Objective: To investigate the trends in disease burden due to childhood asthma in China from 1990 to 2021 and to project the disease burden from 2022 to 2035, so as to provide insights into formulation of the control interventions for childhood asthma in China. Methods: The prevalent case, agestandard prevalence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and agestandard DALYs rate of children with asthma at ages of 0 to 14 years and their 95% uncertainty interval (UI) in China from 1990 to 2021 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database. The temporal trends in the disease burden of childhood asthma were evaluated with estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) and its 95% confidence interval (CI), and the disease burden due to asthma was projected among children at ages of 0 to 14 years in China using a Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model from 2022 to 2035. Results: There were 9.368 3 million (95%UI=6.410 7 million to 14.026 1 million) prevalent cases of asthma among children at ages of 0 to 14 years in China in 2021, contributing to 0.387 9 million (95%UI=0.216 1 million to 0.668 8 million) DALYs loss. The prevalent cases and DALYs of asthma decreased by 37.28% and 52.55% among children at ages of 0 to 14 years in China in 2021 compared with 1990, and the agestandardized prevalence [EAPC=-0.70%, 95%CI=-1.26% to -0.13%)] and DALY rates [EAPC=-1.71%, 95%CI=-2.32% to -1.10%)] also appeared a tendency towards a decline. From 1990 to 2021, the prevalent cases, prevalence, DALYs and DALYs rate of asthma were all higher among male children than among female children, and the disease burden of asthma was higher among children at ages of 5 to 9 years than at other age groups. BAPC model predicted a decline in both prevalent cases and DALYs of asthma among children at ages of 0 to 14 years in China from 2022 to 2035, with 6.759 6 million prevalent cases and DALYs of 0.228 4 million personyears in 2035, while the prevalence and DALYs rates were projected to rise to 5 143.35/105 and 173.75/105 in 2035. Conclusions Despite a reduction in the disease burden of asthma among children at ages of 0 to 14 years in China from 1990 to 2021, the prevalence remained high. The disease burden due to asthma is projected to appear a decline among children at ages of 0 to 14 years in China from 2022 to 2035; however, the prevalence and DALYs rates still rise. Intensified control measures and targeted interventions are required to reduce the disease burden of childhood asthma.

Objective: To analyze the trends in disease burden of tuberculosis among children under 5 years of age in China from 1990 to 2021, so as to provide insights for future tuberculosis control measures among children in China. Methods: Based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 datasets, the incidence, prevalence, mortality and disability adjusted life year(DALY) of tuberculosis of children under 5 years of age in China and globally were collected from 1990 to 2021. The incidence, prevalence, mortality and DALY rate of tuberculosis were compared by genders and types. In addition,the annual percent change(APC) and the average annual percent change(AAPC) of children s tuberculosis burden in China and globally from 1990 to 2021 were calculated by using the Joinpoint regression model, and the changing trends were analyzed. Results: The numbers of incident, prevalent and dead tuberculosis cases were 9 700, 8 477 800 and 200 among children under 5 years of age in China in 2021, and the DALY due to tuberculosis were 27 100 person years. There were significant reductions in incidence, prevalence, mortality and DALY rate of tuberculosis among children under 5 years of age in China ( AAPC =-5.45%, -1.14%, -12.37%, -11.34 %) and globally( AAPC =-2.38%, -1.41%, -4.66%, -4.56%), and the reductions in the incidence, mortality and DALY rate were more significant in China than globally ( P <0.05).In 1992 and later, the numbers of incident, prevalent and dead tuberculosis cases and the DALY of tuberculosis were higher among male than among female. In addition, the disease burden of drug susceptible tuberculosis appeared a tendency of downward in China from 1990 to 2021, while the incidence and prevalence of extensively drug resistant tuberculosis rose since 2015. Conclusions The disease burden of tuberculosis remarkably reduced among children under 5 years of age in China from 1990 to 2021. However, the burden of disease due to multidrug resistant tuberculosis appeared an upward trend recently. Increased attention is required to be paid to the prevention and control of tuberculosis among children and improved diagnosis and treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis are recommended.

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.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of 3D printing combined with O-arm navigation assisted posterior hemivertebrae resection and orthopedic fixation in the treatment of congenital cervicothoracic scoliosis.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on the clinical data of 14 patients with congenital cervicothoracic kyphosis caused by hemivertebra treated in Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2015 to June 2021, including 9 males and 5 females, aged 8.9±3.2 years (range, 1-15 years). Operation time, intraoperative blood loss and fusion stage were recorded. Intraoperative O-arm scanning and postoperative CT scanning were performed to evaluate the accuracy of nail placement. The cervicothoracic scoliosis Cobb angle, compensatory scoliosis Cobb angle, local kyphosis Cobb angle, torticollis angle, T 1 tilt angle and clavicular angle were measured before operation, model design, 1 week after operation and at the last follow-up to evaluate the effect of surgical design, intraoperative orthosis and the correction loss at follow-up. The Society for Scoliosis Research-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire was used to evaluate the functional and treatment effect. At the last follow-up, the osteotomy fusion was evaluated by Eck criterion. Results:All patients successfully completed the operation, the operation time was 228.5±41.8 min, the intraoperative blood loss was 355.6±46.7 ml, and the number of fusion segments was 5.5±0.8. Follow-up duration was 35.5±13.2 months. A total of 140 pedicle screws were inserted, with an accuracy of 97.1% (136/140). The Cobb angle of cervicothoracic scoliosis was 53.9°±17.9° preoperatively, 11.3°±4.4° in the model design, 10.8°±2.6° one week postoperatively, and 14.5°±3.5° at the last follow-up, with statistical significance ( P<0.001). The preoperative and postoperative one week difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001) with a correction rate of 78.6%±6.7%. The Cobb angle of compensatory scoliosis was 33.1°±12.1° before surgery, 11.9°±2.4° for model design, 10.5°±3.4° for one week after surgery, and 14.1°±2.5° for the last follow-up, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.001). The postoperative correction rate was 65.2%±16.2%. The Cobb angle of local kyphosis was 27.8°±9.8° preoperatively, 10.1°±2.1° in the model design, 9.8°±1.9° one week postoperatively, and 12.7°±1.6° at the last follow-up, with statistical significance ( P<0.001). The preoperative and postoperative one week difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001) with a correction rate of 59.2%±18.9%. The preoperative and postoperative one week difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001) with a correction rate of 78.6%±6.7%. The neck tilt angle was 20.6°±6.7° preoperatively, 6.2°±1.9° in the model design, 5.9°±2.1° one week postoperatively, and 7.1°±1.4° at the last follow-up, with statistical significance ( P<0.001). The preoperative and postoperative one week difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001) with a correction rate of 70.0%±11.1%. The T 1 inclination angle was 20.2°±5.8° preoperatively, 11.5°±3.1° in the model design, 10.2°±2.3° one week postoperatively, and 9.5°±3.0° at the last follow-up, with statistical significance ( P<0.001). The preoperative and postoperative one week difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001) with a correction rate of 53.2%±10.4%. There was no significant difference between preoperative design and actual measurement one week after surgery ( P>0.05). At the last follow-up, the scores of self-image (4.6±0.7), mental health (4.7±0.6) and treatment satisfaction (4.6±0.6)in SRS-22 scale were significantly improved compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). The symptoms of hemivertebra ipilateral C 8 nerve root injury occurred in 1 patient, who was treated conservatively with dehydration, hormones and nutraceutical drugs, and recovered to normal at 3 months follow-up. At the last follow-up, the appearance of the head, neck and shoulders of the patients was improved compared with that before surgery, the bone grafts have achieved osseous fusion in all patients. All fusion were grade I by Eck criterion. No complications such as serious neurological or vascular injury occurred during perioperative period. No pseudoarthrosis formation, internal fixation loosening or fracture occurred during follow-up. Conclusion:The application of 3D printing combined with O-arm navigation assistance technology in posterior hemivertebra resection and correctional surgery for cervicothoracic hemivertebra deformities can display the deformities in advance, stereoscopic and real-time, accurately place pedicle screws and complete hemivertebra resection, improve surgical safety and deformity correction rate.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of satellite rod revision surgery via a combined anterior and posterior approach for rod fracture after posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR) in patients with severe thoracolumbar kyphosis.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted on the clinical data of 11 patients with rod fracture after PVCR for severe thoracolumbar kyphosis, who were treated in Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2013 to January 2021. There were 6 males and 5 females, with the age range of 21-62 years [(35.4±13.0)years]. Among them, 4 patients had traumatic kyphosis, 4 presented congenital kyphosis and 3 showed tuberculous kyphosis. All the patients had obvious low back pain. According to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score, 2 patients were found with grade C, 2 with grade D and 7 with grade E. All the patients underwent revision surgery for internal fixation using satellite rod via a combined anterior and posterior approach. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hospital stay were recorded. The imaging parameters such as kyphosis Cobb angle, scoliosis Cobb angle, distance between C 7 plumb line and central sacral vertical line (C 7-CSVL), and distance between C 7 plumb line and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were measured preoperatively, at 1 week postoperatively and at latest follow-up. At the same time, the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI), and simplified Chinese version of the scoliosis research society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy. At the latest follow-up, the osteotomy fusion was evaluated by Suk criterion and ASIA score was used to evaluate the recovery of neurological function. The complications were also recorded for the patients. Results:All the patients were followed up for 24-84 months [(47.5±16.2)months]. The operation time was 100-220 minutes [(149.4±37.6)minutes], with the intraoperative blood loss of 150-350 ml [(246.3±64.6)ml] and the postoperative hospital stay of 5-8 days [(6.1±1.1)days]. The kyphosis Cobb angles [(18.5±3.2)° and (19.3±2.9)°] and the scoliosis Cobb angles [(11.8±2.2)°, (11.1±2.2)°] at 1 week post-operation and at the latest follow-up were all improved significantly compared with the preoperative ones [(60.4±6.3)°, (21.7±5.5)°] (all P<0.01), with the average correction rates being 69.4% and 45.6%, respectively, with no significant differences between 1 week post-operation and latest follow-up (all P>0.05). The C 7-CSVL was reduced from preoperative (21.2±4.3)mm to (15.7±2.4)mm at 1 week post-operation, and to (15.9±2.2)mm at the latest follow-up (all P<0.01). The SVA was improved from preoperative (51.0±6.8)mm to (16.6±3.6)mm at 1 week post-operation, and to (15.3±3.9)mm at the latest follow-up (all P<0.01). There were no significant differences in C 7-CSVL or SVA at 1 week post-operation or at the latest follow-up (all P>0.05). The VAS [(2.5±0.9)points, (1.9±0.9)points], ODI (20.1±5.4, 18.4±5.2) and SRS-22 [(83.4±5.8)points, (85.0±4.1)points] at 1 week post-operation and at the latest follow-up were significantly improved compared with the preoperative ones [(6.0±1.4)points, 57.2±8.7, (62.0±9.1)points] (all P<0.01), but no significant differences were found between 1 week post-operation and latest follow-up (all P>0.05). At the latest follow-up, the bone grafts achieved osseous fusion in all the patients, and the ASIA grade was improved from grade C to grade D in 2 patients and from grade D to grade E in 2 patients. No complications such as serious neurological or vascular injury occurred during perioperative period. No pseudoarthrosis formation, internal fixation loosening or fracture occurred during follow-up. Conclusion:Satellite rod revision surgery via a combined anterior and posterior approach for rod fracture after PVCR in patients with severe thoracolumbar kyphosis has the advantages of less trauma and faster convalescence, excellent results of deformity correction, significant pain relief, functional improvement, and fewer complications.

Objective:To analyze the mortality of accidental falls among the elderly in China from 2004 to 2019 and predict the standardized mortality from 2020 to 2024, so as to provide scientific evidence for formulating strategies to prevent accidental falls among the elderly.Methods:The death data of accidental falls of the elderly in China from 2004 to 2019 were collected from the China Death Cause Monitoring Data Set, and the total number of deaths, mortality rate and standardized mortality rate in the elderly from 2004 to 2019 and those data among them of different genders, residences and age groups were calculated. Joinpoint 4.8.0.1 statistical software was used to calculate the annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC) of standardized mortality. The Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average Model (ARIMA) was used to predict the standardized mortality rate of accidental falls among the elderly in China from 2020 to 2024. Results:The number of deaths related to accidental falls among the elderly in China was increased from 2 908 in 2004 to 23 709 in 2019. The mortality rate was increased from 51.89/100 000 in 2004 to 67.74/100 000 in 2019. The standardized mortality rate of accidental falls showed an overall upward trend from 2004 to 2019 (AAPC=1.65, P>0.05), including an upward trend from 2004 to 2010 (APC=1.66, P>0.05), a downward trend from 2010 to 2013 (APC=-9.67, P>0.05), and another upward trend from 2013 to 2019 (APC=7.83, P<0.01). The number of death and mortality rate related to accidental falls in Chinese elderly males and females both showed upward trends from 2004 to 2019, and the standardized mortality rate also showed upward trends from 2004 to 2019 (AAPC males=2.19, AAPC females=0.29, all P>0.05). The standardized mortality rate in males was generally higher than that in females, with that of males showing an upward trend from 2013 to 2019 (APC=7.36, P<0.05) and that of female showing an upward trend from 2014 to2019 (APC=6.92, P>0.05). The number of deaths and mortality rate among the elderly living in rural and urban areas both showed upward trends from 2004 to 2019, and the standardized mortality rate also showed an upward trend from 2004 to 2019 (AAPC rural = 1.71, AAPC urban =1.00, all P>0.05). The standardized mortality rate among the elderly living in rural areas was generally higher than that in urban areas. The rural and urban elderly both showed upward trends from 2013 to 2019 (APC rural = 8.24, APC urban =6.11, all P<0.05). The number of death and mortality rate of different age groups all showed upward trends from 2004 to 2019. The standardized mortality rates of the elderly aged 65-74 years and ≥85 years also showed upward trends from 2004 to 2019 (AAPC 65-74 years=0.38, AAPC ≥ 85 years=4.09, all P>0.05). The standardized mortality rate of the elderly aged 75-84 years showed a downward trend from 2004 to 2019 (AAPC=-0.10, P>0.05), and that of the elderly aged 65-74 years showed an upward trend from 2010 to 2019 (APC=5.35, P<0.05). The standardized mortality rate of the elderly aged 75-84 years and ≥85 years showed upward trends from 2013 to 2019 (APC 75-84 years=6.49, APC ≥ 85 years=10.47, all P<0.05). The ARIMA prediction results showed that the overall standardized mortality rates of accidental falls in the elderly in China from 2020 to 2024 were 69.11/100 000, 72.33/100 000, 74.41/100 000, 76.34/100 000, and 76.48/100 000, respectively, showing a slow upward trend. Conclusions:The accidental fall-related mortality among the elderly in China showed an overall upward trend from 2004 to 2019, and the standardized mortality rate from 2020 to 2024 also shows an upward trend. The elderly who are male in gender, live in rural areas, or at age of ≥85 years are the key population for prevention and control of accidental fall. Active and effective measures should be taken to reduce accidental falls in the elderly so as to contribute to active and healthy aging.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility, accuracy, effectiveness and safety of a novel manual placement of cervical 7 pedicle screws via the posterior approach of cervicothoracic junction.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the 35 patients with injury to the lower cervical spine or cervicothoracic junction who had been treated by a novel manual placement of cervical 7 pedicle screws at Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March 2015 to July 2021. There were 16 males and 19 females, with an age of (52.7±13.2) years. The core of this placement was to determine the entry point of cervical 7 pedicle screws. After the intersection of the upper edge of the cervical 7 lamina and the medial edge of the superior articular process was recorded as point A while the intersection of the lateral edge of the inferior articular process and the lower edge of the transverse process as point B, the intersection of the outer and middle 1/3 of the AB line was taken as the screw entry point, with the screw placement angle perpendicular to the lamina line or slightly inclined from 30° to 40° to the head side and outward. The length, diameter and placement angle of the cervical 7 pedicle screws were recorded and compared postoperatively between the left and right sides to explore the feasibility of this novel manual placement. According to the Rampersaud method, the screw positions were graded 1 week and 6 months after operation to evaluate the accuracy of this manual placement. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score were compared between preoperation, 1 week and 6 months after operation to evaluate the effectiveness of this placement. The postoperative complications were counted to evaluate the safety of this method. Loosening, displacement and breakage of the screws were observed by CT scanning at 6 months after operation.Results:This case series was followed up for (9.8±1.7) months. There was no significant difference in the length, diameter or placement angle of the screws between the left and right sides ( P>0.05). A total of 66 cervical 7 pedicle screws were placed. There was no change in the screw position grading at 1 week or 6 months after surgery. Grade A was achieved in 64 screws, Grade B in 2 screws, and Grade C or D in none. The VAS scores before operation, 1 week and 6 months after operation were respectively 4.4±1.7, 3.8±1.0 and 1.1±1.1, and the JOA scores respectively 6.7±2.2, 13.2±1.5 and 15.3±1.2. The VAS and JOA scores at 1 week and 6 months after operation were significantly improved compared with the preoperative values ( P<0.05). The improvement rates in JOA at 1 week and 6 months after operation were 62.7%±13.3 % and 83.9%±11.6%, respectively. There were no complications related to the placement of cervical 7 pedicle screws; there was no wound hematoma or infection. No loosening, displacement or breakage of the screws was observed by the 6-month follow-up. Conclusion:The novel manual placement of cervical 7 pedicle screws via the posterior approach of cervicothoracic junction is feasible, accurate, effective and safe.

Objectives:To explore the operative strategies of revision surgery after atlanto-axial dislocation(AAD)surgery.Methods:12 patients undergone AAD revision surgery in our hospital between January 2016 and August 2019 were analyzed in this retrospective study,including 3 males and 9 females,aged 7-62 years[45.5(34.25,52.50)years].The interval of initial operation and revision operation was 3-360 months[30(5,93)months].Internal fixation and bone graft were removed before revision surgery.The patients were assessed to receive anterior release according to the conditions of 1/6 body weight dose skull traction.According to preoperative imaging and intraoperative exploration,larger diameter and longer screws,new screw track,and extended fixed segments were performed optionally to increase the overall internal fixation strength,and the lateral atlantoaxial joint release and grafting were performed to increase bone graft fusion.The follow-up peri-od ranged 12-50 months[24.0(17.25,34.00)months].The atlanto-dental interval(ADI),clivus-axial angle(CAA),cervico-medullary angle(CMA)and Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)score were assessed at 3 days after surgery and final follow-up,the CT examination was performed at 3 days,3 months,6 months,12months and final follow-up after surgery to evaluate the bone graft fusion.Results:There were 8 patients receiving inter-nal fixation and bone graft removing before revision surgery.Among the patients,4 received anterior releasing combined with posterior reduction and internal fixation and fusion,the other 8 patients underwent posterior reduction and internal fixation and fusion.Of all the patients,occipital screw revision was performed in 4 with new screw track;C1 screw revision was performed in 4,of which 2 patients were fixed with larger di-ameter and longer screws,and 2 patients were fixed with new screw track;C2 screw revision was performed in 8,of which 5 patients were fixed with larger diameter and longer screws,and 3 patients were fixed with new screw track;extended fixed segments were preformed in 3 patients;the lateral atlantoaxial bone grafting was performed in all 12 patients.Anatomical reduction was obtained in all the patients.The postoperative 3d and final follow-up ADI were significantly reduced compared with pre-operative ADI,and the CCA and CMA were significantly increased than those at pre-operation(P＜0.05).The JOA at 3 days after surgery and final follow-up were significantly improved than that at pre-operation.Bony fusion was achieved in all the patients,with a bone fusion rate of 100％,and the bone fusion time ranged 3-7 months[3.5(3.0,6.0)months].Con-clusions:Anterior release is suitable for the patients with un-reduced atlantoaxial dislocation after removal of primary internal fixation under heavy traction.During posterior revision surgery,occipital screws need to change trajectory to maintain firm internal fixation,and larger diameter and longer screw is suitable for C1,and C2 screws,while extended fixed segments are suitable for patients whose C1 or C2 screws cannot be in-serted.The lateral atlantoaxial joint bone grafting is suitable for all AAD revision.

Objective:To test and evaluate the reliability and clinical effectiveness of osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture (OTLF) scoring and classification system.Methods:A multicenter retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 530 OTLF patients admitted to 8 hospitals including Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2021 to June 2022. There were 212 males and 318 females, aged 55-90 years [(72.6±10.8)years]. There were 4 patients with grade C and 18 with grade D according to American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification. According to the osteoporotic thoracolumbar injury classification and severity (OTLICS) score, all patients had an OTLICS score over 4 points and required surgical treatment. Among them, 410 patients had acute symptomatic OTLF (ASOTLF), including 24 patients with type I, 159 type IIA, 47 type IIB, 31 type IIC, 136 type IIIA, 8 type IIIB, 2 type IV (absence of neurological symptoms) and 3 type IV (presence of neurological symptoms), and 120 patients had chronic symptomatic OTLF (CSOTLF), including 62 patients with type I, 21 type II, 17 type III, 3 type IV (reducible under general anesthesia), 9 type IV (not reducible under general anesthesia), 1 type V (reducible under general anesthesia), 5 type V (presence of neurological symptoms), and 2 type V (not reducible under general anesthesia). Surgical procedures included percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP), positional repositioning plus PVP, percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP), posterior open reduction combined with bone graft fusion and bone cement augmented screw internal fixation, posterior open reduction combined with decompression, bone graft fusion and bone cement augmented screw internal fixation, and posterior open reduction combined with osteotomy and orthopedics, bone graft fusion and bone cement augmented screw internal fixation. A weighted Kappa was used to test the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the OTLICS score, the ASOTLF classification, and the CSOTLF classification. The visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), ASIA classification were compared before, at 1 month after surgery and at the last follow-up. Incidence of postoperative complications was observed.Results:The percentage of mean interobserver agreement for OTLICS staging was 93.4%, with a mean confidence Kappa value of 0.86, and the percentage of mean intraobserver agreement was 93.0%, with a mean confidence kappa value of 0.86. The percentage of mean interobserver agreement for ASOTLF staging was 94.2%, with a mean confidence Kappa value of 0.84, and the percentage of mean intraobserver agreement was 92.5%, with a mean confidence Kappa value of 0.83. The percentage of mean interobserver agreement for CSOTLF subtyping was 91.9%, with a mean confidence Kappa value of 0.80, and the percentage of mean intraobserver agreement was 91.3%, with a mean confidence Kappa value of 0.81. All the patients were followed up for 6-12 months [(9.0±2.1)months]. The VAS and ODI scores were significantly lower in patients with ASOTLF and CSOTLF classifications at 1 month after surgery and at the last follow-up than those before surgery (all P<0.05). The VAS scores in patients with ASOTLF types IIA, IIB, IIC, IIIA, and IV were significantly lower at the last follow-up than that at 1 month after surgery; the ODI scores in patients with ASOTLF types I, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB and IV were significantly lower at the last follow-up than those at 1 month after surgery. The VAS scores in patients with CSOTLF types II, III, IV, and V were significantly lower at the last follow-up than those at 1 month after surgery, and the ODI scores in patients with all CSOTLF types were significantly lower at the last follow-up than those at 1 month after surgery (all P<0.05). Two patients with ASIA grade C recovered to grade D, and the rest recovered to grade E at the last follow-up ( P<0.01). No major vessel or nerve injury or internal fixation failure was found during follow-up. There were 18 patients with cement leakage, none of whom showed relevant clinical symptoms. There were 35 patients with new vertebral fractures, all of whom recovered well after symptomatic treatment. Conclusions:The OTLICS score, ASOTLF classification and CSOTLF classification have a high degree of reliability. Application of stepwise treatment for patients with different levels of injury according to the scoring and classification system can reduce pain, promote recovery of the spinal function, and reduce complications, which is of some significance in guiding the selection of clinical treatment.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of cervical decompression performed at different times in the treatment of incomplete cervical spinal cord injury.Methods:A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 96 patients with incomplete cervical spinal cord injury admitted to six hospitals including Honghui Hospital affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University, etc, from May 2018 to May 2021. There were 36 females and 60 males, aged 28-42 years [(35.2±6.7)years]. The injured segments were at C 3 in 7 patients, C 4 in 15, C 5 in 20, C 6 in 23 and C 7 in 31. According to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale, there were 59 patients with grade B, 27 grade C, and 10 grade D. A total of 36 patients underwent cervical decompression within 24 hours after injury (early group), 33 patients within 24-72 hours after injury (late group), and 27 patients within 4-14 days after injury (delayed group). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, length of hospital stay, Cobb angle, height of intervertebral space and space occupation of the spinal canal before surgery and at postoperative 3 days, and ASIA score, ASIA motor score, ASIA light tactile score, ASIA acupuncture sensation score, visual analog scale (VAS) score, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, neck dysfunction index (NDI) before surgery and at postoperative 3 months, 1 year and at the last follow-up and incidence of complications were compared among the three groups. Results:All the patients were followed up for 12-21 months [(16.4±4.2)months]. There was no significant difference in the operation time among the three groups (all P>0.05). The intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage volume in the early group were (312.5±5.2)ml and (165.3±45.8)ml, which were higher than those in the late group [(253.5±40.0)ml, (120.4±60.6)ml] and the delayed group [(267.3±36.8)ml and (130.4±38.6)ml] (all P<0.01). There was no significant difference between the late group and the delayed group (all P>0.05). The length of hospital stay in the early group was (5.2±1.6)days, which was shorter than that in the late group [(7.6±2.3)days] and the delayed group [(8.0±1.3)days] (all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the late group and the delayed group ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the Cobb angle, height of intervertebral space and space occupation of the spinal canal among the three groups before and at postoperative 3 days (all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the ASIA score, ASIA motor score, ASIA light tactile score, ASIA acupuncture sensation score, VAS score, JOA score and NDI among the three groups before surgery (all P>0.05). At postoperative 3 months, 1 year and at the last follow-up, the ASIA grading of the early group was better than that of the late group and the delayed group ( P<0.05 or 0.01), but there was no statistically significant difference between the late group and the delayed group (all P>0.05). The ASIA motor scores of the early group were (56.4±4.5)points, (76.3±3.6)points and (85.4±6.5)points at postoperative 3 months, postoperative 1 year and the last follow-up, respectively, which were higher than those in the late group [(52.3±2.4)points, (60.3±8.6)points and (72.3±2.4)points] and the delayed group [(51.9±2.3)points, (62.8±4.6)points and (71.9±1.3)points]; the ASIA light tactile scores of the early group were (70.2±2.9)points, (72.6±4.3)points and (78.3±2.3)points, which were higher than those in the late group [(66.2±3.7)points, (68.3±1.6)points and (73.3±1.6)points] and the delayed group [(65.2±2.1)points, (67.8±1.9)points and (72.3±2.5)points]; acupuncture sensation scores of the early group were (71.9±3.1)points, (80.1±3.8)points and (89.1±7.6)points, which were higher than those in the late group [(67.4±2.7)points, (72.6±3.7)points and (77.9±1.8)points] and the delayed group [(68.3±2.2)points, (72.6±3.1)points and (77.2±1.9)points] (all P<0.05). VAS scores of the early group at postoperative 3 months, 1 year and at the last follow-up were (4.3±0.6)points, (2.4±0.3)points and (1.6±0.2)points, which were lower than those in the late group [(5.1±1.3)points, (4.1±0.6)points and (3.0±0.6)points] and the delayed group [(5.0±1.7)points, (4.0±0.8)points and (3.1±0.2)points]; JOA scores of the early group were (12.8±1.6)points, (14.4±2.6)points and (17.9±3.3)points, which were higher than those in the late group [(11.9±1.9)points, (13.3±1.6)points and (8.9±1.3)points] and the delayed group [(11.6±1.8)points, (13.2±1.4)points and (9.3±2.1)points]; NDI scores of the early group were 12.1±3.3, 10.1±2.1 and 7.3±1.4, which were lower than those in the late group (14.4±3.1, 12.3±1.6 and 8.9±1.3) and the delayed group (14.1±2.3, 12.9±1.9 and 9.5±2.1) (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in all the above-mentioned scores at postoperative 3 months, 1 year and at the last follow-up between the late group and the delayed group (all P>0.05). The incidence of complications was 25.0% (9/36) in the early group, 27.3% (9/33) in the late group and 37.0% (10/27) in the delayed group (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with within 24-72 hours and 4-14 days after injury, cervical decompression performed within 24 hours after injury for patients with incomplete cervical spinal cord injury can shorten the length of hospital stay, improve the function of the spinal cord nerves and relieve pain, with no increase of the incidence of complications.