Short-term therapeutic effect of posterior pedicle screw fixation for treatment of degenerative lumbar scoliosis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the short-term outcomes of patients receiving orthopedic surgery with posterior pedicle screw fixation for degenerative lumbar scoliosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between March, 2006 and August, 2009, 36 patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis (19 males and 17 females) underwent procedures of decompression, bone implantation and pedicle screw fixation. Fifteen patients were also treated by PLIF and 21 cases received posterior-lateral fusion. The JOA scores, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and Cobb angle were recorded before and after the operation, and the surgical complications were also observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The JOA scores increased significantly by 83.3% after the operation (P<0.05). The procedures resulted in significantly lowered ODI from (67.1∓11.4)% before the operation to (32.1∓10.8)% after the operation (P<0.01). A significant improvement of the coronal Cobb's angle was achieved after the operation (26.7° preoperatively vs 12.3° postoperatively, P<0.01), and the lordosis angle was improved from 10.7° to 36.6° after the operation (P<0.01). All the patients were followed up for 12 to 50 months (mean 38 months), and no implant loosening, displacement or fragmentation, or pseudarthrosis was found at the final follow-up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Posterior pedicle screw fixation shows good short-term therapeutic effect in treatment of degenerative lumbar scoliosis. Individualized surgical plans and adequate preoperative evaluation are keys to successful operations.</p>

Observation on lower back myofascitis treated with penetration needling on yang meridians of the back and electroacupuncture as compared with Western medication / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the difference in the therapeutic effect on lower back myofascitis between the combined therapy of penetration needling on yang meridian of the back and electroacupuncture and the western medication of Ibuprofen capsules, and probe into a better method of treatment for lower back myofascitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases of lower back myofascitis were randomly divided into two groups. 30 cases in observation group were treated with penetration needling combined with electroacupuncture on the back shu points on the first line of the Bladder Meridian and the points of the corresponding levels on the Governor Vessel. 30 cases in control group were treated with Ibuprofen capsules. The treatment session was 30 days. The therapeutic effects were compared and the Visual Analog Scales (VAS) and Oswestry disability index were detected before and after treatment in two groups separately.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate in observation group was 96.7% (29/30), which was superior to that (73.3%, 22/30) in control group. VAS and Oswestry disability index decreased in either group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The improvement extent in observation group was superior to that in control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The therapy of penetration needling on yang meridian of the back combined with electroacupuncture has the advantageous therapeutic effect on lower back myofascitis as compared with the medication of Ibuprofen capsules, which can release pain and improve the functional disturbance effectively.</p>