Lower limb ischemia cured by stimulation electrode implantation assisted with microendoscopic discectomy system: A case report / 北京大学学报(医学版)

A 58-year-old male patient diagnosed with thromboangiitis obliterans (Fontaine stage IV) was recently treated with microendoscope discectomy system-assisted spinal cord stimulation electrode implantation and cured by department of vascular surgery combined with department of spinal surgery at Peking University People's Hospital. The patient suffered from cold injury to the right foot 14 years ago, which was cold, painful, numb, and then the toe was ulcerated and gangrene. Only the right foot small toe was left. The right foot skin was swollen from the toe to the proximal segment 1 year ago, accompanied by resting pain. Both pain and autologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation were ineffective. The above symptoms were aggravated three months ago, and the pain was severe. The visual analogue score was 10 points. A high amputation of the left lower extremity was performed 30 years ago due to trauma. Physical examination: the bilateral femoral artery was weak, and the right radial artery, posterior tibial artery, and dorsal artery were not touched. Buerger sign (+). Auxiliary examination: angiography of both lower extremities showed complete occlusion of the bilateral external iliac artery and its distal end. The percutaneous oxygen partial pressure was measured to be 30 mmHg on the right side of the iliac crest. The operation was performed under the local anesthesia. After X-ray positioning, the body projection of the lumbar vertebrae 1-2 lamina gap was marked. The skin had a 1.8 cm incision on the caudal side 2 cm from the mark. Then the dilators were used, and the working sleeve was tilted to the lumbar vertebrae 1-2 lamina gap. The microendoscope discectomy system was installed, the electrode was directly placed into the epidural space from the interlamina space under the microendoscope, the vascular surgeon adjusted the position of the electrode in the spinal canal under fluoroscopy, then connected the stimulator, adjusted the current until the patient had the lower limb fever, fixed electrode position, removed the microendoscope discectomy system after hemostasis under the microendoscope, used the guide needle to lead the electrode through the lumbar subcutaneous and then sutured the incision. After the operation, the electrode was connected to the temporary stimulator to stimulate for several minutes, the patient felt numbness in his lower limbs. In less than one hour, the skin temperature of the affected limb increased, and the painkiller could be stopped while sleeping. After 1 week, the skin temperature of the affected limb increased, and the percutaneous oxygen partial pressure of the foot and ankle was 36 mmHg, and the pain improved, and the score was reduced to 2 points. One month after surgery, the patient underwent permanent stimulator implantation. The pain disappeared after 3 months and half year of follow-up, and the score was reduced to 1 point. Microendoscope discectomy system-assisted spinal cord stimulation electrode implantation can complete the operation quickly, safely and effectively, and greatly reduce the number of intraoperative fluoroscopy and reduce the occurrence of complications.

Effects of intrathecal injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate in acute spinal cord injury rabbits / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects and apoptosis of intrathecal injection of Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate (MPss) for acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in New Zealand rabbits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-two healthy New Zealand rabbits were used for the procedure and were randomly divided into two groups: SCI group and SHAM group, which was both divided into 6 subgroups, such as the vehicle group, the MPss intrathecal injection groups (1.5 mg/kg, 3.0 mg/kg, 6.0 mg/kg group), the MPss intravenous injection group and the combined injection group. TARLOV score was tested daily to evaluate the motor function. The rabbits were sacrificed 7 days after the surgery and the thoracic spinal cord sections and the sacral sections where MPss was injected were harvested for HE and TUNEL staining. Two-Factors Repeated Measures analysis of variance for TARLOV scores tested at various times and One-Way ANOVA analysis of variance for data between groups were used.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Seven days after surgery in SCI group, there was no statistical difference between the TARLOV scores of intrathecal injection of MPss 3.0 mg/kg group, 6.0 mg/kg group and MPss intravenous injection group (P > 0.05), which were all better than the vehicle group (F = 4.762, P < 0.05). Referring to the lymphocyte infiltration at the injury site in SCI group, there was statistical difference between MPss intrathecal injection 6.0 mg/kg group (1.33 ± 0.21) and the vehicle group (2.67 ± 0.21) (F = 5.793, P < 0.05) and no statistical difference between intrathecal injection of MPss 6.0 mg/kg group and MPss intravenous injection group (P > 0.05). As for the lymphocyte infiltration at the intrathecal injection site in SHAM group, there was statistical difference between MPss intrathecal injection 6.0 mg/kg group (2.50 ± 0.55) and the vehicle group (0.50 ± 0.55) (F = 17.333, P < 0.05). TUNEL staining in SCI group showed statistical difference between MPss intrathecal injection 6.0 mg/kg group (6.3 ± 1.5) and the vehicle group (20.3 ± 2.2) (F = 71.279, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Intrathecal injection of MPss can improve the functional recovery of lower limb and decrease apoptosis of neuron cells,which can provide same effects as the traditional intravenous injection of MPss in New Zealand rabbits.</p>

Surgical treatment of multilevel lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the surgical treatment of multilevel lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From March 2005 to September 2008, 25 cases of multilevel lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis were treated with total laminectomy, reduction of spondylolisthesis and 360 degrees circumferential fusion through interbody (PLIF), transverse process (PLF) and pedicle screw fixation. All cases were followed up for 0.5 - 4 years. The Lenke grading system was used to assess the spinal fusion and Henderson grading system was used to assess the clinical outcomes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Complete reduction of spondylolisthesis was achieved in all cases. The bone fusion was grade A in 23 cases, grade B in 2 cases. The clinical outcome was excellent in 16 cases, good in 6 cases and poor in 3 cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The pathogenesis of lumbar degenerative multilevel spondylolisthesis is different from that of single-level spondylolisthesis. Complete decompression, reduction of spondylolisthesis sufficient fusion and reliable pedicle screw fixation can provide successful interbody fusion and satisfactory clinical results.It's crucial to reduce multilevel spondylolisthesis by proper techniques based on different types of listhesis.</p>