ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of porous silk fibroin scaffolds (PSFSs) combined with chondroitinase ABC (ChABC)for treatment of rats with spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods After exposed to T9 spinal cord transection injury,96 SD rats were divided into control group,PSFSs group,ChABC group,and PSFSs plus ChABC group according to random number table.BBB scoring system was used to evaluate hindlimb motor function in rats.Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were performed to detect expression levels of neurofilament-200 (NF-200),glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP),and growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) of the injured spinal cord.Immuno-fluorescence staining was carried out to evaluate regeneration of nerve fiber.Results BBB score improved in PSFSs group (8.1 ± 0.8),ChABC group (9.0 ± 1.1),and PSFSs plus ChABC group (13.7 ± 1.3) compared with control group 4 weeks after injury (5.3 ±0.7,P ＜0.05).Immunohistochemistry showed higher integral absorbance (IA) values of NF-200 and GAP-43 in those treatment groups,but smaller GFAP-positive area was observed compared with control group (P ＜ 0.05).Immuno-fluorescence staining indicated more GAP-43 growth at injury sites in PSFSs plus ChABC group in contrast with other 3 groups.Western blotting showed levels of NF-200,GFAP,and GAP-43 differed among groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion PSFSs combined with chondroitinase ABC transplantation can enhance axonal regeneration,inhibit glial scar proliferation and hence promote motor function recovery.
ABSTRACT
[Objective]To investigated the clinical result of transpedicle fixation combined with injectable calcium sulfate vertebroplasty in patients with thoracolumbar fractures.[Method]From April 2005 to June 2007,43 patients with thoracolumbar fractures were treated with vertebroplasty reinforced by calcium sulfate injection and short-segment pedicle screw fixation.The symptom improvement was observed.Plain X-rays were taken at pre-operation and post-operation and final follow-up to determine the improvement of the injured vertebral height and Cobb′s angle.[Result]All the patients underwent surgery uneventfully.Thirty-eight patients were followed up for an average of 22 months.After operation Frankel Grading System improved to Grade E.The loss rates of anterior,mid and posterior height were 51.4%,41.5%,3.5% before operation but 11.7%,14.3%,1.7% after operation.The Cobb′s angles were improved from 16.3?preoperatively to 0.8?postoperatively.The loss rates of vertebral height between pre-operation and post-operation were significantly different(P0.05).There was no breakage of pedicle screw or loosening of instrument.Pain score by visual analog scale(VAS) reduced from 8.5 to 1.0.[Conclusion]The surgery of transpedicle fixation combined with injectable calcium sulfate vertebroplasty is a mini-invasive and effective method for the treatment of patients with thoracolumbar fracture.It can achieve and maintain kyphosis correction,decrease the instrument failure rate,and provide better postoperative outcomes.