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Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of a single posterior translaminal or transforaminal debridement and internal fixation with bone graft for the treatment of lumbosacral regional spinal tuberculosis. Methods From January 2004 to October 2009, 32 patients with lumbosacral regional spinal tuberculosis were treated by a single posterior debridement and internal fixation with bone graft, including 21 males and 11 females with the mean age of 46 years (range, 32-65). The lesions located: 3 in L3,4, 19 in L4,5, 10 in L5S1. 20 cases were pedormed operation via translaminal approach, 12 via transforaminal approach. The modified Prolo scale, visual analogue scale (VAS), kyphosis angle and the vertebral body loss were measured before and after surgery, and in the final follow-up. Results All the patients were followed up for average 16 months (range, 12-24). The pre-, postoperative and final follow-up mean kyphosis angle were -24.3°,-34.8°, and -32.4° in the translaminal group, -25.4°, -35.2°, and 33.6° in the transforaminal group,respectively. According to the modified Prolo scale, the excellent and good result was 93.8%. VAS decreased significantly from 7.6 points to 2.9 after surgery. Conclusion Debridement and internal fixation with bone graft via a single posterior approach for the treatment of lumbosacral regional spinal tuberculosis was an easy and effective technique. The appropriate selection of indications, careful imaging evaluation and thorough surgical debridement played an important role in the treatment of lumbosacral regional spinal tuberculosis.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy and surgical indications of Y type osteotomy in the treatment of post-tuberculous thoracolumbar severe angular kyphosis.Methods:From March 2012 to June 2018, 36 patients with post-tuberculous thoracolumbar severe angular kyphosis were treated with Y type osteotomy, including 22 males and 14 females, aged 23.6±5.7 years (range, 7-57 years). The parietal vertebrae of kyphosis were located in the upper thoracic vertebra in 3 cases, the thoracic vertebra in 11 cases, the thoracolumbar segment in 17 cases, and the lumbar vertebra in 5 cases. The Cobb angle of kyphosis before the operation was 92.8°±23.3° (range, 60°-147°). The visual analogue scale (VAS), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) neurological function grade, and Kirkaldy-Willis function score were used to evaluate the clinical effect. The imaging evaluation indexes were interbody kyphosis angle and spinal bone fusion.Results:The operation was successful in all the 36 patients. The operation time was 210 ±25.9 min (range, 180-270 min), the intraoperative blood loss was 520 ±110 ml (range, 400-800 ml), and the postoperative follow-up time was 26.38±1.75 months (range, 22-30 months). The postoperative kyphosis Cobb angle was corrected to 16.5°±7.7° (range, 5°-35°), which was significantly improved compared with that before operation( t=25.438, P<0.01), and the correction rate was 82.2%. At the last follow-up, the kyphosis angle was 16.5°±7.1° (range, 6°-32°), which was not significantly different from that after the operation. The preoperative VAS score was 7.3±1.8 (range, 3-9), and the postoperative VAS score was 2.4±0.8 (range, 1-3), while the improvement rate was 67.1%. At the last follow-up, it was 1.1±0.6 (range, 0-2), and the improvement rate was 85.0%. According to the Kirkaldy-Willis functional score, the results were excellent in 25 cases, good in 8 cases, and fair in 3 cases at the last follow-up, with an excellent and good rate of 91.7%. Before the operation, 9 cases were accompanied by neurological dysfunction (ASIA grade: grade C in 2 cases, grade D in 7 cases). At the last follow-up, all the 9 patients recovered to grade E. During the operation, the electrophysiological nerve monitoring was abnormal in 2 patients, and the awakening test was negative in 1 case. In another patient, neuroelectrophysiological monitoring after posterior column osteotomy showed a decrease in bilateral sensory and motor function. There was no compression around the spinal cord in the osteotomy area, so the operating bed was gradually folded and partially restored to kyphosis and temporarily fixed with double rods. Neuroelectrophysiological monitoring suggested the recovery of nerve function. The awakening test showed that the nerve function of both lower limbs recovered close to the preoperative state, and further osteotomy and internal fixation was performed 2 weeks later. The nerve function of both lower limbs returned to normal after 3 months. After the operation, one patient's muscle strength of the lower limbs decreased from grade 5 to grade 3, and the sensory function was normal. After symptomatic support treatment such as neurotrophic drugs, it returned to normal 2 weeks later. 1 case developed delayed neurological dysfunction 1 year after the operation. Neurotrophic drugs and rehabilitation treatment improved it. The sinus of the incision was formed in one case 3 months after the operation and healed after debridement and suture. Conclusion:Y typeosteotomyis a safe and effective method for patients with post-tuberculous thoracolumbar severe angular kyphosis. Compared with traditional osteotomy, anterior support bone grafting can be avoided, and spinal shortening can be reduced.

With the development of the wireless communication technology, implantable biosensor technology, and embedded system technology, Body Sensor Network (BSN) as one branch of wireless sensor networks and important part of the Internet of things has caught more attention of researchers and enterprises. This paper offers the basic concept of the BSN and analyses the related research. We focus on sensor node and wireless communication technology from perspectives of technology challenges, research advance and development trend in the paper. Besides, we also present a relative overview of domestic and overseas projects for the BSN.
Computer Communication Networks ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Monitoring, Ambulatory ; instrumentation ; Remote Sensing Technology ; instrumentation ; methods ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Telemedicine ; instrumentation ; Wireless Technology ; instrumentation

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of posterior deformity correction combined with anterior lesion re-moval and bone graft in the treatment of non-curable severe tuberculous thoracolumbar kyphosis. Methods: All of 27 patients with non-curable severe tuberculous thoracolumbar kyphosis treated by posterior deformity correction combined with primary or secondary anterior debridement and bone grafting from January 2013 to July 2017 were retrospective analyzed, including 10 males and 17 females. The age ranged from 2 to 38 years with an average of 17.3±9.9 years. Posterior column osteotomy, spinal cord de-compression, cantilever bar pressing technique and intraoperative longitudinal traction were used to correct kyphosis. According to clinical symptoms, Cobb angle correction rate of kyphosis deformity, sagittal SVA of spine, height difference before and after opera-tion, operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, complications, and the effect of the operation was evaluated. Symptoms and functional evaluation indicators included visual analogue scale (VAS), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) spinal cord inju-ry classification, Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI), and Kirkaldy-Willis functional score. Laboratory tests included erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Eck fusion grading standard was used to evaluate the degree of bone graft fusion. Results: All the 27 patients successfully underwent the operation. The operation time was 210-530 minutes, with an aver-age of 343.0±71.5 minutes, while the bleeding volume was 300-2 600 ml, with an average of 1 168.5±606.7 ml. The preoperative Cobb angle ranged from 81 to 144 degrees, with an average of 105.2±17.7 degrees; the postoperative Cobb angle ranged from 5 to 47 degrees, with an average of 28.2±0.3 degrees, and the average correction rate was 72.9%±9.8%; the preoperative sagittal SVA ranged from 96.66 mm to 78.76 mm, with an average of 40.5±20.4 mm; and the postoperative sagittal SVA ranged from 33.61 mm to 44.96 mm, with an average of 26.6±12.6 mm. The height difference before and after operation was 26.8-172.7 mm, with an aver-age of 67.5±37.8 mm. The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 36 months, with an average of 19.3±6.7 months. At the last follow-up, the loss of Cobb angle ranged from 1 degree to 8 degree, with an average of 4.3°±1.8° degree. The postoperative nutritional sta-tus of all patients was significantly improved. At 3 months after operation, the average VAS score was 1.1±0.6 and the improve-ment rate was 47.5%. The difference was statistically significant (t=6.31, P<0.05). At 3 months after operation, the average ODI was 6.5%±4.1%, and the improvement rate was 68.1%. The difference was statistically significant (t=8.41, P<0.05). At the last fol-low-up, all the patients were improved to grade E in ASIA except one patient from grade B to grade D, and one stayed at grade E. Kirkaldy-willis functional score: excellent in 24 cases, good in 2 cases, and good in 1 case, with a total good/good rate of 88.9%. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 3 patients after surgery, and pleural effusion occurred in 4 patients after surgery. No recur-rence of tuberculosis, loosening of internal fixation, fracture or loss of obvious correction were found during the follow-up. Accord-ing to the Eck fusion classification standard, at the time of the last follow-up bone graft area of all 27 cases reached I level fusion. Conclusion For non-curable severe tuberculous thoracolumbar kyphosis with multi-segment vertebral body loss, good deformity correction and proper recovery of vertebral height can be achieved by posterior osteotomy combined with cantilever beam tech-nique and intraoperative longitudinal traction. The combination of anterior debridement and bone graft fusion is a safe and reliable method.

Objective:To investigate the effects of the correction rate of the proximal thoracic curve and main thoracic curve on postoperative shoulder balance in patients with Lenke1 type idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).Methods:Data of 50 patients with AIS who received posterior spinal deformity correction surgery from January 2013 to January 2020 and were followed up for more than 6 months were retrospectively analyzed, including 12 males and 38 females. The median age was 15 years (14,16) years (range 13 to 18 years). According to the clavicle angle (CA) absolute value >2° and 2.5° and 3° for shoulder imbalances standard, the patients were divided into the postoperative shoulder balance group and shoulder imbalance group. Main thoracic curve Cobb angle, proximal thoracic curve Cobb angle and clavicle angle (CA) were measured preoperative, postoperative and at the last follow-up, and the flexibility of proximal thoracic curve, the flexibility of main thoracic curve, correction rate of proximal thoracic curve, correction rate of the main thoracic curve and other indicators were calculated. Univariate analysis was conducted on the shoulder balance group's related indicators and the shoulder imbalance group, and correlation analysis was conducted with the postoperative shoulder balance and the last follow-up shoulder balance. Multivariate binary logistic regression was performed on statistically significant univariate factors to determine independent risk factors for postoperative shoulder imbalance and the last follow-up shoulder imbalance.Results:The median follow-up time of 50 patients was 18 months (11, 24) months (range 6-36 months). According to the three criteria of shoulder balance, the postoperative correction rate of the proximal thoracic curve in the shoulder imbalance group was significantly lower than that in the shoulder balance group. Under the standard of shoulder imbalance with CA absolute value >2° and 2.5°, there were significant differences in the postoperative correction rate of the main thoracic curve, and the postoperative correction rate of the main thoracic curve in the shoulder balance group was higher than that in the shoulder imbalance group. No matter which shoulder imbalance criteria were used, the postoperative correction rate of the proximal thoracic curve, the correction rate of the main thoracic curve, and the ratio of the correction rate of the main thoracic curve to the proximal thoracic curve was found to be correlated with the postoperative shoulder balance. Only in the group of CA absolute >3°, no correlation was found between the postoperative correction rate of the main thoracic curve and postoperative shoulder balance. The correlation between the correction rate of the proximal thoracic curve and shoulder balance was more significant in the three groups ( P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that the postoperative correction rate of the proximal thoracic curve was an independent protective factor of postoperative shoulder balance ( P<0.05). A better postoperative shoulder balance can be obtained when the main thoracic curve/proximal thoracic curve correction rate was less than 1.5. However, at the last follow-up, no correlation was found between the correction rate and shoulder balance in all three groups. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative CA was a risk factor for the last follow-up shoulder imbalance. Conclusion:IIn patients with Lenke1 type AIS, the correction rate of the proximal thoracic curve, the correction rate of the main thoracic curve, and their ratio were correlated with postoperative shoulder balance. The matching of the amount of correction of the proximal thoracic curve and main thoracic curve can ensure postoperative shoulder balance, and the amount of correction of the proximal thoracic curve may be a protective factor of postoperative shoulder balance. However, for long-term shoulder balance, the effect of the proximal thoracic curve and main thoracic curve correction rate is not obvious. In contrast, compensatory factors such as proximal thoracic cure aggravation, torso tilt, and lumbar curve aggravation mayaffect.

Objective:To compare the microbiology, clinical characteristics and therapeutic efficacy of native suppurative spondylitis (NVO) and postoperative suppurative spondylitis (PVO), and analyze the factors affecting the prognosis.Methods:All patients with suppurative spondylitis were retrospectively analyzed from December 2010 to December 2019. A total of 46 patients were enrolled in this study. They were divided into two groups. There were 30 cases in NVO group, 18 males and 12 females; The age was 50.47±20.45 years, aged 15-73 years. There were 16 cases in PVO group, 10 males and 6 females; The age was 52.13±18.80 years, aged 14-73 years. In group NVO, 23 cases (76.7%) were in lumbar vertebrae, 5 cases (16.7%) in thoracic vertebrae and 2 cases (6.7%) in cervical vertebrae; in group PVO, 11 cases (68.8%) in lumbar vertebrae and 5 cases (31.2%) in thoracic vertebrae. Twenty-eight patients had neurological dysfunction before surgery. There were 25 cases of grade D (16 cases in group NVO and 9 cases in group PVO) and 3 cases of grade C (1 case in group NVO and 2 cases in group PVO), following the instructions of American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) neurological function classification. All patients were given bed rest, nutritional support and antibiotic therapy; surgical treatment for patients with poor outcomes or aggravated symptoms. The patients were followed up after operation, the observation indexes included leukocyte count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C -reactive protein to evaluate the postoperative curative effect. The internal fixation device was evaluated for looseness and fracture by imaging examination. At the same time, the changes of visual analogue scale, ASIA neurological function grade were recorded to evaluate the clinical efficacy.Results:Two patients in NVO group were treated with antibiotics, and all the other patients successfully completed the operation. The diseased tissues were sent for pathological examination during the operation. The results showed that they were diagnosed as suppurative spondylitis. All patients were followed up for 12-24 months. Both groups were treated with intravenous and oral antibiotics, and the time of antibiotic treatment in group PVO was longer than that in group NVO without significant difference ( t=1.74, P=0.088). The leukocyte, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, visual analogue scale (VAS), were significantly improved in both groups at different time points after operation ( P<0.05) . There was no significant difference in leukocyte, C -reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate or VAS score between the two groups at the same time point after operation ( P>0.05). The neurological function of patients after operation was significantly improved compared with that before operation. In group NVO, 16 cases recovered from ASIA grade D to grade E, 1 case from grade C to grade D; 9 cases in group PVO recovered from grade D to grade E and 2 cases recovered from grade C to grade D. Till the last follow-up, 3 patients in group NVO recurred, the recurrence rate was 10% (3/30); 7 patients in group PVO recurred, the recurrence rate was 43.8%; the recurrence rate of group PVO was higher than that of group NVO, the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=5.14, P=0.023). Among 39 patients with spinal internal fixation, 12.8% (1 NVO, 4 PVO) had recurrent infection after internal fixation. Therefore, re-operation was performed to remove the internal fixator for infection control, patients recovered after conservative treatment such as immobilization and systemic anti-infection By univariate analysis, multiple vertebral involvement and abscess formation ( OR=11.00, P=0.006; OR=9.00, P=0.047) were significantly associated with pyogenic spondylitis recurrence; there was a tendency for pyogenic spondylitis recurrence among microbial infection ( OR=1.87, P=0.416), spinal prosthesis ( OR=7.20, P=0.074) and allogenic bone ( OR=1.78, P=0.478), yet not obvious. Multivariate analysis indicated that multiple vertebral involvement ( OR=10.49, P=0.038) was a risk factor for pyogenic spondylitis recurrence. Conclusion:The treatment of PVO is more challenging than NVO, especially in the cases of spinal implant infection. Although the antibiotic treatment time of PVO is longer than that of NVO, the recurrence rate of PVO is higher. Longer antibiotic therapy and, if necessary, surgical debridement or removal of implants are important approaches to successful treatment of PVO.