Objective To study operative methods of treating upper cervical spine instability without injury. Methods Twentythree cases were treated by internal fixation with autologous bone grafts. Atlantoaxial arthrodesis were performed in 10 cases with Apofix interlaminar clamp(5 cases), Atlas cable system(3 cases) and Brookes(2 cases). Occipitocervical fusion were performed in the other 13 cases by using of CD-cervical(3 cases), Cervifix(8 cases) and Ustick fixation(2cases). Results All the 23 cases were followed up for 2.5 years in average (ranged from 6 months to 5 years). Solid arthrodesis was obtained in all 23 cases . Six months after operation, of the 20 cases with preoperation nervous lesion, improvement was achieved in 16 cases. According to JOA standard and Hirabashiformula,the rate of improvement was 27.1%.Conclusion Posterior fusion is recommended for upper cervical unstability.
Objective To evaluate the clinical importance of doublecontrast CTdiagnosis of traumatic anterior shoulder instability. Methods Forty-eight patients underwent double contrast CT scan. With the guide of CT scan, anterior arthrocentesis of the shoulder was performed and 4 ml of 76% urografin was injected into the joint and then 10 ml of filtrated air was injected. The patients wereexamined by SOMATOM CR Systematic CT. The results of double contrast CT of the 48 patients were divided into Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ degree according to the CT results related to their injury history, clinical symptoms, signs and operation findings. Results The patients had no complaint after the CT examination exceptfor 3 patients, who had slight pain within 2 days after CT examination. The results of double contrast CT were as follow:Ⅰ degree: 9 patients, Ⅱ degree: 22 patients, and Ⅲ degree: 17 patients. All patients with Ⅰ degree injuries were treated with rehabilitation program. The patients with Ⅱ degree injuries were mainly treated withrehabilitation program, but took much longer time. The patients with Ⅲ degreeinjuries were suggested to be treated with surgery. Conclusion To divide the results of double contrast CT into Ⅰ，Ⅱ and Ⅲ degree not only reflects the severity of traumatic anterior shoulder instability but provides information for the treatment of the instability.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the early clinical results with degenerative lumbar instability treated with transpedical screw fixation and intertransverse process autogenous bone grafting. METHODS: From September 2000 to February 2002, 19 patients (5 males and 14 females) of degenerative lumbar spine instability were treated with decompression for spinal canal stenosis, transpedical screw fixation and intertransverse process autogenous bone grafting. The locations of degenerative lumbar spine instability were between L4 and L5 in 10 patients, between L3, L4 and L5 in 4 cases, between L3 and L4 in 3 cases, between L5 and S1 in 2 cases. The results were evaluated after operation. The preoperative clinical symptoms disappeared completely as excellent results, relieved obviously as good results, improved as fair results and unrelieved or worsened as poor results. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were followed up for 4-18 months with an average of 8.1 months. The results of the treatment were excellent in 12 patients, good in 4 patients and fair in 1 patient. The excellent and good rate was 94.1%. Intertransverse process arthrodesis was obtained after 6 months of operation in all cases. No loosened and broken instruments occurred. CONCLUSION: The advantages of degenerative lumbar spine instability treated with transpedical screw fixation and intertransverse are reliable fixation, high successful rate of fusion and less influence on spinal canal. The above results show satisfactory clinical outcome.