Objective:To evaluate long-term results of growth friendly non-fusion technique (GF) in the treatment of early-onset scoliosis (EOS).Methods:From August 2008 to October 2019, a total of 26 EOS patients (mean age 7.2±2.4 years old) who had completed surgery with GF treatment, including 12 males and 14 females, were reviewed retrospectively. Among them, 16 patients underwent growing rod treatment while 10 patients underwent vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) treatment. All patients had minimum 2 lengthening procedure during distraction period and over 2-year follow-up after graduation. Radiographic data were collected before and after index surgery as well as at graduation and the latest follow-up. Complications were also recorded during distraction period and after graduation.Results:A total of 145 lengthening procedures were performed in 26 patients, averagely 5.6 procedures per patient. The mean age at graduation was 12.6±1.6 years old. The average follow-up was 4.7±1.4 years duringdistraction period, and 2.9±0.9 years after graduation.The main Cobb angle was significantly decreased from 81.2°±17.3° to 41.1°±13.1°( t=8.124, P<0.001)after the index surgery, but slightly increased to 48.8°±15.4° at the end of distraction. After definitive spinal fusion, the main Cobb angle was notably decreased from 52.8°±16.1° to 45.4°±14.8° in 16 patients( t=2.415, P=0.035), with an average correction rate of 14.1%±9.4%. At the latest follow-up, the main Cobb angle was 45.2°±15.6° and the average correction rate was 44.3%±15.5% when comparing with the value before the index surgery. The thoracic and spinal height were significantly increased after initial surgery. During distraction period, the average gain of thoracic and spinal height was 3.3±0.9 cm and 5.6±1.9 cm, with the growth rate of 0.6±0.3 cm and 1.0±0.4 cm per distraction, respectively. A total of 36complications were recorded in 14 patients. There were 27 complications occurred during distraction period and 9 after graduation. Conclusion:Surgical management of EOS with growing rod and VEPTR could effectively correct the spinal deformity and maintain spinal growth. The complication rate after graduation was relative lower than distraction period. However, the correction of definitive spinal fusion during graduation was relative lower.

Objective:To investigate the value of relative lumbar lordosis (RLL) and lumbar distribution index (LDI) in predicting the occurrence of adjacent segment disease (ASDis) after lumbar fusion surgery.Methods:This study retrospectively reviewed 163 consecutive patients (58 males and 105 females) who had undergone lumbar fusion and had been followed over 2 years,with an average age of 58.7 years; among them, 74, 71, and 18 patients had undergone fusion of one-level, two-level, and three-level, respectively. They were divided into the non-ASDis group and ASDis group based on the presence of ASDis or not. Pre- and post-operative spinopelvic parameters were measured on the upright lateral radiographs. RLL was calculated as measured lumbar lordosis (LL) minus ideal LL, and LDI was calculated as the ratio of postoperative low lumbar lordosis (LLL) to LL. Each parameter was stratified into 1 "aligned" subgroup and 3 "disproportioned" subgroups in accordance with values. Cochran-Armitage test of trend andlogistic analysis were performed to investigate the association between these two parameters and the occurrence of ASDis.Results:The average follow-up duration after initial surgery was 46±14 months (range, 25 to 134 months). Twenty-four (14.7%) patients were diagnosed as ASDis. The age ( t=3.13, P=0.002) and the proportion of 2-level and 3-level fusion (χ 2=10.27, P=0.006) in the ASDis group were significantly higher than those in the non-ASDis group ( P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between groups with respect to other general data. The ratios of moderate and severe hypolordosis of RLL were significantly higher in the ASDis group than that in the non-ASDis group (χ 2=16.92, P<0.001). There was also a significant linear trend with higher degree of hypolordosis being associated with higher rates of ASDis. However, distribution of four statuses of LDI did not differ statistically between groups. After controlling the confounders, the logistic regression analysis revealed that age, odd ratio ( OR)=1.07, 95% CI: (1.01, 1.13), P=0.018), moderate[ OR=4.34, 95% CI: (1.03, 18.41), P=0.046] and severe hypolordosis [ OR=11.64, 95% CI: (1.30, 104.49), P=0.028] were significantly associated with the occurrence of ASDis. Conclusion:A significant association between postoperative RLL and occurrence of ASDis after lumbar fusion surgery were detected. Setting surgical goals according to RLL may help reduce the ASDis rate. However, LDI is not identified to be predictive factors of the occurrence of ASDis.

Objectives:To assess the efficacy and safety of intravenous use of tranexamic acid(TXA)in re-ducing blood loss during correction surgery for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis(AIS).Methods:The clinical data of 759 AIS patients who underwent posterior corrective fusion surgery at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between November 2016 and May 2022 were reviewed retrospectively.There were 544 females and 215 males,with an average age of 14.7±2.1 years.Among the patients,369 patients receiving intra-venous use of TXA during surgery were included in the TXA group,while the other 390 patients receiving the same volume of saline but not TXA were included in the control group.The baseline data(age,gender ratio,Cobb angle,and scoliosis type),pre-and postoperative blood laboratory parameters[hemoglobin(Hb),hematocrit(Hct),platelet count(PLT),prothrombin time(PT),D-dimer,activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT),and fibrinogen(FIB)],blood management indicators(intraoperative blood loss,intraoperative blood trans-fusion,postoperative drainage volume and removal time of drainage tube),and correction-related indicators(pre-and postoperative scoliosis degree,correction rate)and postoperative complications were compared be-tween the two groups.Results:There were no significant differences in baseline data and preoperative blood laboratory parameters between the groups(P>0.05).In TXA group,the intraoperative blood loss(551.7±130.3mL),intraoperative blood transfusion volume(551.3±96.3mL),postoperative drainage volume(468.3±162.5mL),and postoperative drainage time(2.8±0.4d)were all significantly lower than those in the control group(666.7±166.8mL,650.0±138.3mL,550.0±135.1mL,3.1±0.8d,P<0.05).Postoperative D-dimer and PLT in the TXA group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05),while other blood laboratory parameters showed no significant differences between the two groups(P>0.05).There were no statistically significant differ-ences in scoliosis correction rates,postoperative complication rates between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusions:The use of TXA in surgery can reduce the perioperative blood loss and transfusion,and improve coagulation status in AIS patients,without increasing the incidence rates of complications.

Objective:To investigate the clinical results of decompression preserving proximal upper laminae combined with lumbar instrumental fusion in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases and the prevention of adjacent segment degeneration (ASD).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 124 patients (the reserved group) with lumbar degeneration who underwent compression preserving proximal upper laminae combined with fusion surgery involving upper half of the lamina, upper half of the spinous process, adjacent facets, and interspinous ligament at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between March 2018 and February 2020. These patients were followed up for more than 2 years. Additionally, 130 patients who underwent traditional total laminectomy decompression combined with fusion surgery from January 2016 to February 2018 were selected as the control group (total laminectomy group). In the reserved group, there were 60 males and 64 females, aged 58.3±10.3 years, including 50 cases of giant lumbar disc herniation, 11 cases of lumbar disc herniation with ossification, 10 cases of simple lumbar spinal stenosis, and 53 cases of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Total laminectomy group comprised 62 males and 68 females, aged 59.6±9.2 years, with 51 cases of giant lumbar disc herniation, 13 cases of lumbar disc herniation with ossification, 11 cases of simple lumbar spinal stenosis, and 55 cases of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. The number of operative segments, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, complications, extent of laminectomy, dural sac area, and sagittal spinopelvic parameters were compared between the two groups. Fusion status, adjacent segment stability, and the incidence of ASD were assessed at the last follow-up. Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) for back and leg were used to evaluate clinical effectiveness.Results:The follow-up time was 30.5±5.4 months in the reserved group and 31.0±5.8 months in total laminectomy group, and the difference was not statistically significant ( t=0.63, P=0.528). In patients undergoing single segment surgery, the operation time (173.6±47.3 min), blood loss (351.7±102.0 ml) and postoperative hospital stay (7.8±3.1 d) in the reserved group were lower than those in total laminectomy group (196.2±34.2 min, 401.9±97.2 ml, 9.9±3.6 d, respectively), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=2.93, P=0.004; t=2.69, P=0.008; t=3.26, P<0.001). The dural sac area in both groups was significantly improved after surgery, but the extent of laminectomy in the reserved group (22.8±4.5 mm) was smaller than that in total laminectomy group (29.5±4.8 mm), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=7.62, P<0.001). The above indicators of the patients with two segment or three segments in the reserved group were better than those in total resection group, with a statistically significant difference ( P<0.05). PI, PT, SS, and LL showed significant improvement in both groups compared to preoperative values ( P<0.05), with no statistically significant differences between the groups ( P>0.05). At the last follow-up, both groups achieved Bridwell I or II fusion level. The proportion of adjacent vertebral instability in the reserved group (11.3%, 14/124) was lower than that in total laminectomy group (22.3%, 29/130), and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=5.48, P=0.019). The total incidence of ASD in the reserved group (20.9%, 26/124) was lower than that in total laminectomy group (36.2%, 47/130), and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=7.15, P=0.008). R-ASD (16.9%, 21/124), S-ASD (4.0%, 5/124) and O-ASD (0, 0/124) in the reserved group were lower than those in total laminectomy group [(25.4% (33/130), 9.3% (12/130) and 1.5% (2/130), respectively)], and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=8.20, P=0.027). ODI and VAS of back and leg were significantly reduced in both groups compared to preoperative values, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences in ODI and VAS scores of back and leg in the reserved group compared with total laminectomy group at 3 months, 1 year, and the last follow-up ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Decompression with preservation of the upper half of the lamina can reduce intraoperative blood loss, shorten operation time and postoperative hospital stay, achieve comparable decompression effects to traditional decompression surgery, and effectively reduce the occurrence of adjacent segment instability and ASD.

Objective:To compare the early clinical outcomes, screw placement accuracy and supradjacent facet joint violation between O-arm navigated minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) and TLIF for the treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis.Methods:We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of low-grade single level lumbar spondylolisthesis patients who have received O-arm navigated MIS-TLIF or open-TLIF treatment from May 2018 to July 2023. There were 60 patients in MIS-TLIF group including 24 males and 36 females, and the average age was 41.0±13.9 years (18-73 years). There were 120 patients in open-TLIF group including 43 males and 77 females, and the average age was 41.6±12.6 years (18-69 years). The demographic and perioperative data of patients were recorded. Preoperative lumbar CT and MRI were evaluated to assess the grade of adjacent facet joint degeneration and fatty infiltration in the lumbar paraspinal muscles. The slip parameters were measured by lateral X-ray films before and after operation, and the screw placement accuracy and supradjacent facet joint violation were evaluated by postoperative CT. Patient reported outcomes, including Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were collected preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively.Results:There was no significant difference in demographic data, adjacent facet joint degeneration, fatty infiltration of lumbar paraspinal muscles and preoperative ODI and VAS scores between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time in MIS-TLIF group (223.3±23.0 min) was significantly longer than that in open-TLIF group (187.0±30.5 min, t=8.130, P<0.001), while the intraoperative blood loss (150.7±56.8 ml vs. 392.8±161.5 ml, t=-11.253, P<0.001), postoperative drainage (60.4±19.8 ml vs. 215.2±57.2 ml, t=-20.328, P<0.001) and postoperative hospital stay (4.5±1.7 d vs. 8.4±2.5 d, t=-10.769, P<0.001) in MIS-TLIF group were significantly less. The 3-month postoperative VAS back pain of the MIS-TLIF group (2.0±1.7) was lower than the open-TLIF group (3.2±2.0, t=-3.956, P<0.001). Both groups had similar slip reduction results ( P>0.05). The accuracy of the pedicle screw placement in MIS-TLIF group (98.8%) was better than open-TLIF group (92.3%, P<0.001). The incidence of supradjacent facet joint violation in the MIS-TLIF group was lower than open-TLIF group (27.5% vs. 51.7%, χ 2=19.111, P<0.001). There were no notable surgical complications in MIS-TLIF group except temporary submuscular hematoma in one patient. In open-TLIF group, dural tear occurred in three patients intraoperatively, one patient experienced transient L 5 nerve root palsy after surgery and one patient had wound superficial tissue infection. All the complications were successfully treated with conservative measures. Conclusion:O-arm navigated MIS-TLIF had better short-term clinical effect and higher accuracy of pedicle screw placement in treating lumbar spondylolisthesis.