Objective To evaluate whether the presence of subchondral bone marrow edema (BME)in magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) are associated with the different levels of knee pain among the patients suffering osteoarthritis(OA). Methods Based on rating scale of pain, 264 patients with knee OA were divided into three groups: 47 in the no pain group, 184 in the mild pain group, 33 in the moderate or severe pain group. Contingency table analyses and rank sum tests were used to compare the difference of OA stage and BME score among these groups. OA was classified by the X-ray as the Kellgren-Lawrence(K-L) scoring scale system: 52 mild(K-L Ⅱ degree), 142 middle(K-L Ⅲ degree), 70 severe(K-L Ⅳ degree); while BME was identified from MRI: 69 with grade 0(no BME), 127 with grade 1(small BME), 68 with grade 2(large BME). Results There were no statistical significance of OA stage among three pain groups(?2=5.251, P=0.263), though severe OA were more likely to occur in moderate or severe pain group as compared with the no pain and mild pain groups(42.4% vs 23.4% and 24.5%). Also in the three groups, the prevalence of each score BME was of great significant difference(?2=28.157, P

[Objective]To clarify the precise displacement of the popliteal artery(PA) during knee flexion using magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).[Method]MRI was used in 16 knees at 0? and 90? of flexion to measure the distance between the popliteal artery and the posterior tibial cortex(bone to artery distance,BAD)at two levels corresponding to the levels of osteotomy in total knee arthroplasty(TKR) and in high tibial osteotomy(HTO).The results were analysed using paired-samples t test.[Result]At the level of TKR(0.5 to 1 cm below the tibial articular surface),the mean posterior movement of BAD from extension to 90? of flexion was 1.8 mm(-2～+5 mm) with a statistical significance(P=0.005).At the level of HTO(1.5 to 2 cm below the tibial articular surface),the mean change in BAD 1.4mm(-2～+4mm)was also statistically significant(P=(0.005)).At the two levels,the artery moved toward the tibia in 2 cases,respectively.[Conclusion]Knee flexion may be considered to be a safer position,still there is possible potential popliteal artery injury.

BACKGROUND:It remains controversial about the clinical outcomes of bone fil ing mesh containers (BFMCs) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in pain relief, kyphosis correction, vertebral height restoration and reduction of cement leakage. OBJECTIVE:To compare the clinical outcomes of BFMCs and PKP for osteoporotic vertebral compressive fracture. METHODS:A total of 90 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compressive fracture were equivalently randomized into two groups, fol owed by treated with BFMCs or PKP, respectively. During a more than 3-month fol ow-up, pain relief, kyphotic angle, the vertebral height and cement leakage were observed in the two groups to assess the therapeutic effects. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Pain in al patients was relieved at 24 hours after operation. There was no significant difference in pain relief between two groups (P>0.05). PKP was more effective to restore the vertebral height (P<0.05), while BMCFs significantly reduced the leakage rate of bone cement (P<0.05). These results suggest that BFMCs and PKP have their own advantages in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compressive fracture, but both exert analgesic effects.

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that umbilical cord blood stem cel transplantation promote the recovery of spinal cord injury, and electroacupuncture also can inhibit the proliferation of astrocytes to reduce damage to scar formation, suggesting that a combination of umbilical cord blood stem cel transplantation and electroacupuncture may play an important role in the treatment of acute spinal cord injuries. OBJECTIVE:To observe the influence of transplantation of human umbilical cord blood stem cels combined with electroacupuncture at theDu channel on expression of nerve growth factor and neurotrophin 3 in rats with spinal cord injuries. METHODS: Seventy-two female Sprague-Dawlay rats were randomly divided into control group, injury group, transplantation group and combined therapy group. In the control group, only an incision on the back was sutured;in the injury group, a piece of saline-infiltrated gelatin sponge, 1 mm×2 mm×2 mm, was placed into the transected spinal cord at T10 level; in the transplantation group and combined therapy group, a piece of gelatin sponged infiltrated in the suspension of human umbilical cord blood stem cels was placed into the transected spinal cord, respectively, and then, electroacupuncture stimulation at the Duchannel was performed in the combined therapy group at 1 hour after modeling. Specimens were taken at 7, 14, 28 days after modeling in each group, and then immunohistochemistry, western blot and real time-PCR methods were used to detect the expression of nerve growth factor and neurotrophin 3. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the transplantation group, the expression of nerve growth factor and neurotrophin 3 was lower in the injury group but higher in the combined therapy group at 7, 14, 28 days after modeling (P < 0.05). The results of western blot and real time-PCR were consistent with those of immunohistochemical detection. Findings show that human umbilical cord blood stem cel transplantation combined with electroacupuncture has a remarkable synergistic effect in the treatment of spinal cord injury that can significantly up-regulate the expression of nerve growth factor and neurotrophin 3, and contribute to injured spinal cord repair, regeneration and functional recovery after spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND:At present, there are many researches about repairing articular cartilage defects. In particular, the microfracture technique has been widely used. OBJECTIVE:To observe recovery of knee joint motor function and morphological changes in tissue repair during articular cartilage defects with different directions (coronal position and sagittal position). METHODS:Articular cartilage fracture models with 2 mm-thick medial femoral condyles of rabbit knee joint were established. According to incision directions, models were assigned to coronal and sagittal groups. At 5, 10 and 20 weeks after model induction, general observation was performed. Specimens were sliced into paraffin sections, and subjected to hematoxylin-eosin staining and col agen staining. Tissue repair at the articular cartilage defects was observed using optical microscope and immunohistochemical method. After model induction, range of motion of rabbit joints was regularly examined in the two groups.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A white line was seen across the femoral condyles at defects in the two groups. Articular surface at defect repair was at the level of in situ cartilage, and reached a bone union. Knee joint treated by operation did not affect function. Under light microscope, partial reconstruction of subchondral bone was seen in the two groups, mainly fibrocartilage repair. The level of bony remodeling was lower than tidal line of adjacent in situ cartilage. Immunohistochemical method exhibited that type I col agen staining gradual y reduced at defects of specimens, but type II col agen staining gradual y increased. These results suggested that there was no significant difference in the recovery of motor function of knee joint and the repair of articular cartilage with different directions (coronal and sagittal position).

Objective:To examine the feasibility and safety of endoscopic subcutaneous mastectomy and immediate reconstruction via a small skin incision approach without gas and mesh for early breast carcinomas.Methods:We analyzed 7 patients diagnosed with breast cancer who underwent an endoscopic subcutaneous mastectomy and immediate reconstruction from Jun. to Nov. 2021 using a gasless and meshless small skin incision approach at the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC. Mean age was 44.9 (29-63) years. Clinical stage, postoperative complications and other data of patients were collected. Patients were required to fill in BREAST-Q scale anonymously before and during postoperative follow-up. The difference was considered significant for P < 0.05. Results:The tumors were all unilateral and solitary lesions, with a mean diameter of 1.74 (0-5) cm. The average distance of mass from the nipple on imaging was 2.11cm (range 0 to 4) . Postoperative pathological clinical stage,1 patient was in Tis, 3 patients were in stage I, 2 patients were in stage II and a pathological complete response was achieved in one patient (ypT0pN0cM0 CR) . The mean operative time was 245.3 (195-316) min, the mean intraoperative bleeding volume was 37.1ml, the mean postoperative hospital stay was 5.1 d, and the median follow-up time was 8.8 (6-11.2) months. All the 7 patients had incision healing at the first stage, and no complications such as infection, incision complications, capsular contracture, nipple-areola complex or skin flap necrosis, removal or displacement of breast implant occurred. No local recurrence or metastasis was detected during the follow-up period. Compared with preoperative, the scores of postoperative psychosocial status, chest wall status were lower ( P<0.05) , but still ideal, while breast satisfaction and sexual satisfaction scores were not significantly different from preoperative baseline ( P>0.05) . Conclusion:This study indicates that endoscope-assisted breast reconstruction with gasless and meshless is a safe and feasible surgical intervention method for early breast cancer, with good cosmetic effects, and can be promoted as a new type of breast reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the early effectiveness of unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) laminectomy in the treatment of two-level lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). METHODS: The clinical data of 98 patients with two-level LSS treated with UBE between September 2020 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 53 males and 45 females with an average age of 59.9 years (range, 32-79 years). Among them, there were 56 cases of mixed spinal stenosis, 23 cases of central spinal canal stenosis, and 19 cases of nerve root canal stenosis. The duration of symptoms was 1.5- 10 years, with an average of 5.4 years. The operative segments were L _{2, 3} and L _{3, 4} in 2 cases, L _{3, 4} and L _{4, 5} in 29 cases, L _{4, 5} and L _5, S ₁ in 67 cases. All patients had different degrees of low back pain, among of which 76 cases were with unilateral lower extremity symptoms and 22 cases were with bilateral lower extremity symptoms. There were 29 cases of bilateral decompression in both segments, 63 cases of unilateral decompression in both segments, and 6 cases of unilateral decompression and bilateral decompression of each segment. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, total incision length, hospitalization stay, ambulation time, and related complications were recorded. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to assess the low back and leg pain before operation and at 3 days, 3 months after operation, and at last follow-up. The Oswestry disability index (ODI) was used to evaluate the functional recovery of lumbar spine before operation and at 3 months and last follow-up after operation. Modified MacNab criteria was used to evaluate clinical outcomes at last follow-up. Imaging examinations were performed before and after operation to measure the preservation rate of articular process, modified Pfirrmann scale, disc height (DH), lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), and cross-sectional area of the canal (CAC), and the CAC improvement rate was calculated. RESULTS: All patients underwent surgery successfully. The operation time was (106.7±25.1) minutes, the intraoperative blood loss was (67.7±14.2) mL, and the total incision length was (3.2±0.4) cm. The hospitalization stay was 8 (7, 9) days, and the ambulation time was 3 (3, 4) days. All the wounds healed by first intention. Dural tear occurred in 1 case during operation, and mild headache occurred in 1 case after operation. All patients were followed up 13-28 months with an average of 19.3 months, and there was no recurrence or reoperation during the follow-up. At last follow-up, the preservation rate of articular process was 84.7%±7.3%. The modified Pfirrmann scale and DH were significantly different from those before operation ( P<0.05), while the LLA was not significantly different from that before operation ( P=0.050). The CAC significantly improved ( P<0.05), and the CAC improvement rate was 108.1%±17.8%. The VAS scores of low back pain and leg pain and ODI at each time point after operation significantly improved when compared with those before operation, and the differences between each time points were significant ( P<0.05). According to the modified MacNab criteria, 63 cases were excellent, 25 cases were good, and 10 cases were fair, with an excellent and good rate of 89.8%. CONCLUSION UBE laminectomy is a safe and effective technique with little trauma and fast recovery for two-level LSS and the early effectiveness is satisfactory.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Laminectomy ; Spinal Stenosis/surgery* ; Constriction, Pathologic/surgery* ; Low Back Pain ; Retrospective Studies ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Endoscopy ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Spinal Fusion/methods* ; Decompression, Surgical ; Surgical Wound/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of posterolateral approach lumbar interbody fusion assisted by one-hole split endoscope (OSE) and traditional posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in the treatment of L_{4, 5} degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS). METHODS: The clinical data of 58 patients with DLS who met the selection criteria admitted between February 2020 and March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, of which 26 were treated with OSE-assisted posterolateral approach lumbar interbody fusion (OSE group) and 32 were treated with PLIF (PLIF group). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of gender, age, body mass index, Meyerding grade, lower limb symptom side, decompression side, stenosis type, and preoperative low back pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score, leg pain VAS score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and the height of the anterior and posterior margins of the intervertebral space (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, and complications were compared between the two groups. The low back pain and leg pain VAS scores and ODI before operation, at 1 month, 6 months after operation, and last follow-up, the height of anterior and posterior margins of the intervertebral space before operation, at 6 months after operation, and last follow-up, the modified MacNab criteria at last follow-up after operation were used to evaluate the effectiveness; and the Bridwell method at last follow-up was used to evaluate the interbody fusion. RESULTS: Both groups successfully completed the operation. Compared with the PLIF group, the OSE group showed a decrease in intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hospital stay, but an increase in operation time, with significant differences (P<0.05). In the OSE group, no complication such as nerve root injury and thecal sac tear occurred; in the PLIF group, there were 1 case of thecal sac tear and 1 case of epidural hematoma, which were cured after conservative management. Both groups of patients were followed up 13-20 months with an average of 15.5 months. There was no complication such as loosening, sinking, or displacement of the fusion cage. The low back pain and leg pain VAS scores, ODI, and the height of anterior and posterior margins of the intervertebral space at each time point after operation in both groups were significantly improved when compared with those before operation (P<0.05). Except for the VAS score of lower back pain in the OSE group being significantly better than that in the PLIF group at 1 month after operation (P<0.05), there was no significant difference in all indicators between the two groups at all other time points (P>0.05). At last follow-up, both groups achieved bone fusion, and there was no significant difference in Bridwell interbody fusion and modified MacNab standard evaluation between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION OSE-assisted posterolateral approach lumbar interbody fusion for L_{4, 5} DLS, although the operation time is relatively long, but the postoperative hospitalization stay is short, the complications are few, the operation is safe and effective, and the early effectiveness is satisfactory.
Humans ; Spondylolisthesis/surgery* ; Low Back Pain/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Lumbosacral Region ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Endoscopes