STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study analyzing the results of chip PLIF with pedicle screw instrumentation for various spinal lesions. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinical and radiologic results of chip PLIF and to compare the amount of blood loss and transfusion and operation time with the ordinary PLIF. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The ordinary PLIF has 86-95% of radiologic union rate and 80% of clinical satisfactory rate. The problems of ordinary PLIF were donor site morbidity, limited bone resources, prolonged operation time and excessive blood loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients were treated by chip PLIF utilizing cubical chip bone obtained from spinous process, facets and lamina from October 1995 to October 1997. Twenty-four patients, followed up over 12 months, were included in this study. Radiologic union, disc space collapse and change of kyphotic angle were assessed by simple X-ray and clinical results by improvement of back pain, radicular pain and change of neurological deficits. Twenty-nine patients treated by ordinary PLIF were compared concerning the operation time, amount of blood loss and transfusion. RESULTS: The mean age was 51.5 years(27-68 years) and mean follow-up was 20.7 months(12-30 months). Complete radiologic union rate was 47.6%, which was lower than ordinary PLlf. Satisfactory clinical result rate was 79%, which was similar with other fusion methods. Operation time, amount of blood loss and transfusion were less than the ordinary PLIF. There were three complications that were one dural tear ailed two pedicle screw breakages. CONCLUSION: There was no relationship between radiologic union rate and clinical satisfactory result after chip PLIF. Although operation time is relatively short and blood loss is less, it's not a good method to obtain nice bony union in spinal lesions.
Back Pain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Tissue Donors

A 45-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of a high fever, dyspnea, and myalgia. At the time of admission, a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) was made by fulfilling four of the 1982 American College of Rheumatology criteria with increasing levels of anti-nuclear antibody titer(speckled pattern). Prednisolone given orally in an initial dosage of 30mg/day was not effective and she was expired by respiratory failure due to disseminated intravascular coagulation. A diagnosis of hemophagocytic syndrome was made because of the increased number of unusual hemophagocytic cells in the bone marrow. High levels of serum ferritin which are known to reflect macrophage activition, supported the diagnosis of hemophagocytic syndrome. Hemophagocytic syndrome is characterized by activated phagocytosis presumably induced by hypersecretion of cytokines. Malignant lymphoma and infection are the two representative diseases which may cause hemophagocytic syndrome. Recently several acute lupus hemophagocytic syndromes were reported in patients with SLE. Here we report a case of acute lupus hemophagocytic syndrome observed in a patient with SLE with brief review of literatures.
Bone Marrow ; Cytokines ; Diagnosis ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Ferritins ; Fever ; Humans ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic* ; Lymphoma ; Macrophages ; Middle Aged ; Myalgia ; Phagocytosis ; Prednisolone ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Rheumatology