Treatment strategy and curative effect analysis of os odontoideum complicated with atlantoaxial joint dislocation / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the treatment strategy and clinical efficacy for os odontoideum complicated with atlantoaxial dislocation.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 17 patients with os odontoideum complicated with atlantoaxial dislocation surgically treated from January 2006 to January 2015 were retrospectively analyzed, including 7 males and 10 females, aged 17 to 53 (43.1±11.3) years old;course of disease was 3 to 27(10.2±6.9) months. All patients received cranial traction before operation, 12 of 14 patients with reducible dislocation were treated by posterior atlantoaxial fixation and fusion, and 2 patients with atlantooccipital deformity were treated by posterior occipitocervical fixation and fusion;3 patients with irreducible alantoaxial dislocation were treated by transoral approach decompression combined with posterior atlantoaxial fixation and fusion. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss and perioperative complications were recorded. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score were used to evaluate the change of neck pain and neurological function. Atlantoaxial joint fusion rate was evaluated by CT scan.@*RESULTS@#The operation time of posterior fixation and fusion ranged from 86 to 170 (92.2±27.5) min, and the intraoperative blood loss was 200-350 (250.7±65.2) ml. No vertebral artery injury and spinal cord injury were recorded. Among the patients underwent atlantoaxial fixation and fusion, 1 patient with reducible dislocation fixed by C@*CONCLUSION@#Surgical treatment of os odontoideum complicated with atlantoaxial dislocation can achieve satisfactory results, improve the patient's neurological function and improve the quality of life, however the surgical options needs to be individualized.

Minimally invasive direct lateral approach debridement, interbody bone grafting, and interbody fusion combined with posterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for lumbar spinal tuberculosis / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the clinical efficacy and superiority of direct lateral interbody fusion combined with posterior percutaneous screw fixation in the treatment of lumbar tuberculosis.@*METHODS@#From June 2013 to August 2016, the clinical data of 83 patients with lumbar tuberculosis were retrospectively analyzed, including 55 males and 28 females, aged from 27 to 72 (49.5±13.5) years. These 83 patients were divided into two groups according to different operation methods, 35 cases in group A were treated with direct lateral interbody fusion combined with posterior percutaneous screw fixation;48 cases in group B were treated with anterior traditional extraperitoneal debridement combined with posterior internal fixation. After operation, regular quadruple antituberculosis drugs were continued for 18 months. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, bone graft fusion time and complications were compared between the two groups. Visual analogue score (VAS) of lumbar pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), sagittal Cobb angle, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein(CRP) values before and after operation were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The operation was successfully completed in both groups, and the operation mode was not changed during operation. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss and hospital stay were (149.4±13.3) min, (354.3±69.0) ml, (9.4±1.6) d in group A and(116.8±10.0) min, (721.9±172.3) ml, (11.8±1.7) d in group B, respectively, with significant difference between the two groups (@*CONCLUSION@#The two kinds of operation can obtain satisfactory clinical effect. Direct lateral interbody fusion combined with posterior percutaneous screw fixation can reduce intraoperative blood loss and hospital stay, which is conducive to early rehabilitation of patients.

Effect of posterior osteotomy on the sagittal parameters of the spinopelvis in patients with lumbar degenerative kyphosis / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the influence of posterior osteotomy on spinopelvic parameters in lumbar degenerative kyphosis (LDK) patients.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 21 patients with lumbar degenerative kyphosis who underwent osteotomy from January 2012 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 males and 16 females, aged from 55 to 76 years with an average of (66.24±5.13) years. All patients had taken preoperative and postoperative full length spinal X-ray, analyzing the spinopelvic parameters as thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT) and sacral slope (SS).@*RESULTS@#All operations were successful, the average operative time was 190 min (160 to 220 min) and intraoperative blood loss was 1 000 ml (800 to 1900 ml). Parameters of the patients between preoperative and period 1-year follow-up were as follows : preoperative TK increased from (31.67±21.13) ° to (34.67±11.60) °, LL corrected from (4.76±3.17) ° to (37.41±6.28) °, PT reduced from (33.94±5.01) ° to (20.12±5.36) °, and SS improved from (18.47±2.60) ° to (31.71±4.30) °, SVA restored from (13.24±3.60) cm to (2.82±1.33) cm. There were significant differences of spinopelvic parameters between preoperation and postoperation (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Posterior osteotomy can effectively reconstruct the sagittal balance of spinopelvis in patients with lumbar degenerative kyphosis. The recovery of lumbar lordosis and sacral slope is closely related to the reconstruction of sagittal balance.

Comparison of the effects of injured vertebra pedicle fixation combined with vertebroplasty and vertebra pedicle screw fixation combined with vertebroplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fractures / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the curative effects of injured vertebra pedicle fixation combined with vertebroplasty and short-segment pedicle screw fixation combined with vertebroplasty in treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fractures.@*METHODS@#Seventy patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fractures who met the inclusion criteria were collected in the study from January 2015 to December 2017. Among them, 35 patients were treated with injured vertebra pedicle fixation combined with vertebroplasty (group A), including 20 males and 15 females, aged from 55 to 74 years with an average of (64.03± 7.82) years. Twenty-six cases were type A3 and 9 cases were type A4 according to the AO typing;another 35 patients were treated with short segment pedicle screw fixation combined with vertebroplasty (group B), including 18 males and 17 females, aged from 54 to 72 years with an average of (62.78±6.40) years. Twenty-eight cases were type A3 and 7 cases were type A4 according to AO typing. Operation length, intraoperative bleeding volume, complication, imaging parameters and clinical effects were compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#All the patients were followed up for at least 12 months. There were no significant differences in gender, age, injury site, preoperative VAS, Cobb angle, and injured vertebral height before surgery. There were no significant differences in operation length, intraoperative bleeding volume between two groups. In terms of VAS scores before surgery, 1 week after surgery, and at the final follow up, group A was 5.5 ±2.5, 1.8 ±0.8, 0.9 ±0.4, group B was 5.4 ± 2.3, 1.7±0.6, 1.2±1.8, respectively;injured vertebral height was (40.4±8.8)%, (92.0±4.9)%, (87.1±3.8)% in group A, and (41.2±6.6)%, (93.2±4.6)%, (80.0±4.3)% in group B;Cobb angle was (18.4±6.9) °, (2.8±2.2) °, (4.2±2.6) ° in group A, and (16.8±7.2) °, (2.7±2.5) °, (6.0±2.4) ° in group B. There were significant differences in the 3 parameters above before the operation and at the final follow up in all groups (<0.05). There were significant differences in the Cobb angle and injured vertebral height between 1 week after operation and at the final follow up (<0.05). At the final follow up, injured vertebral height in group A was obviously better than that in group B (<0.05). Internal fixation failure occurred in 2 cases from the group A, and occurred in 4 cases from the group B. There were no neurological complications in both groups.@*CONCLUSION@#For osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral burst fractures, injured vertebra pedicle fixation combined with vertebroplasty and vertebra pedicle screw fixation combined with vertebroplasty can achieve good clinical effects. However, injured vertebra pedicle fixation combined with vertebroplasty is better at maintaining postoperative vertebral height and sagittal arrangement, and reducing internal fixation related complications. The treatment strategy is worthy of application and promotion.

Efficacy of bilateral sagittal cross percutaneous kyphoplasty for preventing recurrent fracture of the cemented vertebrae / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the efficacy of bilateral sagittal cross percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP) for preventing recurrent fracture of the cemented vertebrae.@*METHODS@#From January 2017 to June 2017, 85 patients with single-segment osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures(OVCFs) were treated by bilateral sagittal cross PKP(cross group). There were 35 males and 50 females with an average age of (70.1±8.3) years old in cross group. Another 85 patients with single-segment OVCFs were treated by traditional PKP (traditional group). There were 37 males and 48 females with an average age of (73.3±9.5) years old in traditional group. The cement distribution condition, recurrent fracture of the cemented vertebrae, the anterior vertebral body height and sagittal Cobb angle, visual analogue scale(VAS) were observed in two groups.@*RESULTS@#All patients underwent operation successfully. The follow-up time were (11.8±4.5) months in cross group and (12.1±3.7) months in traditional group. In cross group, all patients' bone cement touched the upper and lower endplates of the vertebral body while 67 cases (78.8%) in traditional group did with significant difference between two groups (0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Bilateral sagittal cross PKP was a simple, safe and effective technique which can make bone cement distribute in the fractured vertebral body and contact the upper and lower endplates of the vertebral body, thus preventing the recurrent fracture of the cemented vertebrae.

One stage temporary atlantoaxial segmental fixation and reduction for Grauer type IIB dens fractures in teenagers / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the clinical results of one stage temporary atlantoaxial segmental fixation and reduction for Grauer type IIB dens fractures in teenagers.@*METHODS@#From February 2009 to April 2015, 19 teenagers with Grauer type IIB dens fractures not amenable to anteiror screw fixation were enrolled and treated using one stage temporary atlantoaxial segmental fixation and reduction without fusion. There were 14 males and 5 females, aged from 14 to 32 years with an average of (24.6±5.0 ) years. The internal fixation was removed after bone healing confirmed by CT scan. At the last follow-up (at least 1 year after internal fixation removal), dynamic CT was used to assess the atlantoaxial rotation activity. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was recorded before the first operation, before the second operation (removal of internal fixation) and at the last follow-up. Neck Disability Index(NDI) was used to evaluate the efficacy before the second operation (removal of internal fixation) and the last follow-up.@*RESULTS@#After operation, 2 patients developed the symptoms of occipital nerve stimulation such as numbness and pain in the occipitocervical region, and were treated with drugs such as dehydration and neurotrophic drugs, and the symptoms were relieved after 1 to 2 months. All the internal fixations were removed and all the patients were followed up more than 1 year, with time ranging from 18 to 25 months and an average of (21.47±2.41) months. The time of bone fusion after operation was 6 to 10 months with the mean of(8.21±1.27) months. Secondary surgical removal of internal fixation were performed immediately after fracture healing without internal fixation failure. The symptoms of neck pain improved significantly after operation, VAS score decreased from 6.74±0.65 before operation to 0.42±0.51 at the last follow-up after the second operation (removal of internal fixation), with statistically significant differences(<0.01). The NDI value decreased from (10.58±2.04)% before the second operation (removal of internal fixation) to (3.79±2.23)% at the last follow-up after the second operation (removal of internal fixation), with statistically significant difference(<0.01). At the last follow-up after the second operation (removal of internal fixation), dynamic CT showed that the unilateral rotation of the atlantoaxial spine reached (15.73±5.57)° to the left, (15.55±5.78)° to the right, and the overall rotation of the atlantoaxial spine was (31.28±10.71)°.@*CONCLUSIONS@#One stage temporary atlantoaxial segmental fixation and reduction for the treatment of Grauer type IIB dens fractures not amenable to anteiror screw fixation in teenagers can avoid the loss of atlantoaxial rotation function caused by atlantoaxial fusion, and to some extent retain the rotation activity of atlanto-axial joint.

Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined with limited-open decompression technique for thoracolumbar fractures with neurologic deficit / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical effects of percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined with limited open decompression technique for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures with neurologic deficit.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 76 patients with thoracolumbar fractures with neurologic deficit underwent percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined with limited open decompression technique from June 2010 to June 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 45 males and 31 femals, aged from 17 to 56 years with an average of 32.5 years old. According to the classification of Denis, 33 cases were type A, 26 cases were type B, 17 cases were type C. According to the criterion of American Spinal Injury Association(ASIA), 13 cases were grade A, 9 cases were grade B, 21 cases were grade C, 33 cases were grade D. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative internal fixation lossening and breakage were recorded. The informations of the Cobb angle, the anterior height of injured vertebra, canal stenosis were observed before operation, 3 days after operation, and the final follow-up. The improvement of neurologic function were analyzed at final follow-up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients were followed up from 13 to 47 months with an average of 32.1 months. The mean operative time was 159 min (136 to 218 min) and the intraoperative blood loss was 225 ml(150 to 360 ml). The anterior height of injured vertebra was increased from (52.0±5.9)% before operation to (87.2±1.8)% at 3 days after operation, and (86.1±1.5)% at final follow-up (=45.27,=0.000); the Cobb angle was decreased from (29.7±8.2)° before operation to (5.7±2.9)° at 3 days after operation, and (5.9±3.6)° at final follow-up (=34.62,=0.000); the canal stenosis was decreased from (37.5±7.2)% before operation to (12.3±3.3)% at 3 days after operation, and (11.9±3.1)% at final follow-up(=37.02,=0.000); there was no significant differences between postoperative 3 days and the final follow-up about the above parametres(>0.05). According to ASIA criterion, the spinal cord function was classified as grade A in 13 cases, grade B in 0 cases, grade C in 10 cases, grade D in 21 cases and grade E in 32 cases at final follow-up. Internal fixation lossening and breakage occurred in 2 cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined with limited open decompression technique can obtain satisfactory clinical effect for patients with thoracolumbar fractures with neurologic deficit, and have a good recovery of nerve function can be observed.</p>

Treatment of senile spinal tuberculosis with posterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined with local percutaneous endoscopic debridement / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the short-term efficacy of posterior percutaneous screw fixation combined with local percutaneous endoscopic debridement in treating senile spinal tuberculosis.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 19 senile patients with spinal tuberculosis underwent surgical treatment from January 2015 to September 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 13 males and 6 females, aged from 60 to 73 years old with an average of (66.2±4.0) years. All patients have been diagnosed with spinal tuberculosis prior to hospitalization with abscess, dead bone formation but no sinus, neurological symptoms, open surgical indications. All patients were treated with posterior percutaneous screw fixation combined with local percutaneous endoscopic debridement, and were given appropriate chemotherapy for 3 weeks preoperatively. Pre-and post-operative visual analogue score (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), sagittal Cobb angle of lesion segment, erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), C-reactive protein(CRP) were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#All the 19 patients successfully completed the operation and passed through the perioperative period safely. The operation method was unchanged during the operation. The average operation time was (153.2±14.0) min. Except for 1 patients who had delayed incision healing, other patients healed at I stage within 2 weeks after operation. All patients were followed up for 15 to 26 months with an average of (19.6±3.2) months.VAS, ODI, sagittal Cobb angle of lesion segment, ESR, CRP were decreased from preoperative(5.9±1.1) points, (80.9±4.0)%, (30.8±5.5)°, (79.6±14.4) mm/h, (56.9±9.5) mg/L to(1.8±0.9) points, (66.4±5.4)%, (15.9±2.5)°, (20.4±4.6) mg/L, (32.0±8.1) mm/h at final follow-up(<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Senile spinal tuberculosis have more complications and poor general body condition. Posterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined with local percutaneous endoscopic debridement in treating the patients can reduce trauma, got satisfactory effect.

Case-control study of pedicle screw fixation combined with vertebroplasty and injured vertebra pedicle fixation in treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fractures / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the curative effect of short-segment pedicle screw fixation combined with vertebroplasty and injured vertebra pedicle fixation in treating osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fractures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective study was performed for 52 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures from August 2010 to August 2015. Among them, 27 patients(group A) were treated with short-segment pedicle screw fixation combined with vertebroplasty, including 17 males and 10 females, aged from 54 to 68 years old with an average of(61.01±5.41) years, 16 cases were type A3 and 11 cases were type A4 according the new AO typing. Other 25 patients (group B) were treated with short-segment pedicle screw fixation combined with injured vertebra pedicle fixation, including 12 males and 13 females, aged from 55 to 66 years old with an average of (59.28±6.12) years, 18 cases were type A3 and 7 cases were type A4 according the new AO typing. Operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, complication, image data and clinical effect were compared between two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients were followed up for 12 to 15 months with an average of (12.4±2.1)months. There was no significant difference in general data(including gender, age, injured site, preoperative VAS score, Cobb angle, injured vertebral anterior border height) between two groups. There was no significant differences in operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume between two groups. Preoperative, one week after operation and final follow-up, VAS scores were 5.2±0.5, 1.2±0.2, 0.8±0.1 respectively in group A and 5.0±0.6, 2.5±0.4, 1.3±0.2 in group B; injured vertebral anterior border height were (49.4±6.8)%, ( 94.5±1.2)%, ( 94.1±3.7)% respectively in group A and (48.2±7.0)%, ( 94.3±4.1)%, ( 90.0±2.3)% in group B;Cobb angles were (20.4±5.2) °, (2.5±1.8) °, (4.4±1.7)° respectively in group A and (19.8±6.8)°, (2.4±1.7)°, (7.0±1.2)° in group B. At final follow-up, VAS, Cobb angle, injured vertebral anterior border height in two groups were obviously improved(<0.05). Postoperative at 1 week and final follow-up, VAS score of group A was lower than that of group B(<0.05);and there was no significant difference in Cobb angle between two groups(>0.05); there was significant difference in injured vertebral anterior border height between two groups(<0.05). The complication of internal fixation failure had 1 case in group A and 4 cases in group B.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>For the treatment of single osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fractures, short-segment pedicle screw fixation combined with vertebroplasty is better than combined with injured vertebra pedicle fixation in clinical effect, it can relieve pain, maintain injured vertebral height and sagittal alinement, reduce the complications associated with internal fixation, and be worth spread in clinic.</p>

French door segmented laminectomy decompression for severe cervical ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament complicated with spinal cord injury / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical effects of French door segmented laminectomy decompression for severe cervical OPLL complicated with spinal cord injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 38 patients with serious cervical OPLL complicated with spinal cord injury were retrospectively analyzed and these patients were treated with French door segmented laminectomy decompression and internal fixation from June 2012 to June 2014. There were 25 males and 13 females, aged from 42 to 78 years with an average of 58.2 years. Of them, 35 cases suffered from aggravating neurological symptoms with a definite precipitating factor. Spinal cord injury was related to minor injury of the neck, such as hyperextension of the neck in 3 cases. Preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Score (JOA) was 8.1±1.7 and Neck Disability Index (NDI) was 19.8±4.4. Preoperative CT scans showed the range of OPLL was more than three segments. The spinal canal was occupied 50% to 85% with an average of 70.7%.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients were followed up for 10 to 24 months with an average of 15.6 months. The operative time was 90 to 150 min with an average of 120 min and blood loss was 300 to 800 ml with an average of (480±80) ml. At final follow-up, NDI and JOA were 7.5±2.5 and 13.5±2.0, respectively, and they were obviously improved compared with preoperation. Preoperative cervical Cobb angle was (8.10±2.70)° and at final follow-up was (15.60±1.80)°, and there was significant difference between preoperative and postoperative (<0.05). Deep infection occurred in 1 case, epidural hematoma in 1 case, C₅ nerve root palsy in 3 cases, and axial symptom in 8 cases after operation. No serious complications, such as vertebral artery injury, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, deterioration of neurological dysfunction, or internal fixation failure was found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>French door segmented laminectomy decompression is safe and feasible for severe cervical OPLL complicated with spinal cord injury, and it is worth to be popularized in future.</p>

The shor-term clinical outcomes and safety of extreme lateral interbody fusion combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of degenerative lumbar disease / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the early efficacy and safety of extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for lumbar degenerative disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2013 to June 2014, 13 patients with degenerative lumbar disease were treated with XLIF combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation, including 8 cases of lumbar instability, 5 cases of mild to moderate lumbar spondylolisthesis;there were 5 males and 8 females, aged from 56 to 73 years with an average of 62.1 years. All patients were single segment fusion. Operation time, perioperative bleeding and perioperative complications were recorded. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy. Interbody fusion rate was observed and the intervertebral foramen area changes were compared preoperation and postoperation by X-rays and CT scanning.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean operation time and perioperative bleeding in the patients respectively was(62.8±5.2) min and(82.5±22.6) ml. One case occurred in the numbness of femoribus internus and 1 case occurred in the muscle weakness of hip flexion after operation, both of them recovered within 2 weeks. All the patients were followed up from 12 to 19 months with an average of 15.6 months. VAS was decreased from preoperative 7.31±0.75 to 2.31±0.75 at final follow-up(<0.05); ODI was decreased from preoperative (42.58±1.55)% to (12.55±0.84)% at final follow-up(<0.05). At final follow-up, CT scanning confirmed 8 cases completely fused and 5 cases partly fused;the intervertebral foramen area was increased from preoperative (94.86±2.44)mm2 to (150.70±7.02)mm2(<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Extreme lateral interbody fusion combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation is an ideal method and can obtain early good clinical effects in treating lumbar degenerative disease.</p>

Effect of reduction on spino-pelvic parameters in treating high-grade lumbar spondylolisthesis / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of reduction on spino-pelvic balance in treating high-grade lumbar spondylolisthesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From Augest 2008 to Augest 2011, the data of 16 patients with high-grade lumbar spodylolisthesis (Meyerding grade III or more than grade III) underwent reduction treatment through posterior approach were retrospectively analyzed. There were 9 males and 7 females, aged from 24 to 65 years old with an average of 44 years. Preoperative, postoperative at 2 weeks and final follow-up, spino-pelvic parameters of all patients were measured and compared by total legth lateral X-rays, and spino-pelvic parameters included sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), pelvic incidence (PI), lumbar lordosis (LL) and sagittal vertical axis (SVA); the informations of intervertebral bone fusion was observed by CT and postoperative complications were recorded; clinical effects were assessed according to clinical Oswestry score (CODI).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were followed up from 12 to 24 months with an average of 18 months. Four cases reduced anatomically, 8 cases reduced to grade I .4 cases reduced to grade II. There was statistically significant differences in sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), lumbar lordosis angle (LL) and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) between before operation and two weeks after operation (P < 0.05), while pelvic incidence (PI) no statistically significant differences was found between before operation and two weeks after operation (P > 0.05). There was no statistically significant differences in SS, PT, LL, SVA, PI between two weeks after operation and final follow-up (P > 0.05). CODI had decreased from preoperative 36.6 ± 4.2 to 14.7 ± 4.0 at final follow-up (P < 0.05). One year after operation, all patients obtained bone fusion and can find the union of bone trabeculae by three-dimensional reconstruction CT. Three cases occurred transient nerve root pain, and recovered after medicinal treatment. No infection and internal fixation loosening and breakage were found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Surgical reduction for high-grade lumbar spondylolisthesis can improve spino-pelvic balance and acquire satisfactory outcomes.</p>

Clinical application of anterior transpediclar screw reconstruction in treating lower cervical spine fracture and dislocation / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical effects of anterior transpediclar screw (ATPS) fixation in treating lower cervical spine fracture and dislocation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2009 to December 2011, 18 patients with lower cervical spine fracture and dislocation were treated with ATPS technique, including 12 males and 6 females, aged from 17 to 47 years old with an average of 38.2 years. Severity score of lower cervical spine injuries (SLIC) ranged from 6 to 9 points with an average of 7.5 points. According to ASIA grade of spinal cord injury, 2 cases were classified in grade A, 8 cases in grade B, 6 cases in grade C and 2 cases in grade D. X-ray and CT scan were done after surgery in order to evaluate the safety of ATPS and observe the stability and fusion of injured segment. Spinal cord function was evaluated according to ASIA grade at 3 months after operation and last follow-up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were followed up for 6 to 15 months with an average of 9.5 months. Three months after operation, in aspect of spinal cord function, 8 cases improved 1 grade, 2 cases improved 2 grades; and at final follow-up, 7 cases improved 1 grade, 4 cases improved 2 grades. All patients obtained bony fusion 6 to 8 months after operation with an average of 6.5 months. After operation, 1 case had transient hoarseness and recovered 2 months later;2 cases felt swallowing discomfort, but the symptoms disappeared after about 3 weeks by inhalation. No internal fixation breakage and loosening as well as nerve, blood vessel and esophageal injuries were found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>As for three columns injury caused by lower cervical spine fracture and dislocation, treatment with anterior transpediclar screw reconstruction can achieve the effect of decompression thoroughly and restore the cervical spine height and physiological curvature. Moreover, this kind of treatment has good stability and can create the favorable conditions for the recovery of spinal cord function.</p>

Comparison of statics characteristics between anterior transpedicular screws system and vertebral body screws system in lower cervical spine / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare statics characteristics between anterior transpedicular screws (ATPS) system and vertebral body screws (VBS) system in lower cervical spine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixteen fresh cervical specimens were collected and dissected into 32 different units (functional spinal unit, FSU), 8 units in C3,4, C4,5, C5,6 and C6,7 each. The subjects were randomly divided into group A and B. The anterior transpedicular screw-plate system and anterior vertebral body screw-plate system were implanted separately in group A and B. Then, the maximum axial pull out strength was tested and compared between two fixation system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Maximum pull out strength was (604.68 +/- 48.76) N in group A and (488.24 +/- 32.42) N in group B, and there was significant difference between two groups (t = 2.147, P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in all FSU between anterior transpedicular screws system and vertebral body screws system (F(A) = 2.27, F(B) = 2.05, P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The pull out strength of anterior transpedicular screws system is better than vertebral body screws system, and the anterior transpedicular screws has the biomechanical feasibility in clinic.</p>

Treatment of flexion-distraction thoracolumbar fractures by postural reduction with instrumental reduction / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the curative effect of postural reduction with instrumental reduction in treatment of flexion-distraction thoracolumbar fractures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective study was performed on 43 patients with single thoracolumbar flexion-distraction fractures admitted from August 2009 to August 2011, included 28 males and 15 females with an average age of 44 years old (34 to 56 years old). All patients were treated with postural reduction with instrumental reduction. The kyphosis (Cobb angle) recovery of injured vertebral height and complication were analyzed. The visual analogue scale(VAS) and com-plications were followed up and recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no difference in recovery of injured vertebral posterior height among preoperative, 1 week and 1 year after operation (P > 0.05). There were significantly difference in kyphosis (Cobb angle) and recovery of injured vertebral anterior height between preoperative and postoperative at 1 week (P < 0.05). There was no difference in kyphosis (Cobb angle) and recovery of injured vertebral anterior height between 1 week and 1 year after operation (P > 0.05). VAS significantly improved from preoperative (7.2 +/- 1.2) to (0.8 +/- 0.7) at 1 year after operation (t = 18.47, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Postural reduction with instrumental reduction is effective for thoracolumbar flexion-distraction fractures and it is beneficial to the recovery of vertebral height and saggital alignment.</p>

Asymmetrical osteotomy for elderly degenerative lumbar kyphoscoliosis / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the safety and efficacy of asymmetrical osteotomy in treating elderly degenerative lumbar kyphoscoliosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2010 to June 2012,17 elder patients with degenerative lumbar kyphoscoliosis were treated with asymmetrical osteotomy,their data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 6 males and 11 females with an average age of 61 years old (57 to 72). Total length spinal X-ray was performed for all patients before operation,and sagittal and coronal balance were analyzed. The follow-up time was 1 year at least. VAS score, thoracolumbar Cobb angle and pelvic parameters were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were operated successfully. The average operation time was 210 min (180 to 260) and intraoperative blood loss was 1,100 ml (750 to 2 200). At 1 year after operation, VAS score decreased from preoperative 7.0 +/- 1.5 to 1.1 +/- 0.6; lumbar lordosis (LL) corrected from (1.9 +/- 9.6) degrees to (35.2 +/- 6.7) degrees; thoracic kyphosis (TK) increased from (26.3 +/- 9.7) degrees to (32.5 +/- 11.2) degrees; lumbar scoliosis decreased from (25.1 +/- 11.0) degrees to (7.9 +/- 3.6) degrees; pelvic tilt (PT) restored from (33.0 +/- 10.1) degrees to (25.3 +/- 8.9) degrees; sacral slope (SS) increased from (13.9 +/- 9.7) degrees to (27.2 +/- 11.0) degrees; sagittal balance improved from (10.3 +/- 8.1) cm to (3.1 +/- 4.2) cm,and coronal balance improved from (3.5 +/- 2.1) cm to (1.3 +/- 1.1) cm. There was statistically significant difference above data between preoperation and postoperation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Asymmetrical osteotomy can not only correct scoliosis deformity, but also restore lumbar lordosis, and may safely and effectively solve the problem of elderly degenerative lumbar kyphoscoliosis.</p>

The design and application of anterior cervical pedicle screw-plate system in lower cervical spine / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the applied feasibility of the anterior cervical pedicle screw-plate system in lower cervical spine,in order to provide basic data for clinical application.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Total thirty-two units (functional spinal unit, FSU) were got randomly from 16 cervical speciments, 8 units in each group of C3,4, C4,5, C5,6 and C6,7. The anterior cervical pedicle screw-plate system was implanted to reconstruct the stability of FSU after discectomy and bone graft. The adaptability was measured between the screw-plate system and vertebral body. X-ray and CT were used to evaluate the accuracy of anterior cervical pedicle screws. The subject will be dissected to identify the situation of involvement if screw perforating the pedicle.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixty-four anterior pedicle screws were inserted smoothly in the 32 units. The screw and the plate were harmonious locked in the system. The position and length of all screws were satisfactory through X-ray views. However,6 screws perforated the transpedicular (degree 1) according to CT axial views,2 internally cortex and 4 laterally cortex. None perforation was degree 2 or more. None cervical sac compression and nerve root injury was observed in two internal perforation cadavers. One vertebral vein involvement was found in the four lateral perforation screws. The vertebral artery was not pinched though one screw near to the artery.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The anterior cervical pedicle screw-plate system is adapted to reconstruct in lower cervical spine and it deserved to be used for clinical application.</p>

Progress on cervical anterior transpedicular screw fixators for lower cervical vertebrae / 中国骨伤

Compared with the traditional anterior and posterior operation,anterior transpedicular screw fixation (ATPS) has many advantages of hiomechanics, relative safety. Both problems of decompression and reconstruction can be resolved only through an anterior approach. A rather peculiar anatomic channel was used in ATPS, but no special tools was used in system supporting for anterior pedicle screw to place,so the indications of ATPS of lower cervical vertebrae is relatively narrow,it cannot replace of traditional anterior and posterior surgery. Problems of accurately inserting screws and the development of internal fixation device about ATPS is a hot spot of current research and a future direction. In recent years,many scholars have systematically studied the technique, and applied it in clinic gradually and achieved good effects. In order to improve the level of application,recent articles were analyzed retrospectively in this paper,and the studies of anatomy,biomechanical and clinical application of ATPS were reviewed.

Case-control study on injured vertebra pedicle instrumentation and injured vertebra bone grafting for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the clinical effects of injured vertebra pedicle instrumentation and injured vertebra bone grafting in treating thoracolumbar fractures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective study was performed on 48 patients with single thoracolumbar fractures (type A3) from August 2008 to August 2010. Twenty-four patients were treated with injured vertebra pedicle instrumentation (group A) and 24 were treated with injured vertebra bone grafting (group B). There were 14 males and 10 females with an average age of (44.0 +/- 7.4) years old (34 to 56) in group A and there were 13 males and 11 females with an average age of (42.5 +/- 7.1) years(ranged, 31 to 54) in group B. Operation time, volume of blood loss, complications and the relative parameter of imageology were compared between two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference in gender,age, position of injury, volume of blood loss between two groups. Operation time of group A was shorter than that of group B. Cobb angle and injured vertebral height obviously improved at the immediately postoperatively between two groups; there was no significant difference in group A between the immediately and three months postoperatively, but there was significant difference in group B; there was no significant difference between three months and one year postoperatively in two groups. The failure rate of group B was significantly higher than that of group A.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Pedicle screw fixation in the injured vertebrae has advantage of short operation time,can obtain satisfactory effects and is better than injured vertebra bone grafting in maintaining the reduction in treating single thoracolumbar fractures.</p>

Radiological studies on the best entry point and trajectory of anterior cervical pedicle screw in the lower cervical spine / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the best entry point and trajectory of anterior cervical screw in the cervical screw by radiological studies, and provide reference for clincal application.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2008 to December 2010,50 patients were scanned by cervical CT and confirmed no obvious defect of lower cervical spine. Of them, 27 cases were males and 23 were females, ranged the age from 38 to 83 years ( mean 58.5 years). On horizontal axis, the camber angle of C3-C7 anterior lower cervical pedicle of vertebral arch axis (alpha) and distance between (axial length, AL) of anterior cervical pedicle axial line was measured from C3 to C7. Vertebral were divided into four areas, and from measured side of pedicle of vertebral began to record, orderly 1 to 4, the area of pedicle vertebral arch intersert into vertebral were recorded. On sagittal view, the head or tail angle (beta) and length (sagittal length, SL) of anterior cervical pedicle axial line was also measured from C3 to C7. Vertebral were divided into four areas, and from measured side of pedicle of vertebral began to record, orderly 1 to 4, the area of pedicle vertebral arch arch intersert into vertebral were recorded. The above data were statistically analyzed to find the best entry point and trajectory of anterior cervical screw in the cervical screw and insert pedicle screw.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The lateral angle of lower cervical spine was 38 degrees to 45 degrees on transverse plane, C3 to C5 increasing gradually, C5 to C7 decreasing. On sagittal view, C3,C4 pedicle were head tulting, C5 were basic level, C6,C7 were tail. C3 to C5 decreasing gradually, C5 to C7 increasing gradually. C3 to C7 in AL and SL increased gradually. On horizontal axis, the intersection of C3,C4 and C5 were in the second area, the number of C6 in the second and third area were the same, but C7 were in the third area. The intersection in the first and forth area were less. On sagittal view,the intersection of C3,C4 and C5 were in the first area,the number of C6 in third and forth area were less. Six pedicle screws of 3 cases were insert into lower cervical spine, and obtained good effects, no complications occurred.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The best entry point of C3,C4 and C5 were located in the center line and slightly to opposite vertebral body side and upper 1/4 area; C7 were located the vertebral body side and upper 2/4 area; C6 were located between them. The best insertion point were extraversion 38 degrees to 45 degrees, C3 to C5 increased graduallly, C5 to C7 decreased on horizontal axis; On sagittal view, C3,C4 for head 5 degrees to 10 degrees, C5 were basic level, C6,C7 for tail 5 degrees to 10 degrees. The anterior cervical pedicle screw for lower cervial spine is a good and feasible internal fixation.</p>