Local X-irradiation promotes regeneration of spinal cord central nervous system in a rat model / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of local X-irradiation on spinal cord injury by using physiology, kinology, electrophysiology and histology method.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>46 female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to spinal cord injury by weight dropping on T(11-12). All animals were divided into 3 groups randomly. One of the animal groups was irradiated with 10 Gy at the lesion site; another was irradiated with 20 Gy, the other without irradiation is regarded as sham-group. The animals were euthanized at different time points at 4 and 12 weeks after irradiation. Spinal cord callus was assessed by using physiology, kinology, and electrophysiology and histology method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In all the groups, the NF at 14 weeks were found higher than that of 6 weeks. Both 10 Gy irradiated and 20 Gy irradiated groups were higher than those of group at each time point (P < 0.05). The MBP decreased at 14 weeks in irradiated groups (P < 0.05), but increased at 14 weeks in sham-group (P < 0.05), the MBP of irradiated groups was lower than that sham-group at 14 weeks (P < 0.05). The GFAP and Nogo-A at 14 weeks were higher than that in 6 weeks in all the groups (P < 0.05), and there was no statistical significance with physiology, kinology, electrophysiology test in all groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A self-repair mechanism exists after SCI, which will last at least 14 weeks. Local irradiation promotes the regeneration of spinal cord system after injury to some extent.</p>

Surgical management of traumatic injury of upper cervical spine / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze retrospectively the clinical outcome of surgical management for upper cervical spine injury caused by trauma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2005 to March 2007, 16 patients with injury of upper cervical spine were treated by different management. There were 11 males and 5 females with an average age of 44 years ranging from 24 to 75. Of all, 5 cases were the odontoid fracture, 3 were atlas fracture, 5 were Hangman's fracture, 3 were atlanto-axial dislocation. MR imaging of cervical spine showed cervical cord compression and changes of T2 high signal in 5 cases. According to the injury mechanism, the imageological appearance, fracture classification, the methods of treatment were selected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Seven patients received non-operative treatment and nine patients underwent operation. Sixteen patients were followed up for 7 to 34 months (means 10.5 months). All fractures were healing or bone graft fusion and no internal fixation was lossing. There were no injuries of vertebral artery, nerve root or spinal cord.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CT and MRI are required in the course of diagnosis for the traumatic injury of upper cervical spine. The optimal modus operandi should be choose to retain upper cervical spine, meanwhile, can reserve the cervical movement.</p>