Objective To study the diagnosis and the treatment of the arachnoid cysts in the sacral canal. Methods After decompression laminectomy of the sacral canal, the arachnoid cysts were dealt with in three ways: 13 cases with excision of the most of the cyst wall and suture of redundant wall around the intracystic nerves, 8 cases with the excision of the most of the cyst wall and plugging the communicating hole with a block of muscle, 2 cases with excision of most of the cyst wall and leaving cystic wound unsutured. The clinical results were studied with 30.2 months follow up. The radiological changes including X-ray, CT, CTM and MRI were evaluated as well as their clinical behaviors, pathologies and post operative complications. Results Long T1 and T2 signals of the cysts could be clearly showed in MRI, and the signal density was the same as that of cerebrospinal fluid. Clinical symptoms were caused by compression of sacral nerve. Generally, there were communicating holes between cysts and thecal sacs. There were no statistical differences between the results of the first two surgical methods. The post operative complications included the wound erosion and intracranial infection. Conclusion The cyst seems to arise as a result of congenital defect of the thecal dura. Excision of the most of the cyst wall and plugging the communicating hole with a block of muscle seems to be a reasonable surgical method. No drain tube should be used and a supine position should not be allowed so as to reduce the complications

[Objective]To evaluate the effect of selective kyphoplasty in treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar multi-vertebral compressive fractures based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).[Method]Twenty-one cases(fifty-seven vertebral bodies) of osteoporotic thoracolumbar multi-vertebral compressive fractures were treated from June 2003 to December 2006.The signal changes in different sequences were confirmed by preoperative MRI.Based on the MRI signal changes,57 vertebral bodies were treated by selective kyphoplasty.Normal balloon pressure and cement volume were performed for the painful vertebral bodies and lower pressure and cement volume were preferred for the vertebral bodies with old fracture.[Result]All patients tolerated the operation well with immediate relief of their back pain in 24 hours.The mean height of the anterior,media and posterior vertebral bodies were(1.7?0.9)cm,(1.7?0.7)cm,(2.5?0.9)cm preoperatively and(2.2?0.4)cm,(2.4?0.6)cm,(2.6?0.3)cm postoperatively.The mean kyphosis was improved from(33.7?10.9) degrees to(25.9?9.3) degrees(P

[Objective]To investigate the effect of simvastatin on the osteoclast and the focal resorptin of calvaria bone.[Method]Animal model of calvaria bone resorption was induced by parathyroid hormone-related peptide in mice.[Result]Simvastatin on the dose of 10,20 mg/kg/d could inhibit the resorption of calvaria bone and the formation of osteoclast,while,no significant inhibition was observed on the low dose(0,5 mg/kd/d).[Conclusion]Simvastation can effectively inhibit the resorption of focal bone in mice.It may provide an important strategy in treatment of diseases involved focal bone resorption.

[Objective]To study the effect of simvastatin in the osteoclastic resorption stimulated by PTHrP and murine bone anabolism in vitro.[Method]The bone resorption activities of the osteoclast stimulated by PTHrP were evaluated after treatment with simvastatin for 8 days in vitro;the concentration of Ca~(2+) in the supernatant was also detected by atomic absorption spectrometer.The concentration of ALP and Ca~(2+) of the supematant in murine calvarial organ culture were detected.The histology of calvaria was observed.[Result]Simvastatin greatly inhibited the osteoclastic bone resorption stimulated by PTHrP in vitro and reduced the release of Ca~(2+).Simvastatin increased the ALP activities and bone mineralization of murines calvarial organ culture in vitro.[Conclusion]Simvastatin may inhibit the osteoclasric resorption stimulated by PTHrP and promote osteoblast differentiation and bone mineralization in vitro,thus play an important role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Objective To study the OPG/RANKL gene expression of bone marrow stromal cell under stimulation of PTHrP.Method Primary bone marrow cells were cultured under the stimulation of 45 ng/ml PTHrP. Number of osteoclasts was counted after 6-day's culture.90 ng/ml PTHrP was used to stimulate adherent bone marrow stromal cells for 3 or 6 days.OPG and RANKL gene expression level were determined by real-time PCR. Result Large number of osteoclasts were formed in primary bone marrow cell culture after 6-day stimulation of PTHrP.RANKL gene expression level was up-regulated by PTHrP,while OPG gene expression level were down-regulated.Conclusion PTHrP stimulates osteoclast formation via up-regulating RANKL level and down-regulating OPG level.

Objective: To study characteristics of diagnosis and treatment of arachnoid cysts in the sacral canal. Method: After laminectomy of the sacral canal, arachnoid cysts were treated in three ways: 13 cases underwent excision of the most of the cyst wall and suture of redundant wall around the intracystic nerve; 8 cases underwent the excision of the most of the cyst wall and plugging the communicating hole with a block of muscle; 2 cases underwent excision of most of the cyst wall and leaving them unsutured. Clinical results were evaluated after 30. 2 months' follow-up. Changes in the imaging materials (X-ray, CT, CTM and MRI) were also evaluated. The clinical behaviors, pathologies and complications post-operatively were analyzed. Result: Long T1 and T2 signals of the cysts could be clearly showed in MRI, and the signal density was the same as that of cerebrospinal fluid. Clinical symptoms were caused by compression of sacral nerve. Generally, there were communicating holes between cysts and thecal sacs. There were no statistical differences between first two methods of treatments. The complications post-operatively included erosion of wound skin and intracranial infection. Conclusion: MRI allows us to better illustrate the arachnoid cyst in sacral canal, and the cyst seems to arise as a result of congenital defect of thecal dura. Excision of the most of the cyst wall and plugging the communicating hole with a block of muscle seems to to a reasonable method to treat the carachnoid cysts in the sacral canal. Do not put the drain tube and forbidding patients to lie supinely are better for reducing the complications.

Objective To analyze the imaging features of congenital spinal deformity (CSD) associated with split cord malformation (SCM) and other intraspinal abnormalities, and to investigate the relationship to neurological symptoms. Methods 105 cases CSD with SCM were retrospectively studied. Analysis the imaging features of SCM (including type of SCM, location of SCM, location and apical vertebrae, symmetry of divided cord) and other intraspinal abnormalities. To investigate the relationship of the factors and neurological symptoms using Chi?square test of one factor and multiple factors logistic regression analysis. Re?sults 28 cases (26.7%) were formation failure, 33 cases (31.4%) were segmentation failure, and 44 cases (41.9%) were combina?tion of 2 disorders. 41 cases had neurological symptoms, 64 cases were asymptomatic. The distribution of SCM combined with spi?nal deformities:thoracic (11 cases), thoracolumbar (18 cases) and lumbar (20 cases) in type I SCM, thoracic (31 cases), thoracolum?bar (20 cases) and lumbar (5 cases) in type II, none was in cervical. The location of SCM upper than apical vertebrae 29 cases, on apical vertebrae 25 cases, lower than apical vertebrae 51 cases. Spinal cord was splitted symmetric 27 cases and asymmetric 78 cases. 66 cases combined with other intraspinal abnormalities, lower conus 42 cases, syringomyelia 38 cases, meningocele 10 cas?es and sakrale zyste 5 cases. Associated with intraspinal abnormalities, the rate of neural symptoms was different. According to Chi?square test of one factor and multiple factors logistic regression analysis, lumbar SCM, spinal cord asymmetric and lower conus were related with neurological symptoms. Conclusion The predilection spinal deformity of type I is combination, type II SCM is segmentation failure. When SCM patients associated with other intraspinal abnormalities, the incidence of neurologic symptoms is increased. The lumbar SCM, hemicords asymmetry and lower lying conus have significant relationship with neurologic symptoms.

BACKGROUND: There are various kinds of design methods about preoperative osteotomy of ankylosing spondylitis with kyphosis, but each has their own errors and limitations. A convenient, precise and available method needs to bedeveloped.OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of two different preoperative osteotomy designs using paper-cut andphotoshop software for ankylosing spondylitis with kyphosis.METHODS: Thirty-nine patients suffering ankylosing spondylitis with kyphosis undergoing osteotomy in the Departmentof Spinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Yan'an University between June 2009 and January 2015 were enrolled, andrandomly allotted to paper-cut (n=19) and photoshop (n=20) groups, followed by the preoperative osteotomy design,respectively. All patients were followed for 12-40 months to compare the postoperative osteotomy angle error andcorrection efficacy at the last follow-up between groups.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The postoperative osteotomy angle error in the photoshop group was significantly smaller than that in the paper-cut group (P < 0.05). (2) At the last follow-up, the key parameters of sagittal spine and pelvis (sagittal vertical axis, Cobb angle and pelvic tilt) showed significant differences between groups (P < 0.05). (3) The Oswestry disability index and Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire scores in the photoshop group weresignificantly superior to those in the paper-cut group at the last follow-up (P < 0.05), while the visual analog scale scoresdid not differ significantly between groups (P > 0.05). (4) To conclude, compared with the osteotomy design usingtraditional paper-cut splice, the photoshop software can achieve a smaller osteotomy angle error and better postoperative balance of spinal sagittal plane, thus providing precise osteotomy for surgeons to obtain proper correction.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the risk factors of neurological complications of posterior vertebral column resection in the treatment of severe rigid congenital spinal deformities.

METHODSThe clinical data of 88 patients with severe rigid congenital spinal deformities who underwent PVCR in Department Of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University from June 2007 to November 2012 were collected. There were 39 males and 49 females at the average age of 16.9 years (range 6-46 years). To measure the Cobb angle and balance at preoperative, postoperative and follow up, and to record the operation report, neurological complications and at follow up. The relevant factors of neurological complications were analyzed by one-way analysis, including: age, Cobb angle, operation time, body mass index, pulmonary function, blood volume loss, resection level, number of vertebrae fixed, number of vertebrae resected, usage of cage or titanium mesh, preoperative neurologic function, the type of deformity and combination of spinal canal deformity, and further analyzed by multiariable Logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThe average follow up was 42 months (range 19 to 83 months). The number of resected vertebrae average 1.3 (range 1 to 3), operative time average 502.4 min (range 165.0 to 880.0 min), estimate blood loss average 2,238 ml (range 100 to 11,500 ml) for an average 69.3% blood volume loss (range 9% to 299%). The average preoperative major coronal curve of 93.6° corrected to 22.2°, at the final follow-up, the coronal curve was 22.2° with a correction of 76.8%. The average preoperative coronal imbalance (absolute value) was 2.5 cm decreasing to 1.3 cm at the final follow-up. The average preoperative major sagittal curve of 88.2° corrected to 28.7°, at the final follow-up, the sagittal curve was 29.2°, average decrease in kyphosis of 59.0°. The average preoperative sagittal imbalance (absolute value) was 3.1 cm decreasing to 1.2 cm at the final follow-up. There were 12 patients (13.6%) developed a neurological complications. High rate of neurological complications was occurred in patients with operative time greater than 480 min, pulmonary dysfunction, blood volume loss greater than 50%, T7-T99 osteotomy and preoperative neurologic compromise (P=0.046, 0.000, 0.000, 0.033, 0.043).

CONCLUSIONSPosterior vertebral column resection can achieve satisfactory efficacy in treatment of severe spinal deformities. Pulmonary dysfunction and blood volume loss greater than 50% were significant risk factors of neurological complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Osteotomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Diseases ; surgery ; Spine ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical results of one stage surgical treatment in congenital scoliosis (CS) patients associated with split cord malformation (SCM).

METHODSBetween January 2007 and December 2010, 50 patients underwent one stage surgical treatment for CS associated with SCM. Among of them, 38 patients (13 male and 25 female) with an average age of (15 ± 6) years, who were followed up in the clinic at least 2 years longer, were include in the study. There were 12 patients with Type I SCM and 26 patients with Type II SCM Pre-operative, post-operative and the follow-up imaging data were collected and compared by paired t-test, while imaging data between Type I SCM group and Type II SCM group were compared by group t-test. Bony spur was first resected to the Type I SCM while nothing was done to the Type II SCM. Then, all patients were followed by posterior corrective procedure in one stage. Meanwhile, duraplasty were only applied in 5 patients whose dural cleft were more than 1 cm longer.

RESULTSThe average follow-up was 41 ± 13 months (range, 26-68 months). The average operation time was 491 ± 152 minutes (range, 105-780 minutes) and the average blood loss was (1 933 ± 1 516) ml (range, 1 000-8 000 ml). The mean major coronal curve was corrected from 70° ± 26° preoperatively to 312° ± 16° postoperatively with a correction rate of 57% ± 18%, and 33° ± 17° at the final follow-up with a correction rate of 54% ± 20%. The mean major sagittal curve was corrected from 43° ± 31° to 26° ± 16°, and 27° ± 15° at the final follow-up. The postoperative complication occurred in 2 patients (5.3%) with Type I SCM, including neurological deterioration in 1 patient (2.6%) and cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 1 patient (2.6%). There were no paralysis and other serious complications. The patients who suffered from neurological deterioration recovered to the preoperative neurological status at 30 months postoperatively and no further improvement at the final follow-up.

CONCLUSIONIt is safe and efficient to treat the CS associated with SCM by one stage surgery without increasing the risk of neurological complications postoperatively.

Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Neural Tube Defects ; complications ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; complications ; congenital ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult