Clinical application and perspectives of unilateral biportal endoscopic technique / 解放军医学杂志

Unilateral biportal endoscopic(UBE)technique is a minimally invasive spinal technique developed rapidly in recent years.Compared with traditional spinal endoscopy,the prominent feature of UBE is that it can open two channels on the same side of the spine,which can be used to provide visual field and insert operating instruments respectively,greatly expanding the operating space and reducing the difficulty of surgery.It has the advantages of less bleeding,little injury,quick recovery and mild pain,and has unique advantages in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis,lumbar disc herniation and other lumbar degenerative diseases.With the continuous in-depth exploration and development of the UBE technique,the field of diseases that can be treated by this technology has gradually expanded.It is not only limited to lumbar diseases,but also has made great progress in cervical and thoracic diseases,which has attracted the attention of many spinal surgeons.UBE technique has become one of the promising surgical methods for spinal-related diseases,but there are also complications such as incomplete decompression,nerve root and dural injury,epidural hematoma,relatively prolonged operation time,operation fatigue and other deficiencies.This paper summarizes the progress of the UBE technique,discusses its complications and deficiencies,proposes relevant solutions and possible future directions for its development,so as to provide reference for the clinical practice of UBE technique.

Effect of finite element simulation of bilateral lumbar spinal canal decompression under single-channel splintered endoscope on lumbar biomechanics / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:As a leading technique in the treatment of primary stenosis by posterior spinal endoscopy through unilateral approach and bilateral decompression using single channel endoscopy,the long-term efficacy needs to be further observed.There are few reports on the scope of intraoperative resection and few relevant studies on biomechanics and finite element analysis. OBJECTIVE:A three-dimensional finite element model was established to evaluate the effects of bilateral lumbar canal decompression under a one-hole split endoscope on lumbar range of motion and intradiscal pressure,to provide suggestions for clinical operation and theoretical basis for further clinical research. METHODS:A complete L3-L5 vertebral body model was reconstructed by CT images of nine healthy volunteers,which was used as the preoperative model M1.The simulated surgical resection range of L4-L5 was performed,and 1/4,1/3 and 1/2 of bilateral facet joints were removed respectively to obtain models M2,M3 and M4.The range of motion and the maximum Von Mises stress of the four models were compared in the six directions of forward bending,backward extension,left and right bending,and left and right rotation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The L3-L5 finite element model established in this study was effective,and the range of motion was within the range of previous solid studies under six motion states.(2)Compared with the M1 model,the L4-L5 lumbar spine range of motion increased with the increase of resection range in M2 with M3 and M4 models under forward bending,left and right bending and left and right rotation loading,and the difference was significant(P＜0.05).Under posterior extension loading,there was no significant difference in lumbar range of motion between M1 and M2(P＞0.05),but there was a significant difference of M1,M3 and M4(P＜0.05).(3)The range of motion of the L3-L4 lumbar spine had no significant change with the increase of bilateral facet arthrotomy(P＞0.05).(4)There was a significant difference in the maximum value of L4-L5 Von Mises between M1 and M2(P＜0.05),and there was a significant difference in the maximum value of L4-L5 Von Mises between M1 and M3,M4(P＜0.01),and the maximum value of L4-L5 lumbar von Mises increased with the increasing range of bilateral facet joint resection.Resection of more than 1/3 was particularly obvious.(5)The maximum value of Von Mises in the L3-L4 lumbar spine was increased with the increase of the resection range under forward bending,left and right bending and left and right rotation loading and the difference was significant(P＜0.05).(6)The results exhibited that the L4-L5 lumbar motion and intervertebral disc pressure increased with the increase of the excision range.Intervertebral disc pressure at L3-L4 increased with the increased extent of excision,but the lumbar range of motion was not significantly affected.In conclusion,the stability of the operative segment may be affected by the increase in the scope of facet joint resection.Although the immediate stability of adjacent segments is not affected,it may accelerate disc degeneration.

Correlation between sagittal alignment and clinical symptom improvement after lumbar fusion / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Up to date,there is seldom research about the correlation between the harmonious alignment degree of lumbar lordosis and pelvic incidence and the improvement of postoperative clinical symptoms in patients with lumbar stenosis fusion. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the harmonious alignment degree of lumbar lordosis and pelvic incidence in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and fusion,and compare the differences of spinal and pelvic sagittal parameters and clinical outcomes among different harmonious alignment degrees. METHODS:The medical records of 110 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis(48 males and 62 females,aged 57±11 years)who were treated with posterior lumbar laminar decompression and internal fixation in the Department of Spinal Surgery,Tianjin Union Medical Center from December 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.The postoperative follow-up was more than 1 year.According to the harmonious alignment degree of lumbar lordosis and pelvic incidence,they were divided into two groups:Group A(n=47)(pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis>10°)and group B(n=63)(pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis≤10°).The changes of clinical scores(low back pain visual analog scale score and Oswestry disability index)and spinal and pelvic sagittal parameters before and after surgery were compared between the two groups.The correlation between clinical symptom improvement and spinal and pelvic imaging parameters was analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There were no significant differences in preoperative pelvic sagittal parameters and clinical function between the two groups(P>0.05).(2)There were no significant differences in operation time and blood loss between the two groups(P>0.05).(3)At the last postoperative follow-up,the visual analog scale score and Oswestry disability index in group B were significantly improved compared with group A(P=0.000,P=0.005).Lumbar lordosis and sacral slope were also significantly improved(P=0.000,P<0.05),and pelvic tilt was more significantly recovered(P=0.000).(4)Pearson correlation coefficient method results showed that the improvement of visual analog scale score of low back pain was significantly correlated with the improvement of pelvic tilt(r=0.209,P=0.008),lumbar lordosis(r=-0.133,P=0.021)and sacral slope(r=-0.156,P=0.031).Pelvic tilt was significantly correlated with Oswestry disability index(r=0.196,P=0.014).(5)It is concluded that reconstructed lumbar lordosis and reduced pelvic tilt for the harmonious alignment(pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis≤10°)can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of patients.

Finite element analysis of interspinous fixation-assisted endoscopic interbody fusion in treatment of severe lumbar spinal stenosis / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:In clinical application,simple interspinous fixation without additional interbody fusion has similar fixation effects to pedicle screw and rod fusion internal fixation,and can effectively reduce the range of motion of the responsible segment and the stress of the articular process.However,after simple placement of the new interspinous fusion fixation device BacFuse,the stress at the root of the spinous process is relatively concentrated,and the spinous fracture is prone to occur.If an intervertebral fusion cage is inserted in conjunction with interspinous fixation,Von Mises stress can theoretically be dispersed to reduce the risk of spinous fracture.However,there are few studies on biomechanics and finite element analysis. OBJECTIVE:To observe the biomechanical stability of interspinous fixation-assisted endoscopic interbody fusion in the treatment of severe lumbar spinal stenosis. METHODS:The normal finite element model M0 of the L4-L5 segment of the lumbar spine was established by Mimics,Geomagic,Solidworks,and ANSYS software based on the lumbar CT images of a 26-year-old adult male volunteer excluding spinal diseases.On the basis of M0,the immediate model M1 after endoscopic decompression combined with interbody fusion,the interspinous fixation device(BacFuse)model M2 after endoscopic decompression,and the interspinous fixation(BacFuse)model M3 after endoscopic-assisted interbody fusion were established.The same stress was applied to the upper surface of the L4 vertebral body in the four groups,and the lower surface of the L5 vertebral body was fixed and supported.The range of motion and the extreme Von Mises stress of the endplate bone and the posterior ligament complex of the vertebral body were analyzed under six working conditions of flexion,extension,left/right bending,and left/right rotation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with model M0,the range of motion value of model M1 increased significantly under six working conditions.Model M2 and model M3 had a significant reduction in range of motion.(2)Compared with model M0,the maximum stress of the vertebral body in model M1 did not change significantly under the six working conditions.The maximum stress at the rear of the M2 vertebral body increased significantly.(3)Compared with model M1,the maximum stress of model M3 did not change significantly under the six working conditions.Compared with model M2,the maximum stress of model M3 decreased significantly.(4)Compared with the model M0,the extreme Von Mises stress of the L4 and L5 endplates of the model M1 was significantly increased.The extreme Von Mises stress in L4 and L5 endplates of models M2 and M3 decreased slightly.Compared with model M1,the Von Mises stress of the bone under the L4 and L5 endplate of models M2 and M3 was significantly reduced.(5)It is concluded that the implantation of BacFuse can effectively reduce the bone stress under the endplate during simple interbody fusion,decrease the risk of cage subsidence,diminish the risk of facet joint fracture on the decompression side,and provide a good stable environment for interbody fusion.The placement of an intervertebral fusion cage can reduce the stress of the root of the spinous process,which is beneficial to decrease the risk of fracture of the root of the spinous process.

Efficacy of microscopic decompression in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis under single percutaneous tubular retractor system / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of microscopic decompression in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS) under single percutaneous tubular retractor system.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed; 117 DLSS patients with imaging manifestations as non-segmental lumbar instability, admitted to Department of Neurosurgery, 900 th Hospital of PLA Joint Logistics Team from October 2018 to April 2023 were enrolled consecutively. These patients failed in strict conservative treatment and then changed to posterior lumbar spinal canal and nerve root decompression by microscopy and percutaneous tubular retractor system. These patients were followed up for 6-50 months. Pain visual analogue score (VAS) and lumbar Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) were recorded and results of X-rays, CT and MRI of lumbar spines were analyzed 1 d before and 1 week after decompression and at the last follow-up. Modified MacNab criteria were used to evaluate the efficacy at the last follow-up. Results:Among the 117 patients, unilateral laminectomy for unilateral decompression was performed in 56 patients (47.9%) and unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression in 61 (52.1%). Single segment decompression was performed in 109 patients (93.2%) and double segment decompression in 8 (6.8%). Dural sac rupture occurred in 4 patients (3.5%), and immediate occlusion was given; no cerebrospinal fluid leakage was noted after decompression. All patients did not experience obvious nerve damage during decompression or intervertebral infection/lumbar instability after decompression. After 18 (13, 24) months of follow-up, VAS scores of the patients at the last follow-up decreased from (5.96±0.85) 1 d before decompression and (1.75±0.61) 1 week after decompression to (1.01±0.59), and lumbar ODI decreased from (63.22±8.33)% 1 d before decompression and (17.66±5.20)% 1 week after decompression to (10.64±3.44)%, with significant differences ( P<0.05). At the last follow-up, modified MacNab criteria indicated 46 patients (39.3%) as excellent, 66 (56.4%) as good, 3 (2.6%) as fair, and 2 (1.7%) as poor, with an excellent/good therapeutic rate of 95.7%. Conclusion:For surgical treatment of DLSS patients without evidenced preoperative spinal instability, personalized unilateral or bilateral spinal canal decompression under microscope by combiningsingle percutaneous tubular retractor system can effectively reduce surgical trauma and achieve satisfactory surgical results.

Clinical efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic decompression in treating lumbar spinal stenosis combined with degenerative scoliosis in geriatric patients / 中国脊柱脊髓杂志

Objectives:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic decompression in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis(LSS)with degenerative scoliosis in geriatric patients.Methods:A retro-spective analysis was conducted on the LSS patients combined with degenerative scoliosis underwent percuta-neous endoscopic decompression between January 2020 and June 2021.18 patients(11 males and 7 females)aged 65-90(78.9±7.1)years old were included in the study.Percutaneous endoscopic unilateral or bilateral decompression was performed according to the clinical symptoms,comorbidities and imaging characteristics of the patients.The operative time,intraoperative blood loss and fluoroscopy times were recorded.Visual ana-logue scale(VAS)was used to evaluate back and leg pain before and immediately after operation,and at 6 months after surgery and final follow-up.Oswestry disability index(ODI)and Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)score were applied to evaluate lumbar function before and after operation,and the Macnab criteria were adopted to assess the efficacy at final follow-up.The sagittal vertical axis(SVA),C7-CSVL,Cobb angle,lum-bar lordosis(LL),pelvic incidence(PI),pelvic tilt(PT),sacral slope(SS),PI-LL,and cross-sectional area of spinal canal before and after surgery were measured and analyzed.Results:All the patients underwent the surgery successfully,and 14 cases were treated with bilateral decompression and 4 cases with unilateral decompression.There were no serious complications during the perioperative period.The patients completed more than 12 months of follow-up.The operative time was 69.72±12.66min,intraoperative blood loss was 39.72±10.21mL,and the number of preoperative and intraoperative fluoroscopy was 5.11±1.49 times.The VAS scores of low back and leg pain immediately after operation,at 6 months after operation and final follow-up were significantly lower than those before operation(P＜0.05).The ODI and JOA score at final follow-up were significantly improved compared with those before operation(P＜0.05).The postoperative SVA,C7-CSVL,Cobb angle,PI-LL,and cross-sectional areas of spinal canal were improved compared with the preoperative values,respectively(P＜0.05).There were 7 excellent cases(38.90％),9 good cases(50.00％)and 2 acceptable cases(11.11％)at the final follow-up,and the total excellent and good rate was 88.89％.Conclusions:Percutaneous endoscopic decompression has the clinical efficacies of relieving back and leg pain,improving lumbar function and spino-pelvic alignment,and enlarging intraspinal cross-sectional area in treating old LSS patients with degenerative scoliosis,and it is small in wound,little in bleeding,and short in operative time.

Short-term clinical of oblique lateral interbody fusion in the treatment of mild-to-moderate of de-generative lumbar spinal stenosis / 中国脊柱脊髓杂志

Objectives:To investigate the short-term efficacy of oblique lateral interbody fusion(OLIF)in treating mild-to-moderate lumbar spinal stenosis(LSS).Methods:35 patients with mild-o-moderate LSS treated with OLIF between May 2018 and May 2020 were analyzed retrospectively,including 25 males and 10 females,aged 50-74(60.3±10.7)years old.The patients were followed up for 12-28(18.3±3.7)months.The operative time,intraoperative bleeding,and complications were recorded;At preoperation,1 week,and 3,6 and 12 months after surgery,the visual analogue scale(VAS)for lumbar and leg pain and Oswestry disability index(ODI)were compared to evaluate clinical efficacy;And lumbar X-ray,CT,and MRI were performed at the same time to measure and evaluate the height of the intervertebral space,size of intervertebral foramen,area of dural sac and sagittal diameter,lordotic angle of intervertebral space,lordotic angle of lumbar spine,and their respective differences between before and after operation,as well as between each postoperative time point were analyzed;The complications and fusion conditions at each time point were also documented.Results:The operative time was 30-100(70.5±20.3)min,and intraoperative bleeding was 20-120(60.3±20.2)mL.The lumbar and leg pain VAS scores and ODI at postoperative 1 week,and 3,6 and 12 months were signif-icantly improved compared with those before operation,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05),while there was no statistical significance when compared pairwisely between postoperative time points(P＞0.05).At postoperative 1 week,and 3,6 and 12 months,the intervertebral space height,intervertebral lor-dotic angle and lumbar lordotic angle,left and right intervertebral foramina sizes,dural sac areas,and sagittal diameters increased significantly compared with those before operation,with statistically significance(P＜0.05),and no statistical difference was found when compared pairwisely between postoperative time points for each imaging parameter(P＞0.05).According to the CT image evaluation 1 year after operation,the overall fusion rate was 94.2％(33/35 cases).No serious complications such as nerve and vascular injury occurred;3 cases of postoperative hip flexion weakness and anterior thigh numbness were relieved after 1 month of symptomatic treatment with conservative therapy;2 cases of fusion device sinking of end-plate cutting were revised in the second stage and underwent posterior muscular gap approach internal fixation.Conclusions:OLIF has satisfactory short-term clinical efficacy in the treatment of mild-to-moderate LSS.

Application effect and safety analysis of unilateral laminectomy and bilateral decompression under unilateral biportal endoscopy and microendoscope in lumbar spinal stenosis / 中国内镜杂志

Objective To analyze the efficacy and safety of unilateral laminectomy and bilateral decompression under unilateral biportal endoscopy(UBE)and microendoscope(MED)in lumbar spinal stenosis.Methods 80 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis from January 2021 to December 2022 were selected and divided into two groups by numerical table method,the control group and the study group,and the number of cases was 40.The grouping method was random number table method.The control group was treated with unilateral laminectomy and bilateral decompression under MED,while the study group was treated with unilateral laminectomy and bilateral decompression under UBE.Operation time,intraoperative blood loss,Oswestry disability index(ODI)and visual analogue scale(VAS)of lumbago and leg pain were obtained before surgery,1,3 months after surgery and at the last follow-up,efficacy and complications were compared between the two groups.Result There were no significant differences in operative time and blood loss between the study group and the control group(P>0.05).1,3 months after surgery and at the last follow-up,ODI in both groups were lower than those before surgery(P<0.05),but there was no difference between the study group and the control group(P>0.05).The VAS of lumbago and leg pain in both groups were lower than those before surgery(P<0.05),at 1,3 months after surgery and the last follow-up,and the study group was significantly lower than the control group(P<0.05).The excellent and good rate of clinical treatment in the study group was 97.50%,and there was no difference compared with 92.50%in the control group(P>0.05).The complication rate of the study group was 2.50%,significantly lower than that of the control group(15.00%)(P<0.05).Conclusion Unilateral laminectomy and bilateral decompression under the UBE and MED have similar efficacy in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis,both of which can effectively promote functional recovery,but UBE can reduce pain more effectively and has fewer postoperative complications.

Effect of adding tranexamic acid during surgery on blood loss and security during short segment lumbar spinal stenosis surgery / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To discuss the effect of adding tranexamic acid(TXA) during surgery on blood loss and security during short segment lumbar spinal stenosis surgery. 【Methods】 One hundred and eight patients with lumbar spinal stenosis who were to undergo lumbar posterior fusion surgery were randomly divided into control group, TXA group and adding TXA group, with 36 patients in each group. In the control group, TXA was not used during surgery.The TXA group received intravenous infusion of 100 mL normal saline mixture containing 1 g of TXA 15 minutes before surgery after anesthesia. In adding TXA group, after the same operation in TXA group, 10 mg/kg(body weight) of TXA was infused 3 hours later. Total perioperative blood loss, dominant blood loss, hidden blood loss, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, and transfusion rate were recorded in the two groups. Hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit(HCT), prothrombin time international standardized ratio (PT-INR), prothrombin time(PT), activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT), blood platelet count (BPC), D-dimer (D-D), fibringen(FIB), C-reactive protein (CRP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured 3 days before and after the surgery in the three groups. Postoperative adverse events were followed up. 【Results】 The total blood loss(mL) [(968.7±209.6) vs (1 369.8±276.3), (968.7±209.6) vs (1 273.9±250.2)], dominant blood loss(mL) [(590.5±164.3) vs (876.4±235.9), (590.5±164.3) vs (789.3±221.7)], intraoperative blood loss(mL) [(318.7±120.7) vs (457.8±146.6), (318.7±120.7) vs (423.9±162.3)] and postoperative drainage volume(mL) [1 day after surgery: (164.6±25.0) vs (262.3±51.7), (164.6±25.0) vs (219.8±37.1); 3 days after surgery: (107.2±18.6) vs (156.3±37.6), (107.2±18.6) vs (145.3±22.3)] of the adding TXA group were lower than those of the control group and TXA group (P0.05). Compared with the preoperative results, Hb, Hct and BPC in the three groups decreased (P0.05), and all of them were within the normal range. No serious adverse events such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, epilepsy, liver and kidney damage were found in all patients after postoperative follow-up. 【Conclusion】 Intraoperative addition of TXA can effectively reduce the amount of blood lost during short segment lumbar spinal stenosis surgery without increasing the risk of complications such as coagulation disorders, thrombosis, liver and kidney function damage.

Clinical Study on Zhuanyaotang Granules for the Treatment of Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Zhuanyaotang Granules for the treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis(DLSS).Methods Using a randomized double blind controlled design,104 DLSS patients were divided into an experimental group and a control group using a random number table method,with 52 patients in each group.The treatment group took oral Zhuanyaotang Granules,methylcobalamin tablets and celecoxib capsule simulants.The control group used Zhuanyaotang Granules simulants,methylcobalamin tablets and celecoxib capsules.The course of treatment was 3 weeks for both groups.The follow-ups were conducted at 1 month and 3 months after treatment.The intermittent claudication distance,visual analogue scale(VAS)score and JOA efficacy rating criteria for low back pain score were observed in both groups before treatment,1,2,3 weeks of treatment and 1 month after treatment and 3 months after treatment.Adverse reactions during treatment were recorded.Results There were 5 cases of detachment and 2 cases of exclusion in the experimental group,and 5 cases of detachment and 1 case of exclusion in the control group.Compared with before treatment,there were statistically significant differences in intermittent claudication distance,VAS score,and JOA score between the two groups of patients at various time points during treatment and follow-up(P<0.05);there was no statistically significant difference in intermittent claudication distance,VAS score,and JOA score between the experimental group and the control group before treatment and 1 and 2 weeks of treatment(P>0.05);compared with the two groups at 3 weeks of treatment and 1 and 3 months after treatment,the intermittent claudication distance and JOA score in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05);There was no significant difference in VAS score between the two groups and the control group after 3 weeks of treatment(P>0.05).There were 2 adverse reactions(4.4%)in the experimental group and 5 adverse reactions(10.8%)in the control group,without statistical significance(P>0.05).Conclusion Zhuanyaotang Granules can effectively relieve pain and improve lumbar function in patients with DLSS,which is more effective and safer than oral celecoxib capsules and methylcobalamin tablets.

Early-effectiveness of unilateral biportal endoscopic laminectomy in treatment of two-level lumbar spinal stenosis / 中国修复重建外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the early effectiveness of unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) laminectomy in the treatment of two-level lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 98 patients with two-level LSS treated with UBE between September 2020 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 53 males and 45 females with an average age of 59.9 years (range, 32-79 years). Among them, there were 56 cases of mixed spinal stenosis, 23 cases of central spinal canal stenosis, and 19 cases of nerve root canal stenosis. The duration of symptoms was 1.5- 10 years, with an average of 5.4 years. The operative segments were L 2, 3 and L 3, 4 in 2 cases, L 3, 4 and L 4, 5 in 29 cases, L 4, 5 and L 5, S 1 in 67 cases. All patients had different degrees of low back pain, among of which 76 cases were with unilateral lower extremity symptoms and 22 cases were with bilateral lower extremity symptoms. There were 29 cases of bilateral decompression in both segments, 63 cases of unilateral decompression in both segments, and 6 cases of unilateral decompression and bilateral decompression of each segment. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, total incision length, hospitalization stay, ambulation time, and related complications were recorded. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to assess the low back and leg pain before operation and at 3 days, 3 months after operation, and at last follow-up. The Oswestry disability index (ODI) was used to evaluate the functional recovery of lumbar spine before operation and at 3 months and last follow-up after operation. Modified MacNab criteria was used to evaluate clinical outcomes at last follow-up. Imaging examinations were performed before and after operation to measure the preservation rate of articular process, modified Pfirrmann scale, disc height (DH), lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), and cross-sectional area of the canal (CAC), and the CAC improvement rate was calculated.@*RESULTS@#All patients underwent surgery successfully. The operation time was (106.7±25.1) minutes, the intraoperative blood loss was (67.7±14.2) mL, and the total incision length was (3.2±0.4) cm. The hospitalization stay was 8 (7, 9) days, and the ambulation time was 3 (3, 4) days. All the wounds healed by first intention. Dural tear occurred in 1 case during operation, and mild headache occurred in 1 case after operation. All patients were followed up 13-28 months with an average of 19.3 months, and there was no recurrence or reoperation during the follow-up. At last follow-up, the preservation rate of articular process was 84.7%±7.3%. The modified Pfirrmann scale and DH were significantly different from those before operation ( P<0.05), while the LLA was not significantly different from that before operation ( P=0.050). The CAC significantly improved ( P<0.05), and the CAC improvement rate was 108.1%±17.8%. The VAS scores of low back pain and leg pain and ODI at each time point after operation significantly improved when compared with those before operation, and the differences between each time points were significant ( P<0.05). According to the modified MacNab criteria, 63 cases were excellent, 25 cases were good, and 10 cases were fair, with an excellent and good rate of 89.8%.@*CONCLUSION@#UBE laminectomy is a safe and effective technique with little trauma and fast recovery for two-level LSS and the early effectiveness is satisfactory.

Research progress of different minimally invasive spinal decompression in lumbar spinal stenosis / 中国修复重建外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To review the application and progress of different minimally invasive spinal decompression in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).@*METHODS@#The domestic and foreign literature on the application of different minimally invasive spinal decompression in the treatment of LSS was extensively reviewed, and the advantages, disadvantages, and complications of different surgical methods were summarized.@*RESULTS@#At present, minimally invasive spinal decompression mainly includes microscopic bilateral decompression, microendoscopic decompression, percutaneous endoscopic lumbar decompression, unilateral biportal endoscopy, and so on. Compared with traditional open surgery, different minimally invasive spinal decompression techniques can reduce the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative pain of patients, thereby reducing hospital stay and saving treatment costs.@*CONCLUSION@#The indications of different minimally invasive spinal decompression are different, but there are certain advantages and disadvantages. When patients have clear surgical indications, individualized treatment plans should be formulated according to the symptoms and signs of patients, combined with imaging manifestations.

Comparison of clinical effect and muscle injury imaging between oblique lateral lumbar interbody fusion and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in the treatment of single-segment degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the efficacy and muscle injury imaging between oblique lateral lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in the treatment of single-segment degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 60 patients with single-segment degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis who underwent surgical treatment from January 2018 to October 2019 was retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into OLIF groups and TLIF group according to different surgical methods. The 30 patients in the OLIF group were treated with OLIF plus posterior intermuscular screw rod internal fixation. There were 13 males and 17 females, aged from 52 to 74 years old with an average of (62.6±8.3) years old. And 30 patients in the TLIF group were treated with TLIF via the left approach. There were 14 males and 16 females, aged from 50 to 81 years old with an average of (61.7±10.4) years old. General data including operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, and complications were recorded for both groups. Radiologic data including disc height (DH), the left psoas major muscle, multifidus muscle, longissimus muscle area, T2-weighted image hyperintensity changes and interbody fusion or nonfusion were observed. Laboratory parameters including creatine kinase (CK) values on postoperative 1st and 5th days were analyzed. Visual analogue scale(VAS) and Oswestry disability index(ODI) were used to assess clinical efficacy.@*RESULTS@#There was no significant difference in the operative time between two groups(P>0.05). The OLIF group had significantly less intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage volume compared to the TLIF group(P<0.01). The OLIF group also had DH better recovery compared to the TLIF group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in left psoas major muscle area and the hyperintensity degree before and after the operation in the OLIF group (P>0.05). Postoperativly, the area of the left multifidus muscle and longissimus muscle, as well as the mean of the left multifidus muscle and longissimus muscle in the OLIF group, were lower than those in the TLIF group (P<0.05) .On the 1st day and the 5th day after operation, CK level in the OLIF group was lower than that in the TLIF group(P<0.05). On the 3rd day after operation, the VAS of low back pain and leg pain in the OLIF group were lower than those in the TLIF group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the ODI of postoperative 12 months, low back and leg pain VAS at 3, 6, 12 months between the two groups(P>0.05). In the OLIF group, 1 case of left lower extremity skin temperature increased after the operation, and the sympathetic chain was considered to be injured during the operation, and 2 cases of left thigh anterior numbness occurred, which was considered to be related to psoas major muscle stretch, resulting in a complication rate of 10% (3/30). In the TLIF group, one patient had limited ankle dorsiflexion, which was related to nerve root traction, two patients had cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and the dural sac was torn during the operation, and one patient had incision fat liquefaction, which was related to paraspinal muscle dissection injury, resulting in a complication rate of 13% (4/30). All patients achieved interbody fusion without cage collapse during the 6- month follow-up.@*CONCLUSION@#Both OLIF and TLIF are effective in the treatment of single-segment degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. However, OLIF surgery has obviously advantages, including less intraoperative blood loss, less postoperative pain, and good recovery of intervertebral space height. From the changes in laboratory indexes of CK and the comparison of the left psoas major muscle, multifidus muscle, longissimus muscle area, and high signal intensity of T2 image on imaging, it can be seen that the degree of muscle damage and interference of OLIF surgery is lower than that of TLIF.

Unilateral interlaminar approach 270° circular spinal canal decompression under the iLESSYS Delta for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis in the elderly / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the clinical effect of unilateral interlaminar approach 270° circular spinal canal decompression under the Interlaminar Endoscopic Surgical System(iLESSYS) Delta for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) in the elderly.@*METHODS@#Total of 29 patients with LSS treated with the iLESSYS Delta from December 2018 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including 12 males and 17 females with an average age of (71.52±10.82) years old ranging from 63 to 83 years old. All patients had definite intermittent claudication, mainly neurogenic symptoms of both lower limbs. All patients had single-level spinal stenosis, including L3,4 5 cases, L4,5 21 cases, and L5S1 3 cases. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and modified Macnab assessment criteria were used to evaluate pain, low back pain dysfunction index and clinical efficacy, respectively.@*RESULTS@#All 29 cases were successfully completed. The operation time was (73.45±5.89) min, the intraoperative blood loss was (9.93±0.83) ml, the hospital stay was (4.03±0.41) days, and the follow-up was more than 12 months. The VAS scores of low back pain before surgery and 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, 1 year after surgery were 2.31±0.88, 1.45±0.62, 1.21±0.61, 1.10±0.55, 1.03±0.49;VAS of leg pain were 6.48±0.49 0.56, 1.97±0.61, 1.31±0.59, 1.17±0.59, 1.10±0.55;ODI scores were 38.41±2.74, 18.14±1.17, 5.17±0.53, 5.07±0.45, 4.90±0.48;low back and leg pain VAS score and ODI score have statistically significant differences between preoperative and postoperative follow-up time points (P<0.05). The MacNab efficacy evaluation at 1-year follow-up:excellent in 22 cases, good in 5 cases and fair in 2 cases.@*CONCLUSION@#The clinical effect of unilateral interlaminar approach 270° circular spinal canal decompression under the iLESSYS Delta for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis in the elderly is satisfactory, with the advantages of less trauma and less bleeding, large microscopic operation space, sufficient decompression, and ideal post-operative recovery, and at the same time, it can minimize the damage to the stable structure of the lumbar spine, which is an ideal surgical method for the treatment of elderly lumbar spinal stenosis.

A Clinical Study on the Intervention of a Comprehensive Program of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Objective To preliminarily verify the effectiveness and safety of bloodletting combined with drug bamboo cups in intervention of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis,and to explore the prognostic factors that affect the efficacy of TCM regimens in the treatment of DLSS.Methods 64 consecutive patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis were enrolled.Bloodletting combined with drug bamboo cup intervention was used.Acupoints were selected and treated with the same length of the governor channel of the lumbar spine,the first and second side lines of the bladder meridian and Ashi point,weekly 2 times,8 times per course,2 consecutive courses of treatment.Before treatment,after treatment,and 1 month follow-up,the changes of the patient's lumbar spinal stenosis specific scale(SSM),modified Oswestry dysfunction index(ODI),and 12 health survey summary scores(SF-12)were observed.Using SSM symptom or function score≥0.5,the criteria for grouping were first single-factor analysis,and then logistic regression was used to analyze the prognostic factors of the treatment.Results After 2 courses of treatment,the patient's SSM symptom score(2.25±0.56),SSM function score(2.06±0.67),ODI index(15.49±8.72),and SF-12 physiological score(36.31±7.35)were more significant than before treatment Improved,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05),the SF-12 psychological score(49.70±9.47),the difference was not statistically significant compared with before treatment(P>0.05);the patient's SSM symptom score(2.22±0.54)was followed up for one month,SSM function score(2.09±0.66),ODI index(15.53±8.23),SF-12 physiological score(36.55±7.25),SF-12 psychological score(50.62±9.17),which are significantly better than before treatment,and the difference is statistically significant(P<0.05),the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05)after 2 courses of treatment.The univariate logistic regression analysis of each influencing factor showed that:BMI,baseline symptom dimension,baseline functional dimension,foraminal stenosis,lateral recess stenosis,and two-stage stenosis had statistically significant differences between the effective and ineffective groups(P<0.05).Conclusion Bloodletting combined with drug bamboo cups has a certain clinical effect on degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.

Accurate diagnosis of neurography and nerve root sealing in treating multi-segment lumbar spinal stenosis with lumbar instability using Endo-P/TLIF / 实用医学杂志

Objective To explore the clinical value of neurography and nerve root sealing in treatment of multilevel lumbar spinal stenosis with lumbar instability using Endo-P/TLIF.Methods A total of 60 patients with multi-segment lumbar spinal stenosis and lumbar instability hospitalized in our hospital were included in this study From January 1,2022 to June 21,2022.All patients underwent nerve root closure angiography before surgery to confirm the responsible segments,and then the responsible segments were treated with Endo-P/TLIF.The patients were followed up for 6 months.The basic information on the age,gender,course of disease,surgical time,intraop-erative bleeding,hospitalization time,and off-bed ambulation time was collected.Then the data on VAS score,ODI score,JOA score,lumbar lordosis angle,intervertebral height,dural cross-sectional area,sacral inclination angle,pelvic projection angle,and pelvic inclination angle before,right after,3 months and 6 months after the operation were calculated.The number of responsible segments indicated by MRI and confirmed by nerve root closure angiography and the number of the single segment,double segments,3 segments,and above finally decompressed were statisti-cally analyzed.Results All patients went through the surgery safely.During the 6-month follow-up,one patient did not return to the hospital for consultation on time,and one patient was out of contact.Finally,the follow-up data of 58 patients were completely collected for statistical analysis.Fifty-five cases were remarkably improved,2 better,and 1 moderately,6 months after the operation,with a total effectiveness rate of 100%.The number of unilateral and bilateral single responsible segments confirmed by nerve root angiography and sealing was significantly larger than by MRI(P<0.05),but the number of unilateral and unilateral double,or multiple responsible segments was signifi-cantly smaller(P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in terms of postoperative VAS score,ODI score,JOA score,VAS score,ODI score,JOA score,lumbar lordosis angle,intervertebral height,dural cross-sectional area,sacral inclination angle,pelvic inclination angle as compared to the preoperative data(P＜0.05).The pelvic projection angle was insignificantly improved as compared to the preoperative condition(P ? 0.05).Conclusion The accurate diagnosis with selective neurography and nerve root sealing improves the confirmation of responsible nerve segments before operation.Base on the accurate diagnosis,multi-segment lumbar spinal canal stenosis with lumbar instability can be effectively treated with Endo-P/TLIF,the responsible segment decompressed,trauma and bleeding reduced,hospital stay shortened,spinal physiological curvature well recovered,and clinical efficacy improved.Therefore,the method is worthy of extensive application in clinical practice.

Comparison of effectiveness between unilateral biportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion and endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for lumbar spinal stenosis combined with intervertebral disc herniation / 中国修复重建外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the effectiveness between unilateral biportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (ULIF) and endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-TLIF) in treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis combined with intervertebral disc herniation.@*METHODS@#A clinical data of 64 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and intervertebral disc herniation, who were admitted between April 2020 and November 2021 and met the selection criteria, was retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 30 patients were treated with ULIF (ULIF group) and 34 patients with Endo-TLIF (Endo-TLIF group). There was no significant difference in baseline data such as gender, age, disease duration, lesion segment, preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score of low back pain and leg pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI), spinal canal area, and intervertebral space height between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stays, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups, as well as the VAS scores of low back pain and leg pain, ODI, and imaging measurement indicators (spinal canal area, intervertebral bone graft area, intervertebral space height, and degree of intervertebral fusion according to modified Brantigan score).@*RESULTS@#Compared with the Endo-TLIF group, the ULIF group had shorter operation time, but had more intraoperative blood loss and longer hospital stays, with significant differences ( P<0.05). The cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 2 cases of Endo-TLIF group and 1 case of ULIF group, and no other complication occurred. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups ( P>0.05). All patients in the two groups were followed up 12 months. The VAS scores of lower back pain and leg pain and ODI in the two groups significantly improved when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between different time points after operation ( P>0.05). And there was no significant difference between the two groups at each time point after operation ( P>0.05). Imaging examination showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in the change of spinal canal area, the change of intervertebral space height, and intervertebral fusion rate at 6 and 12 months ( P>0.05). The intervertebral bone graft area in the ULIF group was significantly larger than that in the Endo-TLIF group ( P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#For the patients with lumbar spinal stenosis combined with intervertebral disc herniation, ULIF not only achieves similar effectiveness as Endo-TLIF, but also has advantages such as higher decompression efficiency, flexible surgical instrument operation, more thorough intraoperative intervertebral space management, and shorter operation time.

A comparison of the clinical efficacies of unilateral decompression and bilateral decompression under one-hole split endoscope for lumbar spinal stenosis with unilateral symptom / 中国脊柱脊髓杂志

Objectives:To explore the early clinical efficacies of unilateral decompression and bilateral decompression by one-hole split endoscope(OSE)technique for moderate-severe lumbar spinal stenosis(LSS)with unilateral symptoms amongst middle aged and elderly people.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the patients with moderate-severe LSS who underwent unilateral decompression and bilateral decompression using OSE technique between January 2021 and December 2021.According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,a total of 120 patients were enrolled in this study,with 60 patients in the unilateral decompression group(group A)and 60 patients in the bilateral decompression group(group B).The length of hospitalization,operative time,incision length and intraoperative blood loss were counted and compared between group A and group B.Moreover,range of motion(ROM)and sagittal translation(ST)on lumbar dynamic X-ray,facet preservation rate on the approach side,and cross-sectional area of the canal(CAC)of the surgical segment before and after operation were recorded and compared.The visual analogue scale(VAS)of back and leg pain was used before surgery,and at 7 days,3 months and 18 months after surgery,the Oswestry disability index(ODI)was used to evaluate the functional improvement,and the clinical efficacy was evaluated by modified Macnab criteria at the last follow-up.All the clinical scores of both groups were analyzed and compared between before and after surgery.Results:All the patients underwent surgical inter-vention successfully.There was no statistical significance in the length of hospitalization between groups A and B(P＞0.05),but group B was longer in operative time,bigger in incision,and more in blood loss than group A,with statistical significance(P＜0.05).The VAS for back and leg pain and the ODI after operation in both groups were all significantly lower than those before surgery,respectively(P＜0.05),and the values at each postoperative time point within group were significantly different when compared pairwise(P＜0.05);There was no significant difference between the two groups before surgery(P＞0.05),but group B had more significant improvement than group A at 7 days,3 months and 18 months after surgery(P＜0.05).There was no statistical significance in ST and ROM of surgical segment before and after surgery between the two groups(P＞0.05).The postoperative facet preservation rate was higher in group B than in group A(P＜0.05).There was no sig-nificant difference in the CAC of the surgery segment before operation between the two groups(P＞0.05),how-ever,the CAC of the surgical segment in group B was larger than that in group A(P＜0.05).The rate of im-provement in CAC was higher in group B than in group A(P＜0.05).The CAC of the surgical segment postop-eratively in both groups were significantly larger than before surgery,with statistical significance(P＜0.05).Ex-cellent-good rate at 18 months after surgery was 86.7％in group A and 91.7％in group B.There was no significant difference in the number of excellent and good cases between the two groups at 18 months after operation(P＞0.05).One patient in group A had numbness and discomfort in the lower limb on the healthy side after surgery,and one case with mild dural tear in group B.Conclusions:Both unilateral decompression and bilateral decompression under OSE are safe and effective in the treatment of moderate and severe central canal and bilateral lateral recess stenosis with unilateral symptoms in the middle-aged and elderly people,with definite early clinical efficacy.Bilateral decompression is more complete and better in clinical efficacy than unilateral decompression,but further follow-up is required in the long term.

Comparison of clinical efficacies between cortical bone trajectory screw and pedicle screw fixation techniques under robot-assisted technology in posterior lumbar short-segment decompression and fu-sion / 中国脊柱脊髓杂志

Objectives:To compare the clinical efficacy between robot-assisted cortical bone trajectory screw(RCBTS)and robot-assisted pedicle screw(RPS)for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis(LSS)undergoing sin-gle-level decompression and fusion.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study,LSS patients who underwent robot-assisted single-level decompression and fusion in Beijing Shijitan Hospital between June 2020 and June 2022 were reviewed.A total of 99 patients were included and divided into RCBTS group of 41 patients and RPS group of 58 patients.There were 59 males and 40 females,with an average age of 67.07±4.65 years old.The incision length,operative time,intraoperative blood loss,24h postoperative drainage,and postopera-tive hospital stay were compared between groups.The Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)score and visual analogue scale(VAS)of low back pain were compared at 3d,3 months and 6 months after operation,and the fixed effects of JOA score and VAS score changes were tested.The screw positions were graded according to the Gertzbein-Robbins method.The accuracy of screw placement of the two surgical methods was evaluated by reviewing the postoperative imaging data.The perioperative and postoperative 3 months of complications were compared between the two groups.Results:There were no significant differences in baseline data be-tween the two groups(P＜0.05).Comparing with the RPS group,the RCBTS group was shorter in operative time(134.39±22.23min vs 152.93±19.10min,P＜0.001),smaller in incision length(64.93±3.71mm vs 78.84±3.82mm,P＜0.001),less in intraoperative blood loss(155.61±37.15mL vs 172.41±43.22mL,P=0.001)and postoperative drainage within 24h(83.66±21.54mL vs 101.21±29.80mL,P=0.002),and shorter in postoperative hospital stay(4.90±1.26d vs 6.26±1.66d,P＜0.001),with statistical significance.There was no significant difference in JOA score and VAS score changes between the two groups at each time point(P＞0.05).The fixed effect test showed that time was a fixed effect of JOA and VAS score changes(P＜0.001).The RCBTS group was no sig-nificantly different from the RPS group in the accuracy of screw placement(grade A:152/164 vs 211/232,P=0.538;grade B:9/164 vs 15/232,P=0.688;grade C:3/164 vs 6/232,P=0.619),the rate of clinically accept-able screw placement(161/164 vs 226/232,P=0.619),the rate of bad screw placement(3/164 vs 6/232,P=0.619),and the incidence of postoperative complications(only 1 patient in the RCBTS group developed delayed wound healing)(P＞0.05).Conclusions:Compared with RPS,RCBTS has significant advantages in operative time,incision length,intraoperative blood loss,volume of postoperative drainage,and postoperative hospital stay.However,there is no significant difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative functional recovery and alleviation in low back pain.

Analysis of the effect of inter-spinal distraction fusion and fixation combined with limited decompression on the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis in elderly patients / 国际外科学杂志

Objective:To analyze the effect of inter-spinal distraction fusion and fixation (ISDFF) combined with limited decompression on the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis in elderly patients.Methods:A total of 32 elderly patients with lumbar spinal stenosis, aged from 80 to 87 years old (mean age: 82.0±2.0 years) including 10 males and 22 females, in the Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2016 to January 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Clinical evaluation and imaging measurement were performed before operation, after operation, 6 months and 24 months after operation. SPSS software was used for statistical analysis. Measured data of normal distribution were expressed as means±standard deviation. One way analysis of variance was used for comparison between groups. Paired t-test was used to compare between preoperative and postoperative as well as between preoperative and 24 months′ follow-up. Results:All of the 32 patients had one or more common accompanying diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and so on. All patients were successfully completed the operation with a total of 32 segments. VAS score was decreased from (6.22±0.91) before operation to (1.94±0.76) at 24 months( t=16.52, P<0.001). ODI score was also demonstrated the similar trend, from (54.17±10.65) preoperatively to (19.91±4.20) at 24 months follow-up( t=15.89, P<0.001). JOA score was significantly increased from (11.69±3.36) before surgery to (23.44±1.66) at the last follow-up ( t=-19.90, P<0.001). In the change of imaging, the intervertebral angle was decreased from preoperation (9.12±4.65) to (6.77±2.70) at 24 months( t=3.53, P=0.001). The posterior disk height was increased from (0.68±0.19) cm to (0.76±0.19) cm at the last follow-up( t=-2.45, P=0.020). Conclusions:As a new type of minimally invasive internal fixator, the ISDFF combined with limited decompression can relieve the pain of elderly patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and improve the quality of life. It is suitable for the treatment of elderly patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.