ObjectiveTo observe the effectiveness of posterior cervical laminoplasty, and to determine the significance of the classification of spinal cord compression of multi-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). MethodsThe clinical data were analyzed from 1 216 cases of multi-level CSM undergoing posterior cervical laminoplasty between February 1998 and February 2013. The patients were divided into 4 groups: soft anterior spinal cord compression and light canal occupation (<50%) in 569 cases (46.8%, group A), soft anterior spinal cord compression and heavy canal occupation (≥ 50%) in 365 cases (30.0%, group B), bony anterior spinal cord compression and light canal occupation in 210 cases (17.3%, group C), and bony anterior spinal cord compression and heavy canal occupation in 72 cases (5.9%, group D). There was no significant difference in gender, age, disease duration, lesion level, and complications among 4 groups (P>0.05). Because of different levels of spinal cord compression, there were significant differences in visual analogue scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score among 4 groups (P<0.05). ResultsCerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 9 cases (2 cases in group A, 1 case in group B, 3 cases in group C, and 3 cases in group D), and was cured after symptomatical treatment. There was no postoperative complication of wound infection, lamina re-closing, or C5 nerve root paralysis in 4 groups. The follow-up time ranged from 24 to 74 months (mean, 35 months). In group D, 17 patients (23.6%) had deteriorated symptom at 6-12 months after operation, and good recovery was achieved in the patients of the other 3 groups. At last follow-up, the JOA score and VAS score were significantly improved when compared with the preoperative scores in 4 groups (P<0.05); the JOA score, improvement rate, and VAS score of group D were significantly lower than those of groups A, B, and C (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference among groups A, B, and C (P>0.05). ConclusionIn the multi-level CSM, the anterior compression of the spinal cord should be classified, this has a guiding significance for the prognosis of CSM and the choice of surgical method.
ObjectiveTo discuss the effectiveness of high viscosity bone cement in unilateral puncture percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for the treatment of osteoporotic fresh vertebral fracture and operation skills of the bone cement leakage prevention. MethodsBetween November 2005 and October 2013, 82 elderly patients with fresh thoracolumbar vertebral fracture were first treated with hyperextension postural reduction and then with high viscosity bone cement in unilateral pedicle puncture PVP. Of 82 cases, 25 were male and 57 were female with an average age of 72.3 years (range, 61-90 years). The causes included falling injury in 28 cases, sprain injury in 11 cases, car shock injury in 4 cases, fracture by cough or sneeze in 6 cases, and no obvious reason in 33 cases. The time from injury to operation was 3-15 days (mean, 7.6 days). Single segment was involved in 74 cases, and double segments in 8 cases. The operation time, fluoroscopy time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospitalization time were recorded, bone cement leakage was observed;pain visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate pain relief effect;X-ray films were taken for measurement of the Cobb angle and anterior vertebral body height compression ratio to evaluate the correction effect. ResultsThe average operation time was 16 minutes;the average fluoroscopy time was 48 seconds;the average hospitalization time was 3 days. All cases were followed up from 6 to 18 months (mean, 6.8 months). Leakage of bone cement occurred in 6 cases (7.3%), including 3 cases of paravertebral soft tissue leakage, 1 case of intervertebral disc leakage, and 2 cases of venous leakage. There was no nerve damage or paralysis. At last follow-up, VAS score was significantly decreased to 1.3±0.9 from preoperative 8.8±1.2 (t=73.891, P=0.000);Cobb angle was significantly reduced to (25.06±6.18)° from preoperative (34.79±7.18)° (t=18.878, P=0.000);and the anterior vertebral body height compression ratio was significantly increased to 67.8%±5.7% from preoperative 41.3%±9.8% (t=36.880, P=0.000). ConclusionApplication of high viscosity bone cement in unilateral puncture PVP can shorten operation time, reduce bone cement leakage rate, and achieve satisfactory effectiveness.
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of spinal dural release on the effectiveness of expansive cervical laminoplasty for treating multi-segmental cervical myelopathy with ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament. MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 32 patients with multi-segmental cervical myelopathy with cervical ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament who underwent expansive cervical laminoplasty and spinal dural release between February 2011 and October 2013 (group A); and 36 patients undergoing simple expansive cervical laminoplasty between January 2010 and January 2011 served as controls (group B). There was no significant difference in gender, age, disease duration, affected segments, combined internal disease, preoperative cervical curvature, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and visual analogue scale (VAS) score between 2 groups (P>0.05). Postoperative JOA score and improvement rate, VAS score, posterior displacement of the spinal cord, and the change of cervical curvature were compared between 2 groups. ResultsSpinal dural tear occurred in 3 cases (2 cases in group A and 1 case in group B) during operation. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 3 cases (2 cases in group A and 1 case in group B) after operation. The patients were followed up 12-46 months (mean, 18.7 months). At last follow-up, the JOA score and VAS score were significantly improved in 2 groups when compared with preoperative scores (P<0.05). JOA score and improvement rate of group A were significantly higher than those of group B (P<0.05), but VAS score of group A was significantly lower than that of group B (P<0.05). At last follow-up, no significant difference in cervical curvature was found between 2 groups (P>0.05); posterior displacement of the spinal cord of group A was significantly larger than that of group B (P<0.05). No reclosed open-door was observed during follow-up. ConclusionFor patients with multi-segmental cervical myelopathy with ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament, full spinal dural release during expansive cervical laminoplasty can increase the posterior displacement of spinal cord, and significantly improve the effectiveness.