Correlation between the Severity of the Lumbar Degenerative Disease and Sagittal Spinopelvic Alignment / Correlação entre a gravidade da doença degenerativa lombar e o alinhamento espinopélvico

Abstract Objective To evaluate the impact of the severity of lumbar degenerative disease (LDD) on sagittal spinopelvic alignment. Methods In total, 130 patients (mean age: 57 years; 75% female) with LDD-associated low-back pain were prospectively included. The severity of the LDD was defined by the following findings on anteroposterior and lateral lumbar spine radiographs: osteophytosis; loss of of height of the intervertebral disc; terminal vertebral plate sclerosis; number of affected segments; deformities; and objective instability. The disease was classified as follows: grade 0-absence of signs of LDD in the lumbar spine; grade I - signs of LDD in up to two segments; grade II - three or more segments involved; grade III - association with scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, or laterolisthesis. Spinopelvic radiographic parameters, including pelvic incidence (PI), lumbar lordosis (LL), discrepancy between the PI and LL (PI-LL), pelvic tilt (PT), and sagittal vertical axis (SVA), were analyzed according to the LDD grades. Results The radiographic parameters differed according to the LDD grades; grade-III patients presented higher SVA (p= 0.001) and PT (p= 0.0005) values, denoting greater anterior inclination of the trunk and pelvic retroversion when compared to grade-0 andgrade-I subjects. In addition, grade-III patients had higher PI-LL values, which indicates loss of PI-related lordosis, than grade-I subjects (p= 0.04). Conclusion Patients with more severe LDD tend to present greater spinopelvic sagittal misalignment compared to patients with a milder disease.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar o impacto da graduação da doença degenerativa lombar (DDL) sobre o alinhamento sagital espinopélvico. Métodos Ao todo, 130 pacientes (dade média: 57 anos; 75% do sexo feminino) com dor lombar associada a DDL foram prospectivamente incluídos. A gravidade da DDL foi definida pelos seguintes achados nas radiografias anteroposterior e de perfil da coluna lombar: osteofitose; perda de altura do disco intervertebral; esclerose na placa vertebral terminal; número de segmentos afetados; deformidades; e instabilidade objetiva. Os pacientes foram graduados segundo a DDL da seguinte maneira: grau 0-ausência de sinais de DDL na coluna lombar; grau I - sinais de DDL em até dois segmentos; grau II - envolvimento em três ou mais segmentos; grau III - quando associada a escoliose, espondilolistese ou laterolistese. Parâmetros radiográficos espinopélvicos, como incidência pélvica (IP), lordose lombar (LL), discrepância entre a IP e a LL (IP-LL), versão pélvica (VP), e eixo vertical sagital (EVS) foram analisados de acordo com os graus de DDL. Resultados Houve diferença nos parâmetros radiográficos comparando-se os graus de DDL, com os pacientes de grau III apresentando maiores valores de EVS (p= 0,001) e VP (p= 0,0005), o que denota maior inclinação anterior do tronco e maior retroversão pélvica do que os pacientes de graus 0 e I. Pacientes de grau III também apresentaram maiores valores de IP-LL, o que denota perda da lordose relativa ao valor da IP, do que pacientes grau I (p= 0,04). Conclusão Pacientes com DDL mais grave demonstraram uma tendência a maior desalinhamento sagital espinopélvico comparados com pacientes com graus mais leves.

Correlation analysis of cervical spine dysfunction, pain and muscle strength in office workers / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective: To expore the correlation between neck disability, neck pain and muscle strength in cervical pondylosis of office worker, and to provide scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of cervical spondylosis. Methods: In April 2021 ,234 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated in the Subsidiary Rehabilitation Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April 2015 to April 2017 were selected, the correlation between Neck Disability Index (NDI) score, neck pain and muscle strength was analyzed using the Spearman rank correlation method. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the difference of maximum muscle strength of isometric contraction. Results: NDI score was negatively correlated with neck flexion, extension, and muscle strength in the left and right flexion directions (r(s)=-0.164, -0.169, -0.222, -0.176, P=0.012, 0.010, 0.001 , 0.007). In mild and moderate functional disorder patients, the muscle strength in flexion, extension and left and right flexion direction was greater, the difference was statistically significant (P <0.01). Conclusion: There is a negative correlation between cervical functional disorder and cervical muscle strength in office workers, suggesting that strengthening cervical muscle strength may be a way to improve cervical spine function.

Comparison of vesselplasty and percutanous kyphoplasty in the treatment of Kümmell disease / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the efficacy between vesselplasty and percutanous kyphoplasty (PKP) in the treatment of Kümmell disease.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of patients with Kümmell disease from July 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different therapeutic methods, the patients were divided into vesselplasty group and PKP group. There were 20 patients in vesselplasty group, including 2 males and 18 females, aged from 54 to 83 years with an average of (67.40±7.44)years, 1 case of T10 fracture, 3 cases of T12 fracture, 9 cases of L1 fractures, 5 cases of L2 fractures and 2 cases of L3 fractures. There were 20 patients in PKP group, including 3 males and 17 females, aged from 56 to 81 with an average of(67.20±7.01) years, 2 cases of T10 fracture, 1 case of T11 fracture, 6 cases of T12 fracture, 10 cases of L1 fracture and 1 case of L3 fracture. Visual analogue scale(VAS), Cobb angle, anterior vertebral height were recorded before operation, 1 day after operation and 1 year after operation. Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) was recorded before operation, 1 month after operation and 1 year after operation. And bone cement leakage rate was compared between two groups after operation.@*RESULTS@#All the patient were followed up for more than 1 year. In vesselplasty group, VAS score was 1.20±0.41, ODI was(13.50±3.10)%, Cobb angle was(17.20±3.12)° and anterior vertebral height was(20.20±1.35) mm at 1 year after operation. In PKP group, VAS score was 1.15±0.40, ODI was (13.20±3.00)%, Cobb angle was (17.10±3.19)° and anterior vertebral height was (20.10±1.37) mm at 1 year after operation. These index was significantly better than pre-operation through intra-group comparison(P<0.05), and there was no statistically difference between the two groups(P>0.05). There were 20 cases (20 vertebrae) in vesselplasty group, of which 1 case had bone cement leakage at the upper endplate, with a leakage rate of 5%(1/20). In PKP group, there were 20 cases (20 vertebrae), 3 cases of upward endplate leakage(3/7), 1 case of downward endplate leakage(1/7), 1 case of leakage to the front of the vertebral body(1/7), 2 cases of leakage to the side of the vertebral body(2/7), with a leakage rate of 35% (7/20). The difference between two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Vesselplasty in the treatment of Kümmell disease can better reduce leakage rate of bone cement and reduce complications.

Manual therapy combined with posterior percutaneous endoscopic cervical decompression for the treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of manual therapy combined with posterior percutaneous endoscopic cervical decompression(PECD) in the treatment of intractable cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.@*METHODS@#From May 2016 to May 2018, 23 CSR patients who responded poorly to conservative treatment for at least 6 weeks underwent the combination management. Firstly, the patients received the posterior percutaneous endoscopic cervical decompression routine care for the following 4 weeks and manual therapy for another 4 weeks. A total of 23 patients were followed up, including 14 males and 9 females, the age ranged from 29 to 78 years old with an average of (50.30±12.28) years, the course of disease was 3 to 24 months with an average of (9.74±5.76) months. The lesion segment involved C4,5 in 4 cases, C5,6 in 13 cases, C6,7 in 6 cases. The visual analogue scale (VAS), neck disability index (NDI), changes of cervical physiological curvature and interbody stability, adverse events were observed before and after operation. The follow-up time points were before operation, 1 day after operation and 1, 3 and 6 months after operation.@*RESULTS@#All patients successfully completed the operation and manual treatment for 4 to 8 times. Among the 29 cases, 23 patients were followed up for more than 6 months. There was no spinal cord and nerve root injury during the treatment and follow-up. Operation time was from 80 to 120 min with a median of 90 min;intraoperative blood loss was from 35 to 80 ml with a median of 50 ml. NDI, VAS of neck, shoulder and arm each period after operation were significantly lower than those before PECD(P<0.05), while there were no significant improvement in cervical physiological curvature and target segment intervertebral space height(P>0.05);there was no significant change in interbody stability (P>0.05). After received the manual therapy, NDI significantly decreased (P<0.05), however, there was no significant difference in VAS of neck, shoulder and arm, physiological curvature of cervical spine and intervertebral space height of target segment compared with that before manual treatment (P>0.05);there was no significant change in interbody stability (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Manual therapy combined with PECD in the treatment of intractable cervical spondylotic radiculopathy can not only quickly improve the symptoms, but also alleviate the residual symptoms after PECD safely and effectively, and can not cause obvious signs of accelerated instability of cervical adjacent segments in the short term.

Effect of wheat-grain moxibustion on the expression of Beclin-1/GRP78 in spinal dorsal horn in rats with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14) on the expressions of Beclin-1 and GRP78 in spinal dorsal horn in rats with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR), and to explore the possible analgesic mechanism of wheat-grain moxibustion for CSR.@*METHODS@#A total of 48 SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, a wheat-grain moxibustion group and a wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group, 12 rats in each group. The CSR model was prepared by spinal cord insertion method. Three days after modeling, the rats in the model group were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution; the rats in the wheat-grain moxibustion group were treated with wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14, 6 cones per time) on the basis of the model group; the rats in the wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group were intraperitoneally injected with 3-MA solution and wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14, 6 cones per time). The three groups were intervened for 7 days, once a day. The gait score and mechanical pain threshold were observed before treatment and 7 days into treatment; after the treatment, the expressions of mRNA and protein of Beclin-1 in spinal dorsal horn were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry; the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was detected by Western blot method; the autophagosomes and ultrastructure in spinal dorsal horn neurons were observed by electron microscope.@*RESULTS@#After the treatment, compared with the sham operation group, in the model group, the gait score was increased and the mechanical pain threshold was decreased (P<0.01), and the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group and the wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group, in the wheat-grain moxibustion group, the gait score was decreased and mechanical pain threshold was increased (P<0.01), and the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was decreased, and the expressions of mRNA and protein of Beclin-1 were increased (P<0.01). Under electron microscope, the ultrastructure of spinal dorsal horn neurons in the wheat-grain moxibustion group was not significantly damaged, and its structure was basically close to normal, and the number of autophagosomes was more than the other three groups.@*CONCLUSION@#Wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14) has analgesic effect on CSR rats. The mechanism may be related to moderately up-regulate the expression of Beclin-1, enhance autophagy and reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Buckling of the Ligamentum Flavum as a Rare Complication of Anterior Cervical Corpectomy and Fusion: A Case Report

Introduction and Importance Neurological deterioration due to buckling of the ligamentum flavum (LF) is an uncommon complication after anterior cervical corpectomy or discectomy with fusion. Case Presentation In this report, we present the case of a 66-year-old male who underwent anterior cervical partial corpectomy of C5 and discectomy of prolapsed C5- C6 with fusion. Postsurgery, the patient displayed signs of neurological deterioration. Upon immediate cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), posterior canal stenosis and severe compression with cord signal due to LF buckling were detected. A posterior laminectomy procedure and canal decompression at the C5-C6 level with bone fusion were performed. Clinical Discussion Patient presented with walking difficulty, then walking disability, followed by bilateral upper and lower limb paresthesia with burning sensation. Examination showed ⅘ muscle strength in both handgrips. Further investigation showed brisk deep tendon reflexes, positive Hoffman sign unilaterally, equivocal Babinski sign, and progressive quadriparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed mild and diffuse building of some cervical discs, with spinal cord progression. We performed an anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF); a titanium mesh with plates and screws was used for fusion, with removal of a calcified and herniated subligamentous disc. Postoperatively, upper and lower limb strength deteriorated; immediate cervical and thoracic MRI showed LF buckling, which caused canal stenosis and severe compression. Urgent posterior laminectomy and canal decompression with bone fusion was scheduled on the same day. The patient underwent physiotherapy and regained upper and lower limb strength and his ability to walk. Conclusion This indicates the possibility of neurological deterioration as a result of LF buckling, whichmay be a result of LF thickening accompanied by hyperextension in the cervical region. In this regard, immediate imaging following signs of neurological complications after anterior cervical corpectomy or discectomy warrants early detection, which results in a better prognosis.

Research on the improved image tracking algorithm of athletes' cervical health / Pesquisa sobre o algoritmo de rastreamento de imagem aprimorado da saúde do colo do útero de atletas / Investigación sobre el algoritmo de seguimiento de imágenes mejorado de la salud cervical de los atletas

ABSTRACT Objective: With the increasing number and youth of patients with cervical spondylosis, people pay more and more attention to the cervical spine. Early diagnosis, intervention and treatment play an important role in the recovery of cervical spondylosis. With the continuous development of computer technology, the improvement of various modeling theories, and the application of image processing methods in orthopedics, new ideas are opened to observe cervical vertebra motion health. Methods: In this paper, the measurement of cervical motion is achieved by machine vision. A method of parameter measurement based on the constraint relationship of lower cervical motion is proposed. Based on image preprocessing, the left edge of the cervical vertebra was extracted and analyzed. Results: With the horizontal coordinate of registration point as the reference line, the changing trend of the angle between the left edge curve and the reference line of C4 and C5 vertebrae in the process of spontaneous flexion and extension of the cervical vertebrae was observed, and the movement rate of the cervical vertebrae was analyzed. Conclusions: It was found that the speed of the cervical vertebrae in the process of movement of the patients with cervical spondylosis showed jumping changes. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

RESUMO Objetivo: Com o aumento do número e da juventude dos pacientes com espondilose cervical, as pessoas prestam cada vez mais atenção à coluna cervical. O diagnóstico, intervenção e tratamento precoces desempenham um papel importante na recuperação da espondilose cervical. Com o desenvolvimento contínuo da tecnologia computacional, o aprimoramento de várias teorias de modelagem e a aplicação de métodos de processamento de imagens na ortopedia, novas ideias se abrem para observar a saúde do movimento das vértebras cervicais. Métodos: Neste trabalho, a mensuração do movimento cervical é realizada por meio de visão artificial. É proposto um método de medição de parâmetro baseado na taxa de restrição de movimento cervical inferior. Com base no pré-processamento da imagem, a borda esquerda da vértebra cervical foi extraída e analisada. Resultados: Com a coordenada horizontal do ponto de registro como linha de referência, a tendência de mudança do ângulo entre a curva da borda esquerda e a linha de referência das vértebras C4 e C5 foi observada no processo de flexão espontânea e extensão do vértebras, vértebras cervicais e a taxa de movimento das vértebras cervicais. Conclusões: Verificou-se que a velocidade das vértebras cervicais no processo de movimentação de pacientes com espondilose cervical apresentou alterações de salto. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos- investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Con el número creciente y la juventud de pacientes con espondilosis cervical, las personas prestan cada vez más atención a la columna cervical. El diagnóstico, la intervención y el tratamiento tempranos juegan un papel importante en la recuperación de la espondilosis cervical. Con el desarrollo continuo de la tecnología informática, la mejora de varias teorías de modelado y la aplicación de métodos de procesamiento de imágenes en ortopedia, se abren nuevas ideas para observar la salud del movimiento de las vértebras cervicales. Métodos: En este trabajo, la medición del movimiento cervical se logra mediante visión artificial. Se propone un método de medición de parámetros basado en la relación de restricción del movimiento cervical inferior. Sobre la base del preprocesamiento de imágenes, se extrajo y analizó el borde izquierdo de la vértebra cervical. Resultados: Con la coordenada horizontal del punto de registro como línea de referencia, se observó la tendencia cambiante del ángulo entre la curva del borde izquierdo y la línea de referencia de las vértebras C4 y C5 en el proceso de flexión y extensión espontánea de las vértebras cervicales, y Se analizó la tasa de movimiento de las vértebras cervicales. Conclusiones: Se encontró que la velocidad de las vértebras cervicales en el proceso de movimiento de los pacientes con espondilosis cervical mostró cambios de salto. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos- investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Impact of the grade of degenerative lumbar disease on the occurrence of spinal deformity / Impacto da graduação da doença degenerativa lombar sobre a ocorrência de deformidade da coluna vertebral / Impacto de la graduación de la enfermedad degenerativa lumbar sobre la ocurrencia de deformidad de la columna vertebral

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the impact of the severity of degenerative lumbar disease (DLD) on the occurrence of spinal deformity, as well as on the choice of treatment, whether conservative or surgical. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective database. One hundred and thirty patients with low back pain and/or pain radiating to the lower limbs were included in the study and were graded on a DLD scale that considers total spine (panoramic) X-ray findings. The rates of adult spinal deformity (ASD) for the different degrees of the DLD scale were compared using the Chi-square test. The choice of treatment type, conservative or surgical, was also compared among the degrees of the DLD scale using Fisher's exact test. Results: The ASD rate was zero in grade 0 patients, 24% in grade I, 35% in grade II and 44% in grade III (P = 0.02). Grade III patients were more likely to be diagnosed with ASD (OR = 2.22; P <0.05; 95% CI = 0.90-5.45) compared to the other DLD grades. Only 7.7% of the patients were chosen for surgical treatment and there was no difference by the DLD scale grade. Conclusion: There was correlation between the DLD grading scale and the occurrence of ASD, with at least twice the chance of this diagnosis in DLD scale grade III as compared to the other grades. The treatment of choice was conservative in a very small number of patients analyzed, with no difference between the different grades of the DLD grading scale. Level of Evidence III; Retrospective analysis of prospective database (cohort).

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto da gravidade da doença degenerativa lombar (DDL) sobre a ocorrência de deformidade vertebral, assim como sobre a escolha do tratamento - conservador ou cirúrgico. Métodos: Trata-se de uma análise retrospectiva de um banco de dados prospectivo. Cento e trinta pacientes com dor lombar e/ou dor irradiada para o membro inferior foram incluídos no estudo e graduados por uma escala de DDL que considera achados radiográficos da coluna total (panorâmica). A taxa de ocorrência de deformidade da coluna vertebral no adulto (DCVA) foi comparada entre os graus da escala da DDL pelo teste de Qui-quadrado. A escolha do tipo de tratamento, conservador ou cirúrgico, foi comparada entre os graus de DDL pelo teste exato de Fisher. Resultados: A taxa de ocorrência de DCVA foi zero nos pacientes com grau 0, 24% nos pacientes com grau I, 35% nos pacientes com grau II e 44% nos pacientes com grau III (P = 0,02). Os pacientes com grau III tiveram maior probabilidade de ser diagnosticados com DCVA (OR = 2,22; P < 0,05; IC de 95% = 0,90-5,45) comparados com os dos indivíduos com outros graus. Apenas 7,7% dos pacientes foram escolhidos para tratamento cirúrgico, sem diferença quanto ao grau da escala de DDL. Conclusões: Houve correlação entre a escala de graduação da DDL e a ocorrência de DCVA, sendo ao menos duas vezes maior a chance dessa ocorrência no grau III comparado com os demais graus. Na imensa minoria dos pacientes, o tratamento escolhido foi o conservador, sem diferença entre os distintos graus de DDL. Nível de evidência III; Análise retrospectiva de banco de dados prospectivo (coorte).

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar el impacto de la gravedad de la enfermedad degenerativa lumbar (EDL) sobre la ocurrencia de la deformidad vertebral, así como sobre la elección del tratamiento - conservador o quirúrgico. Métodos: Se trata de un análisis retrospectivo de un banco de datos prospectivo. Ciento treinta pacientes con dolor lumbar y/o dolor irradiado para los miembros inferiores fueron incluidos en el estudio y graduados por una escala de EDL que considera hallazgos radiográficos de la columna total (panorámica). La tasa de ocurrencia de deformidad de la columna vertebral en el adulto (DCVA) fue comparada entre los grados de la escala de EDL mediante el test de Chi-cuadrado. La elección del tipo de tratamiento, conservador o quirúrgico, también se comparó entre los grados de EDL mediante el test exacto de Fisher. Resultados: La tasa de ocurrencia de DCVA fue cero en los pacientes con grado 0, 24% en los pacientes con grado I, 35% en grado II y 44% en grado III (P = 0,02). Los pacientes con grado III tuvieron mayor probabilidad de ser diagnosticados con DCVA (OR = 2,22; P<0,05; IC de 95% =0,90-5,45) en comparación con los individuos con otros grados. Sólo 7,7% de los pacientes fueron escogidos para tratamiento quirúrgico, sin diferencia sobre el grado de la escala EDL. Conclusiones: Hubo correlación entre la escala de graduación de EDL y la ocurrencia de DCVA, siendo al menos dos veces mayor la posibilidad de esa ocurrencia en el grado III en comparación con los demás grados. En la inmensa minoría de pacientes, el tratamiento escogido fue el conservador, sin diferencia entre los diferentes grados de EDL. Nivel de evidencia III; Análisis retrospectivo de banco de datos prospectivo (cohorte).

Imaging study of soft tissue swelling after anterior cervical corpectomy / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To study the changes of anterior soft tissue swelling after anterior cervical subtotal corpectomy, titanium mesh fusion and internal fixation.@*METHODS@#From November 2015 to July 2018, 151 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy were treated with anterior single corpectomy, titanium mesh fusion and internal fixation, including 109 males and 42 females, aged 44 to 81 (59.77±8.34) years. Through postoperative follow up observation, the C@*RESULTS@#All patients were followed up for 15 to 40(28.00±3.52) months. One week after the operation, the swelling of anterior soft tissue reached the peak, and then decreased. At 8 months after the operation, the swelling of anterior soft tissue on C@*CONCLUSION@#Anterior subtotal cervical corpectomy, titanium mesh bone graft fusion and internal fixation can cause swelling of the anterior soft tissue. One week after operation, we should pay more attention to the aggravation of the swelling of the anterior soft tissue to avoid the occurrence of dysphagia, respiratory obstruction, asphyxia and other complications.

Effect of acupuncture on pain-emotion related brain regions in patients with cervical spondylosis of cervical type: a fMRI study / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the changes of functional connectivity of brain pain-emotion regulation region in patients with cervical spondylosis of cervical type by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).@*METHODS@#Thirty-two subjects were selected. Of them, 16 patients with cervical spondylosis of cervical type were divided into an observation group and 16 healthy subjects into a control group. The patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture at Tianzhu (BL 10), Jingbailao (EX-HN 15), Jianzhongshu (SI 15) and @*RESULTS@#In the observation group, the VAS score was (1.94±1.12) after the treatment, which was lower than (5.62±1.20) before treatment (@*CONCLUSION@#Pain involves the formation and expression of "pain-emotion-cognition". Acupuncture can systematically regulate the brain functional connections between cognitive regions such as dorsal prefrontal lobe and anterior cingulate gyrus and emotional regions such as insula and VTA in patients with cervical spondylosis of cervical type, suggesting that acupuncture has a multi-dimensional and comprehensive regulation effect on pain.

Microscope assisted anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for the treatment of single segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the efficacy of microscope assisted anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with conventional surgical approach in the treatment of single-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 89 patients with single-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated from March 2015 to March 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 55 males and 34 females, with an average of (52.00±11.36) years old. Among the patients, 34 cases were treated with conventional anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (conventional group), including C@*RESULTS@#Intraoperative blood loss and hospital stay in microscope group were less than those in conventional group (@*CONCLUSION@#Both methods can achieve satisfactory effect in treating single-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy. However, microscope-assisted anterior cervical discectomy and fusion has advantages of clear vision, less bleeding and fewer intraoperative complications.

Zero profile anchored spacer(ROI-C) for the treatment of cervical spondylosis with osteoporosis / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the clinical efficacy of zero-profile anchored spacer (ROI-C) in treating cervical spondylosis with osteoporosis.@*METHODS@#From May 2013 to May 2018, a total of 145 patients with cervical spondylosis were treated by ROI-C through anterior cervical spine approach. Among them, 31 patients were aged ≥60 years and had osteoporosis by bone density measurement, and they were retrospectively analyzed. Including 9 males and 22 females, aged 60-84 years old with an average of (69.12±7.65) years. There were 23 cases of single-segment fusion, 6 cases of two-stage fusion, and 2 cases of three-stage fusion;and 41 devices of ROI-C fusion was placed in the patients. Operation time and intraoperative blood loss were recorded;Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores and visual analogue scale(VAS) were respectively used to evaluate the neurological function and neck pain before and after operation. The cervical curvature (expressed as Cobb angle), the height of the intervertebral space at the surgical segment, and the intervertebral fusion were observed at postoperative and follow-up periods were observed by image data.@*RESULTS@#All patients were followed up for 12-24(15.6±4.4) months after operation. The operation time were from 75 to 113 (101.33±10.25) min and intraoperative blood loss were from 14 to 51 (33.18 ± 16.56) ml. Among these 23 patients with fusion of single segment, the operation time were 75 to 98 (85.47±8.70) min and intraoperative blood loss were 14 to 30(21.18±6.56) ml. JOA scores of all included patients were increased from 9.66±2.12 preoperatively to 14.36±1.24 at the final follow-up (@*CONCLUSION@#Anterior cervical approach with ROI-C for the treatment of elderly patients with cervical spondylosis and osteoporosis had reliable clinical effect, short operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, and can effectively restore cervical curvature and intervertebral space height, and has advantages of fewer complications and higher successful rate of fusion.

A case-control study of cervical spine Key-hole technique and anterior cervical Zero-P system in the treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the short-term clinical efficacy of single-stage cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) between the minimally invasive Key-hole technique and anterior cervical Zero profile intervertebral fusion system (Zero-P).@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed on 45 patients who underwent surgical treatment for CSR from January 2017 to January 2020, including 21 in Key hole group (12 males and 9 females), followed up for 10-22(13.2±2.3) months;24 cases in Zero-P group (14 males and 10 females), and the follow up period was 10 to 23(12.7±1.9) months. Perioperative conditions (incision length, intraoperative blood loss, operation time, length of hospital stay, and complications) were compared between two groups, and X-rays of cervical spine before and after surgery and at the final follow-up were taken to analyzed curvature of the cervical spine, visual analogue scale(VAS) of pain before and after surgery, Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score of cervical spine were recorded to evaluate clinical efficacy.@*RESULTS@#In Key-hole group and Zero-P group, the surgical incision length, intraoperative blood loss, operation time, final follow-up Cobb angle and immediate postoperative VAS score respectively were (1.2±0.2) cm, (5.3±0.3) cm;(35.3±9.7) ml, (120.2±13.5) ml;(56.4±11.3) min, (90.6±12.6) min;(3.2±3.9)°, (7.3±3.8)°;(2.8±1.2)points, (3.8±1.1) points;the Zero-P group was larger than the Key hole group, with statistical significance(@*CONCLUSION@#The cervical spine Key-hole technology is similar to the anterior cervical Zero-P system in the treatment of CSR. The Key-hole technique has certain advantages in incision length, intraoperative blood loss, and operation time. It is a safe, effective and can be widely used cervical spine surgery method.

Degenerative cervical myelopathy: a review of current concepts / Mielopatia cervical degenerativa: revisão dos conceitos atuais / Mielopatía cervical degenerativa: revisión de los conceptos actuales

ABSTRACT Herbert von Luschka, a German anatomist, was the first to describe the developmental changes in the anatomical structures of the cervical spine. Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) represents a collection of pathological entities that cause compression of the cervical spinal cord, resulting in a clinical syndrome typified by spasticity, hyperreflexia, pathologic reflexes, finger/hand clumsiness, gait disturbance and sphincter dysfunction. In the cervical spine, certain patients are more likely to have myelopathy due to a congenitally narrowed cervical spine canal. Degenerative changes are more common at C5 and C6 or C6 and C7 due to the increased motion at these levels. Additional contributors to canal narrowing are infolding of the ligamentum flavum, olisthesis, osteophytes, and facet hypertrophy. Myelopathy will develop in approximately 100% of patients with canal stenosis greater than 60% (less than 6 mm sagittal disc cord space). Classically it has an insidious onset, progressing in a stepwise manner with functional decline. Without treatment, patients may progress toward significant paralysis and loss of function. Treatment requires surgery with either anterior or posterior decompression of the area of narrowing, and probable fusion. Factors of a poor prognosis include symptoms lasting for more than 18 months, increased range of motion in the cervical spine, and female gender. In this study, we give an overview of the state-of-the-art in DCM, with a focus on the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, imaging evaluation, natural history, treatment options and complications. Level of evidence III; Review article.

RESUMO Herbert von Luschka, anatomista alemão, foi o primeiro a descrever as mudanças no desenvolvimento das estruturas anatômicas da coluna cervical. A mielopatia cervical degenerativa (MCD) representa um conjunto de entidades patológicas que causam compressão da medula espinhal cervical, resultando em uma síndrome clínica caracterizada por espasticidade, hiperreflexia, reflexos patológicos, perda de destreza manual, distúrbios de marcha e disfunção de esfíncteres. Certos pacientes têm maior probabilidade de desenvolver mielopatia na coluna cervical em decorrência de estenose congênita do canal cervical. As alterações degenerativas são mais comuns em C5 e C6 ou C6 e C7 devido ao aumento da mobilidade nesses níveis. Outros fatores que contribuem para a estenose do canal medular são hipertrofia do ligamento amarelo, listese, osteofitose e hipertrofia de facetas. A mielopatia cervical ocorre em aproximadamente 100% dos pacientes com estenose do canal superior a 60%, isto é, espaço da medula discal sagital menor que 6 mm. Em geral, tem início insidioso, progredindo gradualmente com declínio funcional. Sem tratamento, os pacientes podem progredir para paralisia significativa e perda de função. O tratamento requer cirurgia de descompressão anterior ou posterior da área estenosada e provável fusão. Os fatores de mau prognóstico prevalecem no sexo feminino e incluem sintomatologia com duração superior a 18 meses e aumento da amplitude de movimento da coluna cervical. Neste estudo, apresentamos uma visão geral do estado da arte em MCD, com ênfase de fisiopatologia, apresentação clínica, diagnóstico diferencial, avaliação por imagem, história natural, opções de tratamento e complicações. Nível de evidência III; Artigo de revisão.

RESUMEN Herbert von Luschka, anatomista alemán, fue el primero en describir los cambios en el desarrollo de las estructuras anatómicas de la columna cervical. La mielopatía cervical degenerativa (MCD) representa un conjunto de entidades patológicas que causan compresión de la médula espinal cervical, resultando en un síndrome clínico caracterizado por espasticidad, hiperreflexia, reflejos patológicos, pérdida de destreza manual, disturbios de marcha y disfunción de esfínteres. Ciertos pacientes tienen mayor probabilidad de desarrollar mielopatía en la columna cervical como consecuencia de estenosis congénita del canal cervical. Las alteraciones degenerativas son más comunes en C5 y C6 o C6 y C7, debido al aumento de la movilidad en esos niveles. Otros factores que contribuyen para la estenosis del canal medular son la hipertrofia del ligamento amarillo, listesis, osteofitosis e hipertrofia de facetas. La mielopatía cervical ocurre en aproximadamente 100% de los pacientes con estenosis del canal superior a 60%, esto es, espacio de la médula discal sagital menor que 6mm). En general, tiene inicio insidioso, progresando gradualmente con disminución funcional. Sin tratamiento, los pacientes pueden progresar para parálisis significativa y pérdida de función. El tratamiento requiere cirugía de descompresión anterior o posterior del área estenosada y probable fusión. Los factores de mal pronóstico prevalecen en el sexo femenino e incluyen sintomatología con duración superior a 18 meses y aumento de la amplitud de movimiento de la columna cervical. En este estudio, presentamos una visión general del estado del arte en MCD, con énfasis de fisiopatología, presentación clínica, diagnóstico diferencial, evaluación por imagen, historia natural, opciones de tratamiento y complicaciones. Nivel de evidencia III; Artículo de revisión.

Radiographic evolution and cervical sagital balance of laminoplasty versus laminectomy in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy / Evolução radiográfica e equilíbrio sagital cervical da laminoplastia x laminectomia em pacientes com mielopatia cervical espondilótica / Evolución radiográfica y equilibrio sagital cervical de la laminoplastia versus laminectomía en pacientes con mielopatía cervical espondilótica

ABSTRACT Objective To compare radiographic findings of patients who underwent laminoplasty and laminectomy with arthrodesis for spondylotic cervical myelopathy. Methods Who were submitted to laminectomy with arthrodesis or laminoplasty to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy with minimum follow-up of 6 months. The radiographic parameters related to the cervical spine evaluated were C0C2 lordosis (C0C2), cervical lordosis (CL), T1 slope (T1S), thoracic inlet angle (TIA), neck tilt (NT), cervical sagittal vertical axis (CSVA), and T1S - CL mismatch (T1S-CL). Results We evaluated 34 patients, 23 (68%) of whom were men. The mean age was 65 years (SD ± 13). There was no statistical difference in any of the preoperative radiographic parameters. Considering the patients submitted to laminectomy alone, a significant difference was observed for C0C2 (P = 0.045), CSVA (P = 0.0008), with differences between IPO and POS times (P = 0.026) and between PRE and POS (P = 0.0013) and T1S - CL mismatch (P = 0.0004), with a difference between IPO and POS (P = 0.0076) and between PRE and POS (P=0.001). Considering the patients submitted to laminoplasty alone, there was no difference over time for any radiographic parameters considered. Comparing the radiographic parameters between the laminectomy and laminoplasty groups in the three time periods, there was no significant difference for any of them. Conclusion This study suggests that patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy who underwent laminectomy with instrumentation may present worse radiographic evolution as regards cervical sagittal alignment over time when compared to patients who underwent laminoplasty. Level of evidence III; Retrospective case series.

RESUMO Objetivo Comparar os resultados radiográficos de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de laminoplastia e laminectomia e artrodese para o tratamento de mielopatia cervical espondilótica. Métodos Pacientes submetidos à laminectomia e artrodese ou laminoplastia para o tratamento de mielopatia cervical espondilótica com acompanhamento mínimo de seis meses. Os parâmetros radiográficos relacionados à coluna cervical avaliados foram: Lordose C0C2 (C0C2); Lordose cervical (LC); Inclinação de T1 (IT1); Ângulo de entrada do tórax (AET); Versão do pescoço (VP); Eixo sagital vertical cervical (ESVC); Diferença entre IT1 e LC (IT1-LC). Resultados Avaliaram-se 34 pacientes, sendo 23 (68%) homens. A idade média foi de 65 anos (DP: ±13). Não houve diferença estatística em nenhum dos parâmetros radiográficos pré-operatórios. Considerando isoladamente os pacientes submetidos à laminectomia, notou-se diferença significativa C0-C2 (P = 0,045), ESVC (P = 0,0008), sendo observada diferença entre os tempos POI e POS (P = 0,026) e entre PRE e POS (P = 0,0013) e diferença IT1 - LC (P = 0,0004) com diferença entre POI e POS (P = 0,0076) e entre PRE e POS (0,001). Considerando isoladamente os pacientes submetidos à laminoplastia, não houve diferença ao longo do tempo para nenhum dos parâmetros considerados. Comparando-se os parâmetros radiográficos entre os grupos laminectomia e laminoplastia nos três tempos, não houve diferença significativa para nenhum deles. Conclusões O estudo sugere que os pacientes portadores de mielopatia cervical submetidos a laminectomia com instrumentação possam apresentar pior evolução radiográfica quanto ao alinhamento sagital cervical ao longo do tempo quando comparados aos pacientes submetidos a laminoplastia. Nível de evid ê ncia III; Série de casos retrospectiva.

RESUMEN Objetivo Comparar los resultados radiográficos de pacientes sometidos a cirugía de laminoplastia y laminectomía y artrodesis para el tratamiento de mielopatía cervical espondilótica. Métodos Pacientes sometidos a laminectomía y artrodesis o laminoplastia para el tratamiento de mielopatía cervical espondilótica con acompañamiento mínimo de 6 meses. Los parámetros radiográficos relacionados a la columna cervical evaluados fueron: Lordosis C0C2 (C0C2); Lordosis cervical (LC); Inclinación de T1 (IT1): Ángulo de entrada del tórax (AET), versión del cuello (VC); Eje sagital vertical cervical (ESVC); Diferencia entre IT1 y LC (IT1-LC). Resultados Se evaluaron 34 pacientes, siendo 23 hombres (68%). La edad promedio fue de 65 años (DP: ± 13). No hubo diferencia estadística en ninguno de los parámetros radiográficos preoperatorios. Considerando aisladamente a los pacientes sometidos a la laminectomía, se notó diferencia significativa C0-C2 (P = 0,045), ESVC (P = 0,0008), siendo observada diferencia entre los tiempos POI y POS (P = 0,026) y entre PRE y POS (P = 0,0013) y diferencia IT1 - LC (P = 0,0004) con diferencia entre POI y POS (P = 0,0076) y entre PRE y POS (0,001). Considerando aisladamente a los pacientes sometidos a laminoplastia, no hubo diferencia a lo largo del tiempo para ninguno de los parámetros radiográficos considerados. Comparándose con los parámetros radiográficos entre los grupos laminectomía y laminoplastia en los tres tiempos, no hubo diferencia significativa para ninguno de ellos. Conclusiones El estudio sugiere que los pacientes portadores de mielopatía cervical sometidos a laminectomía con instrumentación puedan presentar peor evolución radiográfica cuanto a la alineación sagital cervical a lo largo del tiempo cuando comparados a los pacientes sometidos a laminoplastia. Nivel de evidencia III; Serie de casos retrospectivos.

The effectiveness of the most used techniques in patients with degenerative cervical disease / A eficácia das técnicas mais utilizadas em pacientes com doença degenerativa cervical / La eficacia de las técnicas más utilizadas en pacientes con enfermedad cervical degenerativa

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to discuss the three main surgical techniques currently applied in the treatment of degenerative cervical discopathy and their repercussions on patient quality of life. We considered the impact of the surgical techniques applied to the quality of life of 24 patients who underwent surgery during the period from 2010 to 2017 using the Oswestry and SF-36 scales. With the application of the questionnaires we observed, through the applicability and analysis of the quality of life results indicated in the questionnaires, that pain improvement and a reduction in work and daily activity disability were more effective with cervical arthroplasty. We concluded that with the individualization of surgical treatment, that is, through the choice of the surgical technique most appropriate for the clinical condition, the postoperative recovery and consequently the quality of life of the patient are enhanced. Level of evidence IV; Descriptive study.

RESUMO A presente pesquisa pretende discutir as três principais técnicas cirúrgicas aplicadas atualmente no tratamento da discopatia degenerativa cervical e a sua repercussão na qualidade de vida do paciente. Considerou-se o impacto das técnicas cirúrgicas aplicadas na qualidade de vida de 24 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia no período de 2010 a 2017, através da escala de Oswestry e do SF-36. Com a aplicação do estudo pudemos observar que através da aplicabilidade e análise dos resultados apontados nos questionários de qualidade de vida, a melhora da dor e a diminuição da incapacidade laboral e diária foram mais eficazes na artroplastia cervical. Concluiu-se que com a individualização do tratamento cirúrgico, ou seja, através da escolha da técnica cirúrgica mais apropriada ao quadro clínico, potencializa-se a recuperação pós-operatória e, consequentemente, a qualidade de vida do paciente. Nível de evidência IV; Estudo Descritivo.

RESUMEN La presente investigación pretende discutir las tres principales técnicas quirúrgicas aplicadas actualmente en el tratamiento de la discopatía degenerativa cervical y su repercusión en la calidad de vida del paciente. Se consideró el impacto de las técnicas quirúrgicas aplicadas en la calidad de vida de 24 pacientes sometidos a cirugía en el período de 2010 a 2017, a través de la escala de Oswestry y del SF-36. Con la aplicación del estudio pudimos observar que a través de la aplicabilidad y análisis de los resultados apuntados en los cuestionarios de calidad de vida, la mejora del dolor y la disminución de la incapacidad laboral y diaria fueron más eficaces en la artroplastia cervical. Se concluyó que, con la individualización del tratamiento quirúrgico, o sea, a través de la elección de la técnica quirúrgica más apropiada al cuadro clínico, se potencializa la recuperación postoperatoria y, consiguientemente, la calidad de vida del paciente. Nivel de evidencia IV; Estudio descriptivo.

Comparison of the anterior and posterior approach in treating four-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#The optimal surgical approach for four-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes and complications between the anterior and posterior approaches for four-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy.@*METHODS@#A total of 19 patients underwent anterior decompression and fusion and 25 patients underwent posterior laminoplasty and instrumentation in this study. Perioperative information, intraoperative blood loss, clinical and radiological outcomes, and complications were recorded. Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, 36-item short form survey (SF-36) score and cervical alignment were assessed.@*RESULTS@#There were no significant differences in JOA scores between the anterior and posterior group preoperatively (11.6 ± 1.6 vs. 12.1 ± 1.5), immediately postoperatively (14.4 ± 1.1 vs. 13.8 ± 1.3), or at the last follow-up (14.6 ± 1.0 vs. 14.2 ± 1.1) (P > 0.05). The JOA scores significantly improved immediately postoperatively and at the last follow-up in both groups compared with their preoperative values. The recovery rate was significantly higher in the anterior group both immediately postoperatively and at the last follow-up. The SF-36 score was significantly higher in the anterior group at the last follow-up compared with the preoperative value (69.4 vs. 61.7). Imaging revealed that there was no significant difference in the Cobb angle at C2-C7 between the two groups preoperatively (-2.0° ± 7.3° vs. -1.4° ± 7.5°). The Cobb angle significantly improved immediately postoperatively (12.3° ± 4.2° vs. 9.2° ± 3.6°) and at the last follow-up (12.4° ± 3.5° vs. 9.0° ± 2.6°) in both groups compared with their preoperative values (P = 0.00). Three patients had temporary dysphagia in the anterior group and four patients had persistent axial symptoms in the posterior group.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Both the anterior and posterior approaches were effective in treating four-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy in terms of neurological clinical outcomes and radiological features. However, the JOA score recovery rate and SF-36 score in the anterior group were significantly higher. Persistent axial pain could be a major concern when undertaking the posterior approach.

Rolling needle pricking-cupping therapy and traditional pricking-cupping therapy for cervical spondylosis of neck type: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy between rolling needle pricking-cupping (RNP-C) and traditional pricking-cupping (TP-C) for cervical spondylosis of neck type.@*METHODS@#A total of 96 patients with cervical spondylosis of neck type were randomly divided into an RNP-C group, a TP-C group and an electroacupuncture (EA) group, 32 cases in each group. Each group was treated with EA at Jingbailao (EX-HN 15), Fengchi (GB 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Jianjing (GB 21) and @*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the scores of NPQ and VAS in each group were all reduced at 2 and 4 weeks into treatment and follow-up (@*CONCLUSION@#TP-C and RNP-C could both improve the cervical pain symptoms in patients with cervical spondylosis of neck type, and improve the overall function of the cervical spine, and the curative effect is similar.

A Wearable System for Cervical Spondylosis Prevention Based on Artificial Intelligence / 中国医疗器械杂志

Accompanied by changes in modern work and lifestyle, the incidence of cervical spondylosis has increased year by year. In view of the fact long-term fixed posture of the head and neck is one of the main causes of cervical spondylosis, a set of wearable cervical spondylosis prevention system is developed. The system comprises a head and neck movement collection module based on the acceleration sensor and a head and neck motion recognition module based on artificial intelligence. Experimental results showed that the system can accurately identify long-term posture of the head and neck, and guide users to complete effective exercise therapy under the supervision of motion recognition module. Using this system can be beneficial for the prevention of cervical spondylosis.