Objective:To further study the pathogenesis of classic Schm orl′s nodes based on clinical practice.Methods:A patient with severe low back pain was found that the irregularity of the endplates and the presence of Schm orl′s nodes in L2 - 3 and L3- 4spaces in lumbar radiographs.Two painful intervertebral discs with Schm orl′s nodes in their superior or inferior endplates were identified by discography and pain provocation.Two foci of Schnorl′s nodes were rem oved in en bloc via a retroperitoneal approach for histological examination.Meanwhile,anterior intervetebral body fusion of painful discs were undertaken.Results:The radiographic manifestation of Schmorl′s nodes was the end- plate indentation.Schmorl′s nodes in CT scan was shown as a round- like or multicystic irregular zone of bone density with an indistinct sclerotic margin beneath the cartilaginous endplate,which was sim ilar to the typical CT changes of osteonecrosis.The histological examinations of en bloc slices of Schm orl′s nodes revealed subchondral osteonecrosis.Conclusion:The current study indicate classic Schm orl′s node shown in radiograph is osteonecrosis zone beneath cartilaginous endplate,suggesting the necessity of further study on Schmorl′s node form ation. [

Objective To study the pathologic characteristics and clinical significance of high intensity zone (HIZ) of lumbar intervertebral disc in the patients with discogenic low back pain. Methods 52 patients with low back pain without disc herniation underwent MRI and following discography of lumbar vertebrae. All patients previously were treated conservatively without relief of their symptoms for more than 6 months. Specimens of lumbar intervertebral discs containing HIZ in the posterior annulus from 11 patients with discogenic low back pain during posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) were collected to investigate the morphologic patterns and clinical significance. Results In all of 142 discs in 52 patients at discography, 17 discs in 17 patients presented HIZ, all showed painful reproduction and abnormal morphology with annular tears extending either well into or through the outer third of the annulus fibrosus. The histologic study of the consecutive sagittal slices in the HIZ lesions revealed that the normal lamellar structure was replaced by disorganized, vascularized granulation tissue that consisted of small round cells, fibroblasts, and newly formed blood vessels around the tears extending from the nucleus pulposus to the outer region of the annulus fibrosus. Blood vessel proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration were seen extending along the margins of the tears into the middle and inner annulus, and sometimes the tears were bridged with granulation tissue. Ingrowth of vascularized tissue was sometimes observed to end abruptly at the junction between the inner third of the annulus and the nucleus pulposus. There was also matured scarring collagenous tissue. Conclusion The HIZ in the lumbar disc in the patients with symptomatic low back pain can be considered as a reliable marker of painful outer annular disruption.

Objective The theory of chemical radiculitis was put forward about 30 years ago, but it has not been proved by clinical study so for. The current study was initiated to assess whether the annular tear in painful disc was the cause of radiating leg pain (radiculopathy) in patients with discogenic low back pain. Methods Forty-two patients with chronic low back pain in single level and shooting leg pain in unilateral or bilateral lower limbs without lumbar disc herniation on CT and MR imaging were treated (age range, 19-52 years; mean age, 34.9 years; 27 males, 15 females). All patients showed annular disruption and pain reproduction on injection of the contrast during discography at single disc level (not including patients who had two or three levels disc disease). CT scan was performed to identify the location of annular tears after discography. The examinations of electromyography(EMG) and motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) were performed in all patients, which were used to analyze the degree of nerve root injury and the relation with radiating leg pain. Results The patients with posterolateral annular disruption in single side mainly presented single lower limb radiation pain, in contrast, the patients with posterolateral annular disruption in two sides or posterior midline annular disruption mainly presented dual lower limb radiation pain. There was a significant positive correlation between the site of annular tear and the side of radiation pain. The examinations of EMG in all 42 cases found that there were abnormal insertional activities such as fibrillation potentials and positive sharp waves in 32 cases(76%). Of the 23 patients with unilateral lower limb radiation, nerve root lesions were found on the symptomatic side in 17 cases(74%). Of the 19 cases with bilateral lower limb radiation pain, root lesions were suggested in 15 patients(79%). The conduction velocities of common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve decreased with a statistically significant difference in symptomatic side compared with normal side. Conclusion Inflammatory chemical mediators and cytokines produced in painful disc leaking into epidural space through annular tear could lead to the injury to adjacent nerve roots, which might be primary pathophysiologic mechanism for the production of chemical radiculitis.

Objective To study the short-term outcome of transforaminal posterolateral endoscopic discectomy and radiofrequency annuloplasty in patients with discogenic low back pain. Methods A total of 25 patients with discogenic low back pain,who were diagnosed by provocative discography,received transforaminal posterolateral endoscopic discectomy and radiofrequency annuloplasty in our hospital. The VAS scores determined before and 6 months after the operation were compared in the patients. Their MacNab scores were also evaluated at 6 months postoperation. Results After the surgery,2 patients who had ruptured intervertebral discs (L5-S1) developed sunburn syndrome,and then was relieved by pulsed electrical stimulation for one week. The patients were followed up for 6-10 months,during which no other postoperative complications occurred. The mean VAS score of this series decreased significantly after the treatment,and kept being reduced in 6 months [preoperation:6.24?0.97,1,3,6 months after the operation:0(0~2); Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum test,H=61.680,P=0.000]. Four patients showed lower limbs pain before the treatment and were relieved after the surgery. The evaluation of MacNab score showed excellent in 11 pateints,good in 12,and fair in 2,suggesting an effective rate of 92.0%(23/25). Conclusions Transforaminal posterolateral endoscopic discectomy plus radiofrequency annuloplasty is effective for discogenic low back pain in a short term.

Objective To explore stimulative of posttraumatic growth(PTG) of head-injured patients associated with limb movement disorder,in order to provide reference for psychological nursing intervention.Methods Phenomenological methodology was used in the study.A semi-structured interview was conducted on seven head-injured patients with limb movement disorder recruited by purposive sampling method.Data were analyzed by Colaizzi's analysis procedure.Results Through interview,the following four themes were summarized:positive state of mind and coping style of patients; patients' high level of self-efficacy; social support; high quality of medical services.Conclusions In order to promote PTG of head-injured associated with limb movement disorder patients,nurses should strive to adjust the patient mentality and coping strategies,improve their self-efficacy levels,help patients get support from the community,at the same time should also focus on quality of medical services.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of introducing CAD/CAM system into Prosthodontics experimental teachin.MethodsStudents from Chongqing Medical University with major of Dental Department in Grade 2007 was selected.To make all students master the basic knowledge of CAD/CAM system,problem-based learning was used to teach the undergraduate grasping the CAD/CAM system of the affiliated hospital.Results 90 ％ of the students showed strong interest in learning knowledge of the CAD/CAM system.98 ％ of the students could master CAD/CAM system knowledge.ConclusionCAD/CAM system knowledge is suitable for development of prosthodontics.It is necessary that the basic knowledge of CAD/CAM was introduced into prosthodontics experimental courses.

[Objective]To retrospectively analyze the results of plasma-mediated coblation in treating cervical disc herniation.[Method]From January 2003 to April 2006,127 symptomatic cases(197 disc levels)with cervical contained disc herniation were treated with plasma-mediated coblation technology,including 81 males and 46 females,their average age was 49 years,the treated disc levels were 17 in C3、4,61 in C4、5,90 in C5、6 and 29 in C6、7 ,respectively.All patients were reported to have persistent cervical or unilateral arm pain for a minimum of three months and failed previous conservative treatment.MRI showed herniated cervical disc causing focal compression of the nerve root.An average percentage of symptom relief(VAS score)and subjective satisfaction were administered to measure symptoms at all visits.[Result]In the immediate post-operative period,124 patients reported significant amelioration of symptoms,3 patients complained of arm numbness did not change clinical status,one week after operation,percentage of symptom relief was 64%,perfect rate of subjective satisfaction was 91%.Patients were followed up for average 18 months(range 6～31 months)postoperatively.Percentage of symptom relief was 47%,perfect rate of subjective satisfaction was 62%.In the last follow-up,7 patients were observed a stabilization of clinical status over 2 years and in 15 patients the status was similar to preoperation.The other patients referred some residual symptoms and were still under follow-up.There were no complications observed such as hemorrhages,infections and nerve root injurys due to the procedure.[Conclusion]Our data indicate coblation procedure appearing to be less injury,safety,is a promising treatment option for patients with contained cervical disc herniation who have failed conservative therapies and are not considered candidates for open surgery,also supplementary therapy perioperatively in patients treated with cervical open surgery.

Objective To investigate the long-term protective effects of the waistband onto lumbar spins.Based on the practical situation,to search for some effective and convenient methods,such as wearing waistband and mutual massage,to prevent from lumbago for the army drivers worked in plateau.Methods 372 army drivers,young males,healthy and all worked in plateau,ware involved as the treatment group in the present study.Another 545 army drivers with the similar physical qualities,also worked in plateau,were selected as the control group.For the treatment group,a kind of special waistband was employed for the drivers,and mutual massage on hack of each other was performed among them;while in control group the army drivers were given no measures for lumbar protection and lumbago pre- vention.All the drivers in the both groups ware in normal driving conditions.The therapeutic effects of the waistband and the lumbago symptoms were investigated by epidemiologic survey 16 months later,Results The epidemiologic survey results showed that the incidence of lumbago in the drivers of control group(72.8%)was significantly higher than that in the treatment group(30.9%,P

Purpose: Through the analysis of 202 cases of spondylolisthesis treated with surgery, the different types of surgical procedures were reevaluated. Material and Method: Patients with spondylolisthesis were divided into 3 groups based upon their pathology and different surgical procedures were used accordingly. The results were evaluated after follow-up of more than one year. Group Ⅰ consisted of 38 patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis with back pain and isthmic spondylolisthesis of less than 33%; they were treated with anterior intervertebral body fusion. Group Ⅱ consisted of 99 cases of mild isthmic spondylolisthesis with unilateral sciatica, and were treated with semi-laminectomy and decompression of symptomatic side; interlaminar and interspinous process fusion of the opposite side was performed for 99 cases of mild isthmic spondylolisthesis with unilateral sciatica. Group Ⅲ consisted of 65 cases of spondylolisthesis more than 33% with sciatica and they were treated with decompression, reduction of sliding vertebra and posterior intervertebral body fusion. Result: In group Ⅰ, solid fusion was in 20 cases giving a fusion rate of 91%. In group Ⅱ, the satisfactory rate was as high as 91.5%. In group Ⅲ, the satisfactory rate and fusion rate reached 91.8% and 95.9% respectively. Conclusion: Reduction of spondylolisthesis could increase the fusion contact area, restore normal mechanics and saggital curve of the lumbar spine, relieve neural compression and improve the extemal appearance and function. For the surgical treatment of spondylolisthesis, the major goal should toward a solid fusion between the sliding vertebra and its adjacent vertebrae and laminectomy alone is not a procedure of choice.

In this study the relation between the extent and type of disc protrusion and the clinical severity of symptoms of low back pain was observed. Our series consisted of 300 consecutive cases of lumbar disc protrusion,with their diagnosis confirmed by intraoperative observation. Preoperative pain severity was assessed using a back pain scale that combined the symptoms of back pain and sciatica. Intraoperaative pathological findings of disc were documented and comparesd with preoperative symptoms and signs. The pathological changes of disc were classified as following four subtypes: bulging disc (85 cases), protruding disc (104 cases), extruded disc (72 cases) and sequestered disc (39 cases). Our results suggest that severity of pain in patients with herniated lumbar disc is related to position of herniation rather than magnitude and exent of herniation. Inflammed intraspinal tissues are significantly associated with low back pain and sciatica.