BACKGROUND: Although more and more accurate and personalized detection and assistive tools are used in the field of orthopedics with the development of technology, the preoperative CT is still the first-line examination choice of many orthopedic surgeons. Therefore, to master the lumbar spine CT imaging performance is not only the basis of spine surgeons, but also the cornerstone of spinal nail surgery. OBJECTIVE: Through CT imaging technique, we measured the parameters of lumbar pedicle imaging, and understood its internal structure as the basis for the choice of screws, in order to improve the safety and accuracy of nail surgery. METHODS: Totally 36 cases without lumbar vertebrae-related disease undergoing lumbar vertebra and abdominal cavity CT scan were randomly selected, including 20 males and 16 females at the age of (43.3±12.3) years. PACS was used to reconstruct lumbar vertebrae, and the related imaging parameters were measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) There was no significant difference between the left and right sides of the pedicle for paired t-test (P >0.05). (2) Pedicle sagittal angle had downward trend, the level of change was small; L4increased relative to L3; L5level was minimum at the average of -1.3°. Pedicle transverse angle had gradually increased trend, and maximum at L5; the average was 25.4°. (3) The length of the pedicle channel increased first and then decreased in the lumbar segment; the longest average was 52.2 mm in the L2segment, the shortest at L5, with an average of 47.4 mm. (4) The pedicle height was slightly narrowed at L1-L3levels; the smallest was 15.4 mm (L3mean), and reached the maximum in the L5at 22.7 mm (L5mean). Cancellous bone height also showed the same trend, the minimum in the L3at 10.2 mm, the maximum in the L5at 17.9 mm. (5) Lumbar pedicle width showed an upward trend, L1minimum of 7.7 mm, L5maximum of 12.5 mm. Cancellous bone width also became a similar upward trend; the narrowest L1, averagely 4.9 mm; the maximum L5, averagely 8.5 mm. (6) Overall, the upper lumbar pedicle channel was slender, while the lower lumbar spine was slightly short. (7) The parameters of the pedicle can be used as the basis for selecting the appropriate screw. At the same time, lumbar pedicle morphology has a certain difference, and there is a certain law. Accurately grasping its structure and image characteristics of pedicle screw fixation is the basis of surgery. The preoperative imaging data collection and assessment, combined with the general situation of patients, and the development of personalized programming, will help in improving the safety and accuracy of screw placement.

BACKGROUND: Imprecise interpretation of coronary angiograms was reported and resulted in inappropriate revascularization. Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score is a comprehensive system to evaluate the complexity of the overall lesions. We hypothesized that a real-time SYNTAX score feedback from image analysts may rectify the mis-estimation and improve revascularization appropriateness in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: In this single-center, historical control study, patients with stable CAD with coronary lesion stenosis ≥50% were consecutively recruited. During the control period, SYNTAX scores were calculated by treating cardiologists. During the intervention period, SYNTAX scores were calculated by image analysts immediately after coronary angiography and were provided to cardiologists in real-time to aid decision-making. The primary outcome was revascularization deemed inappropriate by Chinese appropriate use criteria for coronary revascularization. RESULTS: A total of 3245 patients were enrolled and assigned to the control group (08/2016-03/2017, n = 1525) or the intervention group (03/2017-09/2017, n = 1720). For SYNTAX score tertiles, 17.9% patients were overestimated and 4.3% were underestimated by cardiologists in the control group. After adjustment, inappropriate revascularization significantly decreased in the intervention group compared with the control group (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73-0.95; P = 0.007). Both inappropriate percutaneous coronary intervention (adjusted OR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.74-0.92; P < 0.001) and percutaneous coronary intervention utilization (adjusted OR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.79-0.98; P = 0.016) decreased significantly in the intervention group. There was no significant difference in 1-year adverse cardiac events between the control group and the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Real-time SYNTAX score feedback significantly reduced inappropriate coronary revascularization in stable patients with CAD. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION Nos. NCT03068858 and NCT02880605; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov.