Objective To explore the surgical technique and clinical effect of percutaneous lumbar endoscopic surgery for central disc herniation.Methods From February 2010 to April 2014,69 consecutive patients (36 males and 33 females) with central lumbar disc herniation underwent percutaneous endoscopic surgery were included in the study.The average age was 31.33±8.27 years,ranging from 16 to 56 years.All operations were performed by increasing the initial puncture angle.First enter the intervertebral space through the ventral nerve root,and then move the guide rod tip step by step to the top of the protrusion.Operative time,intraoperative blood loss and complications were recorded.Visual analogue scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were followed up before surgery,immediately after surgery,3,12,24 months after surgery.The MacNab criteria were used to evaluate the efficacy at the last follow-up.During the follow-up period,X-ray,CT and MRI were performed to observe the instability and recurrence of the operative segment.Results All of the disc herniations were successfully removed without conversion to open surgery or revision.All patients were followed up for more than 24 months.The VAS scores of low back pain and leg pain were significantly lower than those before operation immediately,3 months,12 months and 24 months after operation (P＜0.01).The JOA score was significantly higher in monthly follow-up (P＜0.01),and ODI was significantly improved in 3 months and 24 months after operation (P＜ 0.01).There were 22 excellent cases (31.88％),44 good cases (63.77％),3 cases (4.35％) during the final follow-up,and the excellent and good rate was 95.65％.Dural sac injuries occurred in 1 patient and discharged from hospital in 2 weeks of symptomatic treatment.Lumbar instability and operative segment recurrence were not found during the follow-up period (2 years).Conclusion The improvement of the puncture angle and the technique innovation of the guide rod moving from intervertebral space to intraspinal canal step by step can effectively reduce the nerve root stimulation and injury during the puncture and the placement of the working passage,and significantly improve the clinical efficacy of percutaneous lumbar endoscopy in the treatment of central lumbar disc herniation.Microscopic management of the posterior longitudinal ligament can effectively reduce the recurrence rate and has no significant impact on spinal stability.

Objective: To compare the clinical effects between minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) assisted by Microendoscopic discectomy (MED) and Quadrant for the treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS). Methods: All of 59 patients suffered from DLSS treated surgically from May 2015 to October 2017 were reviewed. According to the surgery method, all cases were divided into MED group (27 cases) and Quadrant channel group (32 cases). All patients were followed up for an average of 18.5 months (11-29 months). Comparison was made on the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, postoperative time in bed, postoperative creatine kinase (CK), fusion rate and the degree of muscle fibrosis shown in MRI, as well as visual analogue scale (VAS)score and Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) score in two groups. Results: The duration of operation in MED group was significantly longer than that in Quadrant group (161.7±22.4 min vs. 145.6±19.4 min, t=4.541, P<0. 01), but less intraoperative blood loss (138.1±26.9 ml vs. 155.6±21.5 ml, t=-2.724, P< 0. 01) and shorter time in bed after surgery (2.3±0.7 d vs. 3.5±1.1 d, t=-4.564, P<0.01). Compared with Quadrant group, CK levels were risen slightly on the first and third postoperative day (P<0.01). CK on the fifth postoperative day in both groups returned to normal. VAS score of lower back pain in MED group was lower than that in Quadrant group on the third day and twelfth month after operation (P<0.05). After 3 months, there was no significant difference in VAS score and ODI between the two groups (P>0.05). ODI was lower in MED group than that in Quadrant group after 6 months and 12 months.The fusion rate was88.9%(24/27) in MED group and 93.8%(30/32) in Quadrant channel group. There was no statistical difference in fusion rate of two groups. 10 patients in MED group and 12 patients in Quadrant group underwent MRI examination of lumbar spine one year after operation. The ratio of postoperative and preoperative atrophy of multiplex muscle area was measured. Muscle atrophy of lower back muscle was lighter in MED group (0.12±0.05 vs. 0.22±0.04, t=-2.428, P<0.05). For intraoperative and postoperative complications, 1 case of dural sac rupture occurred in both groups. Gelatin sponge immediately with fibrin glue was used for plugging up, no postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage was found. In Quadrant channel group, 1 case had less blood supply of skin incision edges and epidermal necrosis while the other case had fat liquefaction. Conclusion Compared with the aid of Quadrant, MIS-TLIF assisted with MED had less blood loss, less trauma and faster recovery and could reduce the incidence of postoperative incision complication.

BackgroundInvasive vagus nerve stimulation therapy has been approved for the adjunctive treatment of treatment-resistant depression， which may contribute to the anti-inflammatory properties of vagus nerve stimulation （VNS）， whereas the efficacy of non-invasive transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation （tcVNS） in treating major depressive disorder （MDD） and its impact on plasma inflammatory factors remain unclear. ObjectiveTo observe the effect of escitaloprom combined with tcVNS on the status of depression， anxiety and sleep quality as well as the plasma levels of interleukin-6 （IL-6） and interleukin-10 （IL-10） in MDD patients， in order to provide references for the recovery and treatment of MDD patients. MethodsFrom August 21， 2019 to April 17， 2024， 45 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for MDD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fifth edition （DSM-5） were recruited from the psychosomatic outpatient clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University. Subjects were divided into study group （n=23） and control group （n=22） using random number table method. All patients were treated with escitalopram. On this basis， study group added a 30-minute tcVNS therapy once a day for 4 weeks. While control group was given corresponding sham stimulation， and the duration of each stimulation lasted 30 seconds. Before and after 4 weeks of treatment， Hamilton Depression Scale-17 item （HAMD-17） was used to assess depressive symptoms， and HAMD-17 anxiety/somatization subfactor and insomnia subfactor were used to assess patients' anxiety/somatization symptoms and sleep quality. Levels of plasma IL-6 and IL-10 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. ResultsThe generalized estimating equation model yielded a significant time effect for HAMD-17 total score， anxiety/somatization subfactor score and insomnia subfactor score in both groups （Wald χ²=315.226， 495.481， 82.420， P<0.01）. After 4 weeks of treatment， HAMD-17 total score and anxiety/somatization subfactor score of study group were lower than those of control group， with statistically significant differences （Wald χ²=4.967， 32.543， P<0.05 or 0.01）， while no statistically significant difference was found in the insomnia subfactor score between two groups （Wald χ²=0.819， P=0.366）. Significant time effects were reported on plasma IL-6 and IL-10 levels in both groups （Wald χ²=21.792， 5.242， P<0.05 or 0.01）. Compared with baseline data， a reduction in plasma IL-6 levels was detected in both groups （Wald χ²=22.015， 6.803， P<0.01）， and an increase in plasma IL-10 levels was reported in study group （Wald χ²=5.118， P=0.024） after 4 weeks of treatment. ConclusionEscitalopram combined with tcVNS therapy is effective in improving depressive symptoms， anxiety/somatization symptoms and sleep quality in patients with MDD. Additionally， it helps reduce plasma IL-6 levels and increase IL-10 levels. ［Funded by Shaanxi Provincial Key Research and Development Program-General Project （number， 2023-YBSF-185）， www.clinicaltrials.gov number， NCT04037111］