Minimally-invasive surgical treatment of cervical radiculomyelopathy / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the effect of the posterior minimally-invasive surgical treatment of root type cervical spondylotic myelopathy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A posterior minimally-invasive operation was given to 32 nerve root type cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients, and the clinical result was followed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>An operation of enlargement of intervertebral foramen and disc excision was given for 14 young patients whose ligamentum flavum incrassated a little and the disc was soft. An operation of enlargement of intervertebral foramen only was given for 18 old patients whose ligamentum flavum incrassated much with ossification, and the disc was tenacious. All the patients' sign of nerve root was improved after operation. Twenty-eight patients were followed up 3 to 16 months, and there were no obstacle of neck movement and recurrence of clinical sign.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This method for the posterior minimally-invasive neurosurgical operations of cervical spondylotic myelopathy is safe, simple and effective. By this operation, we can removal most of the herniative cervical disk and decompression for the nerve root and get good stable of spondylopathy.</p>

Complications induced by decompressive craniectomies after traumatic brain injury / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To find out the optimal approach to decompress externally the severe injured brain and to avoid possible complications caused by external decompression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>68 patients who underwent external decompression after traumatic brain injury were admitted into Tianjin Medical University General Hospital for cranioplasty from 1995 to 2001. Complications were retrospectively investigated and analyzed in all patients. The findings were compared between the patients who accepted the decompressive craniectomy in our hospital and in local hospitals. chi(2)-test was employed for statistical analysis and complication evaluation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Large craniectomy definitely caused some side effects to patients. Among various complications, several of them showed significantly high incidence (P<0.05) in patients who underwent the decompressive operation in local hospitals such as shunt-dependent hydrocephalous, subdural fluid collection, and CSF leakage from scalp incision. The rest of the complications had no remarkable difference (P<0.05) between the two groups including dilation or/and migration of lateral ventricle underlying the cranial defect, skin flap concavity, encephalomalacia of the decompressive area, seizure and infection.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>To reduce the incidence of iatrogenic side effects, surgical craniectomy should be performed according to the strict indication and standard and any abuse should be avoided.</p>