ABSTRACT
Objective@#To analyze the correlations between intraoperative ultrasound and MRI metrics of the spinal cord in degenerative cervical myelopathy and identify novel potential predictive ultrasonic indicators of neurological recovery for degenerative cervical myelopathy. @*Materials and Methods@#Twenty-two patients who underwent French-door laminoplasty for multilevel degenerative cervical myelopathy were followed up for 12 months. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores were assessed preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. Maximum spinal cord compression and compression rates were measured and calculated using both intraoperative ultrasound imaging and preoperative T2-weight (T2W) MRI. Signal change rates of the spinal cord on preoperative T2W MRI and gray value ratios of dorsal and ventral spinal cord hyperechogenicity on intraoperative ultrasound imaging were measured and calculated. Correlations between intraoperative ultrasound metrics, MRI metrics, and the recovery rate JOA scores were analyzed using Spearman correlation analysis. @*Results@#The postoperative JOA scores improved significantly, with a mean recovery rate of 65.0 ± 20.3% (p < 0.001). No significant correlations were found between the operative ultrasound metrics and MRI metrics. The gray value ratios of the spinal cord hyperechogenicity was negatively correlated with the recovery rate of JOA scores (ρ = -0.638, p = 0.001), while the ventral and dorsal gray value ratios of spinal cord hyperechogenicity were negatively correlated with the recovery rate of JOA-motor scores (ρ = -0.582, p = 0.004) and JOA-sensory scores (ρ = -0.452, p = 0.035), respectively. The dorsal gray value ratio was significantly higher than the ventral gray value ratio (p < 0.001), while the recovery rate of JOA-motor scores was better than that of JOA-sensory scores at 12 months post-surgery (p = 0.028). @*Conclusion@#For degenerative cervical myelopathy, the correlations between intraoperative ultrasound and preoperative T2W MRI metrics were not significant. Gray value ratios of the spinal cord hyperechogenicity and dorsal and ventral spinal cord hyperechogenicity were significantly correlated with neurological recovery at 12 months postoperatively.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To analyze the correlations between intraoperative ultrasound and MRI metrics of the spinal cord in degenerative cervical myelopathy and identify novel potential predictive ultrasonic indicators of neurological recovery for degenerative cervical myelopathy. @*Materials and Methods@#Twenty-two patients who underwent French-door laminoplasty for multilevel degenerative cervical myelopathy were followed up for 12 months. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores were assessed preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. Maximum spinal cord compression and compression rates were measured and calculated using both intraoperative ultrasound imaging and preoperative T2-weight (T2W) MRI. Signal change rates of the spinal cord on preoperative T2W MRI and gray value ratios of dorsal and ventral spinal cord hyperechogenicity on intraoperative ultrasound imaging were measured and calculated. Correlations between intraoperative ultrasound metrics, MRI metrics, and the recovery rate JOA scores were analyzed using Spearman correlation analysis. @*Results@#The postoperative JOA scores improved significantly, with a mean recovery rate of 65.0 ± 20.3% (p < 0.001). No significant correlations were found between the operative ultrasound metrics and MRI metrics. The gray value ratios of the spinal cord hyperechogenicity was negatively correlated with the recovery rate of JOA scores (ρ = -0.638, p = 0.001), while the ventral and dorsal gray value ratios of spinal cord hyperechogenicity were negatively correlated with the recovery rate of JOA-motor scores (ρ = -0.582, p = 0.004) and JOA-sensory scores (ρ = -0.452, p = 0.035), respectively. The dorsal gray value ratio was significantly higher than the ventral gray value ratio (p < 0.001), while the recovery rate of JOA-motor scores was better than that of JOA-sensory scores at 12 months post-surgery (p = 0.028). @*Conclusion@#For degenerative cervical myelopathy, the correlations between intraoperative ultrasound and preoperative T2W MRI metrics were not significant. Gray value ratios of the spinal cord hyperechogenicity and dorsal and ventral spinal cord hyperechogenicity were significantly correlated with neurological recovery at 12 months postoperatively.
ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss features of angiogenesis in degenerative intervertebral disc and related factors.Methods In this case-control study,52 patients undergoing single level posterior lumbar interbody fusion during October 2012 to December 2013 were selected as research objects.Annulus fibrosus,nucleus pulposus and cartilage end plate of responsible level were collected in surgery for frozen section and HE staining.Angiogenesis in the intervertebral disc was identified according to the morphological characteristics of vascular endothelial cells,i.e.typical lumen structure and blue stained nucleus.These intervertebral disc specimens were divided into two groups according to the angiogenesis phenomenon.All specimens with angiogenesis were evaluated by blood micro-vessel density (MVD) counting.Related factors of angiogenesis including gender,age,VAS score,JOA lumbar score,classification of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration,intervertebral disc calcification rate and classification of intervertebral disc herniation were compared between the two groups.Logistic regression analysis was further conducted on indicators with differences of statistical significance.Results In our group of 52 patients,28 patients had obvious angiogenesis:12 patients in annulus fibrosus,7 patients in cartilage endplate and 9 patients in annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus.Angiogenesis rate was 53.8％ (28/52).The mean value of MVD was 12.5±3.1.24 patients did not have obvious angiogenesis.Intervertebral disc calcification rate (75.0％ vs.37.5％),VAS score (6.79±2.06 vs.5.25±2.23) and JOA lumbar score (16.32±3.89 vs.19.08±4.24) were significant differences between two groups (P=0.006,0.013,0.018).Multi-factor regression analysis showed that VAS score (OR=7.248,P=0.011) and intervertebral disc calcification (OR=8.881,P=0.006) were important factors associated with intervertebral disc angiogenesis.JOA lumbar score (OR=3.739,P=0.070) was not associated with intervertebral disc angiogenesis.Conclusion Degeneration of the intervertebral disc is accompanied by angiogenesis.Intervertebral disc calcification and VAS score are important factors associated with angiogenesis in intervertebral disc.