Experimental study on the influence of spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) changes caused by spinal shortening on the safety of spinal cord function based on laser speckle imaging
10.3760/cma.j.cn121113-20240725-00425
- VernacularTitle:激光散斑成像技术监测脊柱截骨短缩导致的脊髓血流量变化及其临床意义
- Author:
Xiaolong YE
1
;
Yuan MA
Author Information
1. 新疆医科大学，乌鲁木齐 830054
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Laser speckle contrast imaging;
Spine;
Osteotomy;
Spinal cord blood flow;
Spinal cord blood vessel diameter;
Reuters score
- From:
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics
2025;45(6):368-375
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the changes in spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) caused by spinal osteotomy shortening and its impact on spinal cord function, thereby determining a safe range for osteotomy shortening.Methods:Fifteen healthy male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: the control group (spinal osteotomy with dura mater exposure only), the shortening 1/3 group (spinal shortening by one-third with dura mater exposure), and the shortening 1/2 group (spinal shortening by one-half with dura mater exposure), with five rabbits in each group. A laser speckle imaging system was used to monitor SCBF and spinal vascular diameter throughout the spinal osteotomy and shortening procedures. SCBF and vascular diameter were recorded postoperatively. Spinal cord function was assessed using intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring, and sensory and motor functions were evaluated using the Reuters score before and after surgery.Results:No abnormalities were detected in the electrophysiological monitoring of any group during the experiment. Laser speckle imaging revealed that, compared to pre-osteotomy levels, some branch vessels began to fade significantly when spinal shortening reached 1/3, and some small branch vessels disappeared in imaging at 1/2 shortening. The postoperative SCBF values for the control, shortening 1/3, and shortening 1/2 groups were 229.71±139.00 PU, 296.84±118.21 PU, and 168.06±76.57 PU, respectively, with significant differences ( F=43.820, P<0.001). The postoperative spinal vascular diameters were 215.39±118.23 μm, 276.47±96.00 μm, and 350.77±90.97 μm, respectively, also showing significant differences ( F=32.150, P<0.001). Postoperative Reuters scores were 1.20±0.45, 2.40±0.55, and 4.00±0.71 for the control, shortening 1/3, and shortening 1/2 groups, respectively, with significant differences ( F=29.600, P<0.001). The shortening 1/2 group had significantly higher scores than both the control and shortening 1/3 groups ( P<0.05). A positive correlation was observed between SCBF and spinal cord blood vessel diameter from pre-osteotomy to 1/3 shortening ( r=0.661, P=0.037). However, SCBF negatively correlated with postoperative Reuters scores from 1/3 to 1/2 shortening ( r=-0.830, P=0.003), whereas spinal cord blood vessel diameter showed a positive correlation with postoperative Reuters scores ( r=0.537, P=0.039). Conclusions:As the degree of spinal shortening increases, the diameter of spinal cord blood vessels gradually expands, while SCBF initially rises and then declines. A positive correlation exists between vascular diameter and SCBF at shortening ratios of <1/3, whereas a negative correlation is observed between SCBF and postoperative Reuters scores at shortening ratios between 1/3 and 1/2. Additionally, vascular diameter correlates positively with postoperative Reuters scores from pre-osteotomy to 1/2 shortening. These findings suggest that spinal cord function can be effectively preserved when spinal shortening does not exceed 1/2.
