OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of facet joint degeneration in adjacent segments on the incidence of adjacent segment disease (ASD) after lumbar fusion and fixation. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 138 patients who underwent L₅S₁ posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) from June 2016 to June 2019. Patients were divided into a degeneration group (68 cases) and a non-degenerative group (70 cases) based on the presence or absence of L_4,5 facet joint degeneration before surgery (graded using the Weishaupt standard). Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), follow-up time, and preoperative L_4,5 intervertebral disc degeneration (graded using the Pfirrmann standard) were collected for both groups. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) at 1 and 3 months after surgery. The incidence and time of ASD after surgery were analyzed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in age, gender, BMI, follow-up time, or preoperative L_4,5 intervertebral disc degeneration. Both groups showed significant improvement in VAS and ODI at 1 and 3 months after surgery (P<0.001), with no significant difference between the groups(P>0.05). However, there was a statistically significant difference in the incidence and timing of ASD between the groups (P<0.05). The degeneration group had 2 cases of ASD in gradeⅠdegeneration, 4 cases of ASD in gradeⅡdegeneration, and 7 cases of ASD in grade Ⅲ degeneration. There was a statistically significant difference between the number of patients with grade Ⅲ degeneration and those with gradesⅠandⅡASD (P<0.0167, Bonferroni correction). CONCLUSION Preoperative degeneration of adjacent articular processes will increase the risk of ASD after lumbar fusion fixation, whereas gradeⅢ degeneration will further increase the risk.
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/surgery* ; Zygapophyseal Joint/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion/adverse effects* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Spondylosis ; Treatment Outcome

Wallis dynamic stabilization system is a surgical approach in the non-fusion technique of lumbar spine, consisting of interspinous blockers and dacron artificial ligaments that provide stability to the spine while maintaining a degree of motion in the affected segment. Recent studies have demonstrated the significant benefits of Wallis dynamic stabilization system in treating lumbar degenerative diseases. It not only improves clinical symptoms, but also effectively delays complications such as adjacent segmental degeneration. This paper aims to review the literature related to the Wallis dynamic stabilization system and degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine to describe the long-term prognostic effect of this system in the treatment of such diseases. This review provides a theoretical basis and reference for selecting surgical methods to treat degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine.
Humans ; Spinal Fusion/methods* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Lumbosacral Region ; Decompression, Surgical/methods* ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between spinous process deviation and lumbar disc herniation in young patients. METHODS: From March 2015 to January 2022, 30 treated young (under the age of 30) patients with lumbar disc herniation were included as the young group. In addition 30 middle-aged patients (quinquagenarian group) with lumbar disc herniation and 30 patients with non-degenerative spinal diseases (young non-degenerative group) were selected as control groups. The angle of the spinous process deviation was measured on CT and statistically analyzed by various groups. All the data were measured twice and the average value was taken and recorded. RESULTS: The average angle of spinous process deviation in the degenerative lumbar vertebra of young patients were (3.89±3.77) degrees, similar to the (3.72±2.98) degrees of quinquagenarian patients(P=0.851). The average angle of s spinous process deviation young non-degenerative group were (2.20±2.28) degrees, significantly less than young group(P=0.040). The spinous process deviation angle of the superior vertebral of the degenerative lumbar in the young group was (4.10±3.44) degrees, which similar to the (3.47±2.87) degrees in the quinquagenarian group (P=0.447). A total of 19 young patients had the opposite deviation direction of the spinous process of the degenerative lumbar vertebra and upper vertebra, while only 7 quinquagenarian patients had this condition(P=0.02). The type of lumbar disc herniation in young patients had no significant relationship with the direction of spinous process deflection of the degenerative or upper lumbar vertebra (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Spinous process deviation is a risk factor of young lumbar disc herniation patients. If the deviation directions of adjacent lumbar spinous processes are opposite, it will increase the incidence of lumbar disc herniation in young patients. There was no significant correlation between the type of disc herniation and the deviation direction of the spinous process of the degenerative or upper lumbar vertebra. People with such anatomical variation can strengthen the stability of spine and prevent lumbar disc herniation through reasonable exercise.
Middle Aged ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/complications* ; Vertebral Body ; Spinal Diseases ; Spinal Fusion/adverse effects* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging* ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/etiology*

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is one of the main diseases causing low back pain,which seriously affects the quality of life of patients.Recent studies have discovered that interleukin-6 (IL-6) is highly expressed in the tissues and cells of degenerative intervertebral disc and is closely related to the occurrence and development of IDD.However,the signaling pathway and role of IL-6 in IDD remain to be understood.Therefore,this article reviews the recent studies about the signaling pathway and role of IL-6 in IDD,aiming to facilitate the clinical work and subsequent research progress.
Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Quality of Life ; Peptides

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility and clinical effect of Stand-alone oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) in the treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration with Modic changes and endplate sclerosis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 16 cases with lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration with Modic changes and endplate sclerosis admitted to three medical centers from January 2015 to December 2018. There were 6 males and 10 females, the age ranged from 45 to 67 years old with an average of (55.48±8.07) years old, the medical history ranged from 36 to 240 months with an average of (82.40±47.68) months. The lesion sites included L_2,3 in 2 cases, L_3,4 in 5 cases, and L_4,5 in 9 cases. All patients presented with chronic low back pain with lower limb neurological symptoms in 3 cases. All patients were treated by Stand-alone oblique lateral lumbar interbody fusion. Clinical and radiological findings and complications were observed. RESULTS: There was no vascular injury, endplate injury and vertebral fracture during the operation. The mean incision length, operation time, and intraoperative blood loss were(4.06±0.42) cm, (45.12±5.43) min, (33.40±7.29) ml, respectively. The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) of the incision pain was (1.14±0.47) at 72 hours after operation. There was no incision skin necrosis, poor incision healing or infection in patients. Sympathetic chain injury occurred in 1 case, anterolateral pain and numbness of the left thigh in 2 cases, and weakness of the left iliopsoas muscle in 1 case, all of which were transient injuries with a complication rate of 25%(4/16). All 16 patients were followed up from 12 to 36 months with an average of (20.80±5.46) months. The intervertebral space height was significantly recovered after operation, with slight lost during the follow-up. Coronal and sagittal balance of the lumbar spine showed good improvement at the final follow-up. There was no obvious subsidence or displacement of the cage, and the interbody fusion was obtained. At the final follow-up, Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA) score and Oswestry disability index(ODI) were significantly improved. CONCLUSION As long as the selection of case is strict enough and the preoperative examination is sufficients, the use of Stand-alone OLIF in the treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration with Modic changes and endplate sclerosis has a good results, with obvious clinical advantages and is a better surgical choice.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Child, Preschool ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sclerosis ; Treatment Outcome ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Spinal Fusion/methods*

Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/surgery* ; Skull ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Blindness ; Treatment Outcome ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/surgery*

Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/therapy* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Intervertebral Disc ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the short-term clinical effect of the cervical anterior Hybrid surgery in the treatment of two-segment and three-segment cervical spondylosis. METHODS: From January 2018 to January 2019, 108 patients who were performed anterior Hybrid surgery with cervical degenerative diseases were collected. The patients were divided into a two-segment group with 52 patients and a three-segment group with 56 patients according to surgical segments. In two-segment group, there were 24 males and 28 females, aged from 35 to 67 years old with an average of(45.94±14.67) years old. In three-segment group, there were 23 males and 33 females, aged from 32 to 65 years old with an average of (47.54±15.34) years old. The outcome indicators of the two groups were compared. Clinical indicators:neck disability index(NDI) was used to evaluate daily life ability, Japanese Orthopedic Association(JOA) score was used to evaluate neurological function improvement, visual analogue scale(VAS) was used to evaluate pain intensity, and general clinical results were graded according to Odom's score. Cervical range of motion (ROM), fusion and complications were measured by X-ray, CT and MRI. RESULTS: All operations were successfully completed and all patients were followed up for more than 12 months. The operation time of two-segment group and three-segment group were 95 to 180 min with an average of(152.30±44.74) min and 110 to 210 min with an average of (165.18±45.86) mins, the blood loss were 20 to 100 ml with an average of (32.88±8.75) ml and 20 to 150 ml with an average of(34.64±10.63) ml respectively which has no statistical differences between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with those before surgery, NDI, JOA, VAS and Odom's scores between two groups were significantly improved at 12 months after operation(P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the NDI, JOA and Odom's scores between two groups (P>0.05), and VAS in three-segment group was higher than that in two-segment group. There was no significant difference in C₃-C₇ cervical mobility between two groups. Surgical incisions healed smoothly in all patients without complication such as spinal cord injury and cerebrospinal fluid leakage. The bone fusion of the two groups were 43 cases (82.69%) and 45 cases(80.35%) respectively. In two-segment group, there were 2 cases of adjacent segmental hyperosteogeny, and there were 3 cases of adjacent segmental hyperosteogeny and 1 case of adjacent posterior longitudinal ligament ossification in the three-segment group. In addition, in three-segment group, there was 1 case of looseness of implants with no obvious clinical symptoms. CONCLUSION The anterior Hybrid surgery in treating multi-level cervical spondylosis could not only improve clinical symptoms of patients but also preserve mobility. Meanwhile, the efficacy and safety of Hybrid surgery in different multi-level cervical disc diseases are confirmed, proving its value in clinical practice.
Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae/surgery* ; Diskectomy/methods* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/surgery* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion/methods* ; Spondylosis/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome

Anterior cervical fusion surgery is the first choice for spine surgeons in the treatment of cervical spine diseases. It has significant effects in treating cervical degenerative diseases, trauma and tumors and other cervical diseases. In anterior cervical fusion, it is necessary to use a distractor to properly distract the intervertebral space, so as to fully expose and relieve the compressive factors, restore the physiological height, curvature and stability of the lesion segment, and achieve the best surgical effect. However, there is currently no consensus on the standard distraction height for the intervertebral space during anterior cervical surgery. This article reviewsed the progress of intervertebral space height in anterior cervical fusion from three dimensions:the relationship between intervertebral space height and cervical disc degeneration mechanism, the selection of intervertebral space height during operation, the recovery of intervertebral space height and the postoperative effect, so as to provide theoretical basis and reference for spinal surgeons when performing intervertebral distraction during operation.
Cervical Vertebrae/surgery* ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc/surgery* ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Neck ; Spinal Fusion ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of Bushen Huoxue Formula (BSHXF) for the treatment of discogenic low-back pain (DLBP). METHODS: This was a parallel, double-blind, randomized, clinical trial performed between May 2019 and June 2020. Seventy patients were assigned by computerized random number table to the treatment group (lumbar traction and BSHXF, 35 cases) or the control group (lumbar traction and placebo, 35 cases). The patients received intervention for 3 weeks. Assessment was conducted before treatment and at week 1, 2, 3 during treatment. Primary outcome was the self-reported score of Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Secondary outcomes included Visual Analog Scale (VAS), clinical efficacy rate by minimal clinically important difference (MCID) as well as lumbar tenderness, muscle tone and lumbar spine mobility. Adverse reactions were recorded. Follow-up was performed at 1 and 3 months after the end of treatment. RESULTS: In the treatment group, ODI score was significantly decreased compared with baseline (P<0.05) and the control group at 2- and 3- week treatment. Similarly, VAS score decreased compared with the baseline (P<0.05) and was lower than that in the control group at 2- and 3- week treatment (P<0.05). The clinical efficacy rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group after treatment [32.35% (11/34) vs. 3.13% (1/32), P<0.05). Moreover, the tenderness, and muscle tone, as well as the back extension and left flexion in lumbar spine mobility in the treatment group at 3-week treatment were significantly improved compared with the control group (P<0.05). Follow-up showed that at 1-month after treatment, the treatment group had better outcomes than the control group with regard to a total score of ODI and VAS scores, as well as clinical efficacy rate (all P<0.05). Moreover, VAS score was still significantly lower than the control group at 3-month follow-up (P<0.05). No adverse reactions were reported during the study. CONCLUSION BSXHF combined with lumbar traction can significantly improve the clinical symptoms including pain intensity, functionality, muscle tone, and lumbar spine mobility in DLBP patients. (Registration No. ChiCTR1900027777).
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/therapy* ; Low Back Pain/drug therapy* ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Pain Measurement ; Treatment Outcome