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Objective:To compare the efficacy of reduction and in situ intervertebral fusion fixation in the treatment of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.Methods:A total of 182 patients (92 males and 90 females) with L 4 degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis of Meyerding's classification of grade I and grade II, aged (62.6±6.8) years (range, 57-73 years), who underwent posterior L 4, 5 internal fixation and interbody fusion in the Department of Spinal Surgery, the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, were retrospectively analyzed from January 2019 to December 2022. There were 105 cases of I-degree spondylolisthesis and 77 cases of II-degree spondylolisthesis. According to the operation method, the patients were divided into reduction intervertebral fusion fixation (reduction group) and in situ intervertebral fusion fixation group (in situ group). Imaging parameters such as lumber lordosis (LL), pelvic incidence (PI)-LL, L 3, 4 intervertebral space heights, fusion segment angle, and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were measured on the pre- and post-surgical lumbar spine lateral radiographs. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) of low back pain were recorded before and after surgery. The differences in clinical and imaging parameters were compared between reduction and in situ fusion group. Results:All 182 patients successfully completed the surgery and were followed up for 12.0±2.4 months (range, 9-15 months). The LL of the reduction group before surgery, immediately after surgery, and at the last follow-up were 46.9°±7.1°, 57.2°±5.9°, 55.6°±5.5°, respectively, with statistically significant differences ( F=87.61, P<0.001), with immediate and final follow-up being smaller than those in the in situ fixation group. The LL of the in situ fixation group before surgery, immediately after surgery, and at the last follow-up were 47.8°±7.2°, 50.5°±7.0°, and 48.7°± 6.4°, respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( F=2.83, P=0.062). The immediate and final follow-up of LL in the reduction group was lower than those in the in situ fixation group ( P<0.05). The fusion segment angles of the reduction group before surgery, immediately after surgery, and at the last follow-up were 14.2°±5.1°, 23.2°±4.7°, 23.2°±4.7°, respectively, with statistically significant differences ( F=152.87, P<0.001), with immediate and final follow-up after surgery being greater than before surgery. The fusion segment angles of the in situ fixation group before surgery, immediately after surgery, and at the last follow-up were 15.4°±5.9°, 18.2°±5.5°, and 17.4°±5.1°, respectively, with statistically significant differences ( F=4.69, P=0.009), with immediate and final follow-up being greater than before surgery. The fusion segment angulation in the reduction group was greater than that in the in situ fixation group at both the immediate and final follow-up ( P<0.05). The SVA of the reduction group before surgery, immediately after surgery, and at the last follow-up were 16.9±18.2 mm, 9.5±12.0 mm, and 8.7±11.3 mm, respectively, with statistically significant differences ( F=11.32, P<0.001), with immediate and final follow-up being smaller than before surgery. The SVA of immediately after surgery and at the last follow-up were both smaller than before surgery. The SVA of the in situ fixation group before surgery, immediately after surgery, and at the last follow-up were 16.4±17.2 mm, 14.3±15.5 mm, and 13.8±15.0 mm, respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( F=0.57, P=0.576). The SVA of the reduction group at immediate and final follow-up was lower than that of the in situ fixation group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Both reduction and in situ intervertebral fusion fixation can effectively relieve the clinical symptoms of patients. Fusion fixation after reduction can improve the angulation of fusion segments to form segmental kyphosis, which is more conducive to improving SVA.
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Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) can lead to lower back pain and may be even accompanied by scoliosis, neurological dysfunction and other complications, which will affect the daily activities and life quality of patients. Vertebral augmentation is an effective treatment method for OVCF, but it cannot correct unbalance of bone metabolism or improve the osteoporotic status, causing complications like lower back pain, limited spinal activities and vertebral refracture. The post-operative systematic and standardized rehabilitation treatments can improve curative effect and therapeutic efficacy of anti-osteoporosis, reduce risk of vertebral refracture, increase patient compliance and improve quality of life. Since there still lack relevant clinical treatment guidelines for postoperative rehabilitation treatments following vertebral augmentation for OVCF, the current treatments are varied with uneven therapeutic effect. In order to standardize the postoperative rehabilitation treatment, the Spine Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized relevant experts to refer to relevant literature and develop the "Guideline for postoperative rehabilitation treatment following vertebral augmentation for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (2022 version)" based on the clinical guidelines published by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) as well as on the principles of scientificity, practicality and advancement. The guideline provided evidence-based recommendations on 10 important issues related to postoperative rehabilitation treatments of OVCF.
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Objective:To compare the clinical outcomes between pedicle screw internal fixation via the Wiltse approach and conservative treatment in young patients with thoracolumbar fracture with Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity score (TLICS) ≤ 4 points.Methods:This retrospective study included 219 young patients with thoracolumbar fracture with TLICS score ≤ 4 points who had been treated from January 2014 to December 2018 at Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University and obtained full follow-up. They were assigned into a surgery group of 126 patients subjected to pedicle screw internal fixation via the Wiltse approach and a conservative group of 93 patients subjected to conservative treatment. The surgery group included 65 males and 61 females, aged from 18 to 37 years, with a TLICS score of 1 point in 38 cases and of 2 to 4 points in 88 ones; the conservative group included 48 males and 45 females, aged from 19 to 38 years, with a TLICS score of 1 point in 29 cases and of 2 to 4 points in 64 ones. Patients in both groups underwent thoracolumbar X-ray, CT and MRI before treatment and regular thoracolumbar X-ray reexamination after treatment. Improvements in visual analog scale (VAS) for low back pain were compared between pre- and post-treatment. The 2 groups were compared in terms of VAS, anterior height of the injured vertebra and kyphosis cobb angle between pre-treatment, one month post-treatment and the last follow-up.Results:The 2 groups were comparable due to insignificant differences between them in the pre-treatment general data ( P>0.05). In the surgery group, patients were followed up for 24 to 72 months, the average VAS scores at one month post-treatment (2.5±1.2) and the last follow-up (2.3±0.8) were significantly improved compared to the pre-treatment value (6.8±2.1) ( P<0.05), and no serious surgical complications occurred. In the conservative group, patients were followed up for 30 to 65 months, the average VAS scores at one month post-treatment (3.9±1.9) and the last follow-up (3.5±0.9) were significantly improved compared to the pre-treatment value (6.2±2.0) ( P<0.05), and the rate of complications was 11.8% (11/93, including 3 cases of neural symptoms of the lower limb, 4 cases of bedsore and 4 cases of pulmonary infection). The VAS, anterior height of the injured vertebra and kyphosis cobb angle at one month post-treatment and the last follow-up in the surgery group were all significantly better than in the conservative group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:In young patients with thoracolumbar fracture with TLICS ≤ 4 points, pedicle screw internal fixation via the Wiltse approach can lead to better therapeutic outcomes than conservative treatment, especially in relief of postoperative low back pain.
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Objective@#To compare the medium-term clinical and radiologic outcomes between anterior decompression with fusion (ADF) and posterior open-door laminoplasty (LAMP) in the treatment of multi-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy (MCSM).@*Methods@#Data of 121 patients meeting to inclusion criteria from October 2011 to February 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were treated with ADF (ADF group, n=57) or LAMP (LAMP group, n=64) for MCSM. There were 39 males and 18 females in ADF group, aged from 35 to 77 years, with an average age of 58.8±10.1 years. And there were 64 cases in LAMP group, including 48 males and 16 females, aged from 28 to 82 years, with an average of 60.6±12.2 years. The operation time and blood loss were recorded. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores (JOA), improvement rate and visual analogue scale (VAS) before operation, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after operation and at the latest follow-up. At the same time, sagittal alignment of the C2-C7 lordotic angle and range of motion (ROM) in flexion and extension on plain X-rays was measured. Residual anterior compression to the spinal cord (ACS) in LAMP group on MRI was investigated. The incidence of complications such as axial symptoms and C5 nerve root paralysis were recorded.@*Results@#The average follow-up period was 25.6±3.8 months in ADF group and 27.3±4.1 months in LAMP group. Demographics were similar between the two groups. The mean JOA scores in ADF group increased from preoperative 8.25±2.33 to 14.62±3.15 at the latest follow-up, with an average recovery rate of 72.81%±11.32%. The mean JOA scores in LAMP group increased from preoperative 8.84±3.65 to 12.97±4.32 at the latest follow-up, with an average recovery rate of 66.54%±14.75%. The difference between two groups was statistically significant. Both of the VAS scores in the two groups decreased significantly at 1 month after the surgery, but the difference between the ADF group (1.92±0.75) and the LAMP group (2.78±0.68) was statistically significant (t=2.364, P=0.021). There was no significant difference in VAS score between the two groups at 3 months after operation. Cervical lordosis of ADF group increased from 15.3°±7.6° to 19.2°±5.7°, while that of LAMP group decreased from 16.8°±8.3° to 13.6°±4.3°. There was significant difference in cervical curvature between the two groups at the latest follow-up. Both two groups exhibited decreased cervical ROM, 15.2°±3.6° and 18.1°±4.1°, respectively, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant (t=3.392, P=0.000) . At the latest follow-up, the incidence of complication was 35.1% in ADF group and 20.3% in LAMP group, and the difference between two groups has no statistically significant. The LAMP group was divided into two subgroups: (1) ACS(+)(n=11) comprising patients who had ACS after surgery, and (2) ACS(-) (n=53) comprising patients without ACS. At the latest follow-up, the average JOA score of patients with anterior residual compression of spinal cord was 10.85±5.46, while the average JOA score of patients without anterior residual compression of spinal cord was 14.18±4.52. The recovery rate differed significantly between the ACS(+) and ACS(-) groups, 40.52%±9.76% and 70.38%±10.52%, respectively. Also at the latest follow-up, the cervical curvature, ROM and ROM loss angle were 10.2°±7.3°, 15.6°±6.7° and 11.8°±8.3° in the group with anterior residual compression of spinal cord, respectively. The groups without anterior residual compression of spinal cord were 15.8°±6.5°, 20.4°±10.2° and 8.8°±6.8°, respectively.@*Conclusion@#Both ADF and LAMP groups provided good outcomes at 2-year time-point whereas ADF could achieve more satisfactory outcomes and better sagittal alignment at the middle-term. ADF can remove the compression directly, maintain the curvature of cervical vertebra effectively and restore the nerve function well. The clinical outcomes after LAMP could be influenced by ACS, due to the reduction of cervical curvature and the decrease of cervical range of motion.
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Objective To compare the medium?term clinical and radiologic outcomes between anterior decompression with fusion (ADF) and posterior open?door laminoplasty (LAMP) in the treatment of multi?level cervical spondylotic myelopathy (MCSM). Methods Data of 121 patients meeting to inclusion criteria from October 2011 to February 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were treated with ADF (ADF group, n=57) or LAMP (LAMP group, n=64) for MCSM. There were 39 males and 18 females in ADF group, aged from 35 to 77 years, with an average age of 58.8±10.1 years. And there were 64 cases in LAMP group, including 48 males and 16 females, aged from 28 to 82 years, with an average of 60.6±12.2 years. The operation time and blood loss were recorded. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores (JOA), im?provement rate and visual analogue scale (VAS) before operation, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after operation and at the latest follow?up. At the same time, sagittal alignment of the C2-C7 lordotic angle and range of motion (ROM) in flexion and extension on plain X?rays was measured. Residual anterior compression to the spinal cord (ACS) in LAMP group on MRI was investigated. The inci? dence of complications such as axial symptoms and C5 nerve root paralysis were recorded. Results The average follow?up period was 25.6±3.8 months in ADF group and 27.3±4.1 months in LAMP group. Demographics were similar between the two groups. The mean JOA scores in ADF group increased from preoperative 8.25±2.33 to 14.62±3.15 at the latest follow?up, with an average re?covery rate of 72.81%±11.32%. The mean JOA scores in LAMP group increased from preoperative 8.84±3.65 to 12.97±4.32 at the latest follow?up, with an average recovery rate of 66.54%±14.75%. The difference between two groups was statistically significant. Both of the VAS scores in the two groups decreased significantly at 1 month after the surgery, but the difference between the ADF group (1.92±0.75) and the LAMP group (2.78±0.68) was statistically significant (t=2.364, P=0.021). There was no significant dif?ference in VAS score between the two groups at 3 months after operation. Cervical lordosis of ADF group increased from 15.3°± 7.6°to 19.2°±5.7°, while that of LAMP group decreased from 16.8°±8.3°to 13.6°±4.3°. There was significant difference in cervi?cal curvature between the two groups at the latest follow?up. Both two groups exhibited decreased cervical ROM, 15.2°±3.6°and 18.1°±4.1°, respectively, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant(t=3.392, P=0.000). At the latest fol?low?up, the incidence of complication was 35.1% in ADF group and 20.3% in LAMP group, and the difference between two groups has no statistically significant. The LAMP group was divided into two subgroups: (1) ACS(+)(n=11) comprising patients who had ACS after surgery, and (2) ACS(-) (n=53) comprising patients without ACS. At the latest follow?up, the average JOA score of pa?tients with anterior residual compression of spinal cord was 10.85±5.46, while the average JOA score of patients without anterior residual compression of spinal cord was 14.18 ± 4.52. The recovery rate differed significantly between the ACS(+) and ACS(-) groups, 40.52%±9.76% and 70.38%±10.52%, respectively. Also at the latest follow?up, the cervical curvature, ROM and ROM loss angle were 10.2°±7.3°, 15.6°±6.7°and 11.8°±8.3°in the group with anterior residual compression of spinal cord, respective?ly. The groups without anterior residual compression of spinal cord were 15.8°±6.5°, 20.4°±10.2°and 8.8°±6.8°, respectively. Conclusion Both ADF and LAMP groups provided good outcomes at 2?year time?point whereas ADF could achieve more satis?factory outcomes and better sagittal alignment at the middle?term. ADF can remove the compression directly, maintain the curva?ture of cervical vertebra effectively and restore the nerve function well. The clinical outcomes after LAMP could be influenced by ACS, due to the reduction of cervical curvature and the decrease of cervical range of motion.
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Objective To investigate the expression of nuclear factor-kappa Bp65 (NF-κBp65)and Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)protein in the brain tissues of 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats with cerebral hypoxia-ischemia encephalopathy (HIE) and to explore the role of TLR4 and NF-κBp65 in the pathogenesis of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.Methods Seven-day SD rats were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group.Brain pathological changes were observed in light microscopy at 6 h、12 h、24 h、72 h、7 d after HIE.The expression of TLR4 and NF-κBp65 in brain tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry method.Results NF-κBp65 and TLR4 were expressed in the neuron and microglia of control group and experimental group.The expression were most significant at cerebral cortex and hippocamp.However,the expression of NF-κBp65and TLR4 began to increase at HIE 6h:NF-κBp65 (0.219 3 ± 0.024 7,0.215 7 ±0.030 4)and TLR4(0.327 1 ±0.033 3,0.303 9 ±0.037 9),and achieved the hightest at HIE 24h:NF-κBp65 (0.3564±0.0235,0.3365 ±0.023 2)and TLR4(0.434 2 ±0.0428,0.4193 ±0.041 3),then decreased at HIE 72 h:NF-κBp65 (0.289 2 ± 0.032 0,0.260 9 ± 0.021 2) and TLR4 (0.300 5 ± 0.020 9,0.282 0 ± 0.022 6),and HIE 7 d:NF-κBp65(0.247 9 ±0.0340,0.242 1 ±0.025 4) and TLR4(0.274 4 ±0.0288,0.257 1 ±0.027 5).Conclusion There is a positive correlation between NF-κBp65 and TLR4 in rats with HIE.It suggested that they may have the same pathophysiology development in HIE.
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Objective To explore the regulation of ROS level and ROS-triggered downstream events on SK-N-MC Ewing sarcoma cells upon apoptasis induction by 2-Methoxyestradiol (2-ME). Methods To detect the reversibility of apoptosis and the alternation of activity of respiratory chain, mitechondria transmembrane potential (△ψm), and cellular ROS level and to explore their association with flow cytometry, clark oxygen electronic node analysis, drug-removal design, and permeability transition (PT) pore stablizing agent. Results SK-N-MC cells were induced to ROS-dependent apoptosis. Apoptosis occured irreversibly after2-ME treatment for 3 h. Upon 2-ME treatment, the activity of respiratory chain was inhibited and the ROS generation was accelerated; the △ψm underwent the increasing within 3h but decreasing after 3h which could be reversed by PT pore stablizing; the ROS level underwent the continuous increasing and PT pore stablizing had no obvious effect on it. Conclusion 2-ME causes the acceleration of ROS generation via inhibiting the activity of respiratory chain and elevating the level of △ψm. ROS plays a signaling role and when total ROS accumulate to a threshold, the PT pore opening and the collapse of △ψm could be induced irreversibly and cell is eventually introduced to death.