Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) combined with lower cervical fracture is often categorized into unstable fracture, with a high incidence of neurological injury and a high rate of disability and morbidity. As factors such as shoulder occlusion may affect the accuracy of X-ray imaging diagnosis, it is often easily misdiagnosed at the primary diagnosis. Non-operative treatment has complications such as bone nonunion and the possibility of secondary neurological damage, while the timing, access and choice of surgical treatment are still controversial. Currently, there are no clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of AS combined with lower cervical fracture with or without dislocation. To this end, the Spinal Trauma Group of Orthopedics Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts to formulate Clinical guidelines for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis combined with lower cervical fracture in adults ( version 2024) in accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine, scientificity and practicality, in which 11 recommendations were put forward in terms of the diagnosis, imaging evaluation, typing and treatment, etc, to provide guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of AS combined with lower cervical fracture.

The incidence of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fracture (OTLVF) in the elderly is gradually increasing. The kyphotic deformity caused by various factors has become an important characteristic of OTLVF and has received increasing attention. Its clinical manifestations include pain, delayed nerve damage, sagittal imbalance, etc. Currently, the definition and diagnosis of OTLVF with kyphotic deformity in the elderly are still unclear. Although there are many treatment options, they are controversial. Existing guidelines or consensuses pay little attention to this type of fracture with kyphotic deformity. To this end, the Lumbar Education Working Group of the Spine Branch of the Chinese Medicine Education Association and Editorial Committee of Chinese Journal of Trauma organized the experts in the relevant fields to jointly develop Clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures with kyphotic deformity in the elderly ( version 2024), based on evidence-based medical advancements and the principles of scientificity, practicality, and advanced nature, which provided 18 recommendations to standardize the clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Objective:To explore the correlation between mechanical complications and paraspinal muscle degeneration following posterior single-segment osteotomy corrective surgery for chronic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 80 patients who underwent surgery between January 2008 and January 2021 at Peking University Third Hospital. These patients, who developed kyphotic deformity following OVCF, included 17 males and 63 females with a mean age of 63.21±8.07 years (range, 47-77 years). Postoperative mechanical complications included proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK), screw loosening, adjacent segment degeneration (ASD), and distal junctional kyphosis or failure. Patients were compared based on the occurrence of mechanical complications in relation to fat infiltration (FI), relative gross cross-sectional area (rGCSA), and relative functional cross-sectional area (rFCSA) of the paraspinal muscles. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for postoperative complications.Results:Among the 80 patients, 19 developed PJK, while 61 did not. The PJK group exhibited significantly higher paraspinal muscle FI (0.44±0.05) compared to the non-PJK group (0.38±0.10, P<0.05). Screw loosening occurred in 7 cases, with 73 cases remaining stable. Those with screw loosening demonstrated higher paraspinal muscle FI (0.47±0.05) than those without (0.38±0.09, P<0.05). Thirty patients experienced ASD, while 50 did not. The ASD group had higher paraspinal muscle FI (0.45±0.07) and lower rFCSA (0.09±0.03) compared to the non-ASD group (0.36±0.10 and 0.13±0.06, respectively, P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that paraspinal muscle FI and rFCSA were not independent risk factors for developing ASD. Twenty-three patients experienced distal junctional kyphosis or failure, while 57 did not; those with complications exhibited higher paraspinal muscle FI (0.48±0.08) and lower rGCSA (0.16±0.04) and rFCSA (0.09±0.03) compared to those without complications (0.37±0.09, 0.20±0.09, and 0.13±0.06, respectively, P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis suggested that paraspinal muscle FI, rGCSA, and rFCSA were not independent risk factors for developing distal junctional kyphosis or failure. Conclusion:Mechanical complications following corrective surgery for chronic OVCF-related kyphosis may be associated with increased paraspinal muscle FI. Additionally, the occurrence of ASD and distal junctional kyphosis or failure may correlate with reduced paraspinal muscle rFCSA

BACKGROUND: Patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and major depressive disorder (MDD) share significant clinical overlap, although it remains unknown to what extent this overlap reflects shared neural profiles. To identify the shared and specific abnormalities in SCZ and MDD, we performed a whole-brain voxel-based meta-analysis using magnetization transfer imaging, a technique that characterizes the macromolecular structural integrity of brain tissue in terms of the magnetization transfer ratio (MTR). METHODS: A systematic search based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, International Scientific Index (ISI) Web of Science, and MEDLINE for relevant studies up to March 2022. Two researchers independently screened the articles. Rigorous scrutiny and data extraction were performed for the studies that met the inclusion criteria. Voxel-wise meta-analyses were conducted using anisotropic effect size-signed differential mapping with a unified template. Meta-regression was used to explore the potential effects of demographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 15 studies with 17 datasets describing 365 SCZ patients, 224 MDD patients, and 550 healthy controls (HCs) were identified. The conjunction analysis showed that both disorders shared higher MTR than HC in the left cerebellum ( P =0.0006) and left fusiform gyrus ( P =0.0004). Additionally, SCZ patients showed disorder-specific lower MTR in the anterior cingulate/paracingulate gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus, and right superior frontal gyrus, and higher MTR in the left thalamus, precuneus/cuneus, posterior cingulate gyrus, and paracentral lobule; and MDD patients showed higher MTR in the left middle occipital region. Meta-regression showed no statistical significance in either group. CONCLUSIONS The results revealed a structural neural basis shared between SCZ and MDD patients, emphasizing the importance of shared neural substrates across psychopathology. Meanwhile, distinct disease-specific characteristics could have implications for future differential diagnosis and targeted treatment.
Humans ; Depressive Disorder, Major/drug therapy* ; Schizophrenia/pathology* ; Brain/pathology* ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Frontal Lobe ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods*

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) combined with spinal fractures with thoracic and lumbar fracture as the most common type shows characteristics of unstable fracture, high incidence of nerve injury, high mortality and high disability rate. The diagnosis may be missed because it is mostly caused by low-energy injury, when spinal rigidity and osteoporosis have a great impact on the accuracy of imaging examination. At the same time, the treatment choices are controversial, with no relevant specifications. Non-operative treatments can easily lead to bone nonunion, pseudoarthrosis and delayed nerve injury, while surgeries may be failed due to internal fixation failure. At present, there are no evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of AS combined with thoracic and lumbar fracture. In this context, the Spinal Trauma Academic Group of Orthopedics Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts to formulate the Clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of adult ankylosing spondylitis combined with thoracolumbar fracture ( version 2023) by following the principles of evidence-based medicine and systematically review related literatures. Ten recommendations on the diagnosis, imaging evaluation, classification and treatment of AS combined with thoracic and lumbar fracture were put forward, aiming to standardize the clinical diagnosis and treatment of such disorder.

The acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults have a higher rate of neurological injury and early death compared with atlas or axial fractures alone. Currently, the diagnosis and treatment choices of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults are controversial because of the lack of standards for implementation. Non-operative treatments have a high incidence of bone nonunion and complications, while surgeries may easily lead to the injury of the vertebral artery, spinal cord and nerve root. At present, there are no evidence-based Chinese guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults. To provide orthopedic surgeons with the most up-to-date and effective information in treating acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults, the Spinal Trauma Group of Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field of spinal trauma to develop the Evidence-based guideline for clinical diagnosis and treatment of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults ( version 2023) by referring to the "Management of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults" published by American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)/Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) in 2013 and the relevant Chinese and English literatures. Ten recommendations were made concerning the radiological diagnosis, stability judgment, treatment rules, treatment options and complications based on medical evidence, aiming to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults.

Objective:To evaluate the specialty of the clinical features, treatment procedure, clinical outcome, and prognosis in the patients with "sandwich" atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD).Methods:From 2008 to 2018, 160 cases with "sandwich" AAD were retrospectively selected from the case series of AAD in Peking University Third Hospital. The case series had 80 males and 80 females. The mean age at the initial visit was 35.5±14.6 years (range, 5-77). The clinical courses, treatment methodology and prognosis were reviewed. And the surgical approach, posterior fixation segment and the recovery of neurological function were mainly summarized. The atlantodental interval (ADI), the distance by which the odontoid exceeded the Chamberlain line and the cervical-medullary angle were analyzed.Results:The most common symptoms included weakness or numbness of the limbs (67.5%, 108/160), unstable gait (30%, 48/160) and vertigo (20%, 32/160). Among all, 130 cases (81.3%, 130/160) had myelopathy, with the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores from 4 to 16 (mean JOA scores 13.5±2.5). Cranial neuropathy was involved in 20 cases (12.5%). Radiological findings showed brainstem and/or cervical-medullar in 130 cases (81.3%), syringomyelia in 37 cases (23.1%) and Chiari malformation in 30 cases (18.8%). Computed tomography angiography (CTA) was performed in 90 cases, which showed vertebral artery anomalies in 55 cases (61.0%) and excessive medialized internal carotid artery in 5 cases (5.6%). All cases had no spinal cord or vertebral artery injury. The surgery included posterior occipito-cervical fusion (reducible dislocation, 145 cases), and transoral release followed by posterior fusion (irreducible dislocation, 15 cases). Fifty-seven cases were treated using alternative fixation technique. The average follow-up time was 50.5±22.4 months (range, 24 to 120 months). All of 152 cases (95.0%) achieved solid atlantoaxial fusion; there was no obvious osseous fusion formation on postoperative images in 6 cases (3.8%), but no atlantoaxial instability was found on dynamic radiographs; screw loosening happened in 2 patients (1.2%). Nine patients (5.6%) suffered complications, including 4 cases with recurrent dislocation, 2 screw loosening, 2 cases with bulbar paralysis and 1 wound infection. The mean postoperative JOA was 15.1±1.8 (range, 5-17), and the mean neurological improvement rate was 42.9%±33.3% in the patients with myelopathy.Conclusion:"Sandwich" AAD, a subgroup of AAD, has unique clinical features: earlier onset age and more severe myelopathy. The incidence of bone and vascular malformation is higher. So alternative surgical plan and hybrid fixation should be prepared for this subgroup of AAD.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of vertebral trabecular and endplate HU values on cage subsidence after posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), hope to provide reference for surgical planning.Methods:All of 72 patients with lumbar disc herniation that underwent PLIF were retrospectively reviewed, who were divided into two groups according to the occurrence of cage subsidence at one-year follow up. Cage subsidence was defined as more than 4 mm subsidence into the vertebrae valuated by CT at one-year follow up. There were 18 patients enrolled into Subsidence group and 54 patients enrolled into N-Subsidence group. The lumbar lordosis, segmental lordosis, intervertebral height, off-bed time, hospital stay, complications, the trabecular and endplate HU values of upper instrumented vertebrae (UIV) and lower instrumented vertebrae (LIV) were compared between the two groups. ROC was used to explore the thresholds of HU values.Results:There were 14 patients presented cage subsidence into the L4, 4 patients presented cage subsidence into the L5. There was no significant difference in lumbar lordosis, segmental lordosis, intervertebral height, off-bed time, hospital stay, or complications between the two groups. Both UIV and LIV trabecular and endplate showed a lower HU value in Subsidence group than those in N-Subsidence group. The most appropriate thresholds of HU value were 146, 172, 307, 254 for trabecular of UIV, trabecular of LIV, lower endplate of UIV, and upper endplate of LIV, respectively.Conclusion:Vertebral trabecular and endplate HU values could effectively predict the cage subsidence after PLIF, patients should be completely informed the risk of cage subsidence and larger cage should be recommended if they presented HU values under the certain threshold.

According to the pathological characteristics of symptomatic chronic thoracic and lumbar osteoporotic vertebral fracture (SCOVF), the different clinical treatment methods are selected, including vertebral augmentation, anterior-posterior fixation and fusion, posterior decompression fixation and fusion, and posterior correction osteotomy. However, there is still a lack of a unified understanding on how to choose appropriate treatment method for SCOVF. In order to reflect the new treatment concept and the evidence-based medicine progress of SCOVF in a timely manner and standardize its treatment, the clinical guideline for surgical treatment of SCOVF is formulated in compliance with the principle of scientificity, practicability and advancement and based on the level of evidence-based medicine.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of the bridge pedicled transplantation of medial leg fascial flap combined with medial hemisoleus muscle flap for contralateral leg soft tissue defect.Methods:Between January of 2012 and January of 2018, 12 patients with soft tissue defect of the leg were treated with bridge pedicled transplantation of contralateral medial leg fascial flap combined with medial hemisoleus muscle flap by posterior tibial artery. There were 9 males and 3 female, aged from 19 to 53 years (mean, 35 years). The size of the soft-tissue defects ranged from 12 cm×8 cm to 18 cm×9 cm. The immediate coverage of the fascial and muscle flaps and vessel pedicle were repaired by a meshed split-thickness skin graft. The donor site was closed directly. After the transplantation of the one pedicle and two flaps survived, vascular pedicle was cut off.Results:All the fascial and muscle flaps survived completely. No clinical vascular deficiency was found on the fascial and muscle flaps postoperatively. One case developed distal muscle flap small skin graft necrosis, and spontaneous healed after 2 weeks of dressing change. Follow-up period ranged from 2.5 to 4.5 years (mean 3.8 years). A good contour was confirmed both at the recipient and donor sites. Satisfactory clinical results were obtained in this series.Conclusion:This method is suitable for the treatment of soft tissue defects of the leg with only one major blood vessel, which reduces the damage to the donor site.