ObjectiveTo systematically review the effectiveness and safety of transurethral ureteroscopy lithotripsy in the treatment of upper ureteral calculi. MethodsWe electronically searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2013), PubMed (1966 to 2013.8), EMbase (1990 to 2013.8), CNKI (1949 to 2013.9), CBM (1978 to 2013.9), VIP (1989 to 2013.8) and WanFang Data (1990 to 2013.8) for the randomized controlled studies (RCTs) related to retroperitoneoscopy ureterolithotomy versus transurethral ureteroscopy lithotripsy for upper ureteral calculi. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and evaluated methodological quality of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsA total of 16 RCTs involving 1 410 patients (transurethral ureteroscopy lithotripsy:747 cases; etroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy:663 cases) were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, transurethral ureteroscopy lithotripsy was lower than retroperitoneoscopy ureterolithotomy in success rates of surgery (OR=0.26, 95%CI 0.14 to 0.51), 3-day stone clearance rates (OR=0.06, 95%CI 0.03 to 0.11), and 1-month stone clearance rates (OR=0.21, 95%CI 0.08 to 0.53), while it showed superiority in operation time (MD=-22.35, 95%CI-35.29 to-9.41) and postoperative hospital stay (MD=-1.84, 95%CI-3.44 to-0.24). ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that, in the treatment of upper ureteral calculi, transurethral ureteroscopy lithotripsy causes less operation time and postoperative hospital stay, but it had no advantage in success rates of surgery, 3-day stone clearance rates, and 1-month stone clearance rates.
Objective To compare the effectiveness between short segmental fixation combined with vertebroplasty (SSF+VP) and short segmental pedicle screw fixation combined with bone graft (SSF+BG) in the treatment of unstable type Kümmell’s disease so as to provide a reference for the selection of the surgical method. Methods Between March 2013 and February 2015, 48 patients with unstable type Kümmell’s disease who were in accordance with the inclusive criteria were included in the study. SSF+VP were used in 25 cases (SSF+VP group) and SSF+BG in 23 cases (SSF+BG group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, disease duration, bone mineral density, fracture segment, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and kyphotic Cobb angle between 2 groups (P>0.05). The operation time and complications related to operation were recorded; the effectiveness was evaluated by VAS, ODI, and kyphotic Cobb angle. Results The operation time was (107.7±18.8) minutes in SSF+VP group and was (113.7±22.4) minutes in SSF+BG group, showing no significant difference between 2 groups (t=–1.045,P=0.302). Bone cement leakage occurred in 6 cases of SSF+VP group, and incision delayed healing occurred in 1 case of SSF+BG group. All patients achieved bone graft fusion on X-ray films. The bone graft fusion time was (15.1±1.3) weeks in SSF+VP group and (15.7±1.8) weeks in SSF+BG group, showing no significant difference between 2 groups (t=–1.361,P=0.180). The VAS, ODI, and kyphotic Cobb angle at immediate after operation and at last follow-up were significantly lower than preoperative ones (P<0.05). The VAS, ODI, and kyphotic Cobb angle had no significant difference between at immediate and at last follow-up in SSF+VP group (P>0.05). In SSF+BG group, VAS at last follow-up was significantly lower than that at immediate after operation (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found in kyphotic Cobb angle and ODI (P>0.05). SSF+VP group was significantly better than SSF+BG group in VAS at immediate after operation (P<0.05), but SSF+BG group was significantly better than SSF+VP group at last follow-up (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in kyphotic Cobb angle and ODI between 2 groups at immediate after operation and at last follow-up (P>0.05). Conclusion SSF+BG can achieve satisfactory effectiveness in the treatment of unstable type Kümmell’s disease, and it has the advantages of good bony healing, obvious improvement of pain, and low complication incidence when compared with SSF+VP.