Objective To evaluate the effect of anterolateral approach in treating thoracolumbar disc protrusion. Methods From May 2004 to May 2008, 11 patients with thoracolumbar disc protrusion (T10-L3) underwent discectomy, autologous il iac bone graft, and internal fixation via anterolateral approach. There were 9 males and 2 females aged 26-57 years old (average 42.8 years old). The course of disease was 1 week-11 years (average 2.7 years). Nine patients showed the lower l imbs weakness, 8 had sensory disturbance, 6 presented with lumbodorsal pain, 5 had the lower l imb pain, 4 presentedwith sphincter muscle disturbance, 3 suffered from foot drop, and 5 had a history of lower back injury. X-ray, CT, and MRI test showed that 9 cases had the single-segmental protrusion, 2 cases had double-segmental protrusion, 2 cases were accompanied with ossification of the thoracic vertebra yellow l igament, 2 cases were combined with ossification of the vertebra posterior longitudinal l igament, and 1 was compl icated with Scheuermann disease. Preoperatively, the intervertebral height was (7.2 ± 1.3) mm and JOA score was 6.4 ± 2.8. Results The time of operation was 2.5-5.5 hours (average 3.5 hours); the blood loss during operation was 500-1 200 mL (average 750 mL). During operation, intraoperative pleural tear occurred in 1 patient, peritoneal tear in 1 patient, and dural laceration in 1 patient. Repairing was performed intraoperative and preventive suction drainage was used for 3-5 days. No postoperative hydropneumothorax and cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred. All incisions healed by first intention. No postoperative compl ications of nerve system occurred. All the patients were followed up for 1-4 years (average 2.4 years). X-ray films showed that all the patients achieved bony fusion without the occurrence breakage and loosening of titanium plate and screw 6-9 months after operation. Three cases displayed subtle scol iosis (10-15°) without influence on spinal equil ibration. The intervertebral height increased to (12.3 ± 1.5) mm 2 weeks after operation, indicating there was a significant difference compared with preoperative value (P lt; 0.05). The intervertebral height 1 year after operation when the bony fusion was reached decreased to (7.5 ± 1.2) mm, indicating there was no significant difference compared to the preoperative value (P gt; 0.05). The JOA score increased to 7.6 ± 3.2 at 1 year after operation, indicating there was a significant difference compared with preoperative value (P lt; 0.05). The symptoms and signs of all the patients were improved to various degrees after operation. According to improvement rate evaluation system proposed by Hirabayashi t al., 4 cases were graded as excellent, 6 as good, 1 as fair, and the excellent and good rate was 90.9%. Conclusion Treating thoracolumbar disc protrusion via anterolateral approach is safe and effective.
ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of the femoral neck system (FNS) and inverted triangle cannulated screws (ITCS) for the treatment of Pauwels type Ⅲ femoral neck fractures.MethodsThe clinical data of 59 patients with Pauwels type Ⅲ femoral neck fractures treated between May 2019 and November 2020 were retrospectively analysed. The patients were divided into FNS group (28 cases) and ITCS group (31 cases) according to the different internal fixation. There was no significant difference in gender, age, affected side, body mass index, cause of injury, smoking history, alcohol abuse history, Pauwels angle, Garden classification, AO/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification, and time from injury to operation between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time, incision length, intraoperative blood loss, extra assisted reduction procedures (Kirschner wire prying reduction or open reduction), hospitalization stay, and early complications were recorded and compared between the two groups. Garden index and Haidukewych score were used to evaluate fracture reduction. Fracture healing time, lateral thigh irritation, time of partial or total weight-bearing postoperatively, shortening length and degree of femoral neck, change of caput-collum-diaphysis (CCD) angle (the difference of CCD angle between immediate after operation and last follow-up), incidence of osteonecrosis of femoral head and revision surgery were recorded and compared between the two groups. Hip joint function were evaluated by Harris score.ResultsThe operation time of FNS group was significantly shorter than ITCS group, and the incision length was significantly longer than ITCS group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss, assisted reduction, Garden index, Haidukewych score, and hospitalization stay between the two groups (P>0.05). All the incisions healed by first intention. There were 2 deep vein thrombosis in the FNS group and 1 pulmonary infection and 1 deep vein thrombosis in the ITCS group. No significant difference was found in the incidence of early postoperative complications (7.1% vs. 6.5%) between the two groups (P=1.000). Patients in both groups were followed up 3-14 months, and there was no significant difference in follow-up time between the two groups (t=–0.553, P=0.582). The fracture healing time, Harris score, and the partial weight-bearing time after operation of the FNS group were significantly better than those of the ITCS group (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in total weight-bearing time between the two groups (Z=–1.298, P=0.194). No lateral thigh irritation was found in the FNS group, while 10 patients in the ITCS group had lateral thigh irritation, and the incidence between the two groups (0 vs. 32.3%) was significant (P=0.001). At last follow-up, the shortening length and degree of femoral neck and the change of CCD angle in FNS group were significantly less than those in ITCS group (P<0.05). There was no patient with osteonecrosis of femoral head or reoperation in the FNS group, while 4 patients in the ITCS group underwent reoperation (including 2 cases of osteonecrosis of the femoral head). However, the incidences (0 vs. 6.5%; 0 vs. 12.9%) between the two groups were not significant (P=0.493; P=0.114).ConclusionUsing FNS to treat Pauwels type Ⅲ femoral neck fracture is simple as well as able to reduce the shortening of the femoral neck and the change of the CCD angle. Also, FNS is conducive to the recovery of hip joint function, which should be considered as a new choice for the treatment of young femoral neck fracture patients.