PURPOSE: There are many infectious and inflammatory causes for elevated core-body temperatures, though they rarely pass 40 ℃ (104 ℉). The term "quad fever" is used for extreme hyperpyrexia in the setting of acute cervical spinal cord injuries (SCIs). The traditional methods of treating hyperpyrexia are often ineffective and reported morbidity and mortality rates approach 100%. This study aims to identify the incidence of elevated temperatures in SCIs at our institution and assess the effectiveness of using a non-invasive dry water temperature management system as a treatment modality with mortality. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of acute SCI patients requiring surgical intensive care unit admission who experienced fevers ≥ 40 ℃ (104 ℉) were compared to patients with maximum temperatures < 40 ℃. Patients ≥18 years old who sustained an acute traumatic SCI were included in this study. Patients who expired in the emergency department; had a SCI without radiologic abnormality; had neuropraxia; were admitted to any location other than the surgical intensive care unit; or had positive blood cultures were excluded. SAS 9.4 was used to conduct statistical analysis. RESULTS: Over the 9-year study period, 35 patients were admitted to the surgical intensive care unit with a verified SCI. Seven patients experienced maximum temperatures of ≥ 40 ℃. Six of those patients were treated with the dry water temperature management system with an overall mortality of 57.1% in this subgroup. The mortality rate for the 28 patients who experienced a maximum temperature of ≤ 40 ℃ was 21.4% (p = 0.16). CONCLUSION The diagnosis of quad fever should be considered in patients with cervical SCI in the presence of hyperthermia. In this study, there was no significant difference in mortality between quad fever patients treated with a dry water temperature management system versus SCI patients without quad fever. The early use of a dry water temperature management system appears to decrease the mortality rate of quad fever.
Humans ; Adolescent ; Hyperthermia ; Retrospective Studies ; Cervical Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries/surgery* ; Neck Injuries ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Hyperthermia, Induced

Objective: To compare the volumetric changes of cervical disc herniation (CDH) after cervical microendoscopic laminoplasty(CMEL),expansive open-door laminoplasty (EOLP) and conservative treatment. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted involving 101 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy(CSM),at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery,the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from April 2012 to April 2021. The patients included 52 males and 49 females with an age of (54.7±11.8) years(range:25 to 86 years). Among them, 35 patients accepted CMEL treatment,33 patients accepted EOLP treatment,while 33 patients accepted conservative treatment. Volume data of CDH were measured by three-dimensional analysis of the initial and follow-up MRI images. The absorption rate and reprotrusion rate of CDH were calculated. The happening of resorption or reprotrusion was defined when the ratio was greater than 5%. The clinical outcomes and quality of life were evaluated by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and the neck disability index (NDI).Quantitative data was analyzed by one-way ANOVA with post LSD-t test (multiple comparison) or Kruskal-Wallis test. Categorical data was analyzed by χ² test. Results: The follow-up time of the CMEL group,EOLP group and the conservative treatment group were (27.6±18.8)months,(21.6±6.9)months and(24.9±16.3)months respectively with no significant difference(P>0.05). Changes of CDH volume in patients:(1) There were 96 CDH of 35 patients in the CMEL group,among which 78 showed absorption. The absorption frequency was 81.3%(78/96) and the absorption rate was ranged 5.9% to 90.9%;9 CDH showed reprotrusion,the reprotrusion frequency was 9.4% (9/96) and the reprotrusion rate was 5.9% to 13.3%;(2) There were 94 CDH of 33 patients in the EOLP group,of which 45 showed absorption. The absorption prevalence was 47.9% (45/94) and the absorption rate was 5.0% to 26.7%;20 CDH showed reprotruded,with the reprotrusion frequency of 21.3% (20/94) and the reprotrusion rate was 5.8% to 28.3%;(3) There were 102 CDH in 33 patients of the conservative group. Among them, 5 showed absorption. The absorption frequency was 4.9% (5/102),and the absorption rate was 7.2% to 14.3%;58 CDH showed reprotruded with the re-protrusion ratio of 56.9% (58/102) and the re-protrusion rate was 5.4% to 174.1%. The absorption ratio and reprotrusion ratio of the CMEL group were statistically different from EOLP group or the conservative group (P<0.01).The absorption ratio and reprotrusion ratio of the EOLP group was different from conservative group (all P<0.01). In terms of clinical outcomes, the excellent/good rate of the JOA score and NDI scores in the CMEL group were different from that of conservative group (all P<0.01) but not from that of the EOLP group(P>0.05). Conclusions: CMEL is an effective method for the treatment of CSM,making CDH easier to resorption compared to the EOLP or conservative treatment,thus making a better decompression effect on the nerves. This study enlightened on a new strategy for the clinical treatment of CSM.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Retrospective Studies ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/surgery* ; Conservative Treatment ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; Spondylosis/surgery* ; Cervical Vertebrae/surgery* ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Laminoplasty/methods* ; Decompression

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effects of total laminectomy with lateral mass screw fixation and single open-door laminoplasty in the treatment of cervical spinal cord injury without fracture and dislocation. METHODS: The clinical data of 75 patients with cervical spinal cord injury without fracture and dislocation treated from December 2014 to April 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, including 65 males and 10 females, aged from 33 to 83 years old with an average of (60.1±11.4) years. According to surgical method, the patients were divided into observation group (36 cases) and control group (39 cases). The observation group was treated with C₃-C₆ single open-door laminoplasty. In the control group, the C₃-C₆ whole lamina was opened by "uncovering", and the lateral mass screw was fixed and fused. The general conditions including operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay and complications such as axial pain, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, postoperative C₅ nerve palsy were recorded. Visual analogue scale(VAS), Nurick pain scale, Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA) scores and American Spinal Injury Association(AISA) injury scale were used to evaluate the improvement of clinical symptoms and related functional recovery 12 months after operation. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in operation time, intraoperative blood loss and hospital stay between two groups(P>0.05). There were statistically significant differences in JOA, VAS, ASIA and Nurick scores of the all patients between 12 months after surgery and before surgery (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between groups. There was significant difference in the incidence of C5 nerve root palsy and axial pain between two groups(P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the complications of cerebrospinal fluid leakage between two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Total laminectomy with lateral mass screw fixation and single open-door laminoplasty in treating cervical spinal cord injury without fracture and dislocation can obtain satisfactory results in restoring nerve function, alleviating pain and improving daily behavior, but single open-door laminoplasty has the advantages of less trauma and low incidence of complications.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Screws ; Case-Control Studies ; Cervical Cord/surgery* ; Cervical Vertebrae/surgery* ; Female ; Humans ; Laminectomy/methods* ; Laminoplasty/methods* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of microscope assisted anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with conventional surgical approach in the treatment of single-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy. METHODS: The clinical data of 89 patients with single-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated from March 2015 to March 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 55 males and 34 females, with an average of (52.00±11.36) years old. Among the patients, 34 cases were treated with conventional anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (conventional group), including C RESULTS: Intraoperative blood loss and hospital stay in microscope group were less than those in conventional group ( CONCLUSION Both methods can achieve satisfactory effect in treating single-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy. However, microscope-assisted anterior cervical discectomy and fusion has advantages of clear vision, less bleeding and fewer intraoperative complications.
Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae/surgery* ; Diskectomy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Diseases/surgery* ; Spinal Fusion ; Spondylosis/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of anterior soft tissue swelling after anterior cervical subtotal corpectomy, titanium mesh fusion and internal fixation. METHODS: From November 2015 to July 2018, 151 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy were treated with anterior single corpectomy, titanium mesh fusion and internal fixation, including 109 males and 42 females, aged 44 to 81 (59.77±8.34) years. Through postoperative follow up observation, the C RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 15 to 40(28.00±3.52) months. One week after the operation, the swelling of anterior soft tissue reached the peak, and then decreased. At 8 months after the operation, the swelling of anterior soft tissue on C CONCLUSION Anterior subtotal cervical corpectomy, titanium mesh bone graft fusion and internal fixation can cause swelling of the anterior soft tissue. One week after operation, we should pay more attention to the aggravation of the swelling of the anterior soft tissue to avoid the occurrence of dysphagia, respiratory obstruction, asphyxia and other complications.
Cervical Vertebrae/surgery* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spinal Fusion ; Spondylosis ; Treatment Outcome

Cervical Cord ; Cervical Vertebrae/surgery* ; Humans ; Spinal Cord Injuries/etiology* ; Thyroidectomy/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical effects of anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF) and anterior cervical corpectomy with fusion (ACCF) in treating adjacent two-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). METHODS: The clinical data of 37 patients with adjacent two segment CSM treated from January 2016 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, including 15 males and 22 females, aged from 43 to 69 years old with an average of 54.6 years. The patients were divided into ACDF group (group A, =17) and ACCF group (group B, =20) according to the different surgery. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were recorded;the Cobb angle and cervical curvature in the cervical fusion segments before surgery and 1, 12 months after surgery were observed;Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was used to evaluate the surgical efficacy, and the postoperative complications were analyzed. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 12 to 24 months with an average of 18.5 months. Operation time and intraoperative blood loss in group A were (106.3±22.6) min, (52.2±26.4) ml, respectively, while were (115.6±16.8) min, ( 61.7±20.7) ml in group B. There was no statistically significant in operation time between two groups(>0.05);intraoperative blood loss in group B was larger than group A(<0.05). The preoperative and postoperative 1 and 12 months, cervical curvature and Cobb angle of cervical fusion segment in group A were (11.28±1.40)°, (17.56±1.90)°, (16.64±1.80)° and (4.93±4.20) °, (9.44±2.60)°, (9.25±2.80)°, respectively, and in group B were (10.59± 1.20)°, (16.26±2.10)°, (15.76±2.50)° and (4.75±3.90)°, (7.98±2.10)°, (7.79±3.00)°. The cervical curvature and Cobb angle in all cervical fusion segments at 1, 12 months after surgery were obviously improved, and group A recovered more significantly than group B (<0.05). The JOA scores in group A were 9.46±1.70, 11.56±1.40, 14.86±1.20 before operation and 1 and 12 months after operation, and group B were 9.11±1.50, 11.40±1.30, 15.12±1.60, respectively. The postoperative JOA scores of the two groups were significantly improved (<0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference between two groups at the same time (>0.05). At the final follow up, in group A, dysphagia occurred in 2 cases, cage displacement in 1 case, and no titanium plate screw loose was found;and in group B, dysphagia occurred in 4 cases, titanium mesh collapse in 2 cases, titanium plate screw loose in 1 case. CONCLUSION Two types of anterior cervical decompression and fusion for the treatment of two segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy can effectively decompress and improve the Cobb angle and cervical curvature of the affected vertebra. The ACDF surgical procedure can directly removethe compressive thing at intervertebral level, which will lead to little vertebral body damage and favorably recovered cervical curvature. The ACCF surgical procedure has a large operation space, which can easily remove the posterior vertebral osteophyte and the calcified posterior longitudinal ligament. Long-term follow-up shows that ACDF and ACCF have good surgical procedures, mature technology, and close efficacy.
Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Diskectomy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; Spondylosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy of C expanded half lamina excision combined with unilateral open door laminoplasty for multiple segmental cervical spinal cord compression syndrome. METHODS: The clinical data of 58 patients with multiple segmental cervical spinal cord compression syndrome underwent surgical treatment between September 2014 and May 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 34 males and 24 females with a mean age of 64.4 years old (ranged from 46 to 78 years old). Among them, 28 cases received the surgery of C expanded half lamina excision combined with C-C unilateral open-door laminoplasty (improvedgroup), and 30 cases received a single C-C unilateral open-door laminoplasty (traditional group). Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, complications including C nerve root palsy and axial symptoms were compared between two groups. To evaluate the situation of the imaging indicators by measuring the space available for the spinal cord through cross sectional MRI of cervical spine at the narrowest segment of C (including intervertebral disc levels of C). Pre- and post-operative Japanese Orthopedic Association(JOA) score, Neck Disability Index(NDI) score, and improvement rate of neurological function, were recorded and analyzed between the two groups. RESULTS: All the patients were followed up for 12 to 18 months with an average of(14.5±1.8) months for improved group and (14.5±1.9) months for traditional group, and no significant difference was found between the two groups (>0.05). There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss and C nerve root palsy between the two groups (>0.05). The operation time (119±10) min vs (126±12) min and axial symptoms 7.1%(2/28) vs 26.6%(8/30) was significant difference between the two groups (<0.05). Preoperative and postoperative space available for the spinal cord of C was (93.61±9.02) mm and (153.50±12.76) mm respectively, which was obtained obvious improvement in all patients(<0.05). At the final follow up, JOA scores of improved group and traditional group were 14.36±1.70 and 14.03±1.82 respectively, and NDI scores were 10.36±2.55 and 12.47±3.46 respectively, there was significant difference between two groups (<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between two groups for the improvement rate (68.36±0.12)%VS (65.01±0.12)%of neurological function(>0.05). CONCLUSION C expanded half lamina excision combined with unilateral open-door laminoplasty is an effective method to treat multiple segmental cervical spinal cord compression syndrome, for it can not only fully relieved spinal cord compression, but also achievedgood effect in preventing complications such as axial symptoms by reducing stripping of muscles from C2 spinous process.
Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Laminoplasty ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Compression ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: The optimal surgical approach for four-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes and complications between the anterior and posterior approaches for four-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy. METHODS: A total of 19 patients underwent anterior decompression and fusion and 25 patients underwent posterior laminoplasty and instrumentation in this study. Perioperative information, intraoperative blood loss, clinical and radiological outcomes, and complications were recorded. Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, 36-item short form survey (SF-36) score and cervical alignment were assessed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in JOA scores between the anterior and posterior group preoperatively (11.6 ± 1.6 vs. 12.1 ± 1.5), immediately postoperatively (14.4 ± 1.1 vs. 13.8 ± 1.3), or at the last follow-up (14.6 ± 1.0 vs. 14.2 ± 1.1) (P > 0.05). The JOA scores significantly improved immediately postoperatively and at the last follow-up in both groups compared with their preoperative values. The recovery rate was significantly higher in the anterior group both immediately postoperatively and at the last follow-up. The SF-36 score was significantly higher in the anterior group at the last follow-up compared with the preoperative value (69.4 vs. 61.7). Imaging revealed that there was no significant difference in the Cobb angle at C2-C7 between the two groups preoperatively (-2.0° ± 7.3° vs. -1.4° ± 7.5°). The Cobb angle significantly improved immediately postoperatively (12.3° ± 4.2° vs. 9.2° ± 3.6°) and at the last follow-up (12.4° ± 3.5° vs. 9.0° ± 2.6°) in both groups compared with their preoperative values (P = 0.00). Three patients had temporary dysphagia in the anterior group and four patients had persistent axial symptoms in the posterior group. CONCLUSIONS Both the anterior and posterior approaches were effective in treating four-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy in terms of neurological clinical outcomes and radiological features. However, the JOA score recovery rate and SF-36 score in the anterior group were significantly higher. Persistent axial pain could be a major concern when undertaking the posterior approach.
Blood Loss, Surgical ; Cervical Vertebrae/surgery* ; Decompression, Surgical ; Humans ; Laminoplasty ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Diseases/surgery* ; Spinal Fusion ; Spondylosis/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome

Cervical Vertebrae ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Laminoplasty ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; pathology ; surgery