Surgical options and clinical outcomes of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the options and clinical outcomes of surgical treatment of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2006 to December 2010, 63 patients of cervical OPLL treated surgically by same team were retrospectively analyzed. There were 49 males, 14 females, with a mean age of 56.2 years (from 38 to 76 years). The duration of symptoms ranged from 2 months to 20 years (mean 3.2 years). The ossified ligament was classified via sagittal and coronal images on CT scan. The cervical curvature was measured. Choice of surgical methods was determined according to the type of ossified ligament and cervical curvature. All complications occurred was recorded. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scoring system was used to evaluate the neurological status. The severity of cervical pain was assessed with visual analogue scale (VAS) method. The results of preoperative, postoperative and follow-up were statistically compared with student t test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The JOA scores of 35 patients performed with anterior approach improved from 9.8 ± 2.3 preoperatively to 11.7 ± 2.1 at final follow-up (t = 3.28, P < 0.05). The VAS sore was significantly decreased at final follow-up compared with preoperative (t = 3.15, P < 0.05). While the JOA scores improved from 10.4 ± 2.7 preoperatively to 12.5 ± 2.3 at final follow-up (t = 3.81, P < 0.05) in 12 patients with laminectomy and from 9.7 ± 2.5 to 11.6 ± 2.6 in 14 patients with laminoplasty (t = 3.56, P < 0.05). The VAS score either in laminectomy or in laminoplasty has not significantly difference between preoperative, 3 month postoperative and final follow-up (P > 0.05). Two patients underwent a combined anterior-posterior approach procedure. Complications in patients included 1 patient of postoperative neurologic deterioration and 2 cases of cerebrospinal fluid leakage in patients with anterior approach, and 2 cases of C(5) nerve palsy in patients with laminectomy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Surgical options of cervical OPLL should be determined by detailed study of type and range of ossified ligament, as well as the cervical curvature of patients. Good neurological function can be expected in case of appropriate choosing the method for treating the cervical OPLL.</p>

Multicentre study on treatment of unstable tibiofibular fracture with percutem clamp therapy / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To objectively evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety and technical operating standard of percutem clamp fixation (PCCF), an operation designed by imitating bone setting method of TCM, in treating unstable tibiofibular fracture (UTF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A prospective controlled multicentre clinical study was carried out on 200 patients with UTF, they were assigned to the treated group (99 cases) treated with PCCF and the control group (101 cases) treated with unilateral multifunctional external fixator (UMFEF).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PCCF showed better effects than UMFEF in reducing the time of fixing operation and healing time; and the immediate effect after removing the fixating apparatus and long-term efficacy as well as safety in the treated group were also superior to those in the control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It is convenient, safe and effective to treat UTF by fixation with percutem clamp.</p>