Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of TINAVI orthopaedic robot-assisted pedicle screw placement and free-hand pedicle screw placement in the treatment of lumbar spondylolysis in adolescents.Methods:The clinical data of 65 adolescents with lumbar spondylolysis who underwent surgery in Honghui Hospital, Xi′an Jiaotong University from January 2021 to December 2022 were analyzed retrospectively, including 20 males and 45 females with an age of (21.5 ± 4.3) years. The distribution of spondylolysis included 2 cases of L 3, 13 cases of L 4, 50 cases of L 5. According to the Meyerding classification of spondylolisthesis degree, there were 52 cases of grade Ⅰ, 5 cases of grade Ⅱ and 8 cases without spondylolisthesis, all of which were complicated with intractable back pain. All patients were treated with double segmental pedicle screw reduction and autogenous iliac bone graft. According to different screw placement methods, they were divided into TINAVI orthopedic robot-assisted screw placement group (robot group, 32 cases) and free-hand screw placement group (free-hand group, 33 cases). CT was re-examined after operation. The satisfactory rate of pedicle screw placement and cortical penetration rate were calculated according to Neo standard, and the superior articular process invasion rate of screw was calculated by Babu standard. The operation time, intra-operative blood loss, post-operative drainage, hospital stay, satisfactory rate of screw placement, cortical puncture rate and superior articular process invasion rate were compared between the two groups, and the operative complications and bony fusion time of isthmus were recorded. The visual analogue score (VAS) of lumbar pain, the score of Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and the score of Oswestry dysfunction (ODI) were compared between the two groups before operation, 1 month after operation and 1 year after operation. Results:There was no significant difference in preoperative general data between the two groups ( P>0.05). All patients completed the operation successfully, anatomical reduction was achieved in patients with spondylolisthesis. No serious operative complications such as nerve and vascular injury occurred during surgery. The operation time in the robot group was longer than that in the free-hand group: (82.6 ± 6.8) min vs. (60.5 ± 7.1) min. There was no significant difference in intra-operative blood loss, post-operative drainage and hospital stay between the two groups ( P>0.05). A total of 128 screws were placed in the robot group, and 132 screws were placed in the freehand group. There were significant differences in the satisfaction rate of screw insertion, cortical penetration rate and articular process invasion rate between the two groups: 96.9%(124/128) vs. 90.9%(120/132), 3.1%(4/128) vs. 9.1%(12/132), 2.3%(3/128) vs. 7.6%(10/132) ( P<0.05). One year after surgery, the isthmus of all patients fused well, the reduction was not lost, the intervertebral disc had no degeneration, and the instrumentation was removed. The VAS, JOA score and ODI score of the two groups at 1 month and 1 year after operation were significantly better than those before operation ( P<0.05). The VAS of the robot group was lower than that of the free-hand group at 1 month and 1 year after operation: (1.6 ± 0.8) points vs. (2.7 ± 0.9) points, (0.3 ± 0.1) points vs. (1.5 ± 0.2) points, the difference is statistically significant ( P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in JOA score and ODI score between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:TINAVI orthopaedic robot assisted screw placement and free-hand screw placement can both effectively treat lumbar spondylolysis in adolescents. Compared with free-hand screw placement, TINAVI orthopedic robot assisted screw placement can further improve the accuracy and improve patients′ lumbodorsal pain.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of TINAVI orthopaedic robot-assisted pedicle screw placement and free-hand pedicle screw placement in the treatment of lumbar spondylolysis in adolescents.Methods:The clinical data of 65 adolescents with lumbar spondylolysis who underwent surgery in Honghui Hospital, Xi′an Jiaotong University from January 2021 to December 2022 were analyzed retrospectively, including 20 males and 45 females with an age of (21.5 ± 4.3) years. The distribution of spondylolysis included 2 cases of L 3, 13 cases of L 4, 50 cases of L 5. According to the Meyerding classification of spondylolisthesis degree, there were 52 cases of grade Ⅰ, 5 cases of grade Ⅱ and 8 cases without spondylolisthesis, all of which were complicated with intractable back pain. All patients were treated with double segmental pedicle screw reduction and autogenous iliac bone graft. According to different screw placement methods, they were divided into TINAVI orthopedic robot-assisted screw placement group (robot group, 32 cases) and free-hand screw placement group (free-hand group, 33 cases). CT was re-examined after operation. The satisfactory rate of pedicle screw placement and cortical penetration rate were calculated according to Neo standard, and the superior articular process invasion rate of screw was calculated by Babu standard. The operation time, intra-operative blood loss, post-operative drainage, hospital stay, satisfactory rate of screw placement, cortical puncture rate and superior articular process invasion rate were compared between the two groups, and the operative complications and bony fusion time of isthmus were recorded. The visual analogue score (VAS) of lumbar pain, the score of Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and the score of Oswestry dysfunction (ODI) were compared between the two groups before operation, 1 month after operation and 1 year after operation. Results:There was no significant difference in preoperative general data between the two groups ( P>0.05). All patients completed the operation successfully, anatomical reduction was achieved in patients with spondylolisthesis. No serious operative complications such as nerve and vascular injury occurred during surgery. The operation time in the robot group was longer than that in the free-hand group: (82.6 ± 6.8) min vs. (60.5 ± 7.1) min. There was no significant difference in intra-operative blood loss, post-operative drainage and hospital stay between the two groups ( P>0.05). A total of 128 screws were placed in the robot group, and 132 screws were placed in the freehand group. There were significant differences in the satisfaction rate of screw insertion, cortical penetration rate and articular process invasion rate between the two groups: 96.9%(124/128) vs. 90.9%(120/132), 3.1%(4/128) vs. 9.1%(12/132), 2.3%(3/128) vs. 7.6%(10/132) ( P<0.05). One year after surgery, the isthmus of all patients fused well, the reduction was not lost, the intervertebral disc had no degeneration, and the instrumentation was removed. The VAS, JOA score and ODI score of the two groups at 1 month and 1 year after operation were significantly better than those before operation ( P<0.05). The VAS of the robot group was lower than that of the free-hand group at 1 month and 1 year after operation: (1.6 ± 0.8) points vs. (2.7 ± 0.9) points, (0.3 ± 0.1) points vs. (1.5 ± 0.2) points, the difference is statistically significant ( P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in JOA score and ODI score between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:TINAVI orthopaedic robot assisted screw placement and free-hand screw placement can both effectively treat lumbar spondylolysis in adolescents. Compared with free-hand screw placement, TINAVI orthopedic robot assisted screw placement can further improve the accuracy and improve patients′ lumbodorsal pain.

Objective:To explore the efficacy of secondary targeted percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for the treatment of refracture of injured vertebrae after vertebral augmentation for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).Methods:A retrospective case series study was performed on the clinical data of 25 patients with refracture of injured vertebrae after vertebral augmentation for OVCF admitted to Honghui Hospital, Xi′an Jiaotong University from January 2019 to January 2022, including 10 males and 15 females, aged 62-86 years [(73.8±5.2)years]. The fractured segments involved T 10 in 1 patient, T 11 in 2, T 12 in 10, L 1 in 10 and L 2 in 2. All the patients were treated with secondary targeted PVP. The operation time and the amount of bone cement injected were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) of lower back, Oswestry disability index (ODI), vertebral body index (VBI) and kyphotic angle (KA) were compared before surgery, at 1 day, 6 months after surgery and at the last follow-up. Odom criteria were used to evaluate the efficacy of the surgical procedure at the last follow-up. The intraoperative bone cement leakage and new vertebrae fracture during follow-up were observed. Results:All the patients were followed up for 23-59 months [(36.8±7.6)months]. The operation time was 35-60 minutes [(42.6±5.2)minutes], with the amount of bone cement injected for 3-5 ml [(3.6±0.8)ml]. The VAS scores of lower back at 1 day, 6 months after surgery and at the last follow-up were 3.1(2.0, 4.0)points, 1.7(1.0, 2.0)points and 0.6(0.0, 1.0)points respectively, significantly lower than 7.6(7.0, 9.0)points before surgery ( P<0.01), and a statistically singnificant decrease was found over follow-up time ( P<0.01). The ODI values at 1 day, 6 months after surgery and at the last follow-up were (49.5±5.9)%, (28.5±4.6)% and (19.2±4.8)% respectively, significantly lower than (78.8±6.8)% before surgery ( P<0.01), and a statistically singnificant decrease was found over follow-up time ( P<0.01). The VBI values at 1 day, 6 months after surgery and at the last follow-up were (76.6±4.5)%, (76.3±4.0)% and (76.1±3.8)% respectively, significantly higher than (58.9±5.8)% before surgery ( P<0.01), while there were no significant differences among those at 1 day, 6 months after surgery and at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). The KA values at 1 day, 6 months after surgery and at the last follow-up were (12.4±2.7)°, (12.6±2.5)° and (12.8±2.9)° respectively, significantly lower than (20.8±3.6)° before surgery ( P<0.01), while there were no significant differences among those at 1 day, 6 months after surgery and at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). According to the Odom criteria, 20 patients were rated excellent and 5 good at the last follow-up, with an excellent and good rate of 100%. Intraoperative asymptomatic bone cement leakage occurred in 3 patients (12%), including 2 with intervertebral leakage and 1 with lateral vertebral leakage. No adjacent vertebral body or other vertebral fracture was observed during the follow-up. Conclusions:For patients with refracture of injured vertebrae after vertebral augmentation for OVCF, the secondary targeted PVP has advantages of attenuation of the lower back pain, improvement of the quality of life, restoration of the height of refractured vertebrae, correction of the local kyphosis, and a low incidence of complications.

Objective:To evaluate the guiding value of ultrasound-guided selective nerve root block in the surgical treatment of multilevel lumbar degeneration.Methods:Retrospective case-control study was used. Clinical data of 47 patients with multi-level lumbar degeneration who underwent decompression surgery in Honghui Hospital, Xi′an Jiaotong University from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into nerve root block group ( n=22)and non-nerve root block group( n=25) according to whether ultrasound-guided selective nerve root block was performed before decompression surgery. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, number of decompression laminae, postoperative drainage volume and length of stay of the two groups were recorded and compared. The visual analogue scale of low back pain, the visual analogue scale (VAS) of leg pain, the Japanese orthopaedic association (JOA) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) score were all compared before surgery and during follow-up between the two groups. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as mean±standard deviation( ± s), and the comparison between groups was conducted using the paired t-test. Chi-square test was used for counting data. Results:All 47 patients successfully completed the operation without any serious complications such as neurovascular injury. All patients were followed up for (27.6±7.5)months. In the nerve root block group, the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, number of decompression laminae, postoperative drainage volume and hospital stay were (90.5±12.6) min, (110.5±15.8) mL, 1.2±0.8, (85.6±15.8) mL, (6.2±2.8) d, respectively. In the non-root block group, they were (190.6±25.5) min, (450.5±24.8) mL, 3.8±1.6, (210.5±16.8) mL, (9.5±2.2) d, respectively. The above indexes in the nerve root closure group were less than those in the non-root closure group, and the difference was significant between the two groups ( P< 0.05). The scores of VAS of low back pain and leg pain, JOA and ODI in both groups were significantly improved after surgery and during the follow-up period when compared with those of pre-operation ( P< 0.05). The VAS scores of low back pain on the 3rd day, 6 months after operation and at the last follow-up in the nerve block group were 3.2±1.4, 1.4±0.8, 0.5±0.2, the JOA scores were 15.8±4.3, 21.3±5.6, 25.6±1.4, and the ODI scores were 50.6±10.3, 22.8±7.8, 16.8±4.2, respectively. The VAS scores of low back pain on the 3rd day, 6 months after operation and at the last follow-up in the non-nerve block group were 5.1±1.8, 3.4±1.2, 1.8±0.5, the JOA scores were 14.1±4.8, 20.5±3.2, 24.2±1.8, and the ODI scores were 60.5±9.8, 31.6±8.2 and 21.3±5.5, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P<0.05). However, there was no statistical difference in the VAS scores of leg pain between the two groups after surgery and during follow-up ( P>0.05). At the last follow-up, the internal fixation position of the two groups was good, no loosening and displacement, and bone graft fusion was good. Conclusion:For patients with multi-level lumbar degeneration, ultrasound-guided selective nerve root block before surgery can identify the responsible segment, and selective decompression and fusion based on this can effectively reduce surgical trauma, while improving patients′ back and leg pain and physical function, which has important surgical guidance value.