Anterior decompression and fusion with n-HA/PA66 cage for the treatment of lower cervical fracture and dislocation / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical effects of anterior decompression and fusion with a nano-hydroxyapatite/ polyamide 66 (n-HA/PA66) cage in treating lower cervical fracture and dislocation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2008 to December 2010, the clinical data of 42 patients with lower cervical fracture and dislocation were retrospectively analyzed. There were 29 males and 13 females aged from 20 to 65 years old. The mean age was 46.8 years. Five cases got injuried in C3, 14 cases in C4, 12 cases in C5, 7 cases in C6 and 4 cases in C7. According to Frankel grade, 4 cases were classified in grade A, 11 cases in grade B, 13 cases in grade C, 9 cases in grade D and 5 cases in grade F. Twenty-eight cases were treated with anterior corpectomy and fusion and 14 cases with anterior discectomy and fusion. Frankel grade was used to do neurologic assessment and visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the improvement of clinical symptoms. Segmental height and sagittal lordosis were measured by radiographs and cage location. Cage appearance and fusion status were assessed by 3D-CT images.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were followed up for 3 to 5.2 years with an average of 4.1 years. Frankel grade had obviously improved than preoperative (Z = -4.845, P < 0.001). There were 2, 3, 11, 8, 11 cases classified in grade A, grade B, grade C, grade D and grade E respectively. At the third day after operation and latest follow-up,VAS was (2.6 +/- 1.8),(1.3 +/- 1.0) scores respectively. Both had improved than preoperative (P < 0.05). Up to the latest follow-up, there was only one patient (2.4%) with slight cage translocation (less than 2 mm), however, no cage prolapsed, or collapse, or breakage were found. Both segmental height and lordosis improved significantly after surgery (P < 0.001). And there was not significant difference in both parameters between each postoperative time points (P > 0.05). The mean distance of cage subsidence was 1.5 mm and the rate of cage subsidence (> 3 mm) was 4.8%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The n-HA/PA66 cage can not only restore and maintain the fusion segmental height and radian, but also promote the osseous fusion and profit the radiographic assessment after operation. Thus, it was an ideal material for prop graft.</p>

Application of n-HA/PA66 composite artificial vertebral body in anterior reconstruction of lower cervical spine fracture and dislocation / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To initially evaluate the application of artificial vertebra of n-HA/PA66 in anterior reconstruction of lower cervical spine fracture and dislocation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this study, 84 patients with lower cervical spine fracture and dislocation received anterior cervical discectomy, spinal canal decompression or subtotal corpectomy, spinal canal decompression and reconstruction by n-HA/PA66 composite artificial vertebral body combined with plate instrumentation. Neurological function was followed up by improvement rate of Frankel and situations of the supporting body was observed by X ray and 3D-CT in 3, 12, 24 months postoperatively. The intervertebral height, physical arc (reflected by Cobb angle) and the locations and fusion rate of the supporting body were assessed in order to evaluate the stability of the cervical spine and alignment improvements.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients underwent operation successfully and were followed up for 6 to 24 months with an average of 12 months. The preoperative symptoms were improved to varying degrees. Imaging studies showed that in all cases graft fusion were achieved, and cervical alignments, intervertebral height, cervical spine stability and the locations of the artificial vertebral body were well maintained. No displacement and subsidence of the artificial vertebral body occurred. Postoperative immediate intervertebral height (2.4 ± 0.2) cm, preoperative intervertebral height (1.9 ± 0.1) cm, comparisons of the two groups was statistically significant (q = 2.48, P < 0.001). The immediate, 3 month, 1 year, 2 year period follow-up group intervertebral height was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Preoperative Cobb angle was 9.8° ± 1.2°, postoperative immediate Cobb angle was 16.6° ± 1.2°, comparisons of the two groups was statistically significant (q = 14.25, P < 0.001). The immediate, 3 month, 1 year, 2 year period follow-up group Cobb angle was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>n-HA/PA66 artificial vertebral body can provide early cervical spine support and stability and effectively maintain the biological alignment and cervical intervertebral height. It has high rate of graft fusion and is convenient to observe by X-ray. Therefore, n-HA/PA66 can be taken as an ideal graft for anterior lower cervical spine fracture and dislocation operation, but further follow-up study is still required to evaluate the long-term effects.</p>

Percutaneous screw fixation for pelvic fractures with fluoroscopy-based navigation / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the applications of fluoroscopy-based navigation in pelvic fractures and related surgical considerations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From May 2010 to December, 16 patients with pelvic fractures were treated with computerized navigation. There were 12 males and 4 females with an average age of 37 years (ranged from 20 to 54 years). Fractures were caused by traffic accident in 5 cases, crush injury in 5 cases and falling from height in 6 cases. Based on the Tile classification, there were 15 cases of Tile C type and 1 case of Tile B type. In these patients, 4 patients were treated with sacroiliac screw fixation; 2 patients were treated with sacroiliac screw fixation, screw fixation for pubic symphysis diastasis and pubic fractures; 8 patients were treated with sacroiliac screw fixation and screw fixation for pubic fractures; 2 patients were treated with screw fixation for pubic fractures. The index such as screw inserting time, accurance of inserting screws, intra-operative blood losing, injuries of nerve, vascular and other organs, reduction conditions were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 36 screws were inserted. The average time was 20 min for each screw placement. The blood loss ranged from 10 to 20 ml. There were no wound infections, neurovascualr injuries and other organ injuries. The postoperative pelvic X-ray and three-dimensional CT showed that the fractures had good reduction and all the screws had good position.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Percutaneous screw fixation of pelvic fractures with fluoroscopy-based navigation have advantages such as little trauma, less blood loss, little complication, reliable fixation and no blood transfusion, which can reconstruct the stability of the pelvic ring, but need adequate preoperative reperation and high requirements for the surgeon.</p>

Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in myocardial cells after Macleaya cordata alkaloids poisoning in rats / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in rat's myocardial cells after Macleaya cordata alkaloids poisoning, and to provide certain molecular biology references for the detection of Macleaya cordata alkaloids poisoning.@*METHODS@#Experimental model of Macleaya cordata alkaloids poisoning was established, the expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in these cells were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the results were analyzed by computer image system.@*RESULTS@#The expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in myocardial cells in poisoning groups were much greater than those in the control groups (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#If the clinical symptoms may not be obvious, the detection of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins level by immunohistochemistry still could be ancillary method.

The crush syndrome patients combined with kidney failure after Wenchuan earthquake / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To retrospectively analysis the treatment characteristics of the systemic situation in patients with crush syndrome after Wenchuan earthquake happened in May 12th, 2008.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-nine patients with crush syndrome and subsequent acute renal failure (ARF) due to the earthquake were treated in West China Hospital. All of patients had been rescued from buildings that collapsed in Wenchuan earthquake. The major associated injuries were in the low extremities and upper extremities. 49 patients developed ARF with increased concentrations of serum creatinine (mean 64 022 U/L) had underwent haemodialysis. Hyperkalaemia was seen in 9 patients and four of them underwent haemodialysis. 49 patients were administered hemodialysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No patient died. All patients who suffered from the ARF were weaned from hemodialysis after admitted 7 to 35 days. Forty-five extremities underwent amputations and 52 extremities had fasciotomy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Crush syndrome requires urgent recognition and prompt surgical treatment with simultaneous measures to control hyperkalemia and ARF. The authors believe that immediate intensive care therapy and multi-subjective coordination would have improved the survival rate.</p>