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Objective To investigate the clinical effect of anterior controllable antedisplacement and fusion (ACAF) for the treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the cervical spine.Methods The data of 45 cases with cervical posterior longitudinal ligament ossification treated by ACAF from March 2017 to October 2017 were retrospectively analyzed,including 25 males and 20 females,age 45-68 years,average 57.5 years.There were 18 cases involving C3 vertebral body,30 cases involving C4 vertebral body,40 cases involving C5 vertebral body,34 cases involving C6 vertebral body,and 7 cases involving C7 vertebral body.The function of the neural function was evaluated by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring system at preoperation and latest follow-up.The curvature of the cervical spine was measured on the lateral X-ray film of the cervical spine,the maximum occupying ratio of the spinal canal was measured on the cross section of the CT scan,and compression of the cervical spinal cord was evaluated by the cervical MRI.Results Patients were followed up for 3 to 6 months (average,3.9 months).The improvement of neurological function was obtained in all the patients.The JOA score improvement rate at the latest follow-up was 71.3％±9.6％.The cervical lordosis was improved from preoperative 4.5°±3.8° to 10.3°±4.8° at the latest follow-up.The canal stenosis ratio was decreased from preoperative 54.3％±8.2％ to 12.5％±5.3％ at the latest follow-up.MRI showed that the cervical spinal cord was adequately decompressed in situ.No specific complications were identified that were associated with this technique.Conclusion The present study elaborates the surgical tips and demonstrates the satisfactory outcome of ACAF for the treatment of OPLL.This novel technique has the potential to serve as an alternative surgical technique for the treatment of cervical OPLL.
ABSTRACT
Objective To report a novel technique named anterior controllable antedisplacement and fusion (ACAF) for the treatment of severe ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine,which allows for direct decompression of the nerve without resection of the ossification,making up for deficiencies in traditional anterior or posterior decompression.Methods The main surgical procedures of the ACAF included treatment of intervertebral space,removal of the anterior part of vertebrae,installation of titanium plate and interbody fusion cages,bilateral osteotomies of the vertebrae,and antedisplacement of the vertebrae ossification complex.The clinical data of two patients undergoing this surgery for severe ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of cervical spine were collected and analyzed.Results ACAF enabled direct decompression of spinal cord and nerve root through antedisplacement of the vertebrae ossification complex.The two patients who underwent ACAF gained satisfactory restoration with decompression of spinal cord and good recovery of neurological function,with no specific complications.Conclusion ACAF surgery takes into account the effectiveness of anterior direct decompression and the safety of posterior indirect decompression.Preliminary results shows that it can be used for severe cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.
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BACKGROUND:Intervertebral disc degeneration is one of the ancient and common clinical diseases. Its complex pathogenesis affected by various factors, such as environment and genes, is stil in debate. Because of the technical limitations, there is stil no deep understanding on the molecular mechanism of intervertebral disc degeneration. However, its molecular mechanism in recent years has made considerable development. OBJECTIVE: To summarize and discuss the molecular mechanism of intervertebral disc degeneration, thereby providing the basis for the effective treatment. METHODS: CNKI and Medline databases were retrieved by the first author using computer to search relevant articles published from 2005 to 2015. The key words were “intervertebral disc degeneration, molecular mechanism, environmental factors, genes, matrix, degradation enzyme,inflammatory factor, biological environment, treatment” in Chinese and English, respectively. Mechanisms of intervertebral disc degeneration, involving genes, cel senescence and apoptosis, degradation enzyme and substrate, inflammatory cytokines, were summarized to explore the pathogenesis and possible effective treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Totaly 153 articles were initialy retrieved and finaly 52 articles were included in result analysis according to inclusive and exclusive criteria. Unique structure and biochemical properties of the intervertebral disc are easy to cause intervertebral disc degeneration. Traditionaly, environmental factors, such as occupation and smoking, are considered as the main factors inducing intervertebral disc degeneration; however, more and more studies have shown that genes have the most important influence on intervertebral disc degeneration. Declined extracelular matrix, increased degradation enzymes, and overexpression of inflammatory factors can al destroy the entire structure of intervertebral disc, and accelerate the process of intervertebral disc degeneration. Effective treatment for intervertebral disc degeneration can be formulated depending on the deep understanding on its molecular mechanisms. Although there is a further understanding on the molecular medium of intervertebral disc degeneration, the complex biochemical environment within the intervertebral disc is stil a great chalenge to the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.
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BACKGROUND: Cervical intervertebral foramen stenosis induced by cervical spondylosis of nerve root type usual y requires surgical treatment. The ways mainly include anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and cervical posterior intervertebral foramen decompression. Which is the best way is stil inconclusive. With innovation, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for cervical spondylosis of nerve root type has become the mainstream in the current treatment. OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between curative effects and intervertebral foramen-associated parameter changes in patients with cervical spondylosis of nerve root type after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. METHODS: From March 2011 to April 2013, 132 patients with cervical spondylosis of nerve root type were treated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in the Changzheng Hospital Affiliated to the Second Military Medical University. Neck pain and arm pain visual analogue score, neck disability index score and imaging changes were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: 132 patients were fol owed up for 25(4-28) months. Significant differences in neck pain visual analogue scale, anterior intervertebral disc height, posterior intervertebral disc height, intervertebral foramen height, anterior and posterior diameters of the intervertebral foramen, the area of the intervertebral foramen, and the Cobb angle of the fused segment were detected in al patients before and after treatment (P < 0.05). Posterior intervertebral disc height was positively correlated with intervertebral foramen area (r=0.427, P=0.000). The increased Cobb angle of the fused segment was negatively associated with the size of intervertebral foramen (r=-0.273, P=0.003). Intervertebral foramen area was negatively associated with arm pain visual analogue score (r=-0.502, P=0.000). These results indicated that anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with an interbody fusion cage can obviously enlarge intervertebral foramen in patients with cervical spondylosis of nerve root type, and obtain good curative effect. The size of the intervertebral foramen is negatively related to the axial pain. The reconstruction of the intervertebral disc height is necessary to expand the intervertebral foramen. However, the increase of the curvature fusion segments is not helping to expand the intervertebral foramen.