ABSTRACT
Imaging is an essential tool in the management of spinal disorders. Most spine surgeons focus on bony structures and the spinal cord when reading imaging examinations, while the interpretation of the morphology and characteristics of soft tissues such as paraspinal muscles and fat has been a "relative blind spot". As the imaging features of the non-bony structures of the spine have been studied and reinterpreted, it has become clear that these non-bony structural changes are also associated with spinal diseases. Soft tissue parameters such as "paraspinal muscle cross-sectional area," "subcutaneous fat thickness," and "paraspinal muscle fat infiltration rate" on CT, MRI, and other imaging studies have been shown to play a role in spine diseases, and have been shown to be reproducible in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of spinal disorders and have potential for clinical application. In addition, the association of sarcopenia and spinal epidural lipomatosis with spinal disorders is gaining attention. In recent years, with a better understanding of the pathogenesis of spinal disorders, techniques such as 3D gait analysis and photographic postural measurement have also shown promise in the diagnosis and assessment of the outcome of degenerative spinal disorders and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. In view of this, this article summarizes the latest research progress in the basic and clinical aspects of non-bony structures of the spine and analyzes the significance of the imaging features of these non-bony structures in the basic research and diagnosis of spinal diseases.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the value of Nacotrend and the degree and prognosis of disturbance of consciousness in craniocerebral injured patients. Methods Forty craniocerebral injured patients were observed and Nacotrend index (NI) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) were evaluated 24 h after the operation. After followed up for 3 months, the patients with Glasgow coma scale (GOS) 4-5 scores were enrolled into in good recovery group and the patients with GOS 1-3 scores were enrolled into bad recovery group. The correlation of NI and prognosis was analyzed. Results There were 17 cases in the good recovery group, and 23 cases in the bad recovery group. Pearson correlation coefficient of NI and GCS was 0.721, P<0.01. The level of NI in good recovery group was 64.26±12.73, in bad recovery group was 29.57±8.12, and there was significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusion NI can be used in coma patients for consciousness grading assessment and also can correctly evaluate the prognosis.