OBJECTIVE: To investigate the short-term effectiveness of uni-portal non-coaxial spinal endoscopic surgery (UNSES) via crossing midline approach (CMA) in the treatment of free lumbar disc herniation (FLDH). METHODS: Between March 2024 and June 2024, 16 patients with FLDH were admitted and treated with UNSES via CMA. There were 9 males and 7 females with an average age of 55.1 years (range, 47-62 years). The disease duration was 8-30 months (mean, 15.6 months). The pathological segments was L _{3, 4} in 4 cases, L _{4, 5} in 5 cases, and L ₅, S ₁ in 7 cases. The preoperative pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 6.9±0.9 and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) was 57.22%±4.16%. The operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, postoperative hospital stay, and incidence of complications were recorded. The spinal pain and functional status were evaluated by VAS score and ODI, and effectiveness was evaluated according to the modified MacNab criteria. CT and MRI were used to evaluate the effect of nerve decompression. RESULTS: All 16 patients underwent operation successfully without any complications. The operation time was 63-81 minutes (mean, 71.0 minutes). The intraoperative bleeding volume was 47.3-59.0 mL (mean, 55.0 mL). The length of hospital stay after operation was 3-4 days (mean, 3.5 days). All patients were followed up 1-3 months, with 15 cases followed up for 2 months and 14 cases for 3 months. The VAS score and ODI gradually decreased over time after operation, and there were significant differences between different time points ( P<0.05). At 3 months after operation, the effectiveness was rated as excellent in 12 cases and good in 2 cases according to the modified MacNab criteria, with an excellent and good rate of 100%. CT and MRI during follow-up showed a significant increase in the diameter and cross-sectional area of the spinal canal, indicating effective decompression of the canal. CONCLUSION When using UNSES to treat FLDH, choosing CMA for nerve decompression has the advantages of wide decompression range, large operating space, and freedom of operation. It can maximize the preservation of the articular process, avoid fracture and breakage of the isthmus, clearly display the exiting and traversing nerve root, and achieve good short-term effectiveness.
Humans ; Male ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/diagnostic imaging* ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Treatment Outcome ; Operative Time ; Pain Measurement ; Length of Stay

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the short-term effectiveness of the anterior and middle columns in thoracolumbar tuberculosis reconstructed with whole autogenous spinous process-laminar bone through posterior approach. METHODS: The retrospective study included 78 patients with thoracolumbar tuberculosis who underwent posterior approach surgery and anterior and middle column bone graft reconstruction between January 2012 and May 2023. Based on the type of autogenous bone graft used, patients were divided into group A (whole autogenous spinous process-laminar bone graft, 38 cases) and group B (autogenous structural iliac bone graft, 40 cases). There was no significant difference of baseline data, such as age, gender, disease duration, involved segment of spinal tuberculosis, and preoperative erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), Oswestry disability index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS) score, the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade, segmental kyphotic angle, and intervertebral height between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, hospital stays, ESR, CRP, VAS score, ODI, bone fusion time, ASIA grade for neurological status valuation, postoperative complications, change of segmental kyphotic angle, change of intervertebral height were recorded and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The operation time in group A was significantly shorter than that in group B ( P<0.05); there was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, and hospital stays between the two groups ( P>0.05). All patients in the two groups were followed up 14-110 months (mean, 64.1 months); there was no significant difference in the follow-up time between the two groups ( P>0.05). The ESR, CRP, ODI, and VAS score at each time point after operation in both groups significantly improved when compared with those before operation, and further improved with the extension of time, the differences were significant ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05) except that the VAS score of group A was significantly better than that of group B at 3 days after operation ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in fusion time between the two groups ( P>0.05). The neurological function of most patients improved after operation, and there was no significant difference in ASIA grade between the two groups at last follow-up ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in segmental kyphosis angle and intervertebral height between the two groups at each time point ( P>0.05), and no significant difference in segmental kyphosis angle, intervertebral height correction and loss were found between the two groups ( P>0.05). In group A, there was 1 case of incision fat liquefaction and 1 case of incision infection; in group B, there was 1 case of deep venous thrombosis, 2 cases of pleural effusion, and 10 cases of pain in bone harvesting area; in both groups, there were 2 cases of gout caused by hyperuricemia. There was a significant difference in the incidence of pain in bone harvesting area between the two groups ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the incidence of other complications between the two groups ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION Whole autogenous spinous process-laminar bone grafting is equivalent to structural iliac bone graft in reconstruction of the anterior and middle columns in thoracolumbar tuberculosis through posterior approach, effectively supporting the stability of the anterior and middle columns of the spine, while resulting in shorter operation time and less postoperative pain in bone harvesting area.
Humans ; Tuberculosis, Spinal/surgery* ; Thoracic Vertebrae/surgery* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Bone Transplantation/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Treatment Outcome ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Operative Time ; Ilium/transplantation*

OBJECTIVE: To explore decompression strategies for lateral lumbar spinal stenosis under unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) assistance. METHODS: A clinical data of 86 patients with lateral lumbar stenosis treated with UBE-assisted intervertebral decompression between September 2022 and December 2023 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 42 males and 44 females with an average age of 63.6 years (range, 45-79 years). The disease duration ranged from 6 to 14 months (mean, 8.5 months). Surgical levels included L _{2, 3} in 3 cases, L _{3, 4} in 26 cases, L _{4, 5} in 42 cases, and L ₅, S ₁ in 15 cases. According to Lee's grading system, there were 21 cases of grade 1, 37 cases of grade 2, and 28 cases of grade 3 for lumbar spinal stenosis. Based on the location of stenosis and clinical symptoms, the 33 cases underwent interlaminar approach, 7 cases underwent interlaminar approach with auxiliary third incision, 26 cases underwent contralateral inclinatory approach, and 20 cases underwent paraspinal approach; then, the corresponding decompression procedures were performed. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to evaluate lower back/leg pain before operation and at 1 and 3 months after operation, while Oswestry disability index (ODI) was used to evaluate spinal function. At 3 months after operation, the effectiveness was evaluated using the modified MacNab evaluation criteria. The spinal stenosis and decompression were evaluated based on Lee's grading system using lumbar MRI before operation and at 3 months after operation. RESULTS: All procedures were successfully completed with mean operation time of 95.1 minutes (range, 57-166 minutes). Dural tears occurred in 2 cases treated with interlaminar approach with auxiliary third incision. All incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 3-10 months (mean, 5.9 months). The clinical symptoms of the patients relieved to varying degrees. The VAS scores and ODI of lower back and leg pain at 1 and 3 months after operation significantly improved compared to preoperative levels ( P<0.05), and the indicators at 3 months significantly improved than that at 1 month ( P<0.05). According to the modified MacNab evaluation criteria, the effectiveness at 3 months after operation was rated as excellent in 52 cases, good in 21 cases, and poor in 13 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 84.9%. No lumbar instability was detected on flexion-extension X-ray films during follow-up. The Lee's grading of lateral lumbar stenosis at 2 days after operation showed significant improvement compared to preoperative grading ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION For lateral lumbar spinal stenosis, UBE-assisted decompression of the spinal canal requires the selection of interlaminar approach, interlaminar approach with auxiliary third incision, contralateral inclinatory approach, and paraspinal approach based on preoperative imaging findings and clinical symptoms to achieve better effectiveness.
Humans ; Spinal Stenosis/diagnostic imaging* ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Decompression, Surgical/methods* ; Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate early effectiveness of posterior 180-degree decompression via unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) combined with Michigan State University (MSU)-1 lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 33 patients with LSS combined with MSU-1 LDH, who met selection criteria and were treated between March 2022 and January 2024. All patients underwent UBE-assisted 180-degree spinal canal decompression. The cohort comprised 17 males and 16 females, aged 37-82 years (mean, 67.1 years). Preoperative presentations included bilateral lower limbs intermittent claudication and radiating pain, with disease duration ranging from 5 to 13 months (mean, 8.5 months). Affected segments included L _{3, 4} in 4 cases, L _{4, 5} in 28 cases, and L ₅, S ₁ in 1 case. LSS was rated as Schizas grade A in 4 cases, grade B in 5 cases, grade C in 13 cases, and grade D in 11 cases. LDH was categorized as MSU-1A in 24 cases, MSU-1B in 2 cases, and MSU-1AB in 7 cases. Intraoperative parameters (operation time, blood loss) and postoperative hospitalization length were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to assess the lower limb pain and functional outcomes after operation. Clinical efficacy was evaluated at last follow-up via modified MacNab criteria. Quantitative radiological assessments included dural sac cross-sectional area (DSCA) measurements and spinal stenosis grading on lumbar MRI. Morphological classification of lumbar canal stenosis was determined according to the Schizas grading, categorized into four grades. RESULTS: The operation time was 60.4-90.8 minutes (mean, 80.3 minutes) and intraoperative blood loss was 13-47 mL (mean, 29.9 mL). The postoperative hospitalization length was 3-5 days (mean, 3.8 days). All patients were followed up 12-16 months (mean, 13.8 months). The VAS score and ODI improved at immediate and 3, 6, and 12 months after operation compared to before operation, and the differences between different time points were significant ( P<0.05). At last follow-up, the clinical efficacy assessed by the modified MacNab criteria were graded as excellent in 23 cases, good in 9 cases, and poor in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 96.97%. Postoperative lumbar MRI revealed the significant decompression of the dural sac in 32 cases, with 1 case showing inadequate dural expansion. DSCA measurements confirmed progressive enlargement and stenosis reduction over time. The differences were significant ( P<0.05) before operation, immediately after operation, and at 6 months after operation. At 6 months after operation, Schizas grading of spinal stenosis improved to grade A in 27 cases and grade B in 6 cases. CONCLUSION Posterior 180-degree decompression via UBE is a safe and feasible strategy for treating LSS combined with MSU-1 LDH, achieving effective neural decompression while preserving intervertebral disc integrity.
Humans ; Spinal Stenosis/diagnostic imaging* ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Middle Aged ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/complications* ; Decompression, Surgical/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Adult ; Aged, 80 and over ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of percutaneous short-segment injured vertebra pedicle screw fixation combined with bone grafting versus percutaneous short-segment injured vertebra pedicle screw fixation alone for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures. METHODS: The clinical data of 54 patients with single-level thoracolumbar fractures who met the selection criteria between January 2023 and February 2024 were retrospectively analysed. Based on whether bone grafting was performed on the injured vertebra, the patients were divided into a control group (28 cases, percutaneous short-segment injured vertebra pedicle screw fixation alone) and a study group (26 cases, percutaneous short-segment injured vertebra pedicle screw fixation combined with bone grafting using a self-made minimally invasive bone grafting funnel). No significant difference was observed between the two groups ( P>0.05) in baseline data, including age, gender, surgical segment, cause of injury, AO classification, and preoperative anterior-vertebral height compression ratio, mid-vertebral height compression ratio, Cobb angle, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture healing status, removal time of internal fixator, and complications were recorded and compared between the two groups. Effectiveness was assessed using anterior-vertebral height compression ratio, mid-vertebral height compression ratio, Cobb angle, VAS scores, and ODI taken preoperatively, at 1 week postoperatively, and at last follow-up. RESULTS: All patients in both groups successfully underwent surgery. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss in the control group were significantly less than those in the study group ( P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in the follow-up time between the study group [(14.46±2.00) months] and control group [(14.36±1.83) months] ( P>0.05). The fracture healing time of the study group was significantly shorter than that of the control group ( P<0.05). One patient in the study group was found to have bilateral titanium rod breakage by X-ray reexamination at 8 months after operation, and there was no subsequent vertebral height collapse occurred, and the internal fixator was removed following complete fracture healing. The other patients had no complication such as spinal cord injury, internal fixator loosening and breakage. There was no significant difference in the removal time of internal fixator between the two groups ( P<0.05). The anterior-vertebral height compression ratio, mid-vertebral height compression ratio, Cobb angle, VAS score, and ODI significantly improved in both groups at 1 week after operation and at last follow-up ( P<0.05). Among them, the VAS score, and ODI further improved at last follow-up when compared with at 1 week after operation, Cobb angle lost a little at 1 week after operation, while anterior-vertebral height compression ratio and mid-vertebral height compression ratio slightly increased when compared with 1 week after operation, and the differences were significant ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in Cobb angle at last follow-up, VAS score and ODI at 1 week after operation ( P>0.05), while the other indicators in the study group were significantly better than those in the control group at all time points ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION Compared to percutaneous short-segment injured vertebra pedicle screw fixation alone, the technique combined with intravertebral bone grafting can shorten fracture healing time, effectively restore and maintain vertebral body height, correct kyphotic deformity, and improve clinical outcomes for patients with thoracolumbar fractures.
Humans ; Thoracic Vertebrae/surgery* ; Pedicle Screws ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Bone Transplantation/methods* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Operative Time ; Aged

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical efficacy between side-opening and front-opening bone cement injectors in percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP) for the management of thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures(OVCFs). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, comprising 62 patients with single-segment thoracolumbar OVCFs (T₁₁-L₂), who underwent bilateral PKP at our department during the period from June 2020 to October 2021. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the specific bone cement injector employed during the surgical procedure: the side-opening group (n=29) and the front-opening group (n=33). Among them, the side-opening group consisted of 6 male and 23 female patients, with a mean age of (73.32±9.11) years. The front-opening group included 7 male and 26 female patients, with a mean age of (71.29±10.39) years. The variables encompassed essential patient characteristics were recorded, such as gender, age, bone mineral density (BMD), and fracture level (T₁₁-L₂), as well as procedural aspects, including operation duration, cement injection volume, cement distribution type (lobular or diffuse), occurrence of cement leakage, pre-and post-operative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, and vertebral compression ratio. RESULTS: All patients underwent successful surgery, with a mean follow-up duration of (15.37±3.03) months. There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, BMD, fracture level, preoperative vertebral compression degree, and VAS scores between the side-opening group and the front-opening group (P>0.05). The operation time, the mean cement injection volumes, the distribution of bone cement within the vertebrae has no statistically significant difference between two groups(P>0.05). Both the side-opening and front-opening groups showed significant improvements in VAS scores at 3 days and 6 months after operation (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in VAS scores between the two groups at both 3 days and 6 months after the operation (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Side-opening bone cement injectors in bilateral PKP surgery for single-segment thoracolumbar OVCF achieve similar clinical efficacy as front-opening injectors, without significant improvement in cement distribution and containment.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Kyphoplasty/instrumentation* ; Aged ; Bone Cements ; Fractures, Compression/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Thoracic Vertebrae/injuries* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/injuries* ; Osteoporotic Fractures/surgery* ; Middle Aged ; Aged, 80 and over

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of percutaneous pedicle screw combined with unilateral nail placement combined with bone cement strengthening and bilateral nail placement in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracic and lumbar fractures. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was used to analyze the clinical data of 78 patients with osteoporotic thoracic and lumbar fractures admitted from October 2017 to May 2019. According to the surgical method, it was divided into percutaneous pedicle screw combined with unilateral nail placement combined with unilateral bone cement strengthening group(bone cement group) and percutaneous pedicle screw combined with bilateral nail placement(screw group). In the bone cement group, 40 patients included 16 males and 24 females, with a mean age of (62.1±8.1) years old. In the screw group, 38 patients included 18 males and 20 females with a mean age of (65.1±9.3) years old. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay and postoperative complications were compared between two groups. The kyphosis Cobb angle, anterior edge height ratio, central height ratio and pain visual analogue score(VAS) were compared. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 25 to 36 months. The operation time (70.1±17.3) min of the cement group was shorter than that of the screw group (78.6±18.2) min(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss and length of hospital stay(P>0.05). The VAS in the cement group 1 year 1.5±0.5 and the latest follow-up 0.5±0.3 after operation were lower than 1 year 1.8±0.3 and the latest follow-up 0.8±0.4 in the screw group(P<0.05). The kyphosis Cobb angle, anterior edge height ratio, central height ratio in bone cement group, 1 year (6.2±1.2)°, (86.6±3.5)%, (91.1±2.5)%, the last follow-up (6.4±0.7)°, (85.5±3.3)%, (90.5±6.3)% were better than that of the screw group 1 year (6.8±1.4)°, (83.1±2.4)%, (89.9±3.4)% and the latest follow-up (7.1±1.1)°, (82.6±4.1)%, (87.6±5.9)%(P<0.05). There were 3 cases of bone cement leakage in the cement group, all of which had no clinical symptoms;and 2 cases of pedicle screws were extracted in the screw group, and the screws were removed at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION Percutaneous pedicle screw combined with unilateral nail placement combined with bone cement strengthening and bilateral nail placement in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracic and lumbar compression fractures in the elderly can achieve satisfactory efficacy and effectively relieve the pain of patients, but the former internal fixation system is more stable, and the long-term follow-up can effectively maintain the height of the anterior middle column and the correction of kyphosis deformity, and the incidence of chronic low back pain is lower.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Bone Cements ; Middle Aged ; Thoracic Vertebrae/surgery* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Osteoporotic Fractures/surgery* ; Case-Control Studies ; Bone Nails ; Pedicle Screws

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of oblique lateral interbody fusion(OLIF) combined with lateral fixation and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(TLIF) in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. METHODS: Totally 47 patients with lumbar stenosis from November 2018 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively and were divided into two groups according to the surgical methods. Among them, 21 cases underwent oblique lumbar interbody fusion supplemental anterolateral screw and rod instrumentation, including 5 males and 16 females, with a mean age of (68.19±6.13) years old ranging 55 to 74 years; the other 26 cases underwent posterior pedicle screw fixation and reduction were recorded, including 8 males and 18 females with a mean age of (65.35±7.64) years old ranging 54 to 78 years. Visual analogue scale(VAS) of pain was recorded to evaluate the degree of low back pain and lower extremity pain. The radiographic parameters were collected to evaluate the efficacy of two approaches including disc height, foraminal height, canal sagittal diameter and cross-sectional area. RESULTS: All operations were completed successfully. The wound healed normally and bone fusion was obtained in the last final follow up. No serious complication was occurred in both groups. One case of dural tear occurred in direct compression group. Four cases of left thigh weakness and pain were recorded in indirect decompression group. The average postoperative follow-up was(21.69±4.37)months in direct compression group, while(20.43±4.80)months in another group. There were no significant difference in bone density, body mass index(BMI), hospital stay, Cobb angel(P>0.05). The differences in intra-operative blood loss, operation time, disc height, foraminal height between two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). The area and sagittal diameter of the spinal canal in the two groups were significantly improved after surgery(P<0.05). CONCLUSION Both two fusion methods have achieved good clinical results in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis, with the advantages of good stability, fast recovery and high fusion rate. Compared with TLIF, the advantage of OLIF has greater advantages in less bleeding and less trauma.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Spinal Stenosis/surgery* ; Spinal Fusion/methods* ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of oblique lateral interbody fusion(OLIF) channel technique combined with pedicle screw internal fixation in the treatment of single-segment lumbar intervertebral space/vertebral body infection. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 23 patients who underwent surgical treatment for lumbar infection from January 2021 to December 2022. The patients were divided into the OLIF channel group and the traditional open surgery group according to the surgical methods. There were 16 cases in the OLIF channel group, including 9 males and 7 females, with an average age of (68.5±12.1) years old;there were 7 cases in the traditional open surgery group, including 4 males and 3 females, with an average age of (75.0±3.2) years old. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, incision length, visual analogue scale(VAS), activities of daily living (ADL) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), C-reactive protein(CRP) before and 1 week and 3 months after the operation, and the intervertebral fusion status on the last follow-up CT were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with the open surgery group, the OLIF channel group had shorter operation time (209.87±31.5) min vs. (246.0±42.7) min, less intraoperative blood loss (225.625±91.1) ml vs. (364.2±74.8) ml, and shorter incision length (6.1±1.2) vs. (14.0±1.4) cm, and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). Before and 1 week and 3 months after the operation, the lumbar VAS in the OLIF group were (6.3±0.6), (2.8±0.7), (1.1±0.5), and those in the traditional open surgery group were (6.4±0.6), (3.4±0.5), (1.2±0.3);the ADL scores in the OLIF group were (45.0±4.5), (60.3±4.3), (94.1±4.2), and those in the open group were (46.4±5.6), (60.7±4.5), (92.9±4.9); the ODI scores in the OLIF group were (86.3±2.9)%, (69.5±4.1)%, (23.0±3.2)%, and those in the open group were (87.3±3.8)%, (69.8±4.2)%, (23.8±3.6)%, all of which showed significant improvement(P<0.05). Three months after the operation, CRP, PCT, and ESR were significantly lower than those before the operation, and CRP and PCT returned to normal, while ESR was still slightly elevated in some patients. The last follow-up CT showed that continuous trabecular bone formation was observed between the upper and lower endplates of the surgical segments in all patients, and the fusion time was (8.7±4.5) months. CONCLUSION The OLIF channel technique combined with posterior internal fixation is a minimally invasive and effective treatment method, which can effectively control infection, relieve pain, and improve the quality of life of patients. Compared with traditional open surgery, it has the advantages of minimally invasive, shorter operation time, and less intraoperative blood loss.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Spinal Fusion/methods* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/microbiology* ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Aged, 80 and over ; Pedicle Screws ; Infections/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the sequence of intermediate instrumentation and distraction-reduction of the injured vertebra on the surgical efficacy of short-segment percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for thoracolumbar burst fractures with high rate of spinal canal encroachment. METHODS: From January 2016 to January 2022, 38 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures with high rate of spinal canal encroachment (spinal canal encroachment rate >40%, complete posterior longitudinal ligament, no flipping bone block in the posterior marginal of the vertebra) without spinal cord injury who were were treated with short-segment percutaneous pedicle screw fixation were retrospectively analyzed. During the operation, 18 cases were used distraction-reduction first and then intermediate instrumentation on injured vertebral and sequential distraction-reduction again(the distraction-reduction first group) including 8 females and 10 males with a mean age of 46.5 (38.5, 50.0) years old, and the other 20 cases were used intermediate instrumentation on injured vertebral first and then direct distraction-reduction(the intermediate instrumentation first group) including 10 males and 10 females with a mean age of 46.0 (35.8, 50.8) years. The anterior height ratio of the injured vertebra, local Cobb's angle of the injured vertebrae, the spinal canal encroachment rate, and the improvement rate of spinal canal encroachment were compared and evaluated. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for more than 1 year, and no complications such as spinal cord and root injury, screw loosening and screw rod fracture were found. The anterior height ratio of the injured vertebra, local Cobb' angle of the injured vertebra in the two groups were significantly improved compared with preoperative data(P<0.05), and those at 3 months and 1 year after operation was lost compared with that at the previous time point(P<0.05). Although the spinal canal encroachment rate of the two groups 1 day and 1 year after operation was improved compared with that before operation(P<0.05), the improvement of spinal canal volume in the distraction-reduction first group was significantly better than that in the intermediate instrumentation first group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION In the treatment of patients with thoracolumbar fractures with high rate of spinal canal encroachment, short-segment percutaneous pedicle screw internal fixation with distraction-reduction first and then intermediate instrumentation and sequential distraction-reduction again can more effectively reduce the bony encroachment in the spinal canal and achieve indirect decompression effect better.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Thoracic Vertebrae/surgery* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Pedicle Screws ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal/surgery*