Objective To compare the clinical curative effect of pedicle screw reduction and fix-ation via or not the injured vertebra in treatment of thoracolumbar fractures. Methods A retrospective study was performed on 27 patients with single thoracolumbar fractures admitted from March 2006 to Feb-ruary 2008. There were 12 patients treated with pedicle screw fixation (Group A) and 15 with traditional two-level fixation (Group B). Group A involved 11 males and 5 females, aged average 43 years (25-56 years); Group B included 10 males and 5 females, aged from 23 to 61 years (mean 42 years). All pa-tients had fresh fractures with intact pedicles on either unilateral or bilateral sides. With body position re-duction under anesthesia, the patients in Group B were treated with posterior routine distraction and lordo-sis restoration, while those in Group A were treated with the methods used in Group B as well as pedicle screw reduction and fixation. The kyphosis (Cobb angle) and recovery of injured vertebral height were observed. Results The mean follow-up period was 9 months (6-22 months). After operation, the op-timal Cobb angle and anterior column restoration were achieved through the ventral reduction from the in-jured vertebral body. The degree in anterior movement of injured vertebrae pre- and post-operatively was (0.089±0.036)° in Group A and (0.023±0.048)° in Group B, with statistical difference (P < 0.01). Cobb angle was (9.88±7.69)° in Group A and (5.19±3.24)° in Group B (P < 0.05). Changes of distance between the anterior- upper edge of the cephalad vertebrae to the anterior - lower edge of the caudal vertebral body was (39.3±5.2) % in Group A and (20.6±6.5)% in Group B (P < 0.05). Over distraction of the contiguous discs was also avoided efficiently. Conclusions Selective pedicle screw fixation into the injured vertebrae can help correct the kyphosis and maintain the reduction and en-hance the stiffness of the posterior short-segment instrumentation in single thoracolumbar fractures.

Object To discuss the surgical techniques and the clinical outcomes of the bilateral microendoscopic decompression surgery for lumbar spinal canal and lateral recess stenosis through unilateral approach. Methods 18-ram-diameter microendoscopic tubular retractor was placed with fluoroscopic gnidance, bilateral microendoscopic decompression surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis through unilateral approach were managed by adjusting the angle of tubular retractor. During the procedure, supra-interspinal ligament and contralateral bony lamina were well preserved. Results In the group of single-level microendoscopicdecompression, the mean operation time was 94 min and the mean blood loss was 65 ml. In the group of twolevel microendoscopic decompression, the mean operation time was 135 rain and the mean blood loss was 90 ml. The mean bed rest time was 6.5 days. After operation, the average back pain VAS score decreased from 6.5 to 3.1, the average leg pain VAS score decreased from 7.2 to 2.2, the average Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) decreased from 46.8 to 24.6, which had shown significant statistical difference before and after surgery (P ＜ 0.05). According to Nakai criteria, the excellent and good rate was 84%. Conclusion Bilateral microendoscopic decompression of lumbar canal through unilateral approach under METRx system offers a save, effective and minimal invasive option for lumbar spinal stenosis.

Based on the analysis of the current status and limited factors of MISS at home and aboard,this paper discussed on the importance of MISS training base construction and explored the construction from the aspects of infrastructure constructing,teaching staff training,teaching materials compiling and teaching practice(teaching forms,contents and evaluation)researching.

Objective To explore a safe and effective posterior surgical operation for correction of the horacolumbar kyphotic deformity. Methods The study involved 16 patients with thoracolumbar kyphotic deformity treated with the modified posterior transpedicular-intervertebral disc wedge resection osteotomy and screws-rods internal fixation apparatus.There were 11 males and 5 females at an average age of 26.5 years(13-53 years).The kyphosis deformity was caused by ankylosing spondylit in four patients,old lumbothoracic fracture in nine,vertebral dysplasia in two and vertebral body in one.The preoperative kyphosis Cobb angle was 58.1(45°-85°),with the kyphosis deformity at T10 in two patients,at Thin two,at T12in six,at L1 in three and at L2 in three.The main clinical manifestations were different degrees of lower back pain and progressive aggravation of the deformity,influencing the work and living.The course of disease was 8.5 years(4-17 years).All patients underwent pesteriortotal vertebral osteotomy on the apex vertebra,trails-pedicular fixation combined with correction and fusion,after which the patients stayed in bed for four weeks and received orthosis fixation for three months after operation. Resuits The operation lasted for average 190 minutes(125-240 minutes),with average blood loss of 750 ml(450-1 900 m1).All patients were with single segment cut bone,with no spinal cord injury,neurological injury or hardware failure.The post-operative vertical plane facial deformity was corrected for average 55(44°-76°),wit average correction rate of 83%.The follow-up for 10-24 months showed firm internal fixation on the X-ray film and good fusion ofthe vertebral column,with no pseudoarticulation formation,loosening internal fixation or loss of correction.All the patients obtained obvious improvement in appearance of the deformity,with disappearance of the lower back pain and improvement of the quality of life. Conclusion One stage posterior transpedicular-interverte-bral disc wedge resection osteotomy is all effect and safe surgical technique for correction of horacolumbar kyphotic deformity.

ObjectiveTo retrospectively analyze the treatment of odontoid fractures using percutaneous and open anterior screw fixation,and compare the clinical and radiographic results of the two techniques.MethodsFrom March 2003 to May 2010,115 patients with odontoid fracture were treated with anterior screw fixation,and all patients were followed up.The mean age of the patients was 43.5 years (range,16-71).Forty-seven patients who underwent percutaneous anterior screw fixation were set as the percutaneous fixation group,including 42 cases of type Ⅱ odontoid fracture and 5 of rostral type Ⅲ fracture.Sixtyeight patients who received open anterior screw fixation were set as the open fixation group,composing of 61cases of type Ⅱ odontoid fracture and 7 of rostral type Ⅲ fracture.We compared the operative time,intraoperative blood loss,X-ray exposure time,fracture union and complications between the two groups.Results The average follow-up duration was 37.6 months with a range of 12-70 months.The gender,age,classification of odontoid fractures,time after the injuries and concomitant spinal injuries showed a similar pattern in both groups.The operating time and intra-operative blood loss in percutaneous fixation group were (40.3±9.5)min and (5.6±4.1) ml respectively,and in open fixation group were (62.9±15.3) min and (47.1±28.6) ml respectively,both of them were significantly superior in percutaneous fixation group than in open fixation group (P＜0.05).There was no statistical difference in radiation exposure time,fracture union and incidence of complication between the two groups.ConclusionComparing with open screw fixation,percutaneous anterior screw fixation is a safe and reliable procedure for treatment of type Ⅱ and rostral type Ⅲ odontoid fractures with potential advantages.

Objective To evaluate surgical techniques and clinical results of percutaneous transforam-inal endoscopic discectomy in the treatment of far lateral lumbar disc herniation. Methods Thirty-sev-en patients (24 males and 13 females) with far-lateral lumbar disc herniation were treated by percutane-ous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy from September 2005 to October 2008. The mean age of the pa-tients was 40.6 years. There were 19 patients (51.4%) with foraminal lumbar disc herniation, 11 (29.7%) with extraforaminal lumbar disc herniation and 7 (18.9%) with mixed lumbar disc herniation. The mean operation time, stay-in-bed time, postoperative hospital stay were 70 minutes, 9 hours and 5.0 days respectively. The mean operation costed mean 9 800 ￥ RMB. Results All the patients were fol-lowed up for an average period of 11.5 months. The efficacy of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy was determined by Visual Analog Score (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Nakai criteria. The mean value of VAS was significantly decreased from preoperative 8.3±2.3 to 3.1±1.6 at postoperative month 3, and to 2.9±1.9 at postoperative month 6 (P < 0.01). The mean value of ODI was significantly decreased from preoperative 64.5±23 to 23.6±12.0 at postoperative month 3, and to 12.9±7.0 at postoperative month 6 (P < 0.01). According to the Nakai criteria, the outcome of the op-eration was excellent in 19 patients (51%), good in 13 (35%), fair in 2 (5%) and poor in 3 (8%), with overall excellence rate of 87%. Conclusions Transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discecto-my is safe and efficacious in the treatment of far lateral lumbar disc herniations, and proper selection of patients is the key factor to ensure the outcome of the operation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change of serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and creatine kinase (CK) in patients undergoing microendoscopic discectomy (MED) and open discectomy.

METHODSForty-four patients with single level lumbar disk herniation were treated, either by MED (Group A, n equal to 22) or open discectomy (Group B, n equal to 22). Peripheral venous blood samples were taken before surgery and at 24 and 48 hours postoperatively. The operating time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay were recorded. The pain severity of incision was evaluated by visual analog scale after operation and the clinical outcome was evaluated by Oswestry disability index. Statistical comparison was performed by the analysis of variance and Student's t test.

RESULTSThe data showed that patients in Group A had a less intraoperative blood loss (P < 0.05), shorter operating length (P < 0.05), shorter postoperative hospital stay (P < 0.05) and less postoperative pain of incision than those in Group B. Serum levels of IL-6 (mean, 31.60 ng/L +/- 9.88 ng/L vs 39.16 ng/L +/- 11.14 ng/L, P < 0.05) and CK (mean, 167.91 U/L +/- 51.85 U/L vs 401.55 U/L +/- 108.86 U/L, P < 0.05) all get to the peak at 24 hours after operation and Group A with the response statistically less than Group B. Serum level of CRP peaked at 24 hours in Group A (mean, 12.68 mg/L +/- 7.10 mg/L vs 20.82 mg/L +/- 8.79 mg/L, P less than 0.05)and peaked at 48 hours after surgery in Group B (mean, 10.77 mg/L +/- 5.25 mg/L vs 29.95 mg/L +/- 14.85 mg/L, P < 0.05). The clinical outcomes of both groups were the same at 6 months after surgery.

CONCLUSIONSBoth MED and open discectomy have made good clinical outcomes, however, the less change of IL-6, CRP and CK after operation proves that MED procedure is less traumatic to patients than open discectomy.

Adult ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Diskectomy ; methods ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods

The rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) is a prominent component of the descending modulatory system involved in the control of spinal nociceptive transmission. In the current study, we investigated melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) expression in the RVM, where the neurons involved in modulation of nociception reside. Using a line of mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the MC4R promoter, we found a large number of GFP-positive neurons in the RVM [nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) and nucleus gigantocellularis pars α (NGCα)]. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry revealed that approximately 10% of MC4R-GFP-positive neurons coexpressed tyrosine hydroxylase, indicating that they were catecholaminergic, whereas 50%-75% of those coexpressed tryptophan hydroxylase, indicating that they were serotonergic. Our findings support the hypothesis that MC4R signaling in RVM may modulate the activity of serotonergic sympathetic outflow sensitive to nociceptive signals, and that MC4R signaling in RVM may contribute to the descending modulation of nociceptive transmission.
Animals ; Female ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neural Pathways ; cytology ; metabolism ; Neurons, Afferent ; cytology ; metabolism ; Nociception ; physiology ; Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Serotonergic Neurons ; metabolism ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the significance of excision of presacral tumor after two sides hypogastric artery ligation and tissue dissociation with laparoscope.

METHODSTwenty-one patients with sacral tumor were performed excision of presacral tumor after two sides hypogastric artery ligation and tissue dissociation with laparoscope.

RESULTSAll sacral tumor were removed successfully, the mean volume of operative blood was 800 ml (range 500-1900 ml), and all the patients were followed up 3-25 months, averaged time 11 months. One patient was recurred after 2 months of operation (the patient was Ewing's sarcoma, and refused to accept radiotherapy and chemotherapy after operation), 1 patents died of brain metastases after 9 months of operations. There were no recurrence in the others patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe excision of presacral tumor after two sides hypogastric artery ligation and tissue dissociation with laparoscope is an effective operation method, with the advantages of decreasing the operative blood and difficulty of sacral tumor excision, and diminishing the operation wound.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; surgery ; Laparoscopes ; Ligation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacrum ; Spinal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo discuss the surgical technique, indication and the clinical effects of the Microscope Endoscopic Tubular Retractor System (METRx) for microendoscopic lumbar diskectomy with the preservation of the ligamentum flavum.

METHODSTwo hundred and eleven patients underwent single-segment METRx, with ligamentum flavum preservation in 65 patients (Group A), and without preservation in 146 patients (Group B). The two groups were compared clinically. All the patients suffered from low back pain and radicular syndrome to some extent, and the diagnosis was affirmed by CT and/or MRI. After exposed the interlaminar space regularly, the superior, inferior and lateral edge of the ligamentum flavum was released, the 3-sided dissociative ligament pacth was retracted medially during the spinal manipulation and restored anatomically after disc removal and the decompression of the nerve root.

RESULTSAccording to the results of two groups, ligamentum flavum preservation technique was feasible under endoscope and helpful in reducing the scar formation in the spinal canal.

CONCLUSIONSThe ligamentum flavum preservation technique enable the surgeons to preserve the natural barrier. It is feasible to perform METRx, and it is helpful in reducing the epidural fibrosis.

Adult ; Arthroscopy ; Diskectomy, Percutaneous ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Ligamentum Flavum ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome