Objective To investigate the latest research and the therapeutic development in the injuries to the spine and spinal cord. Methods Literature concerned was reviewed, combined with our own research and clinical experience, to summarize the trend of the researches and their clinical application in the treatment of the injured spine and spinal cord.Results Theposterior approach atlantoaxial stabilization technique changed the conventional wiring technique into the transarticular screw fixation to the plate and pedicle or the lateral mass screw fixation technique. Theclinical application of the transoralpharyngeal atlantoaxial reduction plate fixation technique showed a good effect on the reduction of atlantoaxial dislocation. However, there were no unified criteria for selection of the surgical approach, fixation level, and fusion mode in the treatment of thoracolumbar spinalfractures. Under optimal conditions, both the anterior and the posterior approaches could achieve good clinical effects on decompression and spinal reconstruction. The single level fixation technique showed some advantages in treating certaintypes of thoracolumbar spinal fractures when compared with the traditional cross-sectional fixation. The endoscopy-assistant and image-guiding spinal intervention techniques were evolved in China during these years. In the treatment of the obstinate painful osteoporotic vertebral compressive fracture, percutaneous vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty achieved good results in the pain relief and spinal reconstruction. Numerous basic and clinical researches have given us a further understanding of the medical protection of acute spinal cord injury, and biological treatments have given us new ideas on neural reparation and regeneration. Cell transplantation and gene therapy have become the most promising treatment strategies in this field.Conclusion With the rapid development of spine surgery, the repair and reconstruction ofthe injured spine and spinal cord made a great stride in the recent years.
Objective To investigate the method and effectiveness of vacuum seal ing drainage (VSD) combined with debridement for treatment of deep infection after hip or knee replacement. Methods Between September 2006 and May 2010, 13 cases of deep infection after joint replacement surgery were treated, including 5 males and 8 females with an average ageof 62.5 years (range, 56-78 years). Infection occurred at 7 days to 1 year and 2 months (median, 14 days) after joint replacement surgery. The time from infection to admission was 8 days to 4 years and 6 months (median, 21 days). Purulent secretion with or without blood were observed in all patients; sinus formed in 5 cases; and unhealing of incision or drainage opening disunion were observed in 8 cases. The size of skin defect at secretion drainage or sinus opening site was 5 mm × 3 mm to 36 mm × 6 mm; the depth of drainage tunnel or sinus was 21-60 mm. The histopathological examination in 11 patients showed acute infection or chronic infection with acute onset in 10 cases, and tuberculosis in 1 case. In 6 cases of secretion culture, Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 5 cases. After thorough debridement, wound irrigation was performed during the day and VSD during the night in 10 cases. VSD was merely performed in 3 cases. Results In 1 case after revision total hip arthroplasty, the wound bled profusely with VSD, then VSD stopped and associated with compression bandage, VSD proceeded again 3 days later with no heavy bleeding. All the patient were followed up 1 year to 4 years and 5 months (mean, 2 years and 11 months). Infection were controlled 7-75 days (mean, 43 days) after VSD in 10 cases. In these cases, prosthesis were reserved, no recurrent infection was observed, wound were healed, limb function were reserved. VSD was refused in 1 case because of hypersensitive of the pain at the vacuum site, infection control was failed and amputation at the thigh was proceeded. The effect was not evident in 1 case with tuberculosis infection, then the prosthesis was removed and arthrodesis was proceeded followed by complete union. In 1 case, infection was cured with VSD, recurrent infection happened after 9 months, antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer was used at end, and no recurrence was observed 1 year and 4 months later. Conclusion VSD combined with debridement can drainage deep infection sufficiently, promote wound healing, reduce recurrent infection rate, maximize the possibil ity of prosthesis preservation.