[Coblation of nucleus pulposus in treatment of military men's lumbar disc protrusions].

Mini-invasive surgery is used more often for the treatment of spinal disc herniations today. Coblation is one of such contemporary methods. The aim of our investigation was to evaluate results of percutaneous disc nucleoplasty using coblation. 35 patients with disc protrusions diagnosed by MRI underwent operations using this method. We used Visual Analogue Pain Scale, took into account time of painless sitting, standing and walking position, and also patients' satisfaction to assess the immediate results of treatment and short-time outcomes. It was noted the better immediate results in group of operated patients in comparison with the non-operated group. It was obvious either on the table or the day after operation. There were 84 and 93% of good results in 3 months and in 1 year after operation, respectively. Coblation is definitely modern and effective way to treat disc protrusions with different types, sizes, and may be used in lumbar spine wherever.

[Aggressive vertebral hemangiomas: optimization of management tactics].

Today vertebral hemangioma is not completely understood entity, neither its pathogenesis nor optimal treatment is determined. Nowadays in majority of clinics in this country ineffective radiotherapy remains the first-line treatment. We analyzed results of treatment of 205 patients (286 lesions) with aggressive hemangiomas operated in Department of Neurosurgery of Military Medical Academy and Department of Nuclear Medicine of of Russian Scientific Center of Radiological and Surgical Technologies (Saint-Petersburg, Russia) since 1999 till 2009. Percutaneus vertebroplasty was performed in 167 lesions, radiotherapy was applied in 119 aggressive hemangiomas. Vertebroplasty is more effective for treatment of aggressive hemangiomas in comparison with radiotherapy. Signs of hemangiomas aggression, indications for surgery, and tactics of management were determined. Use of percutaneous vertebroplasty for treatment of aggressive hemangiomas resulted in fast recovery of the patients. This procedure is minimally invasive, it reduces hospital stay and duration of recovery.

[Damage control in field surgery].

Damage control surgery (DCS) is an important option in the store of war surgery and surgery of trauma. The main purpose of our investigation was to specify the percentage of the injured who need DCS. We performed retrospective study of the patients in the combat operations in Chechnya (1994-2002) and in peacetime (2005-2010). Total lethality in group with the standard surgical approach was 62.3%. It was significantly higher than the lethality in group of patients who underwent DCS - 50.0% (p < 0.05). Thus, the experience of DCS in War Surgery Department confirms that DCS is perspective tendency in treatment of patients with severe and extremely severe trauma, and allows decreasing lethality in 12.3%.

[Morphometric characteristics of lumbar vertebrae of adult individuals and the feasibility of their body volume prediction in percutaneous vertebroplasty].

Using the material obtained from 96 human corpses (480 skeletal vertebra), the linear parameters of vertebra were studied. The research objective was to study morphometric characteristics of lumbar vertebra of an adult person taking into consideration the individual and sexual variability, and to estimate the feasibility of calculation of a vertebra body volume with reference to percutaneous vertebroplasty. The results of research have demonstrated the general patterns of modification of linear and volumetric parameters of L(I)-L(V) vertebra; it was shown that the values of linear parameters for the male samples were bigger than those for the female samples. The length of an axis of operational action, the linear and angular sizes of pedicles of vertebral arch were independent on gender factor, but, as a rule, gradually changed from L(I) to L(V). On the basis of comparison of the calculated and measured volumes of lumbar vertebra bodies, it is concluded that the mathematical model proposed by us has sufficiently high accuracy.