Objective To evaluate the cl inical results of allogeneic bone graft for interbody fusion in cervical tuberculosis. Methods Between January 2000 and January 2008, 30 cases of cervical tuberculosis were treated with allogeneic (group A, n=15) or autologous (group B, n=15) il iac crest bone graft combined with anterior fixation after radical debridement. In group A, there were 8 males and 7 females with an average age of 38 years; the disease duration was 6 to 14 months; the preoperative kyphosis Cobb angle was (8.6 ± 11.3)°; the preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was 13.0 ± 3.1 for neurological function; and the length of bone graft was 32 mm on average. In group B, there were 9males and 6 females with an average age of 42 years; the disease duration was 4 to 17 months; the preoperative kyphosis Cobb angle was (4.9 ± 7.4)°; the preoperative JOA score 12.3 ± 4.2; and the length of bone graft was 34 mm on average. There was no significant difference in general data between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). Results The operation time and bleeding volume in group A were significantly less than those in group B (P lt; 0.05). Wound effusion were found in 2 cases of group A, and the other incisions healed by first intention. No infection occurred in group B. In group A, 13 cases were followed up 12-48 months; in group B, 14 cases were followed up 13-46 months. The time of bone graft heal ing in group A [(7.6 ± 2.1) months] was significantly longer than that in group B [(4.2 ± 1.1) months] (t=2.773, P=0.005). The kyphosis Cobb angles were significantly improved at 6 months and last follow-up after operation in 2 groups when compared with that before operation (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference was found between 2 groups at different time after operation (P gt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in JOA score at 6 months after operation between group A (14.1 ± 2.6) and group B (14.3 ± 2.4) (t=1.655, P=0.162). The improvement rate for neural function were 83.7% in group A and 87.8% in group B, showing no significant difference (χ2=3.150, P=0.071). There was no loosening of internal fixation and recurrence of tuberculosis in 2 groups during follow-up. Five cases had chronic pain at il iac donor sites in group B. According to Bridwell et al. evaluation standard, the bone fusion was satisfactory in 11 cases (84.6%) and unsatisfactory in 2 cases (15.4%) in group A, and was satisfactory for all in 14 cases (100%) in group B. The satisfactory rate of bone fusion showed no significant difference between 2 groups (χ2=2.680, P=0.115).Conclusion Allogeneic bone grafting has a good cl inical result for spinal fusion in cervical tuberculosis surgery, which can treat tuberculosis bone defect effectively.
Objective To compare the surgical efficacy of different operating methods for treating old thoracolumbarfracture with spinal cord injury. Methods From September 2000 to March 2006, 34 cases of old thoracolumbar fractures with spinal cord injury were treated. Patients were divided into 2 groups randomly. Group A (n=18): anterior approach osteotomy, il iac bone graft and internal fixation were used. There were 10 males and 8 females with the age of 17-54 years. The apex level of kyphosis was T11 in 2 cases, T12 in 5 cases, L1 in 8 cases and L2 in 3 cases. The average preoperative Cobb angle of kyphosis was (36.33 ± 3.13)°, and the average preoperative difference in height between anterior and posterior of involved vertebra was (22.34 ± 11.61) mm. Neurological dysfunction JOA score was 10.44 ± 1.12. Group B (n=16): transpedicular posterior decompression and internal fixation were used. There were 8 males and 8 females with the age of 18-56 years. The apex level of kyphosis was T11 in 2 cases, T12 in 6 cases, L1 in 7 cases and L2 in 1 case. The preoperative Cobb angle of kyphosis was (38.55 ± 4.22)°, and the preoperative difference in height between anterior and posterior of involved vertebra was (20.61 ± 10.22) mm. Neurological dysfunction JOA score was 10.23 ± 2.23. Results All the patients were followed up for 9-46 months with an average of 13.5 months. Cobb angle was (12.78 ± 3.76)° in group A, which was improved by (24.23 ± 1.64)° campared to that of preoperation; and was (10.56 ± 4.23)° in group B, which was improved by (26.66 ± 1.66)°. JOA score was 14.21 ± 1.08 in group A, which wasimproved by 3.92 ± 1.33; and it was 13.14 ± 2.32 in group B, which was improved by 3.12 ± 1.95. The average postoperative difference between anterior height and posterior height of vertebral body in group A was (3.11 ± 1.06) mm, which was improved by (18.03 ± 2.14) mm; and it was (2.56 ± 1.33) mm in group B, which was corrected by (20.36 ± 3.78) mm. There were statistically significant differences in the above indexes between preoperation and postoperation in 2 groups (P lt; 0.01), but no significant differences between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). In group A, pleural effusion occurred in 2 cases and local pulmonary collapse in 4 cases and intercostals neuralgia in 1 case. In group B, leakage of cerebrospinal fluid occurred in 3 cases. Conclusion Both anterior and posterior approach are capable of treating of the old thoracolumbar fracture with incomplete spinal cord injury and providing the satisfying result of deformation correction, neurological decompression and neurological functional recovery to a certain extent.
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of small incision approach in the anterior surgery of thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis.MethodsA clinical data of 65 patients with thoracic or lumbar spinal tuberculosis treated with posterior-anterior surgery between January 2015 and January 2018 was retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into small incision group (group A, 29 patients) and traditional incision group (group B, 36 patients) according to the length of anterior incision. There was no significant difference in general data such as gender, age, disease duration, segment of lesion, American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) grading, preoperative pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and Cobb angle of spinal kyphosis between 2 groups (P>0.05). The length of anterior incision, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, postoperative hospitalization time, ESR, and CRP were recorded and compared. The VAS score was used to evaluate the pain after operation. The Cobb angles in patients with spinal kyphosis were measured and the loss of angle and correction rate of angle were calculated. The result of bone graft fusion was assessed according to the Bridwell standard.ResultsThe length of anterior incision, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospitalization time of group A were all significantly less than those of group B (P<0.05). All patients in both groups were followed up 12-29 months (mean, 20 months). There were 4 cases (13.8%) and 14 cases (38.9%) of postoperative complications in groups A and B respectively, showing significant difference (χ2=5.050, P=0.025). The ESR and CRP in 2 groups all returned to normal at 6 months after operation, and there was no significant difference in ESR and CRP between 2 groups at 3 months, 6 months, and last follow-up (P>0.05). At last follow-up, the neurological function of patient with neurological symptoms was significantly better than that before operation, and there was no significant difference between 2 groups (Z=0.167, P=0.868). The VAS scores of 2 groups at each time point after operation were significantly lower than those before operation (P<0.05); the VAS score in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (t=−2.317, P=0.024) at 1 day after operation, but there was no significant difference between 2 groups (t=−0.862, P=0.392) at last follow-up. Among the patients with kyphosis, the Cobb angle was significantly decreased at 1 day after operation and last follow-up when compared with preoperative angle (P<0.05); but there was no significant difference between 1 day after operation and last follow-up (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in Cobb angle, loss of angle, and correction rate between 2 groups after operation (P>0.05). The bone graft healed well at last follow-up in 2 groups. There was no significant difference in bone graft fusion rate between 2 groups at 6 months after operation, 1 year after operation, and last follow-up (P>0.05). At last follow-up, all patients cured, and no recurrence occurred.ConclusionIn the anterior surgery of thoracic and lumbar tuberculosis, the application of small incision approach can achieve the similar effectiveness as traditional incision surgery with the advantages of minimally invasive, less complications, and quick recovery.