BACKGROUNDThe palpation method is widely used in clinical practice to identify the puncture site of combined spinal-epidural (CSE) blocks, but it is usually difficult to accurately locate the puncture site in obese parturients. Accurate identification of the puncture site is crucial for successful CSE block. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of ultrasound imaging on the success rate of CSE puncture in obese parturients.

METHODSSixty obese parturients with a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m(2) who were scheduled for caesarean section were randomized into two equal-sized groups for location of the puncture site: an ultrasound group and a palpation group. The success rate of puncture at the first puncture site, the number of puncture attempts, duration of CSE procedure, time taken to determine the puncture site, and the depth of the epidural space were compared between groups. The frequencies of complications such as puncture site hemorrhage, neurological damage, and inadvertent dural puncture were also studied.

RESULTSThere were no differences in age, body weight, height, body mass index, or gestational age between the two groups. The success rate of puncture at the first puncture site was significantly higher in the ultrasound group than the palpation group (100.00% vs. 70.00%, P = 0.004). The number of puncture attempts was significantly lower in the ultrasound group than the palpation group (χ(2) = 6.708, P = 0.035). The time taken for determining the puncture site was (0.30 ± 0.12) minutes in the palpation group and (2.60 ± 0.61) minutes in the ultrasound group (P < 0.001). The duration of CSE procedure was (7.67 ± 1.52) minutes in the palpation group and (9.37 ± 1.35) minutes in the ultrasound group (P < 0.001). The depth of the epidural space was similar in both groups (P = 0.586). Puncture site hemorrhage was observed in 6 (20.00%) patients in the palpation group and 2 (6.67%) patients in the ultrasound group (P = 0.255).

CONCLUSIONSUltrasound imaging improves the rate of successful puncture at the first puncture site and decreases the number of puncture attempts. It facilitates CSE puncture in obese parturients.

Adult ; Analgesia, Epidural ; methods ; Analgesia, Obstetrical ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Obesity ; complications ; Pregnancy ; Spinal Puncture ; methods ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

BACKGROUND: Tuffier's line is often used as a landmark for lumbar puncture. When attempting to identify lumbar interspaces using Tuffier's line, the actual level often turns out to be higher or lower than presumed. The imaginary line that joins both posterior superior iliac spines on the sacrum (posterior superior iliac spine line; PSIS line) can be physically constructed. The purpose of this study was to assess the posibility that the PSIS line could be used as a marker of lumbar spine level. METHODS: After informed consent had been obtained, sixty-seven patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery were examined. The identification of the L4-5 interspinous space was performed in the prone position using a radioluscent wilson frame (RWF-1000 Model 5323, OSI, USA) after general anesthesia. In the same patients, Tuffier's line and the PSIS line were used to determine the level of needle insertion into the L4-5 interspinous space. At first, the L4-5 interspinous space was identified by palpating the interspinous space, two levels above the PSIS line, and then a mark was drawn on the skin. Second, the L4-5 interspinous space was identified and marked by streching a silk between the two iliac crests to construct Tuffier's line. Needles were inserted into the accounted spaces at each marking level. Using a radiologic imaging method, the actual levels were confirmed. RESULTS: By using the Tuffier's line method of identifying the L4-5 interspinous space, 73.1% of needles were inserted correctly, whereas using the PSIS line method of identifying the L4-5 interspinous space, 74.6% of needles were inserted into the correct space. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the PSIS line may be as useful as Tuffier's line for determing the lumbar spine level.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Methods ; Needles ; Prone Position ; Sacrum ; Silk ; Skin ; Spinal Puncture ; Spine*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty(PVP) combined with nerve block in the treatment of lumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures under the guidance of traditional chinese medicine "theory of equal emphasis on muscle and bone". METHODS: Total of 115 patients with lumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty from January 2015 to March 2022, including 51 males and 64 females, aged 25 to 86 (60.5±15.9) years. Among them, 48 cases were treated with PVP operation combined with erector spinae block and joint block of the injured vertebral articular eminence (intervention group), and 67 cases were treated with conventional PVP operation (control group). The visual analogue scale(VAS) and Oswestry disability index(ODI) before operation, 3 days, 1 month and 6 months after operation between two groups were evaluated. The operation time, number of punctures and intraoperative bleeding between two groups were compared. RESULTS: The VAS and ODI scores of both groups improved significantly after operation compared with those before operation(P<0.05). Moreover, the VAS and ODI scores of 3 days and 1 month after operation of the intervention group improved more significantly than that of the control group(P<0.05). The difference of VAS and ODI scores before operation and 6 months after operation between two groups had no statistical significances(P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the number of punctures and intraoperative bleeding between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Based on the theory of "equal emphasis on muscles and bones", PVP combined with nerve block can effectively relieve paravertebral soft tissue spasm and other "muscle injuries", which can significantly improve short-term postoperative low back pain and lumbar spine mobility compared to conventional PVP treatment, and accelerate postoperative recovery, resulting in satisfactory clinical outcomes.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Fractures, Compression/surgery* ; Vertebroplasty/methods* ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Spinal Puncture ; Lumbar Vertebrae/injuries* ; Muscles ; Treatment Outcome ; Osteoporotic Fractures/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Bone Cements

CT has becom increasingly important diagnostic method as the inital examination in the diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage with direct detection of extravasated blood inbasal cistern and cortical sulci. Furthermore, CT provides better and exact visualization of the presence, localization, extent and degree of intracerebral, intraventricular and subdural hemorrhage, infarction, hydrocephalus and rebleeding which may be associated wtih subarachnoid hemorrhage, and also could detect the causative lesions with contrast enhancement inmany cases. The purpose of the paper is to describe the CT findings of subarachonid hemorrhage due to various causes and to evalute the diagnostic accuracy of CT in subarachonoid hemorrhage. Authors analysed a total of 153 cases with subarachnoid hemorrhage confirmed by lumbar puncture at Seoul National University Hospital from March 1979 to April 1981, with special emphasis on CT findings.All of the cases took CT scan and 125 cases of the mangiography. The results are as follows; 1. Most prevalent age group was 4th to 6th decades (78%). The ratio ofmale to female was 1.1:1. 2. Of all 125 with angiography, aneurysm was a major cause (68%). Others were arterio-venous malformation (9.6%), Moya-moya disease(4%) and unknown (18.4%). 3. Of all 153 cases with CT scan,hemorrhage was demonstrated in 98 cases (64.1%); SAH in 72 cases (47.1%), ICH in 65 cases (42.5%), IVH in 34 cases(22.2%) and SDH in 1 case(0.7%). SAH combined with ICH was a major group (34.7%) in SAH. Detecton rate of SAH was68.3% within the first 7 days and 5.8% after 7 days. 4. In aneurysms, SAH was detected in 60 of 85 cases (70.6%);88.1% within the first 7 days and 5.6% after 7 days. Anterior communicating artery was the most common site of theaneurysms(40%), in which detection rate of SAH was 100% within the first 7 days. SAH was combined with ICH in38.3%. 5. On CT, SAH of unilateral Sylvian fissure was pathognomonic for ruptured MCA aneurysm and ICH of corpuscallosum for ACA aneurysm. 6. The detection rate of aneurysm itself on CT was 20%(17/85) and its size was variablefrom 5 to 25mm. 7. Infarction was demonstrated in 9 cases (6%) and there was no significant correlation between infarction and angiospasm, 8. Hydrocephalus was detected in 65% cases(42.5%), and 21 cases (32.3%) were demonstrated within the first 3 days.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infarction ; Methods ; Seoul ; Spinal Puncture ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

CT is a noninvasive and highly valuable method in the diagnosis of intracerebral vascular accidents. Authors analysed 200 cases of clinically suspected cerebrovascular accident(CVA) who were performed CT scan from April1980 to June 1981. The results were as follows; 1. The analysis of CT finding in 200 cases of clinically suspected CVA showed 129 cases (64.5%) of definite CVA, 53 cases of normal finding, 8 cases of equivocal finding and 10cases of miscellaneous disease. 2. Among CVA positive finding of 129 cases, intracerebral hemorrhage was noted in61 cases (47.3%), cerebral infarction in 39 cases (30.2%) and subarachnoid hemorrhage in 29 cases (22.5%) 3. The most prevalent age group as 6th decade in intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage, but 7th decade in cerebral infarction. The sex ratio between male and female in intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage was 1:1 and 1:1.6 respectively, but incerebral infarction male was predominant with the ratio of 3:1. 4. The most common sites of involvement was basal Anglia (41.0%), thalamus (32.8%) and lobes(18.0%) in intracerebral hemorrhage; and lobes(51.6%) and basal ganglia (30.7%) in infarction. 5. Among 33 cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage confirmed by spinal tapping, 25 cases (75.8%) showed CT positive finding and 8 cases (24.2%) CT negative finding. Most cases of CT positive finding were performed CT scan was 7 hours after onset; and the mass effect of the lesion was observed in 44% of cases, mostly(82%) within a week. The contrast enhancement of the cerebral infarct was demonstrated in 19% of cases mostly between 3 days and 30 days and after onset.
Basal Ganglia ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Cerebral Infarction ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infarction ; Male ; Methods ; Sex Ratio ; Spinal Puncture ; Stroke ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Thalamus ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo discuss the effect and complication of spinal operation combined with vertebroplasty in treating for multiple spinal neoplasm.

METHODSDuring the last two years, 20 patients (13 male and 7 female) with multiple spinal neoplasm including metastases, multiple myeloma and lymphoma were treated by operation combined with vertebroplasty, 2 vertebral body segments were involved in 5 cases, 3 to 4 vertebral body segments were involved in 11 cases, more than 5 segments were involved in other 4 cases. Neurological function deficit and severe pain were seen in all the cases. Patients were evaluated by Tomita prognostic scoring system before the operation; The average point was 7.2 (from 3 to 9 points).

RESULTSThe pain relief rate was 85% (17/20), and neurological recovery was found in 10 out of 12 patients who had neurological deficit. According to the system of Frankel and neurological function, 1 patient recovered from grade B to grade C after the operation, and there was no change in another patients who was evaluated as grade A before the operation. The main complication of vertebroplasty was leakage of PMMA. Six patients had leakage of PMMA into adjacent structures in this series.

CONCLUSIONSBetter results of pain relief and neurological function recovery and living quality can be achieved by surgical palliation of operation combined with vertebroplasty for multiple spinal neoplasm.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Cements ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; surgery ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; therapeutic use ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spinal Neoplasms ; surgery ; therapy ; Spinal Puncture ; Spine ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship of bone cement distribution and the puncture angle in the treatment of thoracolumbar compression fractures with unilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP).

METHODSThe clinical data of 37 patients with thoracolumbar osteoporotic compression fractures underwent PKP between January 2013 to March 2014 were retrospectively analyzed, all punctures were performed unilaterally. There were 6 males, aged from 65 to 78 years old with an average of (71.83 ± 6.15) years; and 31 females, aged from 57 to 89 years old with an average of (71.06 ± 7.89) years. Imaging data were analyzed and puncture angle and puncture point were measured before operation. According to the measured data, the puncture were performeds during the operation. Distribution area of bone cement were calculated by X-rays data after operation. The effect of bone cement distribution on suitable puncture angle was analyzed; VAS score was used to evaluate the clinical effects.

RESULTSThe puncture angle of thoracic vertebrae in T8-T12 was from 28° to 33° with an average 30.4°; and the puncture angle of lumbar vertebrae in L1-L5 was from 28° to 35° with an average of 31.3°. Postoperative X-rays showed the area ratios of bilateral bone cement was 0.97 ± 0.15. Bilateral diffuse area were basic equal. Postoperative VAS score decreased significantly (1.89 ± 1.29 vs 7.03 ± 1.42).

CONCLUSIONThrough measure imaging data before operation with PKP,the puncture point and entry point can be confirmed. According the measured data to puncture during operation, unilateral puncture can reach the distribution effect of the bilateral puncture in the treatment of thoracolumbar compression fractures.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Cements ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; surgery ; Humans ; Kyphoplasty ; methods ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Spinal Puncture ; methods ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the rates of technical success, clinical success, and complications of fluoroscopy-guided lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of our hospital, and informed consent was waived. Ninety-six procedures on 60 consecutive patients performed July 2008 to December 2013 were evaluated. The patients were referred for the fluoroscopy-guided procedure due to failed attempts at a bedside approach, a history of lumbar surgery, difficulty cooperating, or obesity. Fluoroscopy-guided lumbar drainage procedures were performed in the lateral decubitus position with a midline puncture of L3/4 in the interspinous space. The catheter tip was positioned at the T12/L1 level, and the catheter was visualized on contrast agent-aided fluoroscopy. A standard angiography system with a rotatable C-arm was used. The definitions of technical success, clinical success, and complications were defined prior to the study. RESULTS: The technical and clinical success rates were 99.0% (95/96) and 89.6% (86/96), respectively. The mean hospital stay for an external lumbar drain was 4.84 days. Nine cases of minor complications and eight major complications were observed, including seven cases of meningitis, and one retained catheter requiring surgical removal. CONCLUSION: Fluoroscopy-guided external lumbar drainage is a technically reliable procedure in difficult patients with failed attempts at a bedside procedure, history of lumbar surgery, difficulties in cooperation, or obesity.
Adult ; Aged ; Catheters ; *Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Contrast Media ; Drainage/*methods ; Female ; Fluoroscopy/methods ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region/*radiography/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Puncture/*methods ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted/methods

Autologous blood injected into the epidural space of 10 patients with a postlumbar puncture headache resulted in immediate and lasting cure except for one patient, due to technical failure to obtain proper identification for epidural injection. No serious complications were noticed in these cases except one who developed severe lower back pain radiating to the right leg immediately after epidural injection. A headache is the commonest untoward complication of spinal puncture. The clinical applications of many of the methods of treating post lumbar puncture headaches have been most unsatisfactory. This method of treating postspinal headaches, which has only been introduced recently, namely epidural blood patch, has resulted in immediate, satisfactory and permanent relief. It is to be noted that possible additional complications may be produced. therefore an absolute indication must be evaluated to avoid additional complications before the blood patch method is used. The amount of blood and the site of injection must be considered as an important factor to prevent post blood patch complications. The possible complications from autologous blood injections into th eepidural space are as follows: 1. Nerve root compression from epidural hematoma injected for blood patch. 2. Development of epidural hematoma by injuring venous plexus. Particularly dangerous secondary problems come from patients with purpura, scurvy, hemophilia, leukemia and anticoagulant therapy. 3. Tendency of epidural abscess caused by the blood being a good media for bacterial growth. 4. Localized back pain and lumbago. 5. Persistent headache aggravated by inadvertent subdural puncture. 6. Possibility of adhesive arachnoiditis.
Adhesives ; Arachnoid ; Arachnoiditis ; Back Pain ; Blood Patch, Epidural ; Epidural Abscess ; Epidural Space ; Headache* ; Hematoma ; Hemophilia A ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Leg ; Leukemia ; Low Back Pain ; Methods ; Punctures* ; Purpura ; Radiculopathy ; Scurvy ; Spinal Puncture

An 11-year-old female presenting diplopia only at distance was found to have comitant esotropia of 20 prism diopters (PD) at distance and normal alignment at nearer proximity. Other ocular movement, including abduction, was normal and a thorough neurologic examination was also normal. The deviation angle of esotropia was increased to 35 PD in 6 months, and a brain magnetic resonance imaging with venogram at that time demonstrated no intracranial lesion. A lumbar puncture showed increased opening pressure but the cerebrospinal fluid composition was normal. The patient was diagnosed as having idiopathic intracranial hypertension and treated with oral acetazolamide. Three months after treatment, the deviation angle decreased to 10 PD. This is a case report of divergence insufficiency in pediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension, with an increasing deviation angle of esotropia. Although sixth cranial nerve palsy is a common neurologic manifestation in intracranial hypertension, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of divergence insufficiency. Also, ophthalmoparesis may not be apparent and typical at first presentation, as seen in this case, and therefore ophthalmologists should be aware of this fact, while conducting careful and proper evaluation, follow-up, and intervention.
Acetazolamide/administration & dosage ; Administration, Oral ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diuretics/administration & dosage ; Esotropia/diagnosis/*etiology/physiopathology ; Exotropia/diagnosis/*etiology/physiopathology ; Eye Movements ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pseudotumor Cerebri/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Spinal Puncture/methods ; Vision, Binocular ; Visual Acuity