ObjectiveTo investigate the surgical outcome of combined posterior and anterior approaches for the resection of thoracolumbar spinal canal huge dumbbell-shaped tumor. MethodsBetween January 2009 and March 2015, 12 patients with thoracolumbar spinal canal huge dumbbell-shaped tumor were treated by posterior approach and anterolateral approach through diaphragmatic crura and thoracoabdominal incision for complete resection. There were 9 males and 3 females, with an average age of 45 years (range, 30-65 years). The disease duration was 8-64 weeks (mean, 12.7 weeks). The tumor was located at T12, L1 in 6 cases, at L1, 2 in 5 cases, and at L2, 3 in 1 case. The tumor size ranged from 4.3 cm×4.0 cm×3.5 cm to 7.5 cm×6.3 cm×6.0 cm. According to tumor outside the spinal involvement scope and site and based on the typing of Eden, 5 cases were rated as type b, 2 cases as type d, 4 cases as type e, and 1 case as type f in the transverse direction; two segments were involved in 8 cases, and more than two segments in 4 cases. The degree of tumor excision, tumor recurrence, and the spine stability were observed during follow-up. The verbal rating scale (VRS) was used to evaluate pain improvement. ResultsThe average surgical time was 170 minutes (range, 150- 230 minutes); the average intraoperative blood loss was 350 mL (range, 270-600 mL). All incisions healed by first intention, and no thoracic cavity infection and other operation related complication occurred. Of 12 cases, 10 were histologically confirmed as schwannoma, and 2 as neurofibroma. The patients were followed up 6 months to 6 years (mean, 31 months). Neurological symptoms were significantly improved in all patients, without lower back soreness. The thoracolumbar X-ray film and MRI showed no tumor residue. No tumor recurrence, internal fixator loosening, scoliosis, and other complications were observed during follow-up. VRS at last follow-up was significantly improved to grade 0 (10 cases) or grade I (2 cases ) from preoperative grade I (2 cases), grade II (8 cases), and grade III (2 cases) (Z= —3.217, P=0.001). ConclusionCombined posterior approach and anterolateral approach through diaphragmatic crura and thoracoabdominal incision for complete resection of thoracolumbar spinal canal huge dumbbell-shaped tumor is feasible and safe, and can protect the stability of thoracolumbar spine and paraspinal muscle function. It can obtain satisfactory clinical result to use this method for treating the complex type of thoracolumbar spinal canal dumbbell-shaped tumor.
Objective To explore the advantage of reconstruction belt for treating complicated acetabular fracture by combined anterior and posterior approaches through the comparison with reconstruction plate. Methods A retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 39 patients with acetabular fractures who met the selection criteria. After open reduction by combined anterior and posterior approaches was performed, fracture was fixed by reconstruction belt in 20 cases (trial group), and by reconstruction plate in 19 cases (control group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, cause of injury, time from injury to hospital, type of fracture, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score between 2 groups (P > 0.05). The number of plate shaping, plate shaping time, operation time, bleeding amount, perspective times, VAS score, modified Merled’Aubigne-Postel hip score, and related complications were recorded and compared. According to Matta standard, the fracture displacement was measured to evaluate the fracture reduction and fracture healing. Results The number of plate shaping, plate shaping time, operation time, bleeding amount, and perspective times in the trial group were significantly less than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The patients were followed up 12-29 months (mean, 21.1 months) in the trial group, and 12-27 months (mean, 20.5 months) in the control group. The VAS score was significantly lower at 7 days and 6 months after operation than at pre-operation, and at 6 months than at 7 days in 2 groups (P < 0.05), but difference was not significant between 2 groups (P > 0.05). At 6 months after operation, the Merled’Aubigne-Postel score of hip function in the trial group was 15.950±1.504, showing no significant difference when compared with the control group (15.895±1.629) (t= -0.110, P=0.913). The fracture displacement was (0.750±1.070) mm in the trial group and was (0.842±1.068) mm in the control group, showing no significant difference (t= -0.269, P=0.789). The X-ray films showed that all fractures healed in 2 groups. The healing time was (16.10±2.07) weeks in the trial group and was (15.84±2.14) weeks in the control group, showing no significant difference (t =0.382, P=0.075). Conclusion Reconstruction belt for complicated acetabular fracture by combined anterior and posterior approaches has similar effectiveness to reconstruction plate, but the number of plate shaping, plate shaping time, and perspective times are fewer.