Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of posterior laminectomy and transfacet discectomy combined with interbody fusion and segment fixation for the treatment of lower thoracic disc herniation.Methods From June 2000 to June 2010,36 cases of lower thoracic disc herniation were treated with method of posterior laminectomy and transfacet discectomy combined with interbody fusion and segment fixation,including 23 males and 13 females,with an average of 42 years old(range,22-61 years old).The courses of disease were from 21 days to 69 months,with an average of 22 months.The lesion locations were T10-11 for 12 cases,T11-12 for 15 cases and T12L1 for 9 cases.Each of the patients underwent X-ray and MR examination,31 of them underwent CT scanning.Twenty-five cases were central protrusion type,7 cases were para-central protrusion type,4 cases were lateral protrusionstype.The clinical results were evaluated by Otanni scored system.Results The operative time was 135-220 min,with average of 155 min.The blood loss was 350-800 ml,with average of 460 ml.All patients were successfully operated without neurological symptoms aggravation and accidents.Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 12 cases,which was treated by continuous suture or dura patch repair.Two cases with giant disc herniation suffered from muscle strength decrease of lower limbs after surgery,which gradually recovered after drug treatment of hormones,dehydration,high-pressure oxygen and nerve nutrients.Postoperative X-ray examinations showed that there were no internal fixation loosening.The followed-up period was 14 days to 48 months,mean 4 months.According to Otani scored system,there were excellent results in 12 cases,good results in 18 cases and poor results in 1 case.The clinical satisfaction rate was 83.3%.Conclusion Posterior laminectomy and transfacet discectomy combined with interbody fusion and segment fixation is a safe and effective surgical procedure for the treatment of lower thoracic disc herniation.

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of two different anterior cervical surgeries in treatment of multi-segmental cervical spondylosis. Methods: A total of 86 patients with multi-segmental cervical spondylosis were treated by anterior cervical surgery procedure. Among them, 62 and 24 cases were involved in three and four gap, respectively. Each patient underwent the surgery of long or segmented anterior cervical decompression and fixation. Preoperative and postoperative cervical curvature change, internal if xation stability, fusion rate and nerve function were evaluated. Results: All patients were successfully completed the operation, segmented surgery showed better cervical lordosis recovery, but there were no significant difference between long and segmented anterior cervical surgery in blood loss and recovery of neurological function (P>0.05). Conclusion: The segmented anterior cervical surgery has advantages in the treatment of multi-segmental cervical spondylosis.

Objective To investigate the utility of dual-energy CT combined with musculoskeletal ultraso-nography in differentiating between calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease and gouty arthritis.Methods A retro-spective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 102 patients diagnosed with gouty arthritis and 102 patients diagnosed with calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease.These patients were categorized into the Gout group and Calcium Deposition group,respectively,based on their respective diagnoses.All patients underwent dual-energy CT and musculoskeletal ultrasonography examinations,while joint fluid aspiration results or intra-articular crystal material served as the gold standard for diagnosis.The diagnostic efficacy of dual-energy CT and musculoskeletal ultrasonography in discriminating between calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease and gouty arthritis was evalu-ated.Results In the gout group,the proportion of male patients and serum uric acid levels were significantly higher compared to those in the calcium deposition group(P<0.05).The prevalence rates of knee joint,first metatarsopha-langeal joint,and ankle joint involvement were higher in the gout group,while knee joint,wrist joint,and shoulder joint involvement rates were higher in the calcium deposition group.The proportions of irregular bone cortex,carti-lage injury,and degenerative meniscus changes were lower in the gout group compared to the calcium deposition group(P<0.05).The proportions of double contour sign,tophus formation,hyperechoic band within ligaments or tendons,and bone erosion were higher in the gout group compared to the calcium deposition group(P<0.05),whereas cartilage calcification was lower in the gout group(P<0.05).The sensitivities for diagnosing calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease and gouty arthritis using dual-energy CT scan alone,musculoskeletal ultrasound alone,and their combined use were 86.27%,83.33%,and 94.12%respectively.The specificities for diagnosing these conditions using dual-energy CT scan alone,musculoskeletal ultrasound alone,and their combined use were 89.22%,88.24%,and 86.27%respectively.The positive predictive values were 88.89%,87.63%,and 87.27%,respectively.The negative predictive values were 86.67%,84.11%,and 93.63%,respectively.The accuracies were 87.75%,85.78%,and 90.20%respectively.The agreement Kappa values were 0.755,0.716,and 0.804 respectively.Conclusions The integration of dual-energy CT and musculoskeletal ultrasonography exhibits promising diagnostic efficacy in discriminating between calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease and gouty arthritis.This combined approach serves as a valuable adjunctive tool for the diagnosis of both conditions.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical value of early and one-stage posterior laminectomy decompression, fracture reconstruction and lateral mess screw fixation combined with anterior cervical corpectomy or discectomy for the treatment of fresh and severe lower cervical spine fracture and dislocation.
 METHODS: A total of 156 consecutive cases of severe fracture and dislocation of lower cervical spine were reviewed from January 2008 to January 2015. Skull traction was installed when the patients were enrolled in the hospital, so the operation was performed as early as possible. Firstly, the posterior procedure was applied to the patients prone on a frame. A standard posterior laminectomy, fixation and fusion were performed with lateral mass screws and rods. The cervical spine reconstruction was achieved by laminecomy, partially facetectomy, leverage and distraction. The technique of rotating rod was applied to recover the sequence of the cervical and keep or increase the zygopophysis and lordosis of the cervical on the sagittal plane. After the skull traction removed, a standard anterior approach to the cervical spine was initiated as the second stage of the procedure. Anterior cervical corpectomy or discectomy, spinal cord decompression, antograft and cervical spine auto-locking plate fixation were carried out. The stability, the fusion rate of the injured segments and spinal cord decompression were observed on the regular postoperative X-ray film and CT scan. The function of the spinal cord was evaluated by American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification.
 RESULTS: A total of 137 cases were followed-up, 19 failed to follow-up and 8 of them were due to death. The follow-up time was from 9.0 months to 35.0 months (mean: 13.7 months). All patients got completely reduction of the cervical spine. The injured segments were stable. There was no patient of bone graft no-fusion. The cervical intervertebral height and lordosis were reconstructed and maintained and all grafts were fused at the end of follow-up period. There was no complication related to internal fixation breakage, loosening or displacement. There was also no neurovascular and esophagus complications during the operation. Twelve patients complained neck pain at the final follow-up. There were 12 cases of wound infection and 12 cases of neck inflammatory. They were healed after anti-inflammatory therapy. There were 13 cases of cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and they were healed after the symptomatic treatment. The neuro-function of most patients was improved, and ASIA classification was improved by 1 to 2 grade.
 CONCLUSION Early and one-stage posterior-anterior decompression and reconstruction for the patients with fresh and severe lower cervical spine fracture and dislocation can achieve good reduction and cervical alignment of cervical spine. The injured segments can gain postoperative immediate stability. It also gives a completely decompression, which is benefit to the patients for nursing, functional exercise, and the functional recovery of the spinal cord.
Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Bone Transplantation ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Decompression, Surgical ; Diskectomy ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; Laminectomy ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Spinal Fractures ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Traction