Analysis of axial symptoms after indirect decompression for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the etiology and clinical significance of axial symptoms after posterior operative procedures for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From February 2005 to February 2010, 76 patients with OPLL treated were retrospectively experienced. There were 34 male and 42 female with average of 52.1 years (range from 37 to 74 years), the average duration of the disease was 32.1 months (range from 11 to 56 months). Nineteen patients underwent traditional laminectomy in group A, 33 patients received open-door laminoplasty in group B and 24 patients underwent lateral mass screw fixation in group C. All patients underwent X-ray examination pre- and post operative, computed tomography were used for diagnosis of OPLL, the recovery rate was calculated using pre- and postoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores for each patient. Pre- and postoperative cervical curvature index and axial symptoms were measured and compared. χ(2) test and SNK test were used as statistical methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were followed up for 14 - 35 months, average (21 ± 5) months. Loss of cervical curvature index was 4.2% ± 1.7% in group A, 2.9% ± 2.2% in group B and 2.3% ± 1.9% in group C. The difference was significant in loss of cervical curvature indice between group A and B (q = 2.94, P < 0.01), group A and C (q = 4.23, P < 0.01). The average JOA recovery rate was 58.3% for group A, 64.3% for group B and 66.7% for group C. There was no significant difference in JOA recovery rate among the three groups (P > 0.05). The rate of early evident axial symptoms was 7/19 in group A, 30.3% in group B and 33.3% in group C and the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The incidence of late evident axial symptoms was 5/19 in group A, 12.1% in group B and 8.3% in group C, the difference was not significant between group B and C (χ(2) = 13.762, P < 0.01), but of statistical difference between group A and B(χ(2) = 6.368, P < 0.01), group A and C (χ(2) = 11.481, P < 0.01). No kyphotic deformity in the group A, no "Close Door" phenomenon in group B and no internal failure in group C.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The incidence of early axial symptoms are of no significant difference among the three groups, but late axial symptoms are higher in the laminectomy than other groups, which may be associated with loss of cervical lordosis.</p>

Intervertebral disc degeneration and bone density in degenerative lumbar scoliosis: a comparative study between patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis and patients with lumbar stenosis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Degenerative lumbar scoliosis is common in older patients. Decreased bone density and the degeneration of intervertebral discs are considered to be correlated with degenerative lumbar scoliosis. A means of quantifying the relative signal intensity for degenerative disc disease has not been previously discussed. The purpose of this study was to compare bone mineral density and intervertebral disc degeneration between degenerative lumbar scoliosis and lumbar spinal stenosis patients in a nine-year retrospective study.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2001 to August 2010, 96 patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis were retrospectively enrolled and 96 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were selected as controls. Cobb angle, height of the apical disc and the contiguous disc superiorly and inferiorly on convex and concave sides, the height of the convex and concave side of the apical and the contiguous vertebral body superiorly and inferiorly were measured in the scoliosis group. The height of L2/L3, L3/L4, L4/L5 discs and the height of L2/L4 vertebral body was measured in the control group. The grade of intervertebral disc degeneration was evaluated using T2WI sagittal images in both groups. The bone density of lumbar vertebrae was measured with dual-energy X-ray.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In scoliosis group, the intervertebral disc height on the convex side was greater than the height on the concave side (P < 0.001). The vertebral body height on the convex side was greater than the height on the concave side (P = 0.016). There was a significant difference between the scoliosis group and the control group (P = 0.003), and between T-value and the rate of osteoporosis between the two groups (both P < 0.001).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>were verified using multiple linear regression analysis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Degenerative lumbar scoliosis is accompanied by height asymmetry between the intervertebral disc and vertebral body regarding the convex and concave surfaces. There is a positive correlation between the angle of scoliosis and the disc index, the degree of degeneration of the intervertebral disc, and a negative correlation between the angle of scoliosis and bone density.</p>

Analysis of factors of formation and development about degenerative lumbar scoliosis / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To investigate the correlation between scoliosis angle and the asymmetric index of degenerative lumbar scoliosis, the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration, decreased bone density.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>As a retrospectively study, a total of 96 patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis were retrospectively enrolled from January 2002 to August 2010 as scoliosis group, meanwhile 96 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis matched in gender, age and body mass index (BMI) were selected as control group. All patients were studied with plain radiographs, MRI and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at presentation. Radiographic measurements include Cobb angle, the height of the convex and concave side of the apical disc and the contiguous disc superiorly and inferiorly, the height of the convex and concave side of the apical and the contiguous vertebral body superiorly and inferiorly in scoliosis group, the height of L(2-3), L(3-4), L(4-5) discs and the height of L(2-4) vertebral body in control group. The average relative signal intensity of lumbar intervertebral disc and cerebrospinal fluid in T2WI sagittal image was measured in apex intervertebral disc and adjacent discs by Adobe Photoshop 6.0 in scoliosis group, which was measured in L(2-3), L(3-4), L(4-5) disc in control group. The bone density of lumbar, femoral neck, trochanter, and Ward's triangle regions were measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The intervertebral disc height in convex side was greater than the height in the concave side [(40 ± 7) mm vs. (28 ± 7) mm, P < 0.01], the vertebral body height in convex side was greater than the height in the concave side [(76 ± 12) mm vs. (72 ± 10) mm, P = 0.016] in scoliosis group. There was significant statistically difference in the degenerative degree of intervertebral discs between two groups (P = 0.003). There was significant statistically difference of the average T-value and the rate of osteoporosis between two groups (P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the asymmetric disc index, the degenerative degree of intervertebral disc and osteoporosis were the predominant correlative factors, which affected the development of degenerative lumbar scoliosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Degenerative lumbar scoliosis is always accompanied by the height asymmetry of intervertebral discs and vertebral body from convex and concavity sides. There is positive correlation between the angle of scoliosis and the asymmetric disc index, the degeneration of intervertebral disc, and negative correlation between the angle of scoliosis and the bone density (T-value).</p>

Correlation between intervertebral disc-endplate degeneration and bony structural parameter in adult degenerative scoliosis and its significance / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To analyze the correlation between intervertebral disc-endplate degeneration and bony construction parameter and to explore its roles in adult degenerative scoliosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The imaging data of 79 patients with adult degenerative scoliosis from March 2005 to March 2010 were retrospectively reviewed as the study group. The imaging data of 41 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were selected as the control group. The vertebral body and intervertebral height in both sides on frontal X-ray, and the facet joint orientation in both sides on CT scan were measured respectively. The average vertebral body height, average intervertebral disc height and average facet orientation were regarded as bony structural parameters. The quantitative grading methods were used in the intervertebral disc and endplate degeneration. The relationship of bony construction parameter and intervertebral disc-endplate degeneration, and the relationship of bony construction parameter and Cobb's angle of scoliosis were analyzed by comparing all bony construction parameters in both groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Analyzed by paired-t test, the intervertebral height, vertebral body height and facet joint orientation between convex and concave sides of the study group were of significant difference (t = 3.411, 2.623 and 2.085, P < 0.05). The intervertebral height between convex and concave sides of the control group were of significant difference (t = 3.276, P < 0.01), while the vertebral body height and the facet joint orientation were of no statistical significance (t = 1.572 and 1.493, P > 0.05). By linear correlation and regression analysis, the asymmetric degree of bony construction parameter showed good correlation with the score of intervertebral disc-endplate degeneration (-1 < r < 1, P < 0.05), which was positively correlated with Cobb's angle of scoliosis (0 < r < 1, P < 0.05). Linear regression existed between asymmetric degree of bony construction parameter and Cobb's angle (F = 427.342, P < 0.01). The regression function was obtained: Cobb's angle = -8.904+8.136 × IAD + 3.274 × VAD-0.713 × FAD (IAD: intervertebral asymmetry degree, VAD: vertebral asymmetry degree, FAD: facet joint asymmetry degree).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The asymmetric change of bony construction exists in adult degenerative scoliosis, which significantly correlated with intervertebral disc-endplate degeneration and Cobb's angle of scoliosis. The asymmetric bony construction parameter probably plays a biomechanical role in the progression of scoliosis, which maybe the reason for the asymmetric degeneration of intervertebral disc-endplate.</p>