Objective To investigate the safety and effectiveness of unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) technique in the treatment of single-segment thoracic ossification of ligamentum flavum (TOLF). Methods Between August 2020 and December 2021, 11 patients with single-segment TOLF were treated with UBE technique. There were 6 males and 5 females, with an average of 58.2 years (range, 49-72 years). The responsible segment was T6, 7 in 1 case, T7, 8 in 1 case, T8, 9 in 2 cases, T9, 10 in 2 cases, T10, 11 in 2 cases, and T11, 12 in 3 cases. Imaging examination showed that the ossification were located on the left side in 4 cases, on the right side in 3 cases, and on bilateral sides in 4 cases. The main clinical symptoms were chest and back pain or lower limb pain, all accompanied by lower limb numbness and fatigue. The disease duration ranged from 2 to 28 months (median, 17 months). The operation time, postoperative hospital stay, and complications were recorded. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to evaluate the chest and back pain and low limb pain, and Oswestry disability index (ODI) and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score were used to evaluate functional recovery before operation and at 3 days, 1 month, 3 months after operation, and last follow-up. The anteroposterior diameter of the coronal spinal canal was measured by CT before and after operation to evaluate the effect of surgical decompression. Results All operations were successfully completed. The operation time was 50-105 minutes, with an average of 80.0 minutes. No postoperative complication such as dural sac tear, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, spinal nerve injury, or infection occurred. The postoperative hospital stay was 2-5 days, with an average of 3.1 days. All incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 6-22 months, with an average of 14.8 months. CT measurement at 3 days after operation showed that the anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal was (8.63±1.61) mm, which was significantly larger than that before operation [(3.67±1.37) mm] (t=?12.181, P<0.001). The VAS score of chest and back pain and lower limb pain and ODI at each time point after operation were significantly lower than those before operation (P<0.05). The above indexes were further improved after operation, except that there was no significant difference between at 3 months after operation and at last follow-up (P>0.05), the differences between other time points were significant (P<0.05). There was no recurrence during the follow-up period. Conclusion UBE technique is a safe and effective method to treat single-segment TOLF, but its long-term effectiveness needs to be further studied.
Objective To investigate the surgery tactics for ossification of ligamentum flavum (OLF) associated with dural ossification (DO) in the thoracic spine and the cl inical outcome. Methods Between June 2006 and December 2009, 98 patients with thoracic spinal stenosis secondary to OLF were treated, and DO was found in 18 cases during operation. There were 11 males and 7 females with a mean age of 58 years (range, 46-73 years). The disease duration ranged from 5 to 48 months (mean,20 months). All patients underwent surgical decompression because of recent neurological aggravation. Both DO and OLF were resected with octagonal decompression by dissecting pedicle flavum tunnel. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, modified Oswestry Disabil ity Index (ODI), and the Cobb angle were used to evaluate the effectiveness. Results The initial symptoms were significantly alleviated postoperatively. All patients had transient cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage postoperatively, the CSF leakage disappeared after 8-10 days of conservative treatment. All the incisions healed by first intention. There was no complication of neurologic function deterioration, meningitis, wound infection, or spinocutaneous fistula. Eighteen patients were followed up 20-60 months (mean, 49 months). No recurrence of spinal cord compression symptoms,or neurologic function deterioration was observed at last follow-up. The JOA scores and effectiveness and modified ODI scores were significantly improved after 1 month and 12 months of operation when compared with preoperative scores (P lt; 0.05). The Cobb angles of kyphosis of the involved vertebrae were (6.7 ± 1.6)° before operation and (8.0 ± 1.2)° after 12 months of operation, showing significant difference (t=4.000，P=0.001). Postoperative T2-weighted axial MRI, sagittal MRI scan, and short T1 inversion recovery MRI showed that compressed deformity of the spinal cord returned to normal. Conclusion The surgery tactics for thoracic spinal stenosis secondary to the OLF with DO is safe, and no patching dura mater tears is effective.
ObjectiveTo compare the safety and accuracy of pedicle screw placement assisted by robot system with freehand pedicle screw placement in upper thoracic surgery.MethodsBetween December 2017 and December 2019, 39 cases with upper thoracic pedicle screw internal fixation were included in the study, including 19 cases in robot group (group A, robot assisted pedicle screw placement) and 20 cases in freehand group (group B, freehand pedicle screw placement). There were 104 screws implanted in group A and 108 screws in group B. There was no significant difference in age, gender composition, body mass index, disease type, number of screws implanted, and segmental distribution between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative drainage were recorded and compared between the two groups. CT scan was performed in all patients at 2 days after operation to evaluate the screw accuracy based on the Gertzbein-Robbins grading standard.ResultsThe operation time of group A was significantly longer than that in group B (t=2.759, P=0.009). There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage between the two groups (t=?0.796, P=0.431; t=?0.814, P=0.421). At 2 days after operation, according to Gertzbein-Robbins grading standard, the accuracy of pedicle screw implantation in group A were grade A in 94 screws, grade B in 9 screws, and grade C in 1 screw; and in group B were grade A in 72 screws, grade B in 26 screws, grade C in 9 screws, and grade D in 1 screw; the difference between the two groups was significant (Z=4.257, P=0.000). The accuracy rate of group A was 99.04%, and that of group B was 90.74%, showing significant difference (χ2=7.415, P=0.006).ConclusionCompared with traditional freehand pedicle screw placement, robot-assisted pedicle screw placement significantly improves the accuracy and safety of screw placement without increasing the bleeding and postoperative drainage.
Objective
To investigate the effectiveness of bundled multi-segment autologous rib graft reconstruction for bone defects after thoracic spinal tuberculosis debridement.
Methods
The anterior debridement, multi-segment autologous rib interbody fusion, anterior or posterior internal fixation were used for treating the bone defect after thoracic spinal tuberculosis debridement in 36 cases between January 2006 and December 2013. There were 20 males and 16 females with an average age of 50.5 years (range, 21-60 years), and an average disease duration of 6.8 months (range, 5-11 months). The thoracic vertebral tuberculosis located at T4, 5 in 1 case, T5, 6 in 4 cases, T6, 7 in 4 cases, T7, 8 in 4 cases, T8, 9 in 9 cases, T9, 10 in 8 cases, T10, 11 in 5 cases, and T11, 12 in 1 case. Neurological impairment of 34 patients was assessed as grade B in 2 cases, grade C in 8 cases, and grade D in 24 cases according to Frankel classification. The pre- and post-operative erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and kyphosis Cobb angle were evaluated. The fusion rate was analysed based on CT three-dimensional reconstruction.
Results
The cross-sectional area of the bundled multi-segment rib graft was 136.8-231.2 mm2 (mean, 197.1 mm2); the endplate surface area of adjacent upper and lower vertebral bodies was 425.0-677.6 mm2 (mean, 550.6 mm2); and the cross-sectional area of rib graft accounted for 29%-50% (mean, 33.6%) of the endplate surface area. The operation time was 95-160 minutes (mean, 125 minutes) and the intraopeartive blood loss was 280-850 mL (mean, 450 mL). All the patients were followed up 2-8 years (mean, 4.4 years). The postoperative complications included intercostals neuralgia in 2 cases, pleural effusion in 1 case, and liver function damage caused by antituberculosis drugs in 2 cases, who were all cured after symptomatic treatment. The rest patients had no respiratory complications and wound infection; and there was no fracture, displacement, absorption of rib support, tuberculosis recurrence, internal fixation loosening, and kyphosis occurred in all patients. CT three-dimensional reconstruction showed that the fusion rate was 86.1 (31/36) at 6 months after operation and was 97.2% (35/36) at 12 months after operation. The ESR, CRP, VAS scores, and kyphosis Cobb angle at 3 months after operation and last follow-up were significantly improved when compared with preoperative values (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between at 3 months after operation and last follow-up (P>0.05). Neurological deficits were all improved at last follow-up according to Frankel classificaiton, including 2 cases with grade B recovered to grade D, 8 cases with grade C to grade D in 1 case and to grade E in 7 cases, 24 cases with grade D all to grade E.
Conclusion
Bundled multi-segment autologous rib graft reconstruction is an alternative method for less than 2 discs and vertebral bone defect created by radical debridement for thoracic spinal tuberculosis.
OBJECTIVE: To discuss the clinical properties, operative results of thoracic spinal stenosis and factors correlating with prognosis. METHODS: From September 1992 to January 2001, 16 patients who suffered from thoracic spinal stenosis caused by degeneration, ossified ligamentum flavum, diffuse idiopathic hyperostosis and trauma, were decompressed by operation. The operative method was selected according to the compressed position of spinal cord. All patients were followed up 6 months to 9 years. The pain severity, ambulatory status and paraplegia index were compared between before operation and after operation. The correlation between prognosis and ages, the length of stenosis and the duration of disease was studied. RESULTS: The results of Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test show significant difference in pain severity, ambulatory status and paraplegia index between before operation and after operation (P lt; 0.01). The results of partial correlation analyzing show that only the duration of disease was correlated with paraplegia index (P lt; 0.05). CONCLUSION: Thoracic spinal stenosis frequently develops in the lower-thoracic segments in middle and old aged men. Decompression by operation early can achieve a good clinical result. Duration of disease affects the prognosis.
Objective
To investigate the application value of intraoperative CT navigation in posterior thoracic pedicle screw placement for scoliosis patients.
Methods
Between October 2009 and December 2011, 46 patients with scoliosis were treated with thoracic pedicle screw placement under intraoperative CT navigation in 21 cases (group A) or under C-arm fluoroscopy in 25 cases (group B). There was no significant difference in age, gender, type of scoliosis, involved segment, and Cobb angle of main thoracic curve between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). A total of 273 thoracic pedicle screws were placed in group A and 308 screws in group B. The pedicle screw position evaluated and classified by intraoperative CT images according to the Modi et al. method; and the accurate rate, the safe rate, and the potential risk rate of pedicle screws were calculated on the upper thoracic spine (T1-4), the middle thoracic spine (T5-8), the lower thoracic spine (T9-12), and the entire thoracic spine (T1-12). The accuracy and security of thoracic pedicle screw placement were compared between 2 groups.
Results
On the entire thoracic spine, the accurate rate of group A (93.4%) was significantly higher than that of group B (83.8%), the safe rate of group A (98.9%) was significantly higher than that of group B (92.5%), showing significant differences between 2 groups (P lt; 0.05). However, the potential risk rate of group B (7.5%) was significantly higher than that of group A (1.1%) (P lt; 0.05). On the upper, the middle, and the lower thoracic spines, there was no significant difference in the accurate rate, the safe rate, and the potential risk rate of pedicle screws between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). According to CT evaluation results, the potential risk pedicle screws were revised or removed during operation. The patients of 2 groups had no neurological deficits through physical examination of nervous system at 3 days after operation.
Conclusion
Intraoperative CT navigation can improve the accuracy and security of posterior thoracic pedicle screw placement and it can ensure the safety of operation by finding and promptly removing or revising the potential risk pedicle screws.
Objective To explore the feasibil ity and efficacy of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for the treatment of severe osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF), and to assess the cl inical result of the PKP technique. Methods From May 2006 to October 2007, 12 patients with severe OVCF affecting more than 2/3 of the original vertebral body height were treated by using domestic PKP and percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) tool systems. There were 3 malesand 9 females, with the age of 56-82 years and a mean disease course of 4.2 months (1-49 months). Eleven thoracic vertebra and 4 lumbar vertebra suffered from severe vertebral compression fractures, which included 3 extremely severe thoracic OVCF. Four thoracic vertebra and 3 lumbar vertebra had not severe OVCF. There were 4 cases of single vertebral compression fracture, 6 cases of double fractures, and 2 cases of triple fractures. Only single side PKP and PVP were performed via extrapedicular approach in thoracic vertebra, and via transpedicular approach in lumbar spine under fluoroscopic control. Eight patients with severe thoracic compression fractures and 4 with severe lumbar fractures were treated by PKP. Four patients with relatively mild thoracic compression fractures and 3 with lumbar fractures were treated by PVP. Results The operation was successfully, 3 patients with extremely severe thoracic compression fractures received no intervention. The maximum expansion pressure of balloon was (1 068 ± 298) kPa, and the volume was (3.1 ± 1.2) mL during operation. The average operative time of PKP was (44.9 ± 10.6) minutes per vertebra, while the average operative time of PVP was (36.5 ± 6.8) minutes per vertebra. The average volume of injected bone cement was (2.5 ± 0.6) mL per thoracic vertebra, and (3.6 ± 1.2) mL per lumbar vertebra. The mean hospitalization time were (3.7 ± 1.6) days. Twelve cases were followed up 5-18 months (mean 8.6 months). The visual analogue scale scoreswere (2.35 ± 0.61) points 2 days after operation and (2.89 ± 1.07) points at last follow-up, there were statistically significant differences when compared with before operation (8.27 ± 1.36) points (P lt; 0.01). Extravertebral leakage of the bone cement into the paravertebral tissue and/or disc occurred in 6 patients (9 vertebra) without significant symptom. Conclusion One side approach PKP is a safe and effective technique for treatment of severe OVCF with markedly rel ief of pain.
ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and effectiveness of low-dose tranexamic acid (TXA) in operation of multi-level continuous thoracic ossification of ligament flavum (TOLF).MethodsA clinical data of 26 patients who underwent operation for multi-level continuous TOLF and met the selection criteria between July 2015 and January 2019 was retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 13 cases (group A) were received intravenous infusion of TXA (10 mg/kg) at 15 minutes before operation, and maintained the infusion at 1 mg/(kg·h) until the end of the operation; 13 cases (group B) were received the same dose of normal saline before and during operation. There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, diseased segment, and preoperative hemoglobin, platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio (INR) between the two groups (P>0.05). The hemoglobin, platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, INR, the number of deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, total blood loss, and the time of drainage tube extubation in the two groups were recorded and compared.ResultsAll operations in the two groups were successfully completed. Compared with group B, the operation time and time of drainage tube extubation in group A were shortened, and the intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, and total blood loss were reduced. The differences between the two groups were significant (P<0.05). None of the two groups received blood transfusion, and the hemoglobin level of group A at 24 hours after operation was significantly higher than that of group B (t=5.062, P=0.000). The incisions in both groups healed and sutures were removed within 2 weeks after operation, and no complications occurred. There was no significant difference between the two groups in activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, INR, and platelet count at 24 hours after operation (P>0.05).ConclusionIn multi-level continuous TOLF operation, intravenous administration of low-dose TXA can effectively reduce blood loss, shorten postoperative drainage time, and does not increase the risk of complications.
