OBJECTIVES: To propose a single repetition time (TR) quantitative magnetic susceptibility imaging method for the lumbar spine using bipolar readout gradient, and compare the quantitative magnetic susceptibility measurement using single TR and dual TR methods for the lumbar spine with different bone densities. METHODS: A translation correction method was proposed to correct spatial misalignment along the frequency encoding direction between positive and negative gradient readout images, and the phase difference between the images was eliminated using a phase correction method. The data of lumbar vertebrae L1-L5 were collected using single TR and dual TR methods from 6 normal individuals, 2 patients with osteopenia, and 2 patients with osteoporosis. The magnetic susceptibility map was reconstructed, the quantitative results of single TR before and after correction were compared with those of the dual TR method. RESULTS: The linear regression result of the lumbar spine magnetic susceptibility values obtained by the single TR method before calibration and the dual TR method is Y=0.64*X-11.61. The linear regression result of the lumbar spine magnetic susceptibility values corrected by the single TR method and the dual TR method is Y=1.03*X+0.25. The results of the corrected single TR method were highly consistent with those of the dual TR method, and the calibrated single TR method could effectively distinguish osteopenia and osteoporosis patients from normal individuals. CONCLUSIONS The calibrated single TR bipolar readout gradient method can generate artifact-free lumbar spine quantitative magnetic susceptibility distribution maps and reduce data acquisition time by 50%.
Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae/pathology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Osteoporosis/diagnosis* ; Adult ; Bone Density ; Aged ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic/diagnosis*

Lumbar disc (LD) herniation and aging are prevalent conditions that can result in substantial morbidity. This study aimed to clarify the mechanisms connecting the LD aging and herniation, particularly focusing on cellular senescence and molecular alterations in the nucleus pulposus (NP). We performed a detailed analysis of NP samples from a diverse cohort, including individuals of varying ages and those with diagnosed LD herniation. Our methodology combined histological assessments with single-nucleus RNA sequencing to identify phenotypic and molecular changes related to NP aging and herniation. We discovered that cellular senescence and a decrease in nucleus pulposus progenitor cells (NPPCs) are central to both processes. Additionally, we found an age-related increase in NFAT1 expression that promotes NPPC senescence and contributes to both aging and herniation of LD. This research offers fresh insights into LD aging and its associated pathologies, potentially guiding the development of new therapeutic strategies to target the root causes of LD herniation and aging.
Intervertebral Disc Displacement/metabolism* ; Humans ; Aging/pathology* ; Nucleus Pulposus/pathology* ; Male ; Female ; Transcriptome ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/pathology* ; Adult ; Cellular Senescence ; Stem Cells/pathology* ; Aged ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: Corpectomy of the first lumbar vertebra (L1) for the management of different L1 pathologies can be performed using either an anterior or posterior approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a retroperitoneal extrapleural approach through the twelfth rib for performing L1 corpectomy.METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients underwent L1 corpectomy between 2010 and 2016. The retroperitoneal extrapleural approach through the 12th rib was used in all cases to perform single-stage anterior L1 corpectomy, reconstruction and anterior instrumentation, except for in two recurrent cases in which posterior fixation was added. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for pain intensity measurement and ASIA impairment scale for neurological assessment. The mean follow-up period was 14.5 months.RESULTS: The sample included 18 males and 12 females, and the mean age was 40.3 years. Twenty patients (67%) had sensory or motor deficits before the surgery. The pathologies encountered included traumatic fracture in 12 cases, osteoporotic fracture in four cases, tumor in eight cases and spinal infection in the remaining six cases. The surgeries were performed from the left side, except in two cases. There was significant improvement of back pain and radicular pain as recorded by VAS. One patient exhibited postoperative neurological deterioration due to bone graft dislodgement. All patients with deficits at least partially improved after the surgery. During the follow-up, no hardware failures or losses of correction were detected.CONCLUSION: The retroperitoneal extrapleural approach through the 12th rib is a feasible approach for L1 corpectomy that can combine adequate decompression of the dural sac with effective biomechanical restoration of the compromised anterior load-bearing column. It is associated with less pulmonary complication, no need for chest tube, no abdominal distention and rapid recovery compared with other approaches.
Asia ; Back Pain ; Chest Tubes ; Decompression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Pathology ; Ribs ; Spinal Fusion ; Spine ; Transplants ; Weight-Bearing

This literature review examines the relative placement of the interbody cage with respect to the unilateral screw construct to address the need for bilateral screw placement versus unilateral screw placement. Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) has become a widely used technique for correcting lumbar intervertebral pathologies. This review addresses the necessity for further study on the effects of the relative position of intervertebral cage placement on the outcome of lumbar spine surgery after TLIF with unilateral pedicle screw fixation. Previous studies have addressed various factors, including posterior screw fixation, cage size, cage shape, and number of levels fused, that impact the biomechanics of the lumbar spine following TLIF. A simple survey of the literature was conducted. A search of the English literature was conducted using the keywords ‘TLIF,’ ‘transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion,’ ‘graft placement,’ ‘graft position,’ ‘cage position,’ ‘cage placement,’ ‘unilateral pedicle screw,’ ‘unilateral TLIF cage placement,’ ‘lumbar biomechanics,’ ‘lumbar stability,’ ‘lumbar fusion,’ and ‘lumbar intervertebral cage’ with various combinations of the operators ‘AND’ and ‘OR’ and no date restrictions. Seventeen articles in the English literature that were most relevant to this research question were identified. To the best of our knowledge, there are no published data addressing the effects of cage placement relative to the unilateral screw on lumbar stability in TLIF with unilateral pedicle screw fixation. Investigation of the effects of cage placement is, thus, warranted to achieve optimal clinical outcomes in patients undergoing TLIF with unilateral pedicle screw fixation.
Bone Screws ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Pathology ; Pedicle Screws ; Spinal Fusion ; Spine

Objective To provide a reference for the assessment of the disability grade of Kümmell's disease cases, through the analysis of the basic situation, the disability grade and the causality of Kümmell's disease cases. Methods Data of appraised individuals in 8 cases of Kümmell's disease from traffic accident spinal injury cases accepted by the Institute from 2015 to 2017 were collected, and the basic situation, vertebral fracture sites and disability grades of the appraised individuals were analyzed. Results Among 8 cases of appraised individuals, there were 2 males and 6 females, the oldest 75 years and the youngest 50 years, with an average age of 62.5 years, all of whom suffered from single vertebral fracture. Among them, 1 patient had thoracic 11 vertebra fracture, 3 thoracic 12 vertebra fracture, 2 lumbar 1 vertebra fracture, 1 lumbar 2 vertebra fracture, and 1 lumbar 4 vertebra fracture, all of whom were assessed as grade 10 disability. Conclusion In the assessment of disability grade of vertebral fracture, dynamic observation of the vertebral fracture and its recovery should be made based on imaging data. If it is suspected that there is Kümmell's disease, it should be differentiated from other diseases. Also, the disability grade will be assessed according to the corresponding standards when the morphology of the injured vertebral body is relatively stable.
Accidents, Traffic ; Aged ; Disability Evaluation ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Diseases/pathology* ; Spinal Fractures/pathology* ; Thoracic Vertebrae

As a self-protective mechanism of cells, autophagy of cells can maintain cell stability by degrading self-aging substances, and it can be highly induced. The ability of autophagy to degraded cells will decrease with age. The resorption phenomenon after lumbar disc herniation is one of the effective mechanisms in conservative treatment of lumbar disc herniation. The degenerative lesion of intervertebral disc is one of the main reasons of lumbar disc herniation. Cell autophagy is extensive participation in the degeneration of lumbar intervertebral disc, delaying the occurrence of degenerative disease. Futhermore, cell autophagy can potentially induce the occurrence of reabsorption. The study of cell autophagy has great significance to the degenerative disease of intervertebral disk and the reabsorption of lumbar disc herniation. And it is also of great significance for the clinical treatment of patients with lumbar disc herniation. For this reason, we should pay more attention to the study of cell autophagy in resorption.
Autophagy ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; cytology ; pathology ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; pathology ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical effect between the lamina osteotomy and former vertebral plates regraft method and total laminectomy and interbody fusion method in treating single-segment lumbar degenerative disease.

METHODSThe clinical data of 167 patients with single-segment lumbar degenerative disease underwent surgical treatment from January 2010 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 92 males and 75 females, aged from 45 to 75 years old with an average of (59.6±12.4) years. The patients were divided into lamina osteotomy and former vertebral plates regraft group(82 cases) and total laminectomy and interbody fusion group(85 cases) according to the different surgical methods used. The general conditions and clinical effects were compared between two groups. General conditions included the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, hospitalization time and the clinical effects included the visual analogue scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA), Oswestry Dability Index(ODI), MacNab results, epidural fibrosis (EF), the incidence of adjacent segment degeneration (ASD).

RESULTSAll the patients were followed for 18 to 36 months with an average of (24.8±5.7) months, furthermore, there was no significant difference in the follow-up time between two groups. There was no significant difference in general conditions such as operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, or hospitalization time between two groups. At final follow-up, the VAS, ODI, JOA, of all patients were significantly improved (<0.05);and the three factors above in the lamina osteotomy and former vertebral plates regraft group respectively were(2.0±1.1) points, (24.0±1.8) %, (19.8±8.2) point, while the results of total laminectomy and interbody fusion group were(2.5±1.6) points, (23.3±2.0)%, and(22.5±8.5) point;there was statistical difference between two groups(<0.05). According to the standard of MacNab, 59 cases obtained excellent results, 20 good, 3 fair results in the lamina osteotomy and former vertebral plates regraft group;while 47 cases got excellent results, 26 good, and 12 fair results in the total laminectomy and interbody fusion group;there was significant difference between two groups(<0.05). Sixteen patients(19.51%) with EF and 20 patients(24.39%) with ASD were found in lamina osteotomy and former vertebral plates regraft group;and 30 patients(35.29%) with EF and 37 patients(43.53%) with ASD were found in total laminectomy and interbody fusion group; there was significant difference between two groups(<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBoth two methods can achieve the ideal effects for the treatment of single-segment lumbar degenerative disease, but the lamina osteotomy and former vertebral plates regraft method can reserve the integrity of posterior ligamentous complex, reducing the incidence of EF and ASD, and is a better surgical method.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Transplantation ; Female ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; surgery ; Lumbosacral Region ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteotomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic BEIS technology for lumbar lateral recess stenosis in the elderly.

METHODSFrom February 2014 to May 2016, 21 patients with lumbar lateral recess stenosis in elderly were treated with percutaneous endoscopic BEIS. There were 13 males and 8 females, aged from 70 to 85 years old with an average of 74.3 years. Preoperative, 1 and 12 months postoperative visual analogue scale(VAS) scores and Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) were statistically analyzed. MacNab was used to assess the clinical effects.

RESULTSAll the operations were successful. The time ranged from 90 to 130 min with an average of 110 min. All the patients were followed up for 12 to 38 months with an average of 18 months. Preoperative, 1 and 12 months postoperative VAS scores were 8.47±1.23, 1.78±0.72, 0.68±0.32, and ODI scores were 32.48±10.03, 19.53±3.55, and 5.15±1.02, respectively. Postoperative scores of VAS and ODI were obviously improved(<0.05). According to modified MacNab standard to evaluate the clinical effects, 14 cases obtained excellent results, 5 good, 2 fair. Lower limb paresthesia occurred in 1 case, and the condition was restored at 3 months postoperatively with conservative treatment. One patient was complicated with emphysema before operation secondary to pulmonary infection, and was effectively controlled with regulate antibiotic therapy. No infection of vertebral body or intervertebral space, no injuries of blood vessels or nerve root, no tear of dura, or the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid were found.

CONCLUSIONSPercutaneous transforaminal endoscopic BEIS is a safe and effective method for lumbar lateral recess stenosis in the elderly.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diskectomy, Percutaneous ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Lumbosacral Region ; pathology ; Male ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect of exercise rehabilitation during perioperative period on residual pain, gait and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) after lumbar percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy(PTED).

METHODSThe clinical data of 48 patients with LSS underwent PTED from December 2015 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into observation group and control group according to different rehabilitation patterns, being 24 cases in each group. The patients of observation group received exercise rehabilitation and the patients of control group received conventional rehabilitation. Visual analogue scale(VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the ratio of supporting phase were recorded before operation and 12 days, 6 months after operation. The correlation between the ratio of supporting phase and VAS, ODI was analyzed.

RESULTSThe ratio of supporting phase of observation group was significantly higher than that of control group at 12 days after operation(<0.05). The VAS and ODI in observation group were significantly lower than that of control group at 6 months after operation(<0.01). There was no correlation between the ratio of supporting phase and ODI or VAS in two groups (>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLumbar percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy combined with exercise rehabilitation during the perioperative period can release or eliminate postoperative residual pain, improve gait balance, enable activities of daily living, and has a positive effect in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Activities of Daily Living ; Diskectomy, Percutaneous ; Endoscopy ; Exercise Therapy ; Gait ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; surgery ; Pain, Postoperative ; therapy ; Perioperative Period ; Postural Balance ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis ; rehabilitation ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical outcome of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy with target foraminoplasty in treating migrated lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSFrom June 2015 to January 2016, 25 patients with migrated lumbar disc herniation were treated with percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy with target foraminoplasty. A total of 14 males and 11 females, aging from 23 to 52 years old (average: 37.6) were enrolled in this study. Discectomy occurred in L₂,₃ of 1 case, L₃,₄ of 3 cases, L₄,₅ of 12 cases, L₅S₁ of 9 cases. Preoperative, 1-week and 1-year postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were collected to evaluate lower back and leg pain; Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) was used to assess the lumbar function.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 12 to 19 months with an average of 15.2 months. The mean operation time was 108.6 min. No injury of dura, nerve root, or wound infection were found. Preoperative, 1-week and 1-year postoperative visual analogue scale(VAS) scores of lower back pain were 5.8±0.5, 2.5±0.4, 0.9±0.2, respectively, with significant differences among each other(<0.05);VAS scores of leg pain were 7.1±0.6, 1.5±0.4, 0.7±0.6, respectively, with significant differences among each other(<0.05). Lumbar ODI scores were 69.2±1.8, 22.5±4.7, 10.2±2.4 at the above time points and showed significant differences among each other(<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPercutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy with target foraminoplasty for migrated lumbar disc herniation showed advantages of less injuries, bleeding and complication. It also promotes rapid recovery, being curative safely and effectively.

Adult ; Diskectomy, Percutaneous ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult