Beneficial effect of traditional Chinese medicine fumigation "Bone-healing Powder" in postoperative pain and recovery of neurological function of traumatic thoracolumbar spine fractures: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Thoracolumbar spine (TLS) fractures are commonly associated with the young healthy population, with its risk factors including both high-energy traumas and neurological deficit. The underlying mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and TLS fractures have been explored. Therefore, our prospective study was conducted in order to explore the beneficial effects of TCM fumigation "Bone-healing Powder" method in both postoperative pain as well as the recovery of the patient's neurological function following healing from their traumatic TLS fractures. METHODS: Patients dealing with traumatic TLS fractures were randomly assigned into both the control and the intervention groups based on whether or not they received prior TCM fumigation in addition to any and all conventional therapy. Imaging indexes, including height of the injured vertebra (%), Cobb angle (°), horizontal displacement (%), compression area (%), sagittal diameter (%), and degree of both the swelling and pain regarding the fractures were observed and recorded both before and after the treatment for proper progression documentation. The neurological function was evaluated according to American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification in order to investigate whether TCM fumigation "Bone-healing Powder" could affect the recovery of the patient's neurological function. RESULTS: Following the treatment as well as 1 year after its completion, patients who received TCM fumigation presented a higher height of their previously injured vertebra (%) and sagittal diameter (%), while a lower Cobb angle (°), horizontal displacement (%), and compression area (%) than those who were part of the conventional therapy group. A week posttreatment, patients that received TCM fumigation also showed no signs of swelling or mild pain. One year following the treatment, patients receiving TCM fumigation demonstrated an improved neurological function. CONCLUSION: These findings help to indicate that TCM fumigation "Bone-healing Powder" reduces the degrees of postoperative pain and swelling, and effectively improves recovery of the neurological function of those patients with traumatic TLS fractures, proving its worth as a clinical method in treatment.

[Endoscopic surgery and endoscopy-assisted surgery for the malignant transformation of sinonasal inverted papilloma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate malignant transformation of sinonasal inverted papilloma (SIP) treated by nasal endoscopic and endoscopy-assisted surgery. METHODS: Seven cases with malignant transformation of SIP treated by nasal endoscopic and endoscopy-assisted surgery from February 2001 to December 2010 were reviewed. Followed-up time after surgery for each case was over 3 years. All cases were unilateral disease and at grade IV according to the SIP grading standards of Krouse. One case was T2, five T3, and one T4. The surgery were performed under general anaesthesia or local and strengthen anaesthesia. Postoperative radiotherapy was applied, with the doses of 60 - 70 GY. RESULTS: All cases were squamous cell carcinoma confirmed pathologically after surgery. The patients were followed up with endoscopic examination for 3 - 5 years. Of 7 cases, recurrent disease occurred in 3 years after operation, but no recurrence in other 4 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Nasal endoscopic and endoscopy-assisted surgery can be used in the treatment for the malignant transformation of SIP, with the advantages of minimally invasion, fewer complications and the well-preserved nasal functions. Application of radiotherapy after surgery could improve long-term survival efficacy of the patients.