Objectives:To analyze the risk factors for prolonged length of stay(LOS)after lesion removal and bone graft fusion internal fixation in patients with spinal tuberculosis,and to develop and validate a predictive model.Methods:The clinical data of 152 patients with spinal tuberculosis who underwent lesion removal and bone grafting and fusion internal fixation at Honghui Hospital affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong Univer-sity from February 2016 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into the prolonged LOS(PLOS)group and normal LOS(NLOS)group according to whether their postoperative LOS ex-ceeded the postoperative LOS of the 75th percentile of the overall study cohort.Univariate analyses were per-formed for gender,age,hypertension,diabetes,paraplegia,anticoagulation history,tuberculosis resistance,pre-operative anti-tuberculosis time,blood transfusion,surgical site,surgical approach,number of fused vertebrae,operative time,intraoperative blood loss(IBL),postoperative complications,blood transfusion cost,hospital cost,C-reactive protein(CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),albumin(ALB),blood routine,and coagulation function in both groups.Based on Lasso regression,the risk factors significantly associated with postoperative LOS prolongation in spinal tuberculosis were selected and incorporated into a multivariate logistic regression analysis,and thereby a prediction model was established based on the results of multivariate logistic regres-sion analysis.The model was visualized by plotting a nomogram as a means of predicting the probability of risk for prolongation of LOS after spinal tuberculosis surgery.Internal validation of the model was performed using extended Bootstrap,where receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,calibration curves and decision curve analysis(DCA)were plotted to verify the discrimination,accuracy and clinical applicability.Results:The 152 patients enrolled in the study had a median LOS of 10d,and the 75%LOS was 14d.There were 96 patients in the PLOS group and 56 in the NLOS group.Univariate analysis showed that the differences in age,hypertension,diabetes,anticoagulation history,tuberculosis resistance,preoperative anti-tuberculosis time,surgical site,surgical approach,surgical time,IBL,postoperative complications,CRP,ESR,preoperative ALB,blood routine,and coagulation function were not statistically significant between the two groups(P＞0.05),while the differences in gender,paraplegia,blood transfusion,number of fused vertebrae,blood transfusion cost,and hospitalization cost were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The operative time,IBL,preoperative Hb,and preop-erative ALB were divided according to the Yoden index of ROC as the dividing point,and the cut-off value of operative time was 198(min),the cut-off value of IBL was 1000(mL),the cut-off value of preoperative Hb was 118(g/L),and the cut-off value of preoperative ALB was 38.8(g/L).Through Lasso regression model,the risk factors closely related to the prolongation of LOS after spinal tuberculosis were female,blood transfusion,the number of fused vertebrae≥3,operative time≥198min and IBL≥1000mL,preoperative Hb＜118g/L and preoperative ALB＜38.8g/L.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female,number of fused ver-tebrae≥3,operative time≥198min and IBL≥1000mL were the risk factors for postoperative LOS prolongation in patients with spinal tuberculosis(P＜0.05).A visual nomogram model for logistic regression was constructed,and the predictors included female,number of fused vertebrae,operative time,and IBL.A Bootstrap self-sampling of 1,000 times was performed to complete the internal validation of the model,with a C-index value of 0.882 and an area under the curve(AUC)of ROC of 0.884(95%CI:0.782 to 0.985).The calibration curve showed that the apparent curve of the model fitted well with the curve after deviation correction.The DCA curve showed that the threshold range of 0.2 to 0.9 had the greatest clinical benefit.Conclusions:Female,number of fused vertebrae≥3,operative time≥198min and IBL≥1000mL are the main risk factors for pro-longed LOS after lesion removal and bone graft fusion with internal fixation in patients with spinal tuberculo-sis,and the predictive model based on the above risk factors can help physicians to make clinical decisions and optimize the perioperative management.

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 investigate the risk factors associated with the occurrence of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) after posterior long-segment internal fixation for type IV chronic symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture (CSOTLF) in the elderly.Methods:A case-control study was used to analyze the clinical data of 95 elderly patients with type IV CSOTLF treated in Honghui Hospital affiliated to Xi′an Jiaotong University from January 2013 to June 2018, including 32 males and 63 females, aged from 60 to 85 years［(67.4±6.5) years］. Injured segments were T 11 in 17 patients, T 12 in 37, L 1 in 30 and L 2 in 11. All patients were treated with posterior long-segment internal fixation and divided into PJK group ( n=30) and non-PJK group ( n=65) according to whether PJK occurred after surgery. Univariate analysis was performed for the correlation of the following indices with the incidence of postoperative PJK, including general information such as gender, age, body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), history of smoking, cause of injury, comorbidities, injury segments, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification and time from injury to surgery, preoperative imaging data such as posterior junctional angle (PJA), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis difference (PI-LL), pelvic tilt (PT) and sacral slope (SS), basic surgical data such as posterior ligament complex (PLC) injury, location of upper instrumented vertebrae (UIV), location of lower instrumented vertebrae (LIV) and number of fixed segments. Multifactorial Logistic regression analysis was used to measure the independent risk factors associated with the occurrence of postoperative PJK. Results:Univariate analysis showed that the incidence of postoperative PJK was correlated with age, BMI, BMD, preoperative PJA, preoperative SVA, preoperative PI-LL, PLC injury, location of UIV, location of LIV and number of fixed segments (all P<0.05), rather than gender, history of smoking, cause of injury, comorbidities, injury segments, ASIA classification, time from injury to surgery, preoperative PT and preoperative SS (all P>0.05). Multifactorial Logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥70 years ( OR=32.28, 95% CI 3.83-272.29, P<0.01), BMI>28.0 kg/m 2 ( OR=7.88, 95% CI 1.63-37.99, P<0.01), BMD T value<-3.5 SD ( OR=20.84, 95% CI 2.36-183.93, P<0.01), preoperative PI-LL>20° ( OR=13.30, 95% CI 1.54-113.87, P<0.05) and PLC injury ( OR=13.98, 95% CI 1.37-142.34, P<0.05) were significantly associated with the occurrence of postoperative PJK. Conclusions:Age≥70 years, BMI>28 kg/m 2, BMD T value<-3.5 SD, preoperative PI-LL>20° and PLC injury are independent risk factors for the incidence of PJK after posterior long-segment internal fixation in elderly patients with type IV CSOTLF. Attention should be paid to soft tissue protection and sagittal balance restoration of the spine intraoperatively and weight control and anti-osteoporosis treatment postoperatively.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of forceful reduction percutaneous pedicle screw and ordinary percutaneous pedicle screw in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fracture with kyphosis.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 566 patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fracture with kyphosis admitted to Honghui Hospital, Xi ′an Jiaotong University from January 2015 to December 2018, including 191 males and 375 females, with age range of 48-79 years [(61.7±10.7)years]. Fracture segments were located at T 11 in 134 patients, T 12 in 154, L 1 in 160, and L 2 in 118. All fractures were type IIIA according to the acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture classification (ASOTLF). The thoracolumbar osteoporotic fracture severity score assessment system (TLOFSAS) score was ≥5 points. A total of 275 patients underwent forceful reduction and percutaneous pedicle screw internal fixation (forceful reduction screw group), and 291 patients underwent common percutaneous pedicle screw internal fixation (common screw group). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, times of X-ray exposure on patients and measures documented before operation, at 3 days after operation and at 2 years after operation including anterior height ratio of the injured vertebrae, sagittal Cobb angle of the injured vertebrae, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and visual analog scale (VAS) were compared between the two groups. Moreover, degree of correction of Cobb angle at 3 days after operation, loss of correction of Cobb angle at 2 years after operation and postoperative complications were observed. Results:All patients were followed up for 25-34 months [(29.9±3.4)months]. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss and times of X-ray exposure on patients in forceful reduction screw group were (69.4±10.2)minutes, (60.3±13.1)ml and (26.8±3.7)times, less than (80.6±11.9)minutes, (80.7±15.4)ml and (30.4±3.4)times in common screw group (all P<0.01). There was no significant difference in anterior height ratio of the injured vertebrae between the two groups before operation and at 3 days after operation (all P>0.05). The anterior height ratio of the injured vertebrae in forceful reduction screw group was (95.5±2.3)% at 2 years after operation, significantly higher than (85.4±1.7)% in common screw group ( P<0.01). There was no significant difference in sagittal Cobb angle of the injured vertebrae between the two groups before operation ( P>0.05). The sagittal Cobb of the injured vertebrae in forceful reduction screw group at 3 days and 2 years after operation were (7.9±1.6)° and (8.8±1.5)°, lower than (10.6±1.1)° and (12.3±1.2)° in common screw group ( P<0.05 or 0.01). There were no significant difference in JOA score and VAS between the two groups before operation, at 3 days and at 2 years after operation (all P>0.05). The degree of correction of Cobb angle in forceful reduction screw group was (19.4±2.5)°, higher than (17.3±2.6)° in common screw group ( P<0.05). The loss of correction of Cobb angle in forceful reduction group was less than that in common screw group at 2 years after operation, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in forceful reduction screw group was 12.4% (34/275), compared to 14.1% (41/291) in common screw group ( P>0.05). There were no complications such as iatrogenic nerve injury, fracture or loosening of internal fixator or leakage of bone cement in the spinal canal in both groups. Conclusions:For osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fracture with kyphosis, forceful reduction and percutaneous pedicle screw internal fixation can significantly shorten operation time, reduce intraoperative blood loss and times of X-ray exposure on patients, restore height of the injured vertebrae, correct kyphosis and maintain reduction height of the injured vertebrae in contrast with conventional percutaneous pedicle screw internal fixation.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of flexion-lateral curvature-supination reduction combined with primary anterior surgery for the treatment of lower cervical dislocation with unilateral facet inter-locking.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed in the 32 patients who had been admitted to Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital for lower cervical dislocation with unilateral facet interlocking from November 2015 to October 2018. According to their treatments, they were divided into 2 groups. In the emergency group treated by flexion-lateral curvature-supination reduction combined with primary anterior surgery, there were 13 males and 3 females, aged from 24 to 63 years. In the traction group treated by cranial traction reduction combined with secondary anterior surgery, there were 12 males and 4 females, aged from 20 to 64 years. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, bone graft fusion, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score were compared between the 2 groups.Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, showing they were comparable ( P<0.05). All patients were followed up from 26 to 40 months. The hospital stay for the emergency group [(7.2±1.2) d] was significantly shorter than that for the traction group[(10.9±1.2) d] ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the operation time, blood loss, ASIA grade or JOA score between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). All patients achieved osseous fusion of intervertebral space. Conclusion:Compared with traditional methods, flexion-lateral curvature-supination reduction combined with primay anterior surgery shows no significant difference in the recovery of neurological function but leads to a shorter hospital stay.

Objective:To explore the clinical effects of unilateral secondary puncture percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in the treatment of type ⅡA acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures (ASOTLF).Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 193 patients with type ⅡA ASOTLF who had been admitted to Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital from February 2016 to October 2018. They were 71 males and 122 females, aged from 65 to 90 years [average, (73.9±4.3) years]. The segments injured were T10 in 21 cases, T11 in 27 cases, T12 in 44 cases, L1 in 48 cases, L2 in 29 cases, L3 in 14 cases, and L4 in 10 cases. Of them, 85 received unilateral secondary puncture PVP (observation group) and 108 did not (control group). The clinical effects were evaluated by comparing between the 2 groups the operation time, bone cement injection volume, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, and visual analogue scale (VAS) for back pain, spinal Oswestry disability index (ODI), anterior height of the injured vertebral body (AH) and kyphosis angle (KA) of the injured vertebra before operation, at 3 days after operation and the last follow-up. The bone cement leakage and fracture of adjacent vertebral body were observed.Results:All patients were followed up for 12 to 24 months (average, 15.8 months). There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, showing they were comparable ( P>0.05). The operation time and bone cement injection volume [(36.2±1.4) min and (5.5±0.7) mL] in the observation group were significantly longer or more than those in the control group [(32.3±1.7) min and (4.0±0.7) mL] ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the hospital stay or intraoperative blood loss between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). The VAS, ODI, AH and KA at 3 days after operation and the last follow-up were significantly improved compared with those before operation in both groups ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in VAS, ODI, AH or KA between the 2 groups before operation or at 3 days after operation ( P>0.05). However, the VAS, ODI, AH and KA at the last follow-up in the observation group [(2.2±0.8) points, 19.2%±5.8%, (2.90±0.21) cm, and 12.2°±1.5°] were better than those in the control group [(3.1±0.9) points, 22.8%±5.3%, (2.41±0.15) cm, and 13.3°±1.2°]. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the incidence of postoperative bone cement leakage or that of adjacent vertebral fracture ( P>0.05). Conclusions:In the treatment of type ⅡA ASOTLF, unilateral secondary puncture PVP can result in satisfactory clinical effects, because it effectively promotes dispersion of bone cement and prevents re-collapse of the vertebra operated but does not increase the risks of bone cement leakage and adjacent vertebral fracture.

Spinal tuberculosis is one of the common causes of severe kyphosis. The formation of spinal tuberculosis kyphosis is multi-factors, including age at the time of infection, the cumulative number of segments, the height of vertebral body loss before treatment, and "spine danger signs" . Although the use of anti-tuberculosis drugs has achieved good results, for patients with spinal tuberculosis cured by drug treatment, the kyphosis will continue to progress and gradually develop into a severe kyphosis. Then there are a series of problems such as appearance, psychology, rib-pelvic impingement, cardiopulmonary dysfunction, and nerve and spinal cord compression. The X-ray signs of the height of the vertebral body loss and "spine danger signs" before treatment can help predict the severity of future deformities. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the formation of kyphosis of spinal tuberculosis and individualized selection of surgical methods according to the specific conditions of the disease as soon as possible can effectively prevent the formation of kyphosis and reduce the incidence of neurological damage and delayed paralysis.

Objective:To explore the treatment options for patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar injury classification and severity score (OTLICS) of 4 points following acute symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) .Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 108 patients with acute symptomatic OVCF admitted to Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Faculty of Medicine from February 2016 to February 2018. There were 21 males and 87 females, aged 55-92 years [(71.6±5.3)years]. All patients had OTLICS score of 4 points. Of all, 76 patients were treated operatively (surgery group) and 32 patients were treated non-operatively (non-surgery group). The visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) and quality of life score (SF-36) were compared between the two groups before treatment, at 1 week, 3 months, 6 months after treatment, and at the last follow-up. The recovery of the injured vertebrae before and after treatment (Cobb angle of the injured vertebra, relative height of the anterior edge of the injured vertebrae), adjacent vertebral body fractures, and complications were compared between the two groups.Results:All patients were followed up for 12-18 months [(13.4±4.2)months]. At 1 week, 3 months and 6 months after treatment, the VAS in surgery group [(3.5±1.0)points, (2.1±0.6)points, (2.0±0.4)points] was better than that in non-surgery group [(6.4±1.7)points, (5.3±1.5)points, (3.3±0.6)points] ( P<0.05), the ODI in surgery group [(45.8±10.3)points, (35.3±8.6)points, (26.5±7.1)points] was better than that in non-surgery group [(65.7±12.1)points, (58.3±10.7)points, (45.6±9.3)points] ( P<0.05), the SF-36 in surgery group [(82.8±1.4)points, (85.0±1.5)points, (88.0±1.3)points] was better than that in non-surgery group [(80.4±1.3)points, (81.5±1.4)points, (85.6±1.1)points] ( P<0.05). At the last follow-up, there were no significant differences in VAS, ODI and SF-36 between the two groups ( P>0.05). At 3 months, 6 months and the last follow-up, the Cobb angle in surgery group [(18.3±3.9)°, (17.5±3.0)°, (17.8±1.6)°] was better than that in non-surgery group [(22.4±2.2)°, (22.5±1.7)°, (22.1±1.3)°] ( P<0.05), and the relative height of the anterior edge of the injured vertebra in surgery group [(75.4±8.6)%, (76.6±8.6)%, (75.2±8.3)%] was better than that in non-surgery group [(63.5±7.6)%, (65.2±7.4)%, (62.8±7.2)%] ( P<0.05). The adjacent vertebral fractures occurred in 6 patients (8%) in surgery group, and in 2 patients (6%)in non-surgey group ( P>0.05). Postoperative complications occurred in 8 patients (11%) in surgery group, and occurred in 6 patients (19%) in non-surgery group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:When applying the OTLICS scoring system to treat acute symptomatic OVCF, patients with OTLICS score of 4 points should be promptly treated with operatively, which can quick relieve pain, correct deformities promote functional recovery, and improve quality of life.

Objective:To establish the acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture (ASOTLF) classification system, and to examine the reliability and evaluate the effect of clinical application.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 1 293 patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture(OTLF) admitted to Honghui Hospital from January 2016 to December 2018. There were 514 males and 779 females, aged 57-90 years [(71.4±6.3)years]. The T value of bone mass density was -5.0--2.5 SD [(-3.1±-0.4)SD]. According to the clinical symptoms a and fracture morphology, OTLF was divided into 4 types, namely type I(I occult fracture), type II(compressed fracture), type III (burst fracture) and type IV(unstable fracture). The type II was subdivided into three subtypes (type IIA, IIB, IIC), and the Type III into two subtypes (type IIIA, IIIB). of all patients, 75 patients (5.8%) were with type I, 500 (38.7%) with type II A, 134 (10.4%) with type IIB, 97 (7.5%) with type IIC, 442 (34.2%) with type IIIA, 27(2.1%) with type IIIB and 18 (1.4%) with type IV. After testing the validity of the classification, different treatment methods were utilized according to the classification, including percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for Type I, PVP after postural reduction for Type II, percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for Type IIIA, posterior reduction and decompression, bone graft fusion and bone cement-augmented screw fixation for Type IIIB, and posterior reduction, bone graft fusion and bone cement-augmented screw fixation for Type IV. The visual analog score (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), Frankel grade of spinal cord injury, local Cobb Angle, and vertebral body angle (vertebral body angle) were recorded in all patients and in each type of patients before surgery, at 1 month after surgery and at the last follow-up. The neurological function recovery and complications were also recorded.Results:The patients were followed up for 24-43 months [(29.9±5.1)months]. A total of 3 000 assessments in two rounds were conducted by three observers. The overall κ value of inter-observer credibility was 0.83, and the overall κ value of intra-observer credibility was 0.88. The VAS and ODI of all patients were (5.8±0.7)points and 72.5±6.6 before surgery, (1.8±0.6)points and 25.0±6.3 at 1 month after surgery, and (1.5±0.6)points and 19.5±6.2 at the last follow-up, respectively (all P<0.05). The Cobb angle and vertebral body angle of all patients were (13.0±9.1)° and (8.0±4.6)° before surgery, (7.9±5.2)° and (4.6±2.9)° at 1 month after surgery, and (9.1±6.0)° and (5.8±3.0)° at the last follow-up, respectively (all P<0.05). At the last follow-up, VAS, ODI, Cobb Angle and VBA of each type of patients were significantly improved compared with those before surgery (all P<0.05). The spinal cord compression symptoms were found 1 patient with type IV and 5 patients with type IIIB preoperatively. At the last follow-up, neurological function improved from grade C to grade E in 1 patient and from grade D to grade E in 5 patients ( P<0.05). The lower limb radiation pain or numbness in 3 patients with type IV and 22 patients with type III preoperatively were fully recovered after surgical treatment at the last follow-up except for three patients. Conclusions:The ASOTLF classification is established and has high consistency and reliability. The classification-oriented treatment strategy has achieved a relatively satisfactory effect, indicating that the classification has a certain guiding significance for treatment of OTLF.

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) at stage I in treatment of acute multi-segment osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) in the elderly with over 3 vertebrae operated.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 105 aged patients with acute multi-segment OVCF admitted to Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University from October 2015 to February 2019. There were 27 males and 78 females, aged 65-92 years [(73.0±14.5)years]. All patients received stage I multi-segmental PVP and standard anti-osteoporosis treatment. There were more than 3 operative vertebral segments in 30 patients (observation group) and less than or equal to 3 operative vertebral segments in 75 patients (control group). The operation time, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, cement injection volume, cement leakage rate and incidence of recurrent vertebral fractures were compared between the two groups. The visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) and activity of daily living (ADL) score were compared before operation, 1 day, 1 month after operation and at the last follow-up.Results:All patients were followed up for 11-13 months [(12.5±1.8)months]. The observation group showed operation time of (71.2±12.2)minutes, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency of (38.8±6.4)times and cement injection volume of (20.2±4.6)ml, more than those in control group [(52.3±10.6)minutes, (25.4±5.3)times, (12.3±4.3)ml] ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in cement leakage rate and incidence of recurrent vertebral fractures between the two groups ( P>0.05). No complications such as infection, nerve damage or cement implantation syndrome occurred. Before operation, 1 day after operation, 1 month after operation and at the last follow-up, the VAS in observation group [(7.6±0.7)points, (3.0±0.8)points, (2.3±0.7)points, (2.2±0.6)points] showed no significant difference from those in control group [(7.4±0.5)points, (2.9±0.4)points, (2.1±0.5)points, (2.0±0.5)points], the ODI in observation group [(74.6±3.3)%, (36.8±4.6)%, (29.7±4.0)%, (24.0±3.6)%] did not differ from those in control group [(73.8±1.0)%, (35.1±0.9)%, (28.4±2.2)%, (22.8±0.9)%], the ADL score in observation group [(34.5±5.0)points, (54.5±3.8)points, (73.7±3.9)points] were similar with those in control group [(36.2±3.4)points, (56.8±4.7)points, (75.3±5.3)points, (81.3±4.5)points] (all P>0.05). The postoperative VAS, ODI and ADL score in both groups were significantly improved in comparison with preoperation ( P<0.05). Conclusion:For acute multi-segment OVCF in the elderly with over 3 or not more than 3 the vertebrae operated, PVP at stage I has the same advantages in early pain relief and improvement of motor function and quality of life.