OBJECTIVE: To investigate the technical key points and effectiveness of ultrasonic bone scalpel-assisted anterior controllable antedisplacement and fusion (ACAF) for treating cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). METHODS: Between June 2022 and December 2024, 11 OPLL patients underwent ultrasonic bone scalpel-assisted ACAF. The cohort included 8 males and 3 females, aged 49-74 years (mean, 56.7 years). The OPLL classification included 5 cases of mixed-type, 4 cases of segmental-type, and 2 cases of continuous-type cases. Ossification involved 2-5 spinal segments (mean, 3.2). Disease duration ranged from 2 to 18 months (mean, 6.2 months). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and complications were recorded. Pain improvement was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and neurological function was evaluated using Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. Postoperative cervical CT and MRI were performed to measure spinal canal encroachment rate, spinal canal area, and spinal cord sagittal diameter. RESULTS: All operations were successfully completed. The operation time ranged from 174 to 360 minutes (mean, 255.9 minutes). The intraoperative blood loss ranged from 170 to 530 mL (mean, 345.9 mL). The C ₅ nerve root palsy occurred in 1 patient. No cerebrospinal fluid leakage, aggravated spinal cord injury, or recurrent/superior laryngeal nerve injuries occurred. All patients were followed 3-12 months (mean, 7.2 months). At last follow-up, VAS scores significantly decreased and JOA scores significantly increased compared to preoperative values ( P<0.05). According to the JOA improvement rate, the effectiveness was rated as excellent in 2 cases, good in 8, and fair in 1, with an excellent and good rate of 90.9%. Radiological re-examination revealed no implant loosening, screw breakage, or aggravated spinal stenosis. Postoperative spinal canal encroachment rate significantly decreased, while spinal canal area and spinal cord sagittal diameter significantly increased compared to preoperative measurements ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION For the treatment of cervical OPLL via ACAF, the intraoperative application of ultrasonic bone scalpel-assisted osteotomy enables precise vertebral groove creation and mobilization of the vertebra-ossification complex, thereby enhancing surgical safety and achieving satisfactory short-term effectiveness.
Humans ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament/diagnostic imaging* ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging* ; Spinal Fusion/instrumentation* ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonic Surgical Procedures/instrumentation* ; Operative Time

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of V-shaped stealth decompression technique using ultrasonic bone scalpel in anterior surgery for adjacent two-level cervical spondylosis. METHODS: A clinical data of 41 patients with adjacent two-level cervical spondylosis, who admitted between January 2020 and December 2023 and met the selection criteria, was analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 22 cases were treated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) assisted by V-shaped stealth decompression technique using ultrasonic bone scalpel (group A) and 19 cases with anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) (group B). There was no significant difference between the two groups in age, gender, disease duration, surgical segment, preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, neck dysfunction index (NDI), pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and the anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal in the responsibility space of axial CT ( P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, hospital stay, complications during follow-up, JOA score, NDI, and VAS score at last follow-up, and the incidences of intervertebral fusion at 3 months after operation, and cage subsidence at last follow-up were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The operations in the two groups were successfully completed. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, and hospital stay in group A were significantly less than those in group B ( P<0.05). Two cases (9.1%) in group A and 4 cases (21.1%) in group B developed complications, with no significant difference in the incidence between the two groups ( P>0.05). All patients in the two groups were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 9.3 months). There was no significant difference in follow-up time between the two groups ( P>0.05). At last follow-up, the JOA score and VAS score in both groups significantly improved when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). The change values of VAS score and the improvement rate of JOA score in group A were significantly superior to group B ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the change values of NDI and JOA score between the two group ( P>0.05). Imaging reexamination showed that the rate of intervertebral fusion at 3 months after operation was significantly higher in group A (81.8%) than in group B (52.6%) ( P<0.05), and all patients obtained bony intervertebral fusion at last follow-up. At last follow-up, 2 cases (9.1%) in group A and 11 cases (57.9%) in group B had cage sinking, and the difference in the incidence was significant ( P<0.05). No loosening or fracture of internal fixators occurred in all patients. CONCLUSION Using ultrasonic bone scalpel can transform single vertebral ACCF into two-segment ACDF in anterior cervical spondylosis surgery. The V-shaped stealth decompression technique is safe and efficient, with the advantages of minimal trauma, fewer postoperative complications, and rapid recovery of patients.
Humans ; Spondylosis/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Decompression, Surgical/instrumentation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Cervical Vertebrae/surgery* ; Spinal Fusion/instrumentation* ; Diskectomy/instrumentation* ; Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Aged ; Ultrasonic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Operative Time

Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is considered at the present time as the gold standard for root-end filling in endodontic surgery. However, this biocompatible material presents several drawbacks such as a long setting time and handling difficulties. The aim of this article is to present a new commercialized calcium silicate-based material named Biodentine with physical improved properties compared to MTA in a clinical application. Two endodontic microsurgeries were performed by using specific armamentarium (microsurgical instrumentation, ultrasonic tips) under high-power magnification with an operatory microscope. Biodentine was used as a root-end filling in order to seal the root canal system. The two cases were considered completely healed at 1 year and were followed for one more year. The 2-year follow-up consolidated the previous observation with absence of clinical symptoms and radiographic evidence of regeneration of the periapical tissues.
Calcium Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Microsurgery ; instrumentation ; Middle Aged ; Periapical Diseases ; therapy ; Periapical Tissue ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Radiography, Bitewing ; Regeneration ; physiology ; Retrograde Obturation ; methods ; Root Canal Filling Materials ; therapeutic use ; Root Canal Preparation ; instrumentation ; Silicates ; therapeutic use ; Ultrasonic Surgical Procedures ; instrumentation ; Wound Healing ; physiology

The genetic optimal algorithm and sound field calculation approach for the spherical-section phased array are presented in this paper. The in-house manufactured 256-element phased array focused ultrasound surgery system is briefly described. The on-axis single focus and off-axis single focus are simulated along with the axis-symmetric six-focus patter and the axis-asymmetric four-focus pattern using a 256-element phased array and the genetic optimal algorithm and sound field calculation approach. The experimental results of the described 256-element phased array focused ultrasound surgery system acting on organic glass and phantom are also analyzed. The results of the simulations and experiments confirm the applicability of the genetic algorithm and field calculation approaches in accurately steering three dimensional foci and focus.
Algorithms ; Computer Simulation ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; instrumentation ; methods ; Models, Biological ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation ; methods ; Transducers ; Ultrasonic Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods

Robots are being more and more used in surgery. High Intensity Focused Ultrasound is newly used in tumor treatment and it is non invasive. In this paper, we introduced a Robot integrated HIFU surgery system and its general flow. Also introduced is an 8 DOF surgical platform, its design, its mechanism and its kinematic analysis. In the end, we give out two spatial working areas individually. Each is the combination of 5 dimensional motions. Compared with other platforms available, this surgery platform is more flexible and accurate and its treatment area is larger. All these advantages make the treatment design easier.
Equipment Design ; Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; instrumentation ; methods ; Neoplasms ; surgery ; Robotics ; instrumentation ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Ultrasonic Therapy ; methods

Ultrasonic scalpel has the advantages of less bleeding, less damage to surrounding tissue, early healing, etc. The applications of ultrasound in medical surgery include incision and hemostasis, phacoemulsification, tumor aspiration, fat aspiration, and bone cutting. In this paper, the principles, development, characteristic, key technology and clinical application of different ultrasonic scalpel in the world are introduced, and the domestic application and future development of ultrasonic scalpel are prospected.
Humans ; Orthopedic Procedures ; instrumentation ; Phacoemulsification ; instrumentation ; Surgical Instruments ; Ultrasonic Therapy