Objective To discuss the selection of anterior or posterior or a combination of anterior and posterior surgical treatment of lower cervical dislocation. Methods A retrospectively study was performed on 28 patients with lower cervical dislocation who received operative treatment between January 2005 and October 2008. There were 19 males and 9 femaleswith an average age of 38 years (range, 19-57 years), including 21 cases of fresh dislocation and 7 cases of old dislocation. The time from injury to hospitalization was 3 hours to 58 days. According to Allen classification, all cases had flexion injury, including 19 cases of degree I dislocation, 2 cases of degree II, 5 cases of degree III, and 2 cases of degree IV. At admission according to Frankel classification, 7 cases were rated as grade A, 4 as grade B, 9 as grade C, 3 as grade D, and 5 as grade E. All patients received open reduction, internal fixation, and il iac bone graft spinal fusion. Of them, combined anterior and posterior approach operation were given in 4 cases, single anterior operation in 22 cases, and single posterior operation in 2 cases. Results All operations were completed successfully and the spinal cord injury did not deteriorate after operation. Esophageal fistula occurred in 1 case receiving anterior approach operation and was cured after 1 month. Infection of wound occurred in 1 case and was cured after dressing change. The other incisions healed by first intention. One case (Frankel grade A) died of pulmonary infection 6 weeks after operation. Twenty-seven patients were followed up 21-38 months. Two cases suffered from shoulder pain 12 months after operation. X-ray films showed complete reduction, normal height of vertebral space and normal sequence of cervical spine after operation. All cases obtained bone fusion after 3.5-6.0 months of operation (4.2 months on average). Frankel grades were improved in different degrees after operation. Conclusion The operation plan of lower cervical dislocation should be determined by the neurologic status of the patient, and the classification of the injury as a unilateral or bilateral dislocation. Anterior cervical discectomy, fusion, and fixation were available in the lower cervical dislocation.
Objective To evaluate the histocompatibil ity of porous hydroxyapatite (HAP) coating NiTi shape memory alloy and to provide a theoretical basis for its cl inical appl ication in bone defect repair. Methods Twenty-four Chinchilla rabbits weighing 2.0-2.5 kg were randomized into experimental group and control group (n=12). HAP coating NiTi shape memory alloy was implanted into the distal part of left femur of 12 rabbits in the experimental group, while holes without alloy implantation were performed on the control group. At 7, 14, 28 and 56 days after implantation, the animals werekilled (3 rabbits in each group at a time). Gross observation, histology observation, BMP-2 immunohistochemistry observation and image grey scale analysis were performed. And the histology observation was evaluated by GB/T16886.6-1997 in terms of inflammation, capsule wall of fibrous tissue, materials degradation and the response of peripheral tissue. Results All of the animals survived until being killed. The implants reached a peak embedded in bone tissue wholly, without loosening and bone absorption. The inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous hyperplasia were at 7 days after implantation, with the formation of cyst wall of fibrous tissue and the implant wrapped by the cyst wall. The response of connective tissue proliferation was still obvious in partial samples of experimental group at 56 days after implantation, which was wrose than the control group but consistent with the in vivo implantation standard of GB/T16886.6-1997. Immunohistochemistry observation displayed the endogenous BMP-2 were in the cytoplasm of MSCs and osteoblast. The result of image analysis showed the expression of BMP-2 were staged in line with the repair of bone defect, two groups witnessed the peak expression of the BMP-2 at 14 days after implantation. There wereno significant differences among different time points in the staining gray scale of BMP-2 (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion HAP coating NiTi shape memory alloy, as a biomedical material, has excellent histocompatibility with bone.
To compare the cl inical effect of total hi p arthroplasty (THA) using posterolateral conventional or minimally invasive incision. Methods From January 2007 to November 2007, 38 patients (41 hi ps) were treated with minimally invasive THA (mini-incision group), and 15 patients (15 hi ps) underwent conventional THA (conventional incision group). Mini-incision group: 23 males (25 hi ps) and 15 females (16 hi ps) aged (53.2 ± 15.5) years old; body mass index (BMI) was 23.4 ± 3.3; there were 20 cases (20 hips) of femoral neck fracture, 2 cases (2 hips) of primary osteoarthritis, 14 cases (16 hips) of stage III or IV aseptic necrosis of the femoral head, 2 cases (3 hips) of ankylosing spondyl itis involving hip joint; Harris hip score was 47.7 ± 5.5 and the course of disease was (4.5 ± 4.3) years. Conventional incision group: 7 males (7 hips) and 8 females (8 hips) aged (54.8 ± 10.8) years old; BMI was 26.1 ± 5.1; there were 8 cases (8 hips) of femoralneck fracture, 1 case (1 hip) of primary osteoarthritis, 5 cases (5 hips) of stage III or IV aseptic necrosis of the femoral head, 1 case (1 hip) of ankylosing spondyl itis involving hip joint; Harris hip score was 51.2 ± 4.3 and the course of disease was (3.8 ± 3.7) years. There were no statistically significant differences between two groups in the general information (P gt; 0.05). Results There were statistical differences between two groups in terms of incision length, perioperative blood loss, drainage volume and blood transfusion volume (P lt; 0.05), and no statistical differences were evident in operative time, abduction angle and the anteversion angle of acetabular cup (P gt; 0.05). All incisions healed by first intention and no early postoperative compl ications occurred. Two groups were followed for 12-22 months (average 18.3 months). All patients walked without the crutch at 2-3 months after operation. The Harris score of the mini-incision group and the conventional incision group 6 months after operation was 88.6 ± 3.6 and 85.8 ± 3.3, respectively, indicating there was no significant difference between two groups (P gt; 0.05), but there was significant difference between before and after operation (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Compared with conventional THA, the minimaly incisive using posteroplateral approach THA has the merits of mini invasion, sl ight hemorrage, short hospital stay, minor compl ication, convenient management of femoral head and accurate prosthesis location. However, strict attention should be paid to operative indications.
Objective Adenosine tri phosphate (ATP) can promote the repair of spinal cord injury (SCI). To investigate the effect of ATP combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation on SCI, and to evaluate the synergistic action of ATP and BMSCs in the repair of SCI and the feasibil ity of the combined transplantation in the treatment of SCI. Methods BMSCs were isolated from the marrow of the tibia and the femur of a male SD rat (weighing 120 g), the 3rd generation BMSCs were labeled with BrdU, then BMSCs suspension of 5.0 × 107 cell/mL were prepared. Fortyeightadult female SD rats (weighing 240-260 g) were made SCI models at T12 levels according to the improved Allen’s method, and were randomly divided into 4 groups (groups A, B, C, and D, n=12). In group A, ATP (40 mg/kg) and BMSCs (6 μL) were injected to the central point and the other 2 points which were 1 mm from the each side of head and tail of the injured spinal cord; after blending the BMSCs suspension, the cells amount was about 3.0 × 105. In groups B, C, and D, the BMSCs suspension (6 μL), ATP (40 mg/kg), and PBS (40 mg/kg) were injected to the points by the same method as group A, respectively. The general conditions of the rats were observed after operation. The nerve function of low extremities was evaluated using the improved Tarlov scale and the Rivil in incl ined plane test at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after operation. At 28 days after operation, the reparative effect of SCI was observed using histological and immunohistochemical staining. Results One rat of group A, 2 of group B, 2 of group C, and 3 of group D died of infection and anorexic, the others survived to the end of the experiment. Paralysis symptom in low extremities occurred in all rats after operation and was improved at 2-3 weeks postoperatively, the improvement of group A was the best, groups B and C were better, group D was the worst. There was no significant difference in the Tarlov scale and the Rivil in incl ined plane test among 4 groups at 1 and 3 days after operation and between groups B and C at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after operation (P gt; 0.05), but there were significant differences among other groups at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after operation (P lt; 0.05). At 28 days after operation, HE staining demonstrated that the injured region in group A was finely restored, without obvious scar tissue and cavity, and there existed clear stem cell differentiation characters; there was small amount of scar tissue and cavity in the injury site of groups B and C; and there was great deal of scar tissue in the injury site of group D, in which there were numerous inflammatory cells and fibroblasts infiltration and bigger cavity. Immunohistochemical staining showed that BrdU-positive BMSCs were seen in groups A and B, and positive cells of group A was significantly more than that of group B (P lt; 0.05). The expressions of neruofilament protein 200 and gl ial fibrillary acidic protein in group A were significantly higher than those in groups B, C, and D, and groups B and C were significantly higher than group D (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion ATP has protective effects on injured spinal cord, a combination of ATP and BMSCs can synergistically promote the reparation of SCI.