Anterior cervical hybrid surgical treatment for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical results of anterior cervical discectomy and reconstruction with a self-locking cage and internal fixation with short segmental plate for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2012 to June 2015, a total of 106 patients received anterior cervical discectomy and reconstruction with a self-locking cage and internal fixation with short segmental plate were followed up. There were 71 males and 35 females, aged from 42 to 74 years old with an average of(55.4±5.1) years. Three segments were involved in 82 cases and four segments in 24 cases. Operation time, blood loss, postoperative drainage, and hospitalization time were recorded. Visual analogue scale(VAS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score (JOA) were analyzed before and after operation(including 5 days, 3, 6, 12 months after operation and final follow-up), and the JOA improvement rate was analyzed. The cervical lordosis and ROM were measured before and after operation(including the follow-up point above) by X-rays. The postoperative complications were recorded and analyzed as well.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the operations were successful. The average operative time was (126.2±25.1) min, and the amount of blood loss was (82.1±26.3) ml. All the patients were followed up from 12 to 48 months with an average of (30.4±10.5) months. The VAS score of neck pain and JOA score was significantly better from 6.11±1.54 and 9.22±2.42 preoperatively to 2.14±0.51 and 12.46±1.42 at 5 days post-operation, respectively(<0.05). The improvement rate of JOA was (56.7±21.6)%, there was no statistically significant difference of VAS, JOA scores and the improvement rate of JOA at each time after operation (>0.05). Postoperative cervical lordosis at 3 months was significantly improved from preoperative (11.5±6.8)° to (19.6±8.9)°(<0.05), and it can keep satisfactory stability until final follow-up(>0.05). Postoperative ROM at 3 months was significantly decreased from the preoperative (37.6±10.4)° to (18.2±5.9)°(<0.05), but there was no significant change in the process of follow-up (>0.05). All the complications such as dysphagia (19 cases), axial neck pain(6 cases), cerebral fluid leakage(3 cases), and hoarseness(2 cases), got better after conservative treatment. Three cases had intervertebral space non-fusion until final follow-up(without clinical symptom), but no loosening, breakage, or displacement of internal fixation were found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Anterior cervical discectomy, reconstruction with a self-locking cage and internal fixation with short segmental plate which can reduce intraoperative injury, restore cervical lordosis, improve neurological function and lower postoperative complications, it is an alternative treatment for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy.</p>

Abordaje anterior a la columna cervical desde C3 a C7. técnica paso a paso / Approach anterior to the cervical spine from C3 to C7. step by step technique

Introducción: El abordaje cervical anterior es ampliamente utilizado en cirugía espinal para tratar patología degenerativa, infecciosa, traumática y tumoral como única vía o combinada.Objetivo: Describir la técnica del abordaje cervical anterior detallando las claves de cada paso a fin de guiar al neurocirujano en formación. Descripción de técnica: Se describen detalladamente los siguientes pasos: posicionamiento del paciente, elección del lado de abordaje, marcación, elección del instrumental adecuado, incisión de piel, disección de platisma, disección de fascia superficial, disección de fascia media, disección de fascia profunda, elementos neurovasculares a tener en cuenta, disección de fascia prevertebral y músculos prevertebrales, marcación de nivel bajo radioscopia, cierre. Discusión: Se analizan los siguientes puntos: elección del lado (ventajas y desventajas de cada lado), tipo de incisión (horizontal vs. vertical y alcance de las mismas), marcación anatómica vs radioscópica, ventajas y desventajas de colocación de drenaje durante el cierre. Conclusión: Se describió el abordaje con cada uno de sus pasos y tips para que el neurocirujano en formación utilice una guía detallada a la hora de realizarlo en su práctica diaria y de esa manera disminuir el margen de error.

Introduction: The anterior cervical approach is commonly used in spinal surgery to treat degenerative disease, infectious pathology, traumatic and tumors. Objective: to describe in detail the cervical anterior approach technique in order to guide the neurosurgeons.Technique description: position, side selection, approach planification, skin incision, superficial dissection, middle and Deep dissection, neurovascular components, closure. Discussion: advantages and disadvantages of side election, incision (horizontal vs vertical), radioscopic vs anatomic level location, drainage use.Conclusion: We described the cervical anterior approach technique to give neurosurgeons a guide and to make a safe surgery.

HYPEREXTENSION TRAUMA IN PATIENTS WITH CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS / Мэс засал

Introduction: Due to cervical spondylosispatients with cervical stenosis who hadhyperextension trauma developed spinalcord stress and contusions, tetraplegia anddisability and mortality. Cervical spondylosispatients with hyperextension traumatreatment management still not clearedout throughout the world and very fewresearch has been done in our country.We have been introduced our surgical andrehabilitation comparison research study ofcervical spondylosis trauma in 2015. Our goalis to develop treatment management forthe hyperextension trauma in patients withcervical spondylosis.1. To compare surgical treatmentresults between patients who hadhyperextension injury to the cervical spinewhich were treated at the Departmentof Spinal Surgery of the National Traumaand Orthopaedic Research Center ofMongolia.2. To study biomechanical effects after thesurgeryMaterial and methods: 42 cervicalspondylosis patients with hyperextensioninjury have been chosen retrospectively toevaluate the surgical, conservative, andrehabilitative treatments and results wereanalyzed by SPSS, EXCEL program who weretreated at the Department of Spinal Surgeryof the National Trauma and OrthopaedicResearch Center of Mongolia from 2012-September 2016. Over 20% canal stenosiscases were chosen for laminectomy andanterior discectomy and fusion surgeriesalong with conservative and rehabilitationtreatment. Up to 20% canal stenosis 10cases which is 23.8% of all patients weretreated by conservative treatment.Results: From 42 patients there was 10females and 32 males. Average ages were56±7.9. By the cause of injury 62% werecar accident, 23% motorcycle accident, 10%fall from horse riding and 5% were otherfalls respectively. All patients had neurologicdeficits according to the level of spinal cordinjury. 36 (85.7%) patients had C4-C5 andC5-C6 level injury and 15 (35.7) patients wererecovered from spinal shock after high dosesteroid treatment. According to the X-RAYall patients had cervical spondylosis signand 4 (9.5%) of them had facet fractureswith stable spine condition. After CT scanspinal cord injury located at C3-C4, C4-C5and C5-C6 levels and patients developedfacet arthrosis, ossification of ligaments andintervertebral discs. Clinical signs and CT scans were evaluated and 4 cervical spondylosispatients with hyperextension injury hadlaminectomy and 2 patient had anteriordiscectomy and fusion surgeries. Canalstenosis is decompressed after laminectomysurgery and cervical lordosis is reduced by 7degrees but after anterior discectomy andfusion surgery cervical lordosis is reducedby 3 degrees. Neurological deficit increasinglaminectomy cases had C5 palsy becauseof cord shift (2.4-4mm) which resulted bydenticulate ligament tethering.Conclusion: There were no significantstatistical (P≤.05) differences betweensurgical and rehabilitation treatmentsin cervical spondylosis patients withhyperextension injury who’s canal stenosiswere below 20% [1,2,3,4,5].In our practice itis essential to make laminectomy and anteriordiscectomy and fusion surgeries in 72 hoursafter trauma to help the patient recoverfrom the spinal shock and reabsorption ofcord contusion. For one or two level canalstenosis especially with the OPLL, artificialdisc replacement and ADF surgeries showedbetter results. In multiple level canal stenosiswith OLF and OPLL cases laminectomyand laminoplasty are choice for surgery. Incomparison to foreign study/ Biomechanicalinvestigation of spinal cord injury and diseasein cervical spine Batbayar.K Seoul.2016[2]/ our surgical treatment showed similarresults. Among cervical spondylosis patientswith hyperextension trauma cases whotreated in Spine Department of NationalTrauma and Orthopaedic Hospital, mortalityand disability is increasing and it is essentialto follow correct diagnostic and treatmentalgorithms.

Outcomes of Secondary Laminoplasty for Patients with Unsatisfactory Results after Anterior Multilevel Cervical Surgery

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the causes for failed anterior cervical surgery and the outcomes of secondary laminoplasty. METHODS: Seventeen patients failed anterior multilevel cervical surgery and the following conservative treatments between Feb 2003 and May 2011 underwent secondary laminoplasty. Outcomes were evaluated by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) Scale and visual analogue scale (VAS) before the secondary surgery, at 1 week, 2 months, 6 months, and the final visit. Cervical alignment, causes for revision and complications were also assessed. RESULTS: With a mean follow-up of 29.7+/-12.1 months, JOA score, recovery rate and excellent to good rate improved significantly at 2 months (p0.05). Mean VAS score decreased postoperatively (p0.05). The causes for secondary surgery were inappropriate approach in 3 patients, insufficient decompression in 4 patients, adjacent degeneration in 2 patients, and disease progression in 8 patients. Complications included one case of C5 palsy, axial pain and cerebrospinal fluid leakage, respectively. CONCLUSION: Laminoplasty has satisfactory results in failed multilevel anterior surgery, with a low incidence of complications.

Factors Affecting Adjacent Level Ossification Development after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the affecting factors of adjacent level ossification development (ALOD) after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study enrolled 75 patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and were followed-up for more than two years. Twenty-five patients were related with trauma and 47 patients were diagnosed as degenerative cervical disorder. We assessed the incidence, location and timing of ALOD, and compared the incidence of ossification between trauma and degenerative disease groups to know the effect of soft tissue damage. We also reviewed the correlation between the development of ossification at adjacent level and the factors, such as fusion level, age, operation time, duration of follow-up, and the presence of ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), as well as ossification of yellow ligament (OYL). RESULTS: Ossification developed in 33 patients (44%). Five cases (15%) were detected during the first year after surgery, 10 (30%) cases detected during the second year after surgery, 13 (40%) between second and third year, and 5 (15%) cases of more than three years after surgery. Only the fusion level was related with the development of ossification statistically (p<0.001). Age, operation time, duration of follow-up, sex ratio, presence of OPLL, and OYL were not related with the incidence of ossification significantly. There was no significant difference in the incidence of ALOD between the trauma group and degenerative disease group (p=0.3625). CONCLUSION: To detect ALOD, it needs a long time for follow-up after surgery. We thought that ALOD is affected by excessive loading at the adjacent level after fusion rather than severity of the soft tissue damage.

Comparative Analysis of Cervical Arthroplasty Using Mobi-C(R) and Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Husion Using the Solis(R) -Cage

OBJECTIVE: Although anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is the standard treatment for degenerative cervical disc disease, concerns regarding adjacent level degeneration and loss of motion have suggested that arthroplasty may be a better alternative. We have compared clinical and radiological results in patients with cervical disc herniations treated with arthroplasty and ACDF. METHODS: We evaluated 53 patients treated for cervical disc herniations with radiculopathy, 21 of whom underwent arthroplasty and 32 of whom underwent ACDF. Clinical results included the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for upper extremity radiculopathy, neck disability index (NDI), duration of hospital stay and convalescence time. All patients were assessed radiologically by measuring cervical lordosis, segmental lordosis and segmental range-of-movement (ROM) of operated and adjacent disc levels. RESULTS: Mean hospital stay (5.62 vs. 6.26 days, p<0.05) and interval between surgery and return to work (1.10 vs. 2.92 weeks, p<0.05) were significantly shorter in the arthroplasty than in the fusion group. Mean NDI and extremity VAS score improved after 12 months in both groups. Although it was not significant, segmental ROM of adjacent levels was higher in the fusion group than in the arthroplasty group. And, segmental motion of operated levels in arthroplasty group maintained more than preoperative value at last follow up. CONCLUSION: Although clinical results were similar in the two groups, postoperative recovery was significantly shorter in the arthroplasty group. Although it was not significant, ROM of adjacent segments was less in the arthroplasty group. Motion of operated levels in arthroplasty group was preserved at last follow up.

Experimental study on properties of stress-relaxation of the middle and lower cervical spine / 中华创伤骨科杂志

Objective To study the properties of stress relaxation of the middle and lower cervical vertebrae, and to evaluate the effects of laminotomy and anterior diskectomy and spinal fusion (ASF) on the properties . Methods The dynamic responses of stress relaxation of six intact and post operative fresh human cadaveric cervical vertebrae were measured in vitro. Results Under the condition of the constant strain, the functional equations and the curves of stress relaxation of the six intact and post operative fresh human cadaveric cervical vertebrae were obtained. The Gex(t)(the ratio of the ensuing instant stress to the original stress) of the post operative ones was significantly bigger than that of the intact ones; The Gex(t) of the laminotomic ones was significantly bigger than that of the ones having undergone the anterior discectomy and spinal fusion(ASF). Conclusion Either in flexion or in extension, cervical vertebrae have the similar behaviors of stress relaxation. The laminotomy and anterior discectomy and spinal fusion (ASF) all reduce the stress relaxation effect of the cervical vertebrae, but ASF is more significant.

Three-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion with Cervical Plate / 대한척추외과학회지

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes by the method of three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with cervical plate. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The arthrodesis rate and outcome for patients having three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedures is disappointing. The success of arthrodesis depends on several factors including bone graft type, size, and additional anterior plate fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five patients (average age, 69 years; all males) were observed. All had a anterior discectomy, placement of autogenous tricortical iliac bone graft at three-levels and application of a Orion plate. Clinical and radiologic results of bony union, cervical lordosis and intervertebral disc height were assessed. RESULTS: All clinical symptoms of patients had been resolved after operation. The postoperative scores by the criteria of Odom are 2 in excellent and 3 in good. The bony unions were achieved in all cases in the average 12 weeks after surgery (minimum 8 weeks, maximum 20 weeks). The sum of three-level intervertebral disc height in average was increased from 14.8 mm preoperatively to 25.4 mm postoperatively. The average angle of cervical lordosis was corrected from 18o preoperatively to 27o postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with Orion plate and autogenous tricortical iliac bone graft results in effective surgical treatment, which produces good clinical outcome, early and solid bony union, restoration of the normal cervical lordosis and disc space height.

Anterior Discectomy and Fusion with Plate Fixation for Cervical Disc Herniation / 대한정형외과학회잡지

The anterior discectomy is widely accepted method for removal of the herniated disc material of cervical spine due to direct visualization of the lesion site. In addition, it is believed to prevent recurrence of herniation, progression of degenerative change, and to preserve normal cervical lordosis after the fusion. For more effective anterior fusion and early postoperative ambulation without prolonged external support, internal fixation technique was introducsuspected to influence the result of operation, the type of bone graft and age of the patient may be the effective factors to the late result. ed. Authors reviewed 36 patients with cervical disc herniation and evaluated the result of anteior discectomy and fusion with plate fixation. With a mean follow up of 34 months, there were remarkable symptomatic improvement at most instances and bony union in situ within 3 months in all cases after the operation. Disclosed complications were 2 cases of hoarseness which was improved spontaneously, and 1 case of dysphagia. At the comparison of the effect of the factors which were suspected to influence the result of operation , the type of bone graft and age of the patient may be the effective factors to the late result.

Neurological Changes after Closed Reduction of Cervical Spine Injury Using Skull Traction

Aretrospective study of 45 patients with cervical spine injury who underwent skull traction was conducted to evaluate the neurological changes after closed reduction. Motor function during the traction improved in 5 (11.1%), no change in 37(82.2%), and aggravated in 3(6.7%) of the patients. Three patients who deteriorated neurologically during the traction were found to have locked facets and herniated disc materials demonstrated by MR imaging study. Authors believe that MRI should be carried out as soon as possible in patients with cervical spine injury, even before traction is attempted, and any neurological changes should be checked and evaluated carefully during the traction. And if there is a herniated discs compressing the spinal cord at the injured level, anterior discectomy with interbody fusion is recommended before closed or open reduction.

Results of Anterior Cervical Discectomy without Interbody Fusion

Anterior cervical discectomy with or without interbody fusion has been conventionally used to treat patients with cervical disc diseases. However, discectomy without bone fusion has been abandoned due to the feat of early collapse of interbody space and recurrency. The author has analysed twenty-two cases of microsurgical cervical discectomy without bone fusion between Jan. 1993 and Mar. 1994. All patients were followed up for more than 6 months or as long as 21 months with repeat interview, physical examination, and radiological evaluation. The analysis revealed that the results were highly satisfactory in 21 cases with radiculopathies in terms of early ambulation, no discomfort in the iliac bone, and shorter hospital stay, but unsatisfactory in one cases which needed reoperation due to postoperative scar. The above method which had demonstrated promising results is recommended for the patients suffering from radiculopathy.