Effect of perioperative transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on postoperative cellular immune function in patients undergoing posterior spinal internal fixation / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the effect of perioperative transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on postoperative cellular immune function in the patients undergoing posterior spinal internal fixation.Methods:Ninety patients, aged 40-70 yr, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ, undergoing elective posterior spinal internal fixation in our hospital, were divided into 2 groups ( n=45 each) using a computer-generated table of random numbers: routine group and experiment group.Total intravenous anesthesia was used in routine group, while total intravenous anesthesia combined with TEAS was applied in experiment group.In experiment group, bilateral Zusanli and Sanyinjiao acupoints were stimulated with 2/15 Hz disperse-dense waves at the intensity that could be tolerated by patients at 30 min before induction of anesthesia, maintaining with 2/100 Hz disperse-dense waves from the end of induction until the end of operation at the same stimulation intensity before induction.Bilateral Neiguan and Taichong acupoints were stimulated for 30 min each time with 2/15Hz disperse-dense waves once a day at 1st-4th days after operation.In routine group, the electrodes were connected at the same time period, but no stimulation was given.Venous blood samples were collected before induction of anesthesia, at 1 h after surgery, and on 1st, 3rd, and 5th days after surgery, and the percentage of CD3 + , CD4 + , CD8 + T lymphocytes, CD4 + /CD8 + ratio, WBC count and percentage of neutrophils (NE%) were determined by flow cytometry, and the consumption of intraoperative anesthetics, use of postoperative analgesics, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, infection and length of hospital stay were recorded. Results:Compared with routine group, the total consumption and consumption index of remifentanil were significantly decreased, the percentage of CD3 + T lymphocytes was increased on 3rd and 5th postoperative days, the NE% was decreased on 1st postoperative day, and the incidence of dizziness was decreased ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the other indicators in experiment group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Perioperative TEAS can improve postoperative cellular immune function and has a certain potential value in preventing postoperative infection in the patients undergoing posterior spinal internal fixation.

Rod stiffness effect on adjacent segmental degeneration: a comparative long-term study.

Background: Adjacent segment disease (ASD) is a major complication following spinal instrumentation and fusion. The search for of the rod flexibility factors responsible for junctional degeneration is still ongoing. Objective: Determine the rod stiffness and ASD following posterior instrumentation and fusion for lumbar spine and find the proper rod diameter for adult spinal instrumentation for fusion. Subject and methods: Retrospective evaluation of all patients requiring spinal instrumentation to determine the different rod diameter that predispose toward junctional degeneration was completed. All patients requiring spinal instrumentation over a one-year period were studied retrospectively. One-hundred eight-seven patients (mean age 61.6 years) who had undergone decompression and fusion with pedicle screw instrumentation were evaluated. The average follow-up was 4.2 years. The average number of levels fused was 2.9 segments (range: 1-8). Adjacent spinal level pre- and post-operatively was determined on the plain X-rays. Junctional degeneration was defined as new episode of degeneration of the adjacent level on radiologic finding. Asymptomatic patients did not demonstrate junctional degeneration on the routine post-operative X-rays. Results: ASD developed in 15 (8.0%) out of 187 patients, including compression fractures (n=2), spinal stenosis (n=6), and symptomatic disc collapse (n=7). There was a close correlation between the posterior instrument stiffness and the development of ASD (p=0.011). For fusion and fixation with 5.5 mm and 6.0 mm rod diameter, ASD occurred in four (3.7%) out of 108 patients and in 11 (13.9 %) out of 79 patients, resepectively. The incidences of ASD were greater when the posterior instrument used were stiffer in lumbar spine fusion. The pre-operative age, gender, and indication for surgery were not associated with the development of ASD. Conclusion: The prevalence of symptomatic ASD relatively increased with increasing stiffness of spinal implant. The diameter of the longitudinal rod strongly affected the fixator loads, and influenced the stresses in the vertebral endplates. The rod diameter had influence on the stresses in the adjacent spinal motion segment.

Management of Deep Infection after Posterior Spinal Instrumentation with Prolonged Suction Drainage / 대한척추외과학회지

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis about related diagnostic and therapeutic factors in postoperative deep infection cases after posterior spinal instrumentation. OBJECTIVES: Analysis of the inherent risk factors associated with deep infection and the efficacy of management with prolonged suction drainage without removal of implants. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Various treatment modalities have been applied to control deep infection after spinal instrumentation. Validity of removing implants to control the infection is still controversial because it may cause loss of spinal stability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five cases of postoperative deep infection after posterior spinal fixation from May 1996 to May 2000 were investigated about combined general illness, features of infection, various profiles on management of the infection with surgical irrigation and debridement followed by prolonged suction drainage, and final outcomes. RESULTS: Remarkable risk factors were diabetes and obesity. Evidences of infection such as discharge from the wound, dehiscence, fever were observed since average 18.8th day postoperatively. By only one surgical procedure for each patient followed by prolonged suction drainage for mean 19.2 days and administration of IV antibiotics for average 43.6 days followed by oral antibiotics for 33.8 days, deep infections were controlled successfully without removal of implants and without any grave complications. All achieved favorable clinical results and posterolateral fusion. CONCLUSION: Irrigation and debridement accompanied by prolonged suction drainage using Hemo-vac and administration of susceptible antibiotics seemed to be one of the effective methods in controlling deep infection after posterior instrumentation and in maintaining the postoperative stability of spine.

Clinical analysis of Posterior Spinal Instrumentation in Unstable Thoracolumbar Fracture and Fracture Dislocation / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Various methods of spinal instrumentation have been used for treatment of unstable fracture & fracture-dislocation of thoraco-lumbar spine. Recently, newly designed short segment fixation devices using pedicle screw were designed and there was a trend to use this posterior short segment instrumentation using pedicle screw. We have used AO internal fixator as posterior instrumentation for unstable spine fracture of thoracolumbar spine since November, 1987. Previously we used Harrington instrumentation and Luque rod wiring for treatment of unstable fracture of thoracolumbar spine and we reported the results of clinical analysis of those systems on Feb, 1987. We analyzed the clinical results of 93 cases those who underwent operative treatment using each posterior instrumentation system for unstable fracture and fracture-dislocation of thoraco-lumabr spine at our hospital from Dec. 1983 to Oct. 1989. Among that 93 cases, the Harrington instrumentation were 35 cases, Luque rod instrumentation were 36 cases and AO internal fixator were 22 cases. The results were as follows:1. The most commonly injured level was Ll (44 case) and followed by T12(33 cases, 86%). 2. By Francis Denis classification, Burst type fracture was most common(42 cases, 45%). 3. Change of kyphotic angle were checked on lateral X-ray view. There no significant differences between those groups using H-rod(58.64%), Luque-rod(54.8%), and AO internal fixator(60.1%) on immediate post-op X-ray. But there noticed least loss of correction of kyphotic angle when using AO internal fixator comparing with other groups. 4. The correction rates of height of anterior and middle column were checked by Denis-Edward method, there noticed best correction rate in AO internal fixator group. 5. The ROM of trunk were checked, there were no significant differences in H-rod, L-rod, and AO internal fixator group in long term follow up.