Limited Laminectomy and Restorative Spinoplasty in Spinal Canal Stenosis

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PURPOSE: Evaluation of the clinico-radiological outcome and complications of limited laminectomy and restorative spinoplasty in spinal canal stenosis. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: It is critical to achieve adequate spinal decompression, while maintaining spinal stability. METHODS: Forty-four patients with degenerative lumbar canal stenosis underwent limited laminectomy and restorative spinoplasty at our centre from July 2008 to December 2010. Four patients were lost to follow-up leaving a total of 40 patients at an average final follow-up of 32 months (range, 24-41 months). There were 26 females and 14 males. The mean+/-standard deviation (SD) of the age was 64.7+/-7.6 years (range, 55-88 years). The final outcome was assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. RESULTS: At the time of the final follow-up, all patients recorded marked improvement in their symptoms, with only 2 patients complaining of occasional mild back pain and 1 patient complaining of occasional mild leg pain. The mean+/-SD for the preoperative claudication distance was 95.2+/-62.5 m, which improved to 582+/-147.7 m after the operation, and the preoperative anterio-posterior canal diameter as measured on the computed tomography scan was 8.3+/-2.1 mm, which improved to 13.2+/-1.8 mm postoperatively. The JOA score improved from a mean+/-SD of 13.3+/-4.1 to 22.9+/-4.1 at the time of the final follow-up. As for complications, dural tears occurred in 2 patients, for which repair was performed with no additional treatment needed. CONCLUSIONS: Limited laminectomy and restorative spinoplasty is an efficient surgical procedure which relieves neurogenic claudication by achieving sufficient decompression of the cord with maintenance of spinal stability.

Pseudoarthrosis of medial tibial plateau fracture----role of alignment procedure / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Nonunion in tibial plateau fractures is very rare. Limited literature is available on Pubmed search on intraarticular tibial nonunion. Most of the cases reported have been following failed surgical treatment and none was neglected fractures. Three patients of isolated and neglected medial tibial plateau nonunion with almost similar demographic profile are reported in this paper. All the three patients were managed by minimally invasive compression fixation using lag screws supplemented with limb realignment procedure of high tibial osteotomy. We discussed the injury mechanism, management and rehabilitation in such cases and reviewed the available literature regarding such a presentation.

Ipsilateral dislocation of the radial head associated with fracture of distal end of the radius: a case report and review of the literature / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Dislocation of the radial head in adults is uncommon. A simultaneous dislocation of the radial head and fracture of the ipsilateral distal end of radius with no other associated injuries is extremely rare. As far as we know, such an injury after an unusual mode of injury has been seldom reported in the English literature. We report such a case without any associated injuries or comorbidity. Closed reduction was performed within two hours after injury and results were satisfactory. Immobilisation was continued for 3 weeks. Gradual mobilisation was started after removal of the plaster under the supervision of a physiotherapist. At 6 months'follow-up, the patient had no residual pain at the elbow with full flexion and extension. Almost full supination with a restriction of last 10 degrees of pronation was achieved. There was no evidence of instability of the elbow.