OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of post-extension pulling massage in treating lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSFrom January 2008 to December 2008, 61 patients with lumbar disc herniation, 34 males and 27 females, ranging in age from 17 to 67 years with an average of 42.6 years, were treated with post-extension pulling massage after continued traction for 30 minutes (on alternate days one time, 3 times as a course of treatment). There was bulging type in 9 cases, hernia type in 22, free type in 30. After a course of treatment, the clinical effects were evaluated according to standard of Macnab, the items included pain, lumbar activity, normal work and life of patients.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 1 to 9 months with an average of 4.6 months. After treatment, the symptoms and signs of patients had obviously improved in above aspects. According to standard of Macnab, 48 cases got excellent result, 10 good, 2 fair, 1 poor.

CONCLUSIONThe post-extension pulling massage in treating lumbar disc herniation can obtain satisfactory results, which have localized site of action, small compression for vertebral body and can reduce accidental injury.

Diskectomy ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; Lumbosacral Region ; pathology ; Male ; Massage ; methods ; Spine ; Traction ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have suggested an association between elevated pelvic incidence (PI) and the development of lumbar spondylolysis. However, there is still lack of investigation for Han Chinese people concerning the normal range of spinopelvic parameters and relationship between abnormal sagittal parameters and lumbar diseases. The objective of the study was to investigate sagittal lumbosacral parameters of adult lumbar spondylolysis patients in Han Chinese population.

METHODSA total of 52 adult patients with symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis treated in the General Hospital of Armed Police Force (Beijing, China) were identified as the spondylolysis group. All the 52 patients were divided into two subgroups, Subgroup A: 36 patients with simple lumbar spondylolysis, and Subgroup B: 16 patients with lumbar spondylolysis accompanying with mild lumbar spondylolisthesis (slip percentage <30%). Altogether 207 healthy adults were chosen as the control group. All patients and the control group took lumbosacral lateral radiographs. Seven sagittal lumbosacral parameters, including PI, pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), lumbar lordosis (LL), L5 incidence, L5 slope, and sacral table angle (STA), were measured in the lateral radiographs. All the parameters aforementioned were compared between the two subgroups and between the spondylolysis group and the control group with independent-sample t- test.

RESULTSThere were no statistically significant differences of all seven sagittal lumbosacral parameters between Subgroup A and Subgroup B. PI, PT, SS, and LL were higher (P < 0.05) in the spondylolysis group than those in the control group, but STA was lower (P < 0.001) in the spondylolysis group.

CONCLUSIONSCurrent study results suggest that increased PI and decreased STA may play important roles in the pathology of lumbar spondylolysis in Han Chinese population.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region ; anatomy & histology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Spondylolysis ; pathology ; Young Adult

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional case-control study was designed to compare the sagittal alignment of lumbosacral regions in two groups of patients suffering from low back pain, one with intervertebral disc pathologies and one without. PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between lumbosacral sagittal alignment and disc degeneration. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Changes in lumbar lordosis and pelvic parameters in degenerative disc lesions have been assessed in few studies. Overall, patients with discopathy were shown to have lower lumbar lordosis and more vertical sacral profiles. METHODS: From patients with intractable low back pain undergoing lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging, 50 subjects with disc degeneration and 50 controls with normal scans were consecutively enrolled. A method was defined with anterior tangent-lines going through anterior bodies of L1 and S1 to measure global lumbosacral angle, incorporating both lumbar lordosis and sacral slope. Global lumbosacral angle using the proposed method and lumbar lordosis using Cobb's method were measured in both groups. RESULTS: Lumbar lordosis based on Cobb's method was lower in group with discopathy (20degrees-67degrees; mean, 40.48degrees+/-9.89degrees) than control group (30degrees-62degrees; mean, 44.96degrees+/-7.68degrees), although it was not statistically significant. The proposed global lumbosacral angle in subject group (53degrees-103degrees; mean, 76.5degrees+/-11.018degrees) was less than control group (52degrees-101degrees; mean, 80.18degrees+/-9.95degrees), with the difference being statistically significant (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with intervertebral disc lesions seem to have more straightened lumbosacral profiles, but it has not been proven which comes first: disc degeneration or changes in sagittal alignment. Finding an answer to this dilemma demands more comprehensive long-term prospective studies.
Animals ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Lordosis ; Low Back Pain ; Lumbosacral Region ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pathology

Lumbar foraminal pathology causing entrapment of neurovascular contents and radicular symptoms are commonly associated with foraminal stenosis. Foraminal neuropathy can also be derived from inflammation of the neighboring lateral recess or extraforaminal spaces. Conservative and interventional therapies have been used for the treatment of foraminal inflammation, fibrotic adhesion, and pain. This update reviews the anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and current treatment options of foraminal neuropathy.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Decompression ; Diagnosis ; Electric Stimulation ; Fibrosis ; Foraminotomy ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Inflammation ; Lumbosacral Region ; Pain Management ; Pathology ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Nerve Roots

OBJECTIVETo explore the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic BEIS technology for lumbar lateral recess stenosis in the elderly.

METHODSFrom February 2014 to May 2016, 21 patients with lumbar lateral recess stenosis in elderly were treated with percutaneous endoscopic BEIS. There were 13 males and 8 females, aged from 70 to 85 years old with an average of 74.3 years. Preoperative, 1 and 12 months postoperative visual analogue scale(VAS) scores and Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) were statistically analyzed. MacNab was used to assess the clinical effects.

RESULTSAll the operations were successful. The time ranged from 90 to 130 min with an average of 110 min. All the patients were followed up for 12 to 38 months with an average of 18 months. Preoperative, 1 and 12 months postoperative VAS scores were 8.47±1.23, 1.78±0.72, 0.68±0.32, and ODI scores were 32.48±10.03, 19.53±3.55, and 5.15±1.02, respectively. Postoperative scores of VAS and ODI were obviously improved(<0.05). According to modified MacNab standard to evaluate the clinical effects, 14 cases obtained excellent results, 5 good, 2 fair. Lower limb paresthesia occurred in 1 case, and the condition was restored at 3 months postoperatively with conservative treatment. One patient was complicated with emphysema before operation secondary to pulmonary infection, and was effectively controlled with regulate antibiotic therapy. No infection of vertebral body or intervertebral space, no injuries of blood vessels or nerve root, no tear of dura, or the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid were found.

CONCLUSIONSPercutaneous transforaminal endoscopic BEIS is a safe and effective method for lumbar lateral recess stenosis in the elderly.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diskectomy, Percutaneous ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Lumbosacral Region ; pathology ; Male ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNETs) arise mostly in the supratentorial cerebral cortex. A very rare case of intraventricular DNET with diffuse ependymal involvement, which causes spinal drop metastasis, is presented.
Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ependymoma/*pathology/radiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region/*pathology ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroepithelial Cells/pathology ; Spinal Neoplasms/radiotherapy/*secondary

OBJECTIVESTo compare the paravertebral muscle (such as multifidus, erector spinae, psoas muscle) changes between the patients with degenerative lumbar instability and normal person by MRI and to observe the degeneration of paravertebral muscles. To analyze the relationship between paravertebral muscle degeneration and lumbar curvature of degenerative lumbar instability.

METHODSSixty patients with degenerative lumbar instability were retrospectively enrolled from December 2011 to July 2013 as degeneration group, meanwhile 60 health persons with no degenerative lumbar instability were selected as control group. No significant differences were found in the gender, age and body mass index between the two groups. The cross-sectional area(CSA) and percentage of fat infiltration area (FIA) of the paravertebral muscles at the L4-S1 levels were measured using T2-weighted axial MRI and Image J soft ware. And the lumbar curvature(expressed as lumbar lordosis angle) of all the patients in lumbar X-ray were measured in the two groups. The measured data were analyzed with independent samples t-test.

RESULTSThe difference of multifidus cross-sectional area and the percentage of fat infiltration in the patients of degenerative lumbar instability at the L4-L5, L5-S1 level, compared with the control group, was statistically significant (t = 2.768, t = 6.216, P < 0.05). Between the two groups, the percentage of fatty infiltration in erector spinae showed significant differences (t = 5.862, P < 0.05). The cross-sectional area of erector spinae and the degeneration of the psoas muscle between the two groups was not statistically significant. The lumbar lordsis angle in the patients with degenerative lumbar instability was (43.9 ± 15.6)°, which was higher than the (39.3 ± 14.2)° in control group (t = 2.915, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCompared with the control group, patients with degenerative lumbar instability exists erector spinae and multifidus muscle degeneration, and erector spinae is more obvious. The degeneration among psoas muscle, erector spinae and multifidus muscle are inconsistent, which may be related to the increasing of the lumbar lordosis angle in the patients with degenerative lumbar instability.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; diagnosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Lumbosacral Region ; physiopathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; pathology ; Muscular Atrophy ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology

BACKGROUNDThere has been some controversy related to the use of the Wallis system, rather than disc fusion in the treatment of patients with degenerative spine disease. Furthermore, there are no reports concerning the application of this dynamic stabilization system in Chinese patients, who have a slightly different lifestyle with Western patients. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the dynamic stabilization system in the treatment of degenerative spinal diseases in Chinese patients.

METHODSThe clinical outcomes of 20 patients with lumbar degenerative disease treated by posterior decompression with the Wallis posterior dynamic lumbar stabilization implant were studied. All of the patients completed the visual analogue scale and the Chinese version of the Oswestry Disability Index. The following radiologic parameters were measured in all patients: global lordotic angles and segmental lordotic angles (stabilized segments, above and below adjacent segments). The range of motion was then calculated.

RESULTSNineteen patients (95%) were available for follow-up. The mean follow-up period was (27.25 ± 5.16) months (range 16 - 35 months). The visual analogue scale decreased from 8.55 ± 1.21 to 2.20 ± 1.70 (P < 0.001), and the mean score on the Chinese version of the Oswestry Disability Index was improved from 79.58% ± 15.93% to 22.17% ± 17.24% (P < 0.001). No significant changes were seen in the range of motion at the stabilized segments (P = 0.502) and adjacent segments (above, P = 0.453; below, P = 0.062). The good to excellent result was 94.4% at the latest follow-up. No complications related to the use of the Wallis posterior dynamic lumbar stabilization occurred.

CONCLUSIONSIt was found to be both easy and safe to use the Wallis posterior dynamic lumbar stabilization implant in the treatment of degenerative lumbar disease, and the early therapeutic effectiveness is good. The Wallis system provides an alternative method for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease.

Aged ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Lumbosacral Region ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Diseases ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery

Terminal myelocystocele is a rare form of occult spinal dysraphism in which the hydromyelic caudal spinal cord and the subarachnoid space are hemiated through a posterior spina bifida. A 1.5 month old boy presented with a large lumbosacral mass and urinary incontinence. The magnetic resonance imaging, operative findings and pathological findings revealed a low lying conus with a dilated central canal dorsally attached to the subcutaneous tissue. Ventral subarachnoid space was enlarged and herniated through the laminar defect of the sacrum. The lesion was typical of a terminal myelocystocele. The clinical features are different from those of myelomeningocele in many aspects. Though the incidence is low, terminal myelocystocele should be included in the differential diagnosis of congenital lesions presenting as a lumbosacral mass.
Arachnoid/abnormalities ; Case Report ; Human ; Infant ; Lumbosacral Region ; Male ; Meningomyelocele/diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Spinal Canal/abnormalities ; Spinal Cord/abnormalities ; *Spinal Dysraphism/diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation in the 5 northern provinces of China.

METHODSA total of 2010 patients with established diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation by CT and/or MRI and 2170 control subjects without a history of low back pain or sciatica were randomly selected from the community population and hospitalized patients. The family history of lumbar disc herniation, occupations, smoking status, and occupational psychosocial factors were investigated.

RESULTSThe positivity of family history of lumbar disc herniation was the highest risk factor (OR=3.551) followed by lumbar load (OR=2.132) and hard work (OR=1.763). Physical exercises (OR=0.435) were significantly related with the disease, and the OR of the type of bed was 0.364.

CONCLUSIONA family history of lumbar disc herniation, lumbar load and hard work are the major risk factors for lumbar disc herniation, and physical exercises and sleeping not in soft bed might be a protective factor against the disease.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; epidemiology ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; Lumbosacral Region ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires