Objective To analyze the effectiveness of combined treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis with MED, Quadrant, and Sextant-R systems. Methods Between August 2006 and June 2011, 35 patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis were treated, including 11 cases of isthmic spondylolisthesis and 24 cases of degenerative spondylolisthesis. There were 25 males and 10 females, with a mean age of 55 years (range, 33-71 years). The mean disease duration was 37 months (range, 8-75 months). Spondylolisthesis occurred at L4, 5 level in 21 patients and at L5, S1 level in 14 patients. According to Meyerding classification, 35 cases were rated as dergee I. The minimally invasive surgeries were performed by paraspinal muscle approach; Quadrant system was used for decompression and fusion at severe side, MED system for windowing of lamina at mild side, and Sextant-R system for fixation and reduction. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to evaluate pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI) to evaluate clinical outcomes, spondylolishesis ratio and intervertebral height to evaluate spondylolisthesis reduction. Results Lumbar continuous thin layer CT at postoperation showed that no pedicle screw invaded spinal canal and intervertebral fusion device was at good position. Incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 18-38 months (mean, 26 months). All patients got bone fusion and had no internal fixation failure by radiologic examination at 1 year after operation. Low back pain was relieved, lumbar function improved obviously, and satisfactory reduction of spondylolisthesis was obtained. At 2 weeks and 1 year after operation, the VAS score, ODI score, spondylolisthesis ratio, and intervertebral height were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (P lt; 0.05). VAS score and ODI score showed significant differences (P lt; 0.05) between at 2 weeks and 1 year after operation. Spondylolisthesis ratio and intervertebral height showed no significant difference (P gt; 0.05) between at 2 weeks and at 1 year after operation. Conclusion Minimally invasive surgical management for lumbar spondylolisthesis via MED, Quadrant, and Sextant-R systems is a safe and effective surgical technique. However, its indications should be well considered.
ObjectiveTo review the research progress of the diagnosis and treatment of Hangman fracture. MethodsThe original articles about the diagnosis and treatment of Hangman fracture were extensively reviewed and analyzed. ResultsNot only X-ray, but also MRI and CT scans are necessory for the diagnosis and assessment of Hangman fractures. The treatment of unstable Hangman fracture included posterior C2, C3 fixation, anterior C2, C3 fixation, and anterior C2, C3 fixation combined with posterior C2 pedicle screw fixation. The anterior surgical fixation is used by the anterior retropharyngeal approach or subaxial anterior approach, and it has the advantages of directly resecting the injured C2, C3 discs, getting a satisfactory cervical spine alignment, and avoiding the postoperative axial pain. However, posterior surgical fixation using C2 pedicle screw has the risks of neurovascular injuries. ConclusionThe surgical technique of Hangman fracture should be determined based on the patient's injury and surgeon's experience. Randomized control trials of different surgical techniques should be performed.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous monoplanar screw internal fixation via injured vertebrae for treatment of thoracolumbar fracture.MethodsBetween May 2015 and August 2017, 38 cases of thoracolumbar fractures without neurological symptom were treated with percutaneous monoplanar screw internal fixation via injured vertebrae. There were 22 males and 16 females, aged 25-52 years (mean, 32.5 years). There were 23 cases of AO type A3 and 15 cases of AO type A4. The injured vertebrae located at T11 in 4 cases, T12 in 9 cases, L1 in 11 cases, L2 in 10 cases, L3 in 3 cases, and L4 in 1 case. The mean interval between injury and operation was 4.5 days (range, 3-7 days). The pre- and post-operative degrees of lumbodorsal pain were estimated by the visual analogue scale (VAS) score. The X-ray film, CT three-dimensional reconstruction, and MRI were performed, and the ratio of anterior vertebral body height and sagittal Cobb angle were measured to assess the kyphosis of the fractured area.ResultsAll operations in 38 patients successfully completed without complications such as dural sac, nerve root, or vascular injury. The operation time was (56.2±3.7) minutes and the intraoperative blood loss was (42.3±3.5) mL. All incisions healed by first intention without redness, swelling, or exudation. All patients were followed up 17-33 months, with an average of 21.5 months. The VAS score at each time point after operation significantly improved when compared with that before operation (P<0.05), and significantly improved at 3 months and last follow-up when compared with that at 1 week (P<0.05); there was no significant difference between 3 months and last follow-up (P>0.05). There was no internal fixator loosening, breakage, or delayed kyphosis in all patients. The ratio of anterior vertebral body height and sagittal Cobb angle significantly improved postoperatively (P<0.05), and no significant difference was found between the different time points after operation (P>0.05).ConclusionPercutaneous monoplanar screw internal fixation via injured vertebrae is an easy approach to treat thoracolumbar fracture without neurological symptom, which can effectively restore vertebral body height and correct kyphosis, and avoid long-term segmental kyphosis.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of injured vertebra fixation with inclined-long pedicle screws combined with interbody fusion for thoracolumbar fracture dislocation with disc injury. Methods Between January 2017 and June 2022, 28 patients with thoracolumbar fracture dislocation with disc injury were underwent posterior depression, the injured vertebra fixation with inclined-long pedicle screws, and interbody fusion. There were 22 males and 6 females, with a mean age of 41.4 years (range, 22-58 years). The causes of injury included falling from height in 18 cases, traffic accident in 5 cases, and bruise in 5 cases. Fracture segment included 1 case of T11, 7 cases of T12, 9 cases of L1, and 11 cases of L2. According to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale, the spinal injuries were graded as grade A in 4 cases, grade B in 2 cases, grade C in 11 cases, and grade D in 11 cases. Preoperative spinal canal encroachment ratio was 17.7%-75.3% (mean, 44.0%); the thoracolumbar injury classification and severity score (TLICS) ranged from 9 to 10 (mean, 9.9). Seventeen patients were associated with other injuries. The time from injury to operation ranged from 1 to 4 days (mean, 2.3 days). The perioperative indicators (operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and the occurrence of complications), clinical evaluation indicators [visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)], radiologic evaluation indicators [anterior vertebral height ratio (AVHR), kyphosis Cobb angle (KCA), intervertebral space height (ISH), vertebral wedge angle (VWA), displacement angle (DA), and percent fracture dislocation displacement (PFDD)], neurological function, and interbody fusion were recorded. Results The operation time was 110-159 minutes (mean, 130.2 minutes). The intraoperative blood loss was 200-510 mL (mean, 354.3 mL). All incisions healed by first intention, and no surgical complications such as wound infection or hematoma occurred. All patients were followed up 12-15 months (mean, 12.7 months). The chest and lumbar pain significantly relieved, VAS scores and ODI after operation were significantly lower than those before operation, and further decreased with the extension of postoperative time, with significant differences (P<0.05). At last follow-up, the ASIA classification of neurological function of the patients was grade A in 3 cases, grade B in 1 case, grade C in 1 case, grade D in 10 cases, and grade E in 13 cases, which was significantly different from preoperative one (Z=−4.772, P<0.001). Imaging review showed that AVHR, KCA, ISH, VWA, DA, and PFDD significantly improved at 1 week, 3 months and last follow-up (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between different time points after operation (P>0.05). At last follow-up, according to the modified Brantigan score, all patients achieved good intervertebral bone fusion, including 22 complete fusion and 6 good intervertebral fusion with a few clear lines. No complications such as internal fixation failure or kyphosis occurred during follow-up.Conclusion The injured vertebra fixation with inclined-long pedicle screws combined with interbody fusion is an effective treatment for thoracolumbar fracture dislocation with disc injury, which can correct the fracture dislocation, release the nerve compression, restore the injured vertebral height, and reconstruct spinal stabilization.