.The sacro iliac screw internal fixation is bio mechanically superior to other fixation methods.[

Objective To assess clinical curative effect of three types of combined posterior atlantoaxial internal fixation techniques in treatment of atlantoaxial instability. Methods The study involved 68 patients with atlantoaxial instability treated with different fixation techniques from August 2002 to March 2008. ( 1 ) Transpedicular fixation was performed in 32 patients including 20 patients with Anderson Ⅱ odontoid fractures (seven with old odontoid fracture and 13 with fresh fractures), six with type Anderson Ⅲ fresh odontoid fractures, four with disrupt of transverse ligament of the atlas and two with congenital loose odontoid process combined with atlantoaxial instability. (2) Transpedicular internal fixation with screws of atlas incorporating C2 laminar screws was performed in 20 patients with upper cervical injury including eight with type Ⅱ odontoid process fractures combined with atlantoaxial backward dislocation,four with type Ⅱ odontoid process fractures combined with atlantoaxial forward dislocation, two with nonunion of odontoid process fractures, three with type Ⅲ odontoid process fractures combined with atlantoaxial unsteadiness and three with atlantoaxial dislocation combined with disrupt of transverse ligament of atlas. (3)A total of 16 patients with traumatic atlantoaxial instability, reducible atlantoaxial dislocation and irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation were treated with four-point internal fixation technique using autologous iliac bone grafts. Results (1) A total of 120 screws were implanted in 32 patients, with no spinal cord or vertebral artery injury after surgery. Atlas lateral mass fixation was adopted in three patients because of broken posterior arch of the atlas. Postoperative CT showed that two screws were inserted into the vertebral artery hole and that one screw was inserted medially into the spinal canal and caused medial correx rupture, but both with no clinical symptoms. All 32 patients were followed up for 6-42 months ( average 26 months), which showed solid fusion in all patients. The postoperative JOA scores ranged from 13.2 points to 16.8 points (average 14. 8 points). (2) Thirty-two screws were implanted in 20 patients,with no spinal cord or vertebral artery injury. The patients were followed up for mean six months ( range 6-14 months). Postoperative X-ray showed sound bone fusion, with no cervical instability, loosening or breakage of the screws. (3) The symptoms of all the patients were improved at different degrees, with no neurological deterioration or severe complications, such as nerve blood vessel injury. All 16 patients were followed up for 8-26 months ( average 16 months), which showed bony fusion in all patients at 3-6 months after surgery. The spinal cord function was improved markedly in five patients, good in eight, mild in two but unchanged in one. Conclusions Three types of combined posterior atlantoaxial internal fixation techniques have advantages of rigid, short-segmental and three-dimensional fixation and hence are effective methods for treatment of upper cervical injuries. The combination mode can be varied according to specific condition of the patients.

Objective To explore the feasibility and application value of combined C2 laminar screw fixation technique in treatment of cervical vertebral injury. Methods Dense axial CT scanning was done on C2 laminar of 32 specimens of cervical vertebra to measure the length and height of the axis, the thickness of upper, middle and lower parts of the axis as well as the angle between the axial ray and the sagittal plane. There were eight patients with cervical vertebral injury including two with type Ⅱ odon-told process fractures combined with backward dislocation of atlanto-axial joint, one with forward disloca-tion of atlanto-axial joint, one with nonunion of odontoid process fractures, two with type Ⅲ odontoid process fractures combined with atlanto-axial joint instability and transverse ligament rupture, one with type Ⅱ Hangman fracture combined with instability of C2～3 and one with forward dislocation of atlanto-axial joint combined with transverse ligament rupture. With accomplishment of traction reduction, combined fixation with axis laminar screws and posterior autogenous lilac graft fusion were done based on injury se-verity of the patients. Results The length and height of axis laminar was (26.2±1.2) mm and (12.8±1.6) mm, respectively. The thickness of upper, middle and lower parts of the C2 laminar was (3.0±1.4) mm, (6.0±1.6) mm and (5.6±1.2) mm, respectively. The mean angle between the axial ray and sagittal plane was 43.5°. All patients were followed up for 6-14 months ( mean 6 months), which showed that all patients obtained favourable bone union and all screws remained at sound position, without deflexion of the screws or any perioperative or postoperative complications. No screw loosening or breakage occurred. Conclusions C2 laminar screw fixation technique can prevent the risk of vertebral artery injury during screw insertion. In the meantime, such technique is simple to operate and free from limitation of the vertebral artery in the cervical foramen. Whole course of visualization during C2 laminar screw insertion may facilitate it as a supplementary method for conventional posterior C2 screw fixation.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect and safety of the occiput-cervicle or C1-C2 internal fixation and bone graft fusion in treatment of the unstable atlas fracture.Methods A retrospective study was performed in 38 patients with unstable atlas fractures treated by the occiput-cervicle or C1-C2 internal fixation and bone graft fusion from October 2004 to March 2009.Six patients with comminuted atlas fracture combined with instability of the occipito-atlantoid articulations were treated with occiput-C2 fusion(five patients)and with occiput-C3 fusion(one patient).There were seven patients with typical Jefferson fractures,three with semiring fractures,eight with atlas fractures combined with Anderson type Ⅱ odontoid process fractures,three with atlas fractures combined with Hangman's fractures (two patients with Levine and Edwards type Ⅲ Hangman's fractures were treated with occiput-C3 fusion and one patient Levine and Edwards type Ⅱ Hangman's fracture was treated with C1-C2 fusion),three with atlas fracture combined with lower cervicle injury,six with rupture of transverse ligament combined with instability of atlanto-axial joint(Dickman transverse ligament type Ⅰ injury)and two with comminuted fracture of the lateral mass associated with bony avulsion of the medial tubercle and transverse ligament(Dickman transverse ligament type Ⅱ injury).Of all,five patients were treated with occiput-C2 fusion,three treated with occiput-C3 fusion and 30 treated with C1-C2 fusion.Results All the patients were followed up for a range of 12-46 months(average 28 months),which showed improvement of clinical symptoms in some extent postoperatively.The operation time ranged from 80 to 190 min ates(average 135 minates),with intraoperative blood loss for 200-3 300 ml(average 460 ml)and average fluoroscopic time for 60 seconds.There were no neurological deficits,vertebral artery related complications or other complications in all the patients during the surgical operation.No neurological deficit was aggravated after the patient's mobilization with brace three days after operation.The enous plexus of blood vessel at C1-C2 rupture induced by the use of electrocautery was found in three patients who showed no cerebral hemodynamic deficit after hemostasis with hemostatic sponge and cotton piece.The follow-up X-ray and CT manifested osseous fusion in all the patients,with no looseness or breakage of the screws.The late follow-up showed pain associated with movement and limited range of motion in four patients(11%)and occipital neuralgia in one.Conclusions An occiput-cervicle fixation fusion or a C1-C2 fixation fusion combined with short external fixation can reestablish the upper cervical stability and prevent further injury of the spinal cord and nerve function and hence is an ideal option for C1 burst fracture with or without rupture of the transverse ligament.