Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine: determining clinical impact and potential harm from overuse

Background

Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging is frequently said to be “overused” in the evaluation of low back pain, yet data concerning the extent of overuse and the potential harmful effects are lacking.

The pelvic radius technique in the assessment of spinopelvic sagittal alignment of degenerative spondylolisthesis and lumbar spinal stenosis

Background

Degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) and lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) are the most common degenerative spinal diseases. The evaluating of spinopelvic sagittal alignment of the two diseases using pelvic radius (PR) technique have not been reported. The purpose of this study was to use PR measurement technique to compare the differences in spinopelvic sagittal alignment between DS and LSS.

Current status of 3D printing in spine surgery

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is one of the latest tools in the armamentarium of the modern spine surgeon. The yearning to be more precise and reliable whilst operating on the spine has led to an interest in this technology which has claimed to achieve these goals. 3D printing has been used pre-operatively for surgical planning and for resident or patient education. It has also found its way to the operation theatre where it is used to fabricate customized surgical tools or patient-specific implants. Several authors have highlighted significant benefits when 3D printing is used for specific indications in spine surgery. Novel applications of this technology in spine surgery have also been described and though still in a nascent stage, these are important for this technology to sustain itself in the future. However, major limitations have also come to light with this technology in use. This article seeks to review the current status and applications of 3D printing in spinal surgery and its major drawbacks while briefly describing the essentials of the technology. It is imperative that the modern spine surgeon knows about this important innovation and when and how it can be applied to improve surgical outcomes.     

伴脊髓压迫的脊椎侵袭性血管瘤手术方式选择

目的 :探讨伴有脊髓压迫的脊椎侵袭性血管瘤的手术治疗方法。方法 :2000年1月~2015年10月,收治26例伴有脊髓压迫的脊椎血管瘤患者,男11例,女15例,年龄15~69岁(23.0±4.5岁),单发性血管瘤6例,多发性20例,责任节段位于颈椎6例,胸椎18例,腰椎2例。术前Frankel分级A级1例,C级5例,D级18例,E级2例,硬膜外脊髓压迫(ESCC)分级Ⅰ级5例,Ⅱ级15,Ⅲ级6例。18例术前穿刺病理检查明确诊断,8例行术中快速病理检查确诊。手术方式包括单纯减压、椎体成形、内固定术11例;病椎切除、重建术15例,其中前路椎体肿瘤切除减压重建术6例,后路全脊椎切除重建术8例,一期前后路枢椎肿瘤切除重建1例。随访评估术中出血量、围手术期并发症、肿瘤控制效果、脊髓神经功能、脊柱稳定性重建等。结果:病椎切除组15例患者术中出血量平均为3927±4137ml,减压加椎体成形组11例情况出血量为1355±703ml。1例术后胸腔出血,1例术后迟发性感染,经对症处理后痊愈。随访时间12~194个月(75±51个月),共4例出现肿瘤进展,3例为后路减压术后,2例再行病椎切除,1例行立体定向放射外科治疗;1例为枢椎血管瘤,生育后肿瘤复发进展,行后路减压和放疗,恢复良好。4例患者出现内固定相关并发症,包括3例内固定松动,1例内固定断裂,均行内固定翻修术。26例患者术后半年脊髓功能Frankel分级D级4例,E级22例。结论:伴有脊髓压迫的脊椎侵袭性血管瘤需要手术治疗,病椎切除能较好控制肿瘤,但手术创伤大,术中出血和术后并发症多;姑息减压结合椎体成形术能挽救脊髓功能,但有肿瘤复发风险,复发后再行病椎切除手术可取得良好效果。     

退变性腰椎侧凸脊柱-骨盆矢状位影像学特点

目的 :观察退变性腰椎侧凸(DLS)患者脊柱-骨盆矢状位影像学特点,探讨脊柱-骨盆矢状位参数变化对DLS发生的影响。方法:回顾性分析103例DLS患者术前资料,男36例,女67例,年龄62.6±7.4(43~78)岁,并选取139例正常青年人群作为正常青年对照组,145例单纯颈椎病患者作为成年对照组,在脊柱全长正侧位X线片上测量各组冠状位、矢状位参数,包括L3倾斜角、侧凸Cobb角、冠状位平衡(CVA)、腰椎前凸角(LL)、矢状位平衡(SVA)、胸椎后凸角(TK)、骨盆入射角(PI)、骨盆倾斜角(PT)、骶骨倾斜角(SS)等,采用独立样本t检验比较DLS组与两对照组的各矢状位参数,并用Pearson相关分析DLS组各参数间相关性。结果:DLS组PI为50.4°±10.2°,显著高于正常青年对照组(45.1°±9.6°,P0.01)和成年对照组(46.9°±9.1°,P0.01)。与青年及成年对照组相比,DLS组LL、SS较小(P0.01),PT、SVA较大(P0.01);TK小于成年对照组(P0.01)。DLS组中合并退变性腰椎滑脱者37例(占35.9%),PI为53.1°±8.8°;无退变性腰椎滑脱者66例,PI为48.9°±10.6°,二者相比有统计学差异且均显著高于正常青年对照组(P0.05)。DLS组侧凸Cobb角与PT显著相关(P0.05),余冠状位参数与矢状位参数间未发现相关性;LL、PI、SS、PT两两之间显著相关(P0.01),LL、PT与TK显著相关(P0.01),SS与TK显著相关(P0.05),LL与SVA显著相关(P0.01)。结论 :DLS患者PI高于正常青年及颈椎病患者,高PI可能参与了DLS的发病机制;DLS患者退变、侧凸的腰椎仍存在调节矢状位平衡的能力。