Herniation of intervertebral disc into thoracolumbar fracture vertebral body leads to malunion of fracture and decrease of intervertebral space height / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the clinical characteristics of intervertebral disc tissue injury and herniation into the vertebral body in thoracolumbar fracture on fracture healing, vertebral bone defect volume and intervertebral space height.@*METHODS@#From April 2016 to April 2020, a total of 140 patients with thoracolumbar single vertebral fracture combined with upper intervertebral disc injury treated with pedicle screw rod system reduction and internal fixation in our hospital. There were 83 males and 57 females, aged from 19 to 58 years old, with an average age of (39.33±10.26) years old. All patients were followed up regularly 6 months, 12 months and 18 months after surgery. The patients with injured intervertebral disc tissue not herniated into the fractured vertebral body were the control group, and the patients with injured intervertebral disc and herniated into the fractured vertebral body were the observation group. By detecting the thoracolumbar AP and lateral X-ray films, CT and MRI of the thoracolumbar segment at different follow-up time, calculate the changes of the wedge angle of the fractured vertebral body, the sagittal kyphosis angle and the height of the superior adjacent intervertebral space, the changes of the fracture healing and bone defect volume after the reduction of the vertebral body, and the changes of the intervertebral disc degeneration grade. The prognosis was evaluated by visual analogue scale(VAS) and Oswestry disability index(ODI). Finally, the differences of the above results among different groups were comprehensively analyzed.@*RESULTS@#All the patients had normal wound healing without complications. A total of 87 patients received complete follow-up data, at least 18 months after internal fixation. Thoracolumbar AP and lateral X-ray films showed that 18 months after the reduction and internal fixation operation, the vertebral wedge angle, sagittal kyphosis angle and the height of the upper adjacent intervertebral space in the observation group were greater than those in the control group(P<0.05). CT scanning showed that the deformity of the fracture healed 12 months after the vertebral body reduction in the observation group and formed a "cavity" of bone defect connected with the intervertebral space, and its volume was significantly increased compared with that before (P<0.05). MRI scanning showed that the degeneration rate of injured intervertebral discs in the observation group was more serious than that in the control group 12 months after operation(P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in VAS and ODI score at each time.@*CONCLUSION@#Herniation of injured intervertebral disc tissue hernias into the fractured vertebral body leads to increased bone resorption defect volume around the fracture and forms a malunion "cavity" connected with the intervertebral space. This may be the main reason for the change of vertebral wedge angle, the increase of sagittal kyphosis angle and the decrease of intervertebral space height after removal of internal fixation devices.

Clinical outcomes of allograft Cages in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion / 中国修复重建外科杂志

Objective: To explore the fusion effect of allograft Cages on transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). Methods: The clinical data of 30 patients (38 vertebral segments) who underwent TLIF with allograft interbody fusion Cages between January 2015 and January 2017 were retrospectively analysed. There were 25 males and 5 females with an average age of 56.9 years (range, 44-72 years). The lesions included 20 cases of lumbar disc herniation, 7 cases of lumbar spondylolisthesis, and 3 cases of lumbar spinal stenosis. The operation section included 4 cases of L 3, 4, 13 cases of L 4, 5, 5 cases of L 5, S 1, 6 cases of L 4, 5-L 5, S 1, and 2 cases of L 3, 4-L 4, 5. The disease duration was 6-36 months (mean, 12 months). The clinical effectiveness was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score at preoperation, 3 months and 6 months after operation, and last follow-up. The fusion rate was evaluated by anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films and CT three-dimensional reconstruction at 3 and 6 months after operation. The intervertebral space height was measured on anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films at preoperation, 3 days, 3 months, and 6 months after operation. Results: The operation time was 2.1-4.3 hours (mean, 3.1 hours), and the intraoperative blood loss was 150-820 mL (mean, 407.5 mL). The follow-up time was 8-25 months (mean, 16.4 months). One Cage split at 6 months after operation without Cage movement and neurologic symptoms; none of the other patients had Cage prolapse, displacement, and fragmentation. No local or systemic allergy or infection signs was found in all patients. No nerve compression or symptoms was observed during the follow-up. The postoperative VAS score, ODI score, and JOA score improved significantly when compared with preoperative scores ( P0.05). The fusion rate was 55.3% (21/38), 92.1% (35/38), and 100% (38/38) at 3 months, 6 months, and last follow-up postoperatively. The intervertebral space height was increased significantly at 3 days, 3 months, 6 months, and last follow-up postoperatively when compared with preoperative ones ( P<0.05); and the loss of intervertebral space height was significant at last follow-up when compared with postoperative at 3 days ( P<0.05). Conclusion: The allograft interbody fusion Cage contributes to the spine interbody fusion by providing an earlier stability and higher fusion rate.

Comparison of the clinical effect of PMMA bone cement augmented screw passageway and bone cement-injectable cannulated pedicle screw in treatment of degenerative lumbar disease with osteoporosis / 中国基层医药

Objective To compare the clinical effect of PMMA bone cement augmented screw passageway and bone cement-injectable cannulated pedicle screw in treatment of degenerative lumbar disease with osteoporosis. Methods Forty-eight patients with lumbar degenerative disease accompanied with osteoporosis from June 2012 to March 2014 were selected, including 21 males and 27 females with an average age of 64.5 years ( ranged 54 -78 years).There were 17 cases of lumbar degenerative stenosis,18 cases of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation, 8 cases of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis,and 5 cases of lumbar degenerative scoliosis.According to the opera-tion method,the patients were divided into two groups.23 cases in group A were treated with bone cement injectable cannulated pedicle screw and 25 cases in group B were treated with PMMA bone cement augmented screw passageway by used conventional screw.Operation time, amount of bleeding and hospitalization time were used to evaluate the clinical characteristics.Visual analogue scale( VAS) score and Oswestry disability index( ODI) were used to evaluate function recovery of post-operative pain and function.The height of intervertebral space,failure rate of internal fixa-tion and bone fusion rate were analyzed by X-ray films postoperative1,3,6,12 months and per year.Results All 48 cases were followed up for 1 -3.5 years.Operation time,amount of bleeding and the time of hospitalization of group A were significantly lower than those in group B(all P0.05).One case of group A had screw fracture,but group B did not appear this kind of situation(P<0.05).Three cases of group B had screw loosening or pullout,but that did not happen in group A.The loss of intervertebral height was (2.7 ±1.7) mm in group A,which in group B was (3.7 ±2.1) mm,there was significant difference between the two groups( P<0.05).According to VAS score and ODI,pain and function in both two groups were improved,but the effect of group A was better than group B(all P<0.05).Conclusion Bone cement-augmentation bone cementinje-ctable cannu-lated pedicle screw may be a safe and effective method in treatment of degenerative lumbar disease with osteoporosis.