Evidencebased medicine (EBM) is different fromtraditional medicine in that the practice of EBM comes from evidence and experience of the doctors. The objective evidence plays a key role in clinical practice. During the clinical teaching process, the following steps should be taken: firstly, the students should find a problem in their clinical practice; then, theyshould search for the evidence with the help of their teachers, evaluate the evidence, apply the evidence to the clinical practice, and solve the problem; finally, they should evaluate the effectiveness. An introduction of the principles and methods of EBM to the clinical practice can greatly improve the students’ ability to analyze and solve a clinical problem.
Objective To introduce the research of cell transplantation for treating intervertebral disc degeneration. Methods The original articles in recent years about cell transplantation for treating intervertebral disc degeneration were extensively reviewed, and retrospective and comprehensive analysis was performed. Results Transplantation of intevertebraldisc-derived cells or BMSCs by pure cell transplantation or combined with collagen scaffold into intervertebral disc couldexpress nucleus pulposus-l ike phenotype. All the cells transplanted into intervertebral disc could increase extracellular matrix synthesis and rel ieve or even inhibit further intervertebral disc degeneration. Conclusion Cell transplantation for treating intervertebral disc degeneration may be a promising approach.
OBJECTIVE: To sum up the studying course and latter development of repair of injury of growth plate. METHODS: Recent original articles about repair of injury of growth plate were extensively reviewed, focused on the progresses in understanding repair of injury of growth plate and comparison of several major reparative methods. RESULTS: Repair of injury of growth plate is a great difficulty in experimental study and clinical treatment of pediatric orthopedics. Graft of free growth plate and cartilage were unfavorably used because of lack of blood supplement. Although graft of vascularized growth plate solved circulation problem, both two kinds of grafts were involved in limitation of donor and immunologic reaction. Non-cartilaginous tissue and material could only prevent formation of bony bridge in small defect of growth plate and lacked ability of regenerative repair. Transfer of tissue engineered cartilage might be the best choice for repair of injury of growth plate. CONCLUSION: Considering source of transplanted material, reparative effect and adverse reaction, repair of injury of growth plate with tissue engineered cartilage deserves further investigation.
To investigate cl inical outcomes of percutaneous kyphoplasty with balloon in the treatment of severe osteoporotic thoracic vertebral compression fracture (SVCF). Methods From May 2006 to July 2007, percutaneous unilateral kyphoplasty with single balloon was performed in 7 vertebras of 6 SVCF patients, with 2 injured vertebras in 2 malesand 5 in 4 females, who were from 64 to 83 years old. The injured vertebras included 1 in T5, 2 in T8, 3 in T10 and 1 in T12 and the compression rates were 60% to 75% in 5 vertebras and gt; 75% in 2 vertebras. All the injured vertebras were old fractures and caused severe back pain, but without any neurotic symptoms and signs. The visual analogue scale (VAS) ranged from 6.5 to 9.0, 7.7 on average. The posterior vertebral walls were all intact in all patients under CT scan. The balloon was inset into the vertebra through pedicle of vertebral arch by percutaneous puncture under the guidance of C-type arm X-ray unit. The balloon was then extended to restore the vertebral body which was filled with bone cement later. The average volume of cement required was 3.5 mL (2.6 to 4.4 mL). Results The pain was alleviated or completely rel ieved after the operation. The mean vertebral body height restoration was 9.7% ±1.4% on the anterior border. Two cement leakages were found on X-ray. One month after the treatment, the VAS was from 0 to 2.45, 1.32 on average, and there was significant difference compared with preoperation (P lt; 0. 05). Three months after the treatment, the VAS was from 0 to 3, 2.13 on average, and there was no significant difference compared with 1 month after the treatment (P gt; 0.05). It was not found that the injured vertebras were compressed or deformed, and no new compressed fracture was found in consecutive vertebras. Conclusion Unilateral posterior-lateral puncture kyphoplasty with single balloon can rel ieve the pain and restore part of the vertebral height effectively with better outcomes.
Objective To sum up the experimental and clinical history as wellas latest development of repair of growth plate injury Methods Recent articles about repair of growth plate injury were extensively reviewed and major reparative methods were introduced, especially including tissue engineering research on growth plate.Results Repair of growth plate injury was a great difficulty inexperimental study and clinical treatment of pediatric orthopedics. Transplantation of free growth plate and cartilage were unfavorably used because of lack ofblood supplement. Although circulation problem was solved by transplantation ofvascularized growth plate, autografts of epiphyseal cartilage were involved in limitation of donor, and allografts of epiphyseal cartilage induced immunological reaction. Noncartilaginous tissue and material could only prevent formation of bony bridge in small defect of growth plate and lacked ability of regenerative repair. Transplantationof tissue engineered cartilage and chondrocytes might be a choice for repair ofgrowth plate injury Conclusion Owing to lack of safe and effective methods ofrepairing growth plate injury, research on chondrocyte and tissue engineered cartilage should be further done.
OBJECTIVE To prevent early closure of growth plate and developmental deformities of limbs by allografts of cultured cartilages into growth plate defects of rabbits. METHODS Chondrocytes isolated from articular cartilage of 1-month rabbits formed cartilage after cultivation in centrifuge tubes. The cartilages cultured for two weeks were implanted into growth plate defects of proximal tibiae of 6-weeks rabbits. At 4th and 16th weeks, X-ray, histologic and immunohistochemical examination were performed. RESULTS The tibiae had no marked deformities after 4 weeks of operation. Histologic examinations showed that the defects were filled with cartilage. Immunohistochemical results of type II collagen were positive. The tibiae with allografts of cultured cartilages had no evident deformities after 16 weeks of operation. Histologic examination showed nearly closure of growth plates. On the contrary, the tibiae on control side formed severe deformities and growth plate were closed. CONCLUSION Allograft of cultured cartilages into growth plate defects may replace lost growth plate tissues, maintain normal growth of limbs and prevent developmental deformity.
