Objective To explore the anatomic basis for theanterior approach screw fixation through the C2 vertebral body into the C1 lateral mass and toinvestigate its primary clinical application. Methods Twenty-one adult corpse specimens were anatomically measured. The minimum lateral angle α, the maximum lateral angle β, and the maximum posterior angle γ were calculated based on the data from the anatomic measurement. All the specimens were given an X-ray examination, the minimum lateral angle α, the maximum lateral angle β, and the maximum posterior angle γ were measured. The statistical analysis was made on the data obtained from the calculation in the specimens and the measurement in the X-ray films. The simulation of the approach was made onthe specimen. From October 2004 to July 2006, the simulated approach was used in 5 patients (3 males, 2 females; age, 30-55 years; illness course, 3 months-2 years) with the old atlanto-axial joint dislocation . The Frankel grading system revealed the spinal cord injury degree as follows: 1 patientwas in Grade B, 2 in Grade C, and 2 in Grade D. All the patients were treated with this surgical approach. The postoperative X-ray and CT examinations were performed. Results Angle α was 14.0±1.6°, β was 30.0±2.3°, γ was 29.0±2.9°. No significant difference existed between the angles calculated in the specimens and measured in the X-ray films (Pgt;0.05). The angles for the practical application during operation were as follows: α was 11.2±1.6°, β was 28.8±2.3°, and γ was 29.3±2.9°. The follow-up for an average of 14 months revealed that 1 patient recovered to Grade C, 1 to Grade D2, and 3 to Grade D3 in the spinal cord function according the modified Frankel grading system.Conclusion The anterior approach screw fixation through the C2 vertebral body into the C1 lateral massis feasible and safe in treatment of the old atlantoaxial joint dislocation ifthe screw insertion is exact in direction. This technique only makes the atlas temporarily stable, and so the posterior bone graft should be added into the atlantoaxial joint immediately in the one- or two-stage operation so as to achieve a long-lasting stability.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of non-absorbable suture or suture anchor fixation by anterior approach in the treatment of anteromedial facet fractures of the ulnar coronoid process.
MethodsBetween February 2007 and February 2012,16 cases of anteromedial facet fractures of the ulnar coronoid process were treated with operation.There were 9 males and 7 females,aged 20-80 years (mean,43.5 years).The causes of injury were traffic accident injury in 7 cases,tumble injury in 5 cases,and falling injury from height in 4 cases.The time from injury to operation was 6.8 days on average (range,2-8 days).All cases had closed fractures.According to O'Driscoll classification,there were 4 cases of type Ⅱ a,7 cases of type Ⅱ b,and 5 cases of type Ⅱ c.Among 16 patients,7 had simple anteromedial facet fractures of the ulnar coronoid process,and 9 had associated injury,including terrible triad in 3,Monteggia fractures in 4,and olecranon fractures in 2.All fractures were fixed with non-absorbable suture in 10 cases,and with suture anchor in 6 cases.The Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS),range of motion (ROM),and complications were used to assess the elbow function.
ResultsThe incisions all healed by first intension,without neurovascular injury.Fifteen patients were followed up 10-48 months (mean,25.3 months).The X-ray films showed that all fractures healed,with the mean healing time of 17.5 weeks (range,11-30 weeks).At last follow-up,the mean MEPS score was 88.5(range,55-100);the results were excellent in 10 cases,good in 3 cases,fair in 1 case,and poor in 1 case,with an excellent and good rate of 86.7%.The mean ROM of flexion and extension was 118°(range,35-145°),and the mean ROM of forearm rotation was 138°(range,85-165°).One case had elbow instability,and 3 had slight pain.No heterotopic ossification and traumatic arthritis occurred during the follow-up.
ConclusionThe anteromedial facet fractures of the ulnar coronoid process can be clearly exposed through anterior approach,and the fracture fixation using non-absorbable suture and suture anchor fixation usually can restore the elbow function.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of the anterior and posterior approach for the treatment in ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the cervical spine.MethodsAn electronical search was conducted in PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, WanFang Data and CNKI from inception to December 2016 to collect studies which compared the anterior cervical approach with posterior approach for OPLL. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk bias of included studies and then RevMan 5.3 software was used to perform meta-analysis.ResultsA total of 20 studies involving 1 263 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: compared with the posterior approach group, the anterior approach group had higher postoperative JOA score (MD=0.98, 95%CI 0.52 to 1.44, P<0.000 1), higher improvement (MD=12.18, 95% CI 6.65 to 17.71, P<0.000 1), higher re-operation rate (OR=3.21, 95%CI 1.70 to 6.08, P=0.000 3), longer operation time (MD=53.43, 95%CI 12.77 to 94.09, P=0.01) and more bleeding (MD=122.88, 95%CI 39.56 to 206.20, P=0.004), respectively. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between two groups (OR=1.49, 95%CI 0.88 to 2.51, P=0.14).ConclusionThe anterior approach for the treatment in OPLL of the cervical spine can achieve better postoperative neurological improvement and lower neurological deterioration, while the posterior approach for the treatment in OPLL has lower re-operation rate, less blood loss and shorter operation time. The incidence of complications between two groups is similar. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are needed to verify above conclusion.
Objective To evaluate the cl inical outcomes of primary anterior focus debridement, bone autograft, and internal fixation via transperitoneal approach in treating tuberculosis of the lumbosacral junction. Methods From February 2002 to April 2007, 16 patients with tuberculosis of the lumbosacral junction underwent anterior radical debridement, autologous il iac bone graft (two pieces of il iac bone, 5 cm × 3 cm in size), and internal fixation via transperitoneal approach, including 4 males and 12 females aged 27-63 years old (average 38 years old). The course of the disease ranged from 6 to 18 months (average 10 months). All patients experienced various degrees of pain in the lumbosacral area and toxic symptoms of thetuberculosis. Nine cases were compl icated with radicular pain in the lower extremities, and 3 cases had saddle area anaesthesia. Two cases were initially diagnosed as lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion and treated accordingly. The segments involved by the tuberculosis were L5-S1 level in all cases. The average erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 61 mm/hour. Imaging examination confirmed the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis. All cases received four antitubercular drugs and nutrition support for nerve before operation. Operation was performed when hepatorenal function was normal, and the toxic symptom of the tuberculosis was under control or ESR was decreased. Results Operation was performed safely in all cases without injuries of abdominal viscera, major blood vessel, cauda equina nerve and ureter. All wounds healed by first intention. No recurrence of tuberculosis and formation of sinuses occurred. All cases were followed up for 12-37 months (average 21 months). No such compl ications as tuberculous peritonitis and intestinal obstruction occurred. No postoperative erectile dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation occurred in the 4 male patients. ESR was recovered to normal 3-6 months after operation, and regular X-ray and CT exams showed no displacement of grafted bone. All patients achieved bony fusion 12 months after operation without the occurrence breakage and loosening of titanium plate and screw. The radical pain in the lower extremities and the saddlearea anaesthesia disappeared. Four patients had pain in the il iac donor site, 2 patients had mild pain in the lumbosacral area, and the pain was el iminated after symptomatic treatment. The therapeutic effect was graded as excellent in 14 cases and good in 2 cases according to the therapeutic effect evaluation criteria of Chen and co-workers. Conclusion The surgical treatment of tuberculosis of the lumbosacral junction with primary anterior focus debridement, bone autograft, and internal fixation via transperitoneal approach can achieve satisfying bony fusion and reconstruct spinal stabil ity.
ObjectiveTo investigate the application value of totally laparoscopic associating liver tourniquet and portal ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALTPS) using the anterior approach technique for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with hepatitis B cirrhosis.
MethodsIn September, 2014, a patient suffered cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma in the right liver scheduled for two-stage liver resection, in whom the future liver remnant (FLR) was considered too small (FLR/standard liver volume:29.1%, FLR/body wight:0.49%). In the first stage, using totally laparoscopic technique, a tourniquet was placed around the parenchymal transection line on the Cantlie's line via an anterior approach through retrohepatic tunnel for staged right hepatectomy, and the right portal vein was ligated. In the second stage, totally laparoscopic right hemihepatectomy was carried out on 10 days after the first-stage operation that achieved sufficient hypertrophy of the FLR.
ResultsThe FLR on postoperative day 4 of the first stage increased from 301.48 to 496.45 mL (FLR/standard liver volume:47.9%, FLR/body wight:0.81%), with a 64.67% hypertrophy. And the FLR on postoperative day 8 of the first stage increased to 510.96 mL (FLR/standard liver volume:49.3%, FLR/body wight:0.84%), with a 69.48% hypertrophy. The remnant liver volume on postoperative day 5 of the second stage increased to 704.53 mL. The duration of the first stage was 180 min, intraoperative blood loss was 50 mL, and patient did not received a blood transfusion. The duration of the second stage was 220 min, intraoperative blood loss was 400 mL, and patient did not required a blood transfusion. No serious complications happened. The patient was discharged on 7 days after the second stage.
ConclusionsAs a effective, safe, simple, and "non-touch" technique which provided a less aggressive modification of the ALPPS procedureto achieve oncological efficacy, the totally laparoscopic ALTPS using the anterior approach technique also could achieve sufficient hypertrophy of the FLR in several days. A proper expansion of the indications for the procedure is safe and feasible in HCC patients with cirrhosis.
ObjectiveTo study the effectiveness and safety of simply anterior approach for lower cervical spine fracture dislocation (Allen-Ferguson II or III type) without spinal cord injury.
MethodsTwenty-five patients with lower cervical spine fracture dislocation (Allen-Ferguson II or III type) without spinal cord injury were treated between June 2013 and June 2015. There were 17 males and 8 females with an average age of 41.2 years (range, 31-57 years). Injury was caused by falling from height in 11 cases, by bruise in 5 cases, by crash of heavy object in 6 cases, and by traffic accident in 3 cases. There were 24 cases of fresh fractures and 1 case of old fracture. According to the Frankel grading criteria, 19 cases were rated as grade E and 6 cases as grade D. The injured levels included C4, 5 in 5 cases, C5, 6 in 14 cases, and C6, 7 in 6 cases. Unilateral locked-facet joint was observed in 9 cases, and bilateral locked-facet joint in 16 cases. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and surgical complications were recorded; the Odom standard was used to evaluate the effectiveness. The Cobb angle and D-value (the degree of cervical kyphosis or lordosis) were measured on the X-ray film, the bone graft fusion rate was recorded.
ResultsThe operation was successfully completed in 25 patients; the operation time was 66 to 115 minutes, the intraoperative blood loss was 80 to 220 mL. The postoperative follow-up time was 12 to 36 months (mean, 19.3 months). Postoperative temporary dysphagia occurred in 1 case, and pain at donor site in 2 cases; there were no complications of spinal cord injury, hematoma, hoarse, and esophageal fistula. The nerve function was improved from preoperative grade D to postoperative grade E at 3 months. The X-ray films showed bone graft fusion; there was no loss of intervertebral height or loosening of internal fixation. At 3 months after operation, the effectiveness was excellent in 18 cases, good in 6 cases, and fair in 1 case, and the excellent and good rate was 96.0%. The postoperative Cobb angle and the D value were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (P < 0.05).
ConclusionSimple anterior approach has the advantages of good effectiveness, small trauma, and fast recovery for treating lower cervical spine fracture dislocation (Allen-Ferguson II or III type) without spinal cord injury.
ObjectiveTo investigate clinical application value of totally laparoscopic splenectomy via anterior approach.
MethodsThe clinical data of 26 consecutive patients underwent totally laparoscopic splenectomy via anterior approach from March 2012 to June 2015 in this hospital were analyzed retrospectively. There were 11 males and 15 females. These patients included 2 cases of traumatic spleen ruptures, 4 cases of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpuras, 1 case of hereditary spherocytosis, 3 cases of splenic cysts, 5 cases of autoimmunity hemolytic anemias, 2 cases of splenic hemangioma, 1 case of hematolymphangioma, 8 cases of cirrhosis portal hypertensions. The operative time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative time to out-of-bed activity, the first flatus/bowel motion time, complications, and hospital stay were analyzed retrospectively.
ResultsTwenty-six patients were successfully carried out totally laparoscopic splenectomy via anterior approach. The average operation time was 93 min (72-120 min). The average blood loss was 60 mL (10-80 mL). The postoperative time to out-of-bed activity was 24 h. The first flatus/bowel motion time was 2-3 d. The average hospital stay was 7 d (6-9 d). The postoperative pancreatic fistula (Grade A) occurred in 1 patient, who recovered well on day 6 by postoperative drainage management. After 5-32 months of following-up, all patients recovered smoothly without any long-term complications.
ConclusionThe preliminary results of limited cases in this study show that totally laparoscopic splenectomy via anterior approach is feasible, safe, and minimally invasive.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of operation via anterior approach in treating pelvic crescent fra cture. Methods Between June 2007 and December 2009, 18 patients with pelvic crescent fracture were treated, including 11 males and 7 females with an average age of 32 years (range, 19-52 years). The locations were the right in 8 cases and the leftin 10 cases. Fractures were caused by traffic accident in 10 cases, by fall ing from height in 5 cases, and by crushing with heavy weights in 3 cases. All patients suffered lateral compression injuries of the pelvis. The mean time from injury to operation was 7.8 days (range, 3-22 days). The preoperative mean displacement of the posterior pelvic ring was 13.7 mm (range, 5-24 mm) according to the method described by Matta et al. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, displacement correction of the posterior pelvic ring, fracture heal ing time, and Hannover pelvic score were recorded. Results The average operation time was 175 minutes (range, 110-230 minutes); the average intraoperative blood loss was 561.7 mL (range, 300-1 100 mL); the postoperative mean displacement of the posterior pelvic ring was 1.2 mm (range, 0-3 mm); and the mean displacement correction of the posterior pelvic ring was 12.6 mm (range, 4-23 mm). No intraoperative lumbosacral nervous injury occurred. Superficial wound infection occurred in 2 cases and was cured after 1 week of wound drainage and appl ication of antibiotic. The others achieved heal ing of incision by first intention. Fifteen patients were followed up 16.1 months on average (range, 13-22 months). The X-ray films showed fracture heal ing in all patients. The fracture heal ing time was 3.6 months on average (range, 3-4 months). No patient had loss of reduction or failure of internal fixation. The cl inical outcome was excellent in 10 cases (66.7%) and good in 5 cases (33.3%) according to Hannover pelvic score; social reintegration was complete in 13 cases (86.7%) and incomplete in 2 cases (13.3%). Conclusion Operation via anterior approach is a good choice in the treatment of pelvic crescent fracture.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness and safety of tranexamic acid (TXA) in anterior approach surgery for thoracolumbar fractures.MethodsFrom January 2017 to January 2020, a total of 68 thoracolumbar fracture patients undergoing anterior approach surgery were included and randomly divided into TXA group (n=33) and control group (n=35). Patients in the TXA group were given a dose of 15 mg/kg of TXA by intravenous infusion during 30 min before skin incision and an additional 15 mg/kg of TXA intravenously at 8 h after the first infusion, while the ones in the control group were given 15 mg/kg of normal saline at the same time. Basic data of the patients were collected. The hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, coagulation and fibrinolysis indexes of the patients were monitored preoperatively, 24-hour postoperatively, and 72-hour postoperatively. The intraoperative blood loss and wound drainage of the patients were recorded. The incidence of blood transfusion and thrombotic events were collected. Statistical analysis was performed.ResultsThere was no significant difference in age, sex, body mass index, operation time, fracture location distribution, anesthesia classification of American Society of Anesthesiologists, neurologic grade of American Spinal Injury Association, injury time, or length of hospital stay between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with those in the control group, the total blood loss [(1 398.49±312.24) vs. (1 642.30±357.78) mL, P=0.003], intraoperative blood loss [(432.83±74.76) vs. (486.31±86.51) mL, P=0.008], and wound drainage [(276.73±89.42) vs. (389.24±125.71) mL, P<0.001] in the TXA group reduced. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in the preoperative hemoglobin or hematocrit (P>0.05), but the 24-hour postoperative hemoglobin concentration [(112.67±20.59) vs. (102.64±19.41) g/L, P=0.042] and hematocrit [(32.25±4.12)% vs. (30.13±4.28)%, P=0.042] in the TXA group were higher than those in the control group. The incidence of allogeneic blood transfusion in the TXA group was lower than that in the control group (6.1% vs. 25.7%, P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in preoperative, 24-hour postoperative, or 72-hour postoperative prothrombin time, international standardized ratio, activated partial prothrombin time, platelet count, fibrinogen, d-dimer, or fibrinogen degradation products between the two groups (P>0.05), and no thrombotic complications were found.ConclusionTXA has good efficacy and safety in the anterior approach surgery for thoracolumbar fractures.
Objective To explore the cl inical appl ication of rib autograft for reconstructing il iac crest by anterior approach of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and to observe the short-term and long-term effects. Methods From September 2004 to September 2007, 54 cases of thoracic and lumbar injuries were treated by the surgery of anterior approach of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.There were 39 males and 15 females with an average age of 42 years old (range, 27-59 years old), including 4 cases of tuberculosis of spine and 50 cases of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae bursting fracture. All cases underwent the surgery of anterior approach of thoracic or lumbar and il iac crest was used as autograft. Fifty-four patients wererandomized into the reconstruction group (RG, n=25) and the non-reconstruction group (NRG, n=29). The patients of RGgroup were treated with rib autograft for reconstructing il iac crest. There were no statistically significant differences in general data between two groups (P gt; 0.05). The visual analogue scores (VAS) was used to estimate pain degree of treated hip after 2 weeks, and 3, 12 months. The extenion satisfaction grade of il iac crest and the comfort degree of action while bundl ing waist belt were estimated after 12 months. It was observed whether or not anterior superior il iac spine avulsion fracture occurred on the premise of non-accidental trauma within 1 year. The occurrence of fracture and the union status of reconstructed il iac crest were observed by X-ray after 1 year. Results All wounds achieved primary heal ing. No compl ication was found at early stage. All patients were followed up 1 year. There was no significant difference in the VAS of the treated hip under conditions of cl inostatism rest between two groups after 2 weeks and 3 months (P gt; 0.05). But there was significant difference in the VAS under conditions of action after 2 weeks and 3 months, under conditions of cl inostatism rest after 12 months (P lt; 0.05), and the VAS of RG was lower than that of NRG. The exterior satisfaction grade of il iac crest and comfort degree of action while bundl ing waist belt in RG were higher than those in NRG after 1 year, showing significant differences (P lt; 0.05). No anterior superior il iac spine avulsion fracture occurred after 1 year. And in RG group no fracture of reconstructed il iac crest occurred after 1 year. The X-ray film showed that the two ends of rib reconstructed by il iac crest were blur, and that the rib healed well with il iac bone. Conclusion Rib autograft for reconstruction of il iac crest by anterior approach of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae was economic and convenient. It could improve local appearance, reduce the local pain, and improve patients’ l ife quality.
