Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of open-door cervical expansive laminoplasty (ELP) with anchor fixation on flurosis cervical stenosis (FCS). Methods From February 2005 to February 2006, 20 patients with FCS underwent ELP using anchor fixation (group A) and 24 patients with FCS received ELP using conventional silk thread fixation (group B). In group A, there were 11 males and 9 females aged (58.0 ± 11.2) years old, the course of disease ranged from 6 months to 5 years, and the stenosis involved 3 vertebral levels in 3 cases, 4 levels in 8 cases, and 5 levels in 9 cases, andthe sagittal diameter of the cervical spinal canal was (7.30 ± 5.23) mm. While in group B, there were 11 males and 13 females aged (61.0 ± 9.1) years old, the course of disease ranged from 5 months to 5 years, the stenosis involved 3 vertebral levels in 5 cases, 4 levels in 10 cases, and 5 levels in 9 cases, and the sagittal diameter of the cervical spinal canal was (7.11 ± 4.92) mm. No significant differences were evident between two groups in terms of the general information (P gt; 0.05). Before operation and at 24 months after operation, the nerve function was assessed by JOA score, the axial symptom (AS) was evaluated using Chiba 12-point method, and the changes of cervical lordosis index (CLI) and cervical range of motion (CRM) were detected by imaging examination. Results All wounds healed by first intention. All patients were followed up for 24 months. JOA score: in group A, it was improved from 7.4 ± 1.5 before operation to 14.6 ± 2.1 at 24 months after operation with an improvement rate of 61% ± 3%; in group B, the score was increased from 7.1 ± 2.2 to 12.6 ± 2.5 with an improvement rate of 52% ± 5%; significant differences were evident in two groups between before and after operation, and between two groups in terms of the improvement rate (P lt; 0.05). AS score: in group A, it was improved from 6.2 ± 2.1 before operation to 10.8 ± 0.3 at 24 months after operation with an improvement rate of 74% ± 4%; in group B, the score was increased from 6.3 ± 1.9 to 8.8 ± 0.5 with an improvement rate of 39% ± 3%; significant differences were evident in two groups between before and after operation, and between two groups in terms of improvement rate (P lt; 0.05). X-ray films and CT scan at 24 months after operation displayed that there was no occurrence of “breakage of door spindle” or “re-close of door” in two groups, there was no occurrence of anchor loosing in group A, and the molding of the spinal canal was satisfactory in two groups. Preoperatively, the CLI was 11.9 ± 1.9 in group A and 11.3 ± 2.2 in group B and the CRM was (39.5 ± 2.4)° in group A and (40.2 ± 1.8)° in group B. While at 24 months after operation, the CLI was 9.5 ± 2.2 in group A and 8.2 ± 2.8 in group B, and the CRM was (30.6 ± 2.0)° in group A and (28.7 ± 2.4)° in group B, suggesting there was a significant decrease when compared with the preoperative value and group A was superior to group B (P lt; 0.05). The saggital diameter of the cervical spinal canal 24 months after operation was (13.17 ± 2.12) mm in group A and (12.89 ± 3.21) mm in group B, indicating there was a significant difference when compared with the preoperative value (P lt; 0.01). Conclusion Compared with conventional silk thread fixation, ELP using anchor fixation brings more stabil ity to vertebral lamina, less invasion to the posterior muscular-skeletal structure of the cervical spine, sl ight postoperative neck AS, andsatisfactory cl inical outcomes.
Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of different doses of tranexamic acid (TXA) in posterior cervical laminectomy with lateral mass screw fixation and bone graft fusion by a prospective clinical study. Methods The middle-aged and elderly patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, who were admitted between January 2020 and January 2022 and scheduled to undergo posterior cervical laminectomy with lateral mass screw fixation and bone graft fusion, were studied as the research subjects. Among them, 165 patients met the selection criteria and were included in the study. The patients were allocated into 3 groups (n=55) by random double-blind lottery. Groups A and B were given intravenous infusion of TXA at 30 minutes before operation according to the standards of 15 and 30 mg/kg, respectively; and group C was given normal saline in the same way. There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, and preoperative D-dimer, hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (HCT) between groups (P>0.05). The intraoperative bleeding, intraoperative blood transfusion, postoperative drainage volume, drainage days, and postoperative hospital stay were recorded. The Hb, HCT, and D-dimer were compared before operation and at 3 days after operation. Venous ultrasonography of the lower extremities was taken after operation to assess thrombosis; and the postoperative hematoma and epilepsy were also observed. Results All operations were successfully completed, and the incisions healed by first intention. The differences in intraoperative bleeding volume, postoperative drainage volume, drainage days, and postoperative hospital stay between groups were significant (P<0.05). The above indexes were significantly less in group B than in groups A and C. During operation, 14 patients in group A and 23 patients in group C were transfused, and no patient in group B had blood transfusions. Compared with groups A and C, the blood transfusion volume in group B significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the difference between groups A and C was not significant (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the differences of D-dimer, Hb, and HCT before and after operation between groups (P>0.05). At 5 days after operation, the venous ultrasonography of the lower extremities showed that the 2 cases of intermuscular venous thrombosis occurred in groups A, B, and C, respectively. No hematoma or epilepsy occurred after operation. Conclusion The application of 15 and 30 mg/kg TXA in posterior cervical laminectomy with lateral mass screw fixation and bone graft fusion can reduce intraoperative bleeding and postoperative drainage volume, postoperative drainage days, and postoperative hospital stay. And application of 30 mg/kg TXA can reduce intraoperative blood transfusion, without increasing the risk of lower extremity venous thrombosis, hematoma, and epilepsy.