Stress is a critical inducer in the onset and progression of many chronic diseases. Prolonged or intense stress can disrupt the overall balance between the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems. The resulting biological signals may act on corresponding receptors in the cervical spine region, leading to adverse pathological changes. The vertebral artery and the surrounding muscular and connective tissues are influenced by biomechanical abnormalities and inflammatory cascades associated with cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (CSA), which promotes the release of various hormones. These hormones, through the neuroendocrine-immune system, affect the central nervous system, inducing or exacerbating negative emotional feedback and thereby establishing a "central-local-central" vicious cycle. This article explores the mechanisms underlying the impact of stress on the key CSA symptoms through the neuroendocrine-immune network (NEI) theory, providing a more comprehensive framework for targeted therapeutic interventions in CSA.
Humans ; Neurosecretory Systems/immunology* ; Spondylosis/etiology* ; Vertebral Artery/immunology* ; Stress, Psychological/complications* ; Chronic Disease

OBJECTIVE: To review the application status, clinical advantages, and complications of unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) technique and explore its future development direction. METHODS: By reviewing recent domestic and international literature, the evolution history of UBE technique, its surgical advantages, and its application effectiveness in various spinal diseases were analyzed, providing a comprehensive review. RESULTS: UBE technique, with its unique dual-channel design, provides a clearer surgical field and more flexible operating space, significantly reduces surgical trauma and postoperative recovery time. UBE technique has demonstrated high safety and effectiveness in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, spinal stenosis, lumbar instability, and cervical spondylosis. Additionally, the complication incidence of UBE surgery is lower than that of traditional open surgery. CONCLUSION In recent years, UBE technique has shown good clinical application prospects and efficacy, but further technical optimization and large-scale clinical research are still needed to ensure the safety and effectiveness. In the future, the combination of UBE technique and intelligent medical and surgical robotics technology is expected to promote the further development of spinal surgery.
Humans ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Spinal Stenosis/surgery* ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/surgery* ; Spinal Diseases/surgery* ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Spondylosis/surgery* ; Laparoscopy/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence and potential risk factors associated with postoperative spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) following anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients who underwent ACSS for cervical spondylosis at Peking University Third Hospital between March 2013 and February 2022. Patients who developed postoperative SEH were categorized as the SEH group, while those in the cohort without SEH were randomly selected as the non-SEH group by individually matching with the same operator, same gender, same surgery year, and similar age (±5 years) at a ratio of 4 ∶ 1. The general condition, preoperative comorbidities, anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy, preoperative coagulation and platelet counts, American society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, cervical spondylosis classification, preoperative modified Japanese Orthopaedic Society score and cervical disability index score, surgical modality, surgical segment levels, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament among the surgical level, surgery duration, estimated blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, preoperative mean arterial pressure, mean arterial pressure during postoperative awakening periods, hospital stay and hospitalization cost were compared between the two groups. A bivariate Logistic regression model was applied to screen out the independent risk factors and calculate the odds ratios of indicators associated with SEH. Receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve (AUC) were used to describe the discrimination ability of the indicators. RESULTS: A total of 85 patients were enrolled in the study, including 17 patients in the SEH group and 68 patients in the non-SEH group. Seventeen patients with SEH underwent hematoma evacuation, and all of them were successfully treated and discharged from the hospital. Corpectomy (OR=7.247; 95%CI: 1.962-26.766; P=0.003) and the highest mean arterial pressure during awakening (OR=1.056; 95%CI: 1.002-1.113; P=0.043) were independent risk factors for SEH. The AUC values were 0.713 (95%CI: 0.578-0.848) and 0.665 (95%CI: 0.51-0.82) respectively. The patients with SEH had longer hospital stays (P < 0.001) and greater hospitalization costs (P=0.035). CONCLUSION Corpectomy and elevated maximum mean arterial pressure during awakening are independent risk factors for the development of postoperative SEH following ACSS. High-risk patients should be closely monitored during the perioperative period.
Humans ; Risk Factors ; Cervical Vertebrae/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Male ; Female ; Postoperative Complications/etiology* ; Spondylosis/surgery* ; Logistic Models ; Length of Stay ; Middle Aged

Degenerative cervical spondylosis is a common spinal disorder in the elderly. During its progression, structural changes such as intervertebral disc degeneration, vertebral osteophyte formation, and facet joint degeneration directly impact neural structures, resulting in neuropathic pain. Moreover, the release of inflammatory mediators can further exacerbate pain, and increased neuronal excitability is considered one of the key pathological mechanisms of neuropathic pain. Current diagnostic and assessment methods for neuropathic pain associated with degenerative cervical spondylosis include clinical evaluation, imaging techniques (such as X-ray, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging), and neurophysiological examinations (including electromyography and nerve conduction studies). Treatment options primarily involve pharmacological therapy, physical therapy, and surgical intervention, which have shown promising short-term outcomes. Despite progress made through the combined use of various treatment modalities, their long-term efficacy and safety remain to be further investigated. Personalized and multimodal treatment strategies are essential for improving patients' quality of life. Future research should continue to explore pain mechanisms and develop innovative therapeutic techniques to optimize clinical management.
Humans ; Spondylosis/therapy* ; Neuralgia/diagnosis* ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/complications* ; Physical Therapy Modalities

OBJECTIVE: Laminoplasty is an effective surgical method for treating cervical degenerative disease. However, postoperative complications such as kyphosis, restriction of neck motion, and instability are often reported. Despite sufficient preoperative lordosis, this procedure often aggravates the lordotic curve of the cervical spine and straightens cervical alignment. Hence, it is important to examine preoperative risk factors associated with postoperative kyphotic alignment changes. Our study aimed to investigate preoperative radiologic parameters associated with kyphotic deformity post laminoplasty. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 49 patients who underwent open door laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) at Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital between January 2011 and December 2015. Inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) preoperative diagnosis of OPLL or CSM, 2) no previous history of cervical spinal surgery, cervical trauma, tumor, or infection, 3) minimum of one-year follow-up post laminoplasty with proper radiologic examinations performed in outpatient clinics, and 4) cases showing C7 and T1 vertebral body in the preoperative cervical sagittal plane. The radiologic parameters examined included C2–C7 Cobb angles, T1 slope, C2–C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), range of motion (ROM) from C2–C7, segmental instability, and T2 signal change observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Clinical factors examined included preoperative modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scores, disease classification, duration of symptoms, and the range of operation levels. RESULTS: Mean preoperative sagittal alignment was 13.01° lordotic; 6.94° lordotic postoperatively. Percentage of postoperative kyphosis was 80%. Patients were subdivided into two groups according to postoperative Cobb angle change; a control group (n=22) and kyphotic group (n=27). The kyphotic group consisted of patients with more than 5° kyphotic angle change postoperatively. There were no differences in age, sex, C2–C7 Cobb angle, T1 slope, C2–C7 SVA, ROM from C2–C7, segmental instability, or T2 signal change. Multiple regression analysis revealed T1 slope had a strong relationship with postoperative cervical kyphosis. Likewise, correlation analysis revealed there was a statistical significance between T1 slope and postoperative Cobb angle change (p=0.035), and that there was a statistically significant relationship between T1 slope and C2–C7 SVA (p=0.001). Patients with higher preoperative T1 slope demonstrated loss of lordotic curvature postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Laminoplasty has a high probability of aggravating sagittal balance of the cervical spine. T1 slope is a good predictor of postoperative kyphotic changes of the cervical spine. Similarly, T1 slope is strongly correlated with C2–C7 SVA.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Busan ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Classification ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Laminoplasty* ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; Lordosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Methods ; Neck ; Orthopedics ; Postoperative Complications ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spine* ; Spondylosis

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 3-level hybrid surgery (HS), which combines fusion and cervical disc replacement (CDR), compared to 3-level fusionin patient with cervical spondylosis involving 3 levels. METHODS: Patients in the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) group (n=30) underwent 3-level fusion and the HS group (n=19) underwent combined surgery with fusion and CDR. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analogue scale for the arm, the neck disability index (NDI), Odom criteria and postoperative complications. The cervical range of motion (ROM), fusion rate and adjacent segments degeneration were assessed with radiographs. RESULTS: Significant improvements in arm pain relief and functional outcome were observed in ACDF and HS group. The NDI in the HS group showed better improvement 6 months after surgery than that of the ACDF group. The ACDF group had a lower fusion rate, higher incidence of device related complications and radiological changes in adjacent segments compared with the HS group. The better recovery of cervical ROM was observed in HS group. However, that of the ACDF group was significantly decreased and did not recover. CONCLUSION: The HS group was better than the ACDF group in terms of NDI, cervical ROM, fusion rate, incidence of postoperative complications and adjacent segment degeneration.
Arm ; Arthroplasty ; Diskectomy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neck ; Postoperative Complications ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Spondylosis ; Total Disc Replacement*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cervical midline-splitting French-door laminoplasty with a polyether ether ketone (PEEK) plate. The authors retrospectively analyzed the results of patients with cervical laminoplasty miniplate (MAXPACER(R)) without bone grafts in multilevel cervical stenosis. METHODS: Fifteen patients (13 males and 2 females, mean age 50.0 years (range 35-72)) with multilevel cervical stenosis (ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and cervical spondylotic myelopathy) underwent a combined surgery of midline-splitting French-door laminoplasty with or without mini plate. All 15 patients were followed for at least 12 months (mean follow-up 13.3 months) after surgery, and a retrospective review of the clinical, radiological and surgical data was conducted. RESULTS: The radiographic results showed a significant increase over the postoperative period in anterior-posterior diameter (9.4+/-2.2 cm to 16.2+/-1.1 cm), open angles in cervical lamina (46.5+/-16.0degrees to 77.2+/-13.1degrees), and sectional volume of cervical central canal (100.5+/-0.7 cm2 to 146.5+/-4.9 cm2) (p<0.001). The sagittal alignment of the cervical spine was well preserved (31.7+/-10.0degrees to 31.2+/-7.6degrees, p=0.877) during the follow-up period. The clinical results were successful, and there were no significant intraoperative complications except for screw displacement in two cases. The mini plate constructs did not fail during the 12 month follow-up period, and the decompression was maintained. CONCLUSION: Despite the small cohort and short follow-up duration, the present study demonstrated that combined cervical expansive laminoplasty using the mini plate is an effective treatment for multilevel cervical stenosis.
Cohort Studies ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Decompression ; Ether* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Spondylosis* ; Transplants

OBJECTIVETo investigate the application of the expanding forming under the plate through cervical spatium intermusculare approach to treat multi-segmental myelopathic cervical spondylosis.

METHODSFrom July 2005 to June 2013, 25 patients with multi-segmental myelopathic cervical spondylosis were treated by the expanding forming under the plate through cervical spatium intermusculare approach including 16 males and 9 females with an average age of 56.5 years old ranging from 35 to 78 years old. Among them, 10 cases were onset without causes slowly, 7 cases were onset without causes suddenly, 8 cases were onset after mild trauma or tired. JOA scoring, incidence of postoperative axial symptoms and imaging studies were used to evaluate the effect.

RESULTSTwenty-five cases were followed up for 6 months to 7 years and 6 months with an average of 2 years and 9 months. There were no infection, cerebrospinal fluid leakage after the operation, and complications such as nerve damage were occurred. The operation time was 120 to 150 min, the bleeding was 300 to 500 ml. Imaging examination showed vertebral canal sagittal diameter increased, the vertebral canal increased significantly in the cross sectional area of the spinal cord, cervical curvature was straighten in 4 cases (2 cases of them became normal sequence). There were no more cases of cervical protruding and segmental instability increased. Postoperative walking ability enhanced, the finger activity of majority of patients improved on flexibility, grip strength, and accuracy of using chopsticks improved, numbness and chest waist band feeling had different degree of reduce, preoperative urine impairment were improved to varying degrees. Preoperative JOA scores were 3 to 13 points with an average of (8.86 ± 4.25) points; Postoperative 12 months' JOA scores were 7 to 17 points with an average of (13.76 ± 3.56) points, period was 60.19% in average, JOA score had statistically difference between before and after operation (P < 0.05). The result were excellent in 14 cases, good in 6 cases, and fair in 4 cases and poor in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONApplication of the expanding forming under the plate through cervical spatium intermusculare approach to treat multi-segmental myelopathic cervical spondylosis, through muscular clearance, can retain complete cervical back muscle, maintain stability of cervical spine, and vertebral canal can get effective decompression at the same time.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Female ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Spondylosis ; surgery

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methylprednisolone ; therapeutic use ; Neuromyelitis Optica ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Spondylosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVE: To analyze clinical features with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and discuss the attentions in the canalith repositioning procedures. METHOD: A total of 76 male and female patients aged 80 and over with BPPV (elderly group) and 76 patients aged 60-65 years old with BPPV (older group) was retrospectively analyzed. RESULT: (1)Semicircular canal condition: in elderly group, posterior semicircular canal was involved in 72 cases, whereas the horizontal semicircular 4 cases. In older group, posterior semicircular canal was involved in 70 cases, whereas the horizontal semicircular and multiple canals in 5 cases and 1 case respectively. (2) Precipitating factors: precipitating factors of elderly were variety. Its closely related with emotion, infection, seasonal alternation surgery, and trauma. There were significant differences between the two groups (P<0. 05). (3) The symptoms of undergoing treatment and post-treatment: the duration of dizziness and carebaria were significant difference after canalith repositioning procedure treatment between two groups (P<0. 05), the duration of balance disturbance and symptoms of vegetative nerve functional disturbance like nausea and sweating were significant difference (P<0. 05). (4) Treatment and outcomes: the remission, partial remission rate were 34. 2 %, 81. 6% re- spectively, after the first or second time of repositioning treatment. The efficacy of repositioning treating at the first time was significantly different between two groups (P<0. 05). It was poor efficacy in elderly group. There is no difference in efficacy for repositioning treatment at the second or third time (P>0. 05). (5) The elderly always accompanied with other medical condition and had risk factors of cerebrovascular disease. The efficacy was not associated with the complication(P>0.05). However, it was most likely to overtreatment caused by emphasizing other medical conditions treatment. BPPV was easy to ignore and misdiagnose, meanwhile, delayed the diagnosis and increased the medical costs. (6) Many elderly were accompanied cervical spondylosis, lumbar spondylosis body stiffness and fear of vertigo which increased the difficulty of repositioning treatment. (7) Recurrence: we followed up 2 years after treatment. In older group, 11 patients (14. 5%)were relapsed. In elderly group, 29 patients (38. 2%) relapsed. There were significant differences between the two groups (P<0. 05). CONCLUSION There are various precipitating factors in elderly patients with BPPV, the most frequent precipitating factors were related to psychological factor and overfatigue. The symptoms of the patients attack BPPV was always mask with other diseases, but do not impact on the efficacy of Canalith repositioning at the first time; Even the efficacy of repositioning is poor at the first time, it's effective and safety after multiple treatments of repositioning; It prolonged the symptoms including carenaria, dizziness and nausea after treatment.
Aged ; Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; complications ; diagnosis ; psychology ; therapy ; Dizziness ; Emotions ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Masks ; Patient Positioning ; adverse effects ; methods ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Semicircular Canals ; Spondylosis ; Vertigo