Speculum lumbar extraforaminal microdiscectomy

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Public interest, monetary pressures and improving diagnostic techniques have placed an increasing emphasis on minimalism in lumbar disc excision. Current techniques include microlumbar discectomy and minimally invasive spinal surgery. Both are good techniques but may be painful, require a hospital stay and/or are not widely used because of difficulty acquiring the necessary skills. The author therefore developed a less invasive microscopic technique that may be performed on a consistent outpatient basis with easily acquired skills. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe a variant of minimally invasive lumbar disc excision, while assessing the effects on a small group of patients. STUDY DESIGN: The treatment protocol was a prospective community hospital-based case study designed to evaluate a less invasive method of excising herniated lumbar discs residing in the canal, foraminal or far lateral space. PATIENT SAMPLE: This study is comprised of 50 patients with all anatomic forms of lumbar disc herniations, inside or outside the canal, at all levels except the lumbosacral joint. OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical results were measured by return to work time, the criteria of MacNab and by Prolo et al.'s economic and functional criteria. METHODS: Selection criteria included adult patients with intractable low back and leg pain, plus an imaging study revealing a lumbar disc herniation consistent with the patient's clinical presentation. Mean patient age was 48 years. The male:female ratio was approximately 2:1. All patients failed at least 3 weeks of conservative therapy. Herniations occurred from the L2-3 space through L4-5, with 30 herniations being within and 20 outside the spinal canal. Both contained and extruded/sequestered herniations were treated. Excluded from the study were patients with herniations inside the spinal canal at the L5-S1 level. Surgical approach was by microscopic speculum transforaminal route for discs residing both within and outside the lumbar canal. RESULTS: The initial 50 consecutive patients had successful technical operations performed on an outpatient basis by this less invasive technique. By the criteria of MacNab (Table 3), 84% (42 of 50) had an excellent or good result, returning to work at a mean time of 3.5 weeks. Per Prolo et al.'s economic scale, 72% were disabled at levels I and II before surgery. Postoperatively, 92% had improved to levels IV and V. Similarly, on his functional scale, 94% functioned at levels I and II before surgery, whereas 88% achieved levels IV and V after surgery. Eighty percent required no pain medications 1 week after surgery. The only complication was an L3 minor nerve root injury as it exited the L3-4 foramen. CONCLUSION: The author has described a minimally invasive technique for excising herniated discs that is applicable to all types of lumbar herniations, except for those residing in the canal at L5-S1. Clinical outcomes are comparable to those of other forms of discectomy.     

脊髓造影动态观察对腰椎间盘突出症的定位诊断

对423例患者进行脊髓造影，采用连续动态观察和拍摄不同体位的X线片，413例诊断为腰椎间盘突出症，406例接受手术治疗。其中164例同时接受CT检查，将脊髓造影和CT诊断与手术所见比较，结果：动态脊髓造影检查诊断腰椎间盘突出症的假阳性率为2．58％，假阴性为2．58％，与手术结果符合率为92．5％；CT扫描的诊断与手术结果符合率为81．4％。脊髓造影站立位观察腰间盘突出造成的压迹更为明显，腰仰伸位可以使L3~4、L4~5、及部分L5~S1的腰间盘突出平面的压迹更明显，L5~S1间隙的间盘突出在腰仰伸位显示率占65％，而屈腰位显示率为35％。     

极外侧型腰椎间盘突出症15例报告

目的 探讨极外侧型腰椎间盘突出症的临床和CT特征,提高该病的诊断率。方法 对15例经手术证实的患者临床和CT影像进行回顾性分析。结果 腰4／5间隙多发,椎间孔和椎间孔外联合突出多见,临床上常可见单侧两节神经根受损的表现。结论 临床与CT相结合是诊断极外侧型腰椎间盘突出症的关键。     

腰椎间盘突出症手术失败的再手术治疗

目的:本文报告20例腰椎间盘突出症手术失败再手术的病人,目的在于分析手术失败的原因和再手治疗的有关问题。方法:回顾1989年至1996年间的1218例腰椎间盘突出症手术病人,选择其中20例因初次手术失败而接受再次手术的病人,对其再手术的原因和手术治疗进行回顾性研究。结果:初次手术失败的原因主要是突出间盘切除不全和术后发生疤痕性椎管狭窄,另外,马尾损伤、腰椎骨质增生、软骨板破裂及腰骶神经节椎管内异位畸形等亦是手术失败的原因。结论:作者强调首次手术应采用开窗术进行椎管减压和髓核摘除。再次手术难度较大,但病变显露应从正常解剖部位开始,仔细地去除疤痕和其它致病因素,以免神经根或神经组织的损伤。     

磁共振成象（MRI）诊断腰椎间盘突出症

本文报告了60例术前经磁共振成象(MRI)诊断为腰椎间盘突出症病人的手术探查结果。其诊断正确率为84.2％,假阳性7例,假阴性6例。与CT的正确率相仿。MRI具有对软组织的高分辨率、无侵袭性以及可以做多方向的扫描等优点,在经过技术上的改进后,定将具有更大的临床意义。     

颈椎间盘突出症磁共振成像特点及临床意义

本文报告颈椎间盘突出症80例,术前经MRI检查,突出椎间盘共154个,其中突出椎间盘明显压迫硬膜囊126个.根据MRI影像学改变,结合临床表现及X线颈椎常规片综合分析,施行颈前路突出椎间盘髓核摘除减压64例(91个椎间盘),优良46例(71.87%),好转14例(21.88%).认为MRI矢状切面可显示突出及脱出影像特点,并可直观脊髓受压节段,根据脊髓信号强弱判断其受损程度.横切面可观察到椎间盘突出类型及神经根脊髓受累情况.     

腰椎间盘突出并椎管狭窄症手术失误及再手术治疗

目的：通过分析腰椎间盘突出并椎管狭窄症病人的初次手术失误原因，以预防手术失误的发生，并提出再手术的注意事项。方法：对西安西京医院１９５５年１月～１９９３年１２月所有手术治疗的腰椎间盘突出及椎管狭窄症２２４２例进行复查、整理，其中再手术者９８例，４３例（其中外院转入２４例）因第一次手术失误，导致症状无明显好转，或进一步加重，或合并其它症状而需再手术治疗，对４３例进行回顾分析。结果：从４３例再手术的腰椎间盘突出并椎管狭窄病人分析中，发现初次手术失误原因主要为腰椎管狭窄未解除，多间隙间盘突出遗漏，术中未找到突出间盘，仅行减压术和髓核未取尽。４３例再手术病人取得良好效果，优良率达９５．３％。结论：（１）初次手术时要加强术前检查明确诊断，确立正确手术方案。术中应注意解决椎间盘突出及椎管狭窄问题，既不能遗漏椎间盘突出或未解除椎管狭窄，也不能扩大减压损伤。在处理椎间盘突出的同时又要注意解决脊柱稳定性，对并发症要及时处理。（２）二次手术时应从正常部位进入椎管后细心分离粘连，摘除突出的髓核和解除椎管狭窄，防止损伤硬膜、马尾神经和神经根。     

一次后路手术治疗颈椎管狭窄并颈间盘突出

目的　介绍一种一次性后路手术治疗颈椎管狭窄合并颈椎间盘突出的手术方法。方法　从 1993年 1月～ 1998年 12月我院采用后路一次单开门椎板成形、椎管扩大同时行脊髓侧前方减压摘除颈间盘共 2 9例。结果　随诊平均 2 0个月 ,优良 2 5例 ,优良率 86 % ,无并发症发生。结论　经后路一次性手术单开门椎板成形加脊髓侧前方减压可治疗颈间盘突出合并广泛椎管狭窄两个病变 ,方法可行。     

Clinical features of conjoined lumbosacral nerve roots versus lumbar intervertebral disc herniations

Unidentified nerve root anomalies, conjoined nerve root (CNR) being the most common, may account for some failed spinal surgical procedures as well as intraoperative neural injury. Previous studies have failed to clinically discern CNR from herniated discs and found their surgical outcomes as being inferior. A comparative study of CNR and disc herniations was undertaken. Between 2002 and 2008, 16 consecutive patients were diagnosed intraoperatively with CNR. These patients were matched 1:2 with 32 patients diagnosed with intervertebral disc herniations. Matching was done according to age (within 5 years), gender and level of pathology. Surgery for patients with CNR or disc herniations consisted of routine microsurgical techniques with microdiscectomy, hemilaminotomy, hemilaminectomy and foraminotomy as indicated. Outcomes were measured using the Oswestry Disability Index and the Short Form-36 Questionnaire. Clinical presentation, imaging studies and surgical outcomes were compared between the groups. Conjoined nerve root’s incidence in this study was 5.8% of microdiscectomies performed. The S1 nerve root was mainly involved (69%), followed by L5 (31%). Patients with CNR tended to present with nerve root claudication (44%) compared to the radiculopathy accompanying disc herniations (75%). Neurologic deficit was less prevalent among patients with CNR. Nerve root tension tests were not helpful in distinguishing between the etiologies. Radiologist’s suspicion threshold for nerve root anomalies was low (0%) and no coronal reconstructions were obtained. The surgeon’s clinical suspicion accurately predicted 40% of the CNRs. Surgical outcomes did not differ between the cohorts regarding the rate of postoperative improvement, but CNR patients showed a trend toward having mildly worse long-term outcomes. Suspecting CNRs preoperatively is beneficial for appropriate treatment and avoiding the risk of intraoperative neural injury. With nerve root claudication and imaging suggestive of a “disc herniation”, the surgeon should be alert to the differential diagnosis of a CNR. Treatment is directed at obtaining adequate decompression by laminectomy and foraminotomy to relieve the lateral recess stenosis. Outcomes can be expected to be similar to routine disc herniations.     

Abnormalities in muscle function during gait in relation to the level of lumbar disc herniation

STUDY DESIGN: A comparison between gait in patients undergoing surgery for L4 and L5 lumbar disc herniations and that in an age- and weight-matched control group. OBJECTIVES: To study whether changes in the moments produced at the ankle and knee joints during walking reflect the neurologic level of a herniated nucleus pulposus. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Lumbar herniated discs often cause muscle weakness, reduced motor function, and change in walking capacity. The specific effects of a disc herniation on muscle function during gait is poorly documented. METHODS: Conventional physical examination and kinetic analysis of gait were performed on 16 patients who subsequently underwent surgery for herniated discs (eight with L4-L5 and eight with L5-S1 disc herniations) and 16 healthy control subjects. The three components of the external moment at the ankle and knee were computed. The peak magnitudes of specific components of the external moments were compared with those of the control group. RESULTS: Reduced external ankle plantar flexion moment, indicating a decreased function of the ankle dorsiflexors, was found in patients with herniated nucleus pulposus of both L4-L5 and L5-S1. Reduced external ankle dorsiflexion moment, indicating a decreased function of the ankle plantar flexors, was found only in patients with a lesion to the L5-S1 disc, but not in those with herniations at L4-L5. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative gait analysis identified functional deficits of the muscles about the ankle and foot that relate to the level of the herniation. Kinetic measurements can assist in understanding the functional limitations associated with specific levels of a herniation.     

Thermal quantitative sensory testing in lumbar disc herniation

The most frequent clinical presentation of sciatica suggests injury of sensor root fibers alone. To evaluate whether thermal quantitative sensory testing (QST) is applicable in the study of sensory dysfunction in lumbosacral disc herniations, 36 men and 30 women with L4/5 or L5/S1 disc herniations underwent thermal QST of the L4, L5, and Si dermatomes. For both levels of disc herniation, there was a significant difference for all temperature modalities, i.e., cold, warmth and heat pain, between all dermatomes as well as between the side of the herniated disc and the corresponding asymptomatic side. However, the proportion of herniated discs classified correctly was only 48% in patients with disc herniations at the L4/5 level, while it was 71% at the L5/S1 level. We conclude that thermal QST measurements reflect and document sensory dysfunction in patients with lumbosacral disc herniation. The method offers a new means both to study the time course of a spontaneous recovery of sensory dysfunction and to evaluate the result of different treatment options. However, thermal QST seems to have the same poor predictive value for identifying the anatomic location of a herniated lumbar disc as conventional electrophysiologic methods.     

Anterior discectomy and total disc replacement for three patients with multiple recurrent lumbar disc herniations

Background context

Although results of primary discectomy are generally excellent with relief of leg pain, recurrent lumbar disc herniation is relatively common ranging from 5% to 25%. Patients with recurrent herniation may undergo revision surgery; however, this carries with it increased risks and lower success rates. Many surgeons will advocate a fusion in addition to repeat discectomy after the third recurrent herniated disc. With the approval of lumbar total disc arthroplasty, there now exists another option for the patient with three or more recurrent disc herniations to preserve motion, theoretically decrease the rate of adjacent-level disease, and ameliorate the patient’s symptoms.

Purpose

The purpose of this case report is to describe our experience using total disc replacement (TDR) in three patients after prior partial hemilaminectomy and discectomy for the treatment of a third and fourth recurrent lumbar disc herniation.

Study design

This article is a report of three cases from a spine specialty center describing an alternative surgical technique for patients with multiple recurrent lumbar disc herniation.

Methods

Comprehensive chart review of three patients with recurrent lumbar herniation who underwent TDR.

Results

Anterior discectomy and TDR were undertaken, and at most recent follow-up (8–12 months), all patients had improvement of their visual analog scale and Oswestry Disability Index. No patient had postoperative complications or reoperation.

Conclusions

Recurrent disc herniation is a relatively common problem that may be difficult to treat. Traditionally, a patient presenting with three or more recurrent disc herniation may likely have undergone revision discectomy with fusion. The current case report suggests that TDR may be an alternative option in select patients.     

腰椎间盘突出症的临床解剖学分型及其意义(1106例回顾性研究)

目的：对不同方向突出的椎间盘从解剖学角度给予区域界定,以便明确分型,利于术式选择。方法：通过对离体干化腰椎的解剖研究,结合临床术中测量及１１０６例回顾研究,将突出椎间盘进行明确解剖界定之分型。结果：同区域的突出椎间盘产生一组相似的临床表现,基于此,将椎间盘突出症分为５型,即：中央型、偏侧型、椎间管型、椎间管外型及侧方型。分别占发病间盘的３３４％、５１％、８５％、４５％、２４％。结论：解剖界定明确的分型,对腰椎间盘突出症临床诊断和术式选择有重要意义     

破裂型腰椎间盘突出症的诊断与治疗：（附32例报告）

介绍３２例因腰椎间盘纤维环破裂而引起的髓核直接突入椎管内压迫马尾神经和神经根所出现的临床症状、脊髓造影及术中所见、按术中所见，髓核突破纤维环时对硬膜囊及神经根压迫类型，结合术前脊髓造影及临床表现将其分为四种类型：大块型、碎块型、部分破裂型及硬膜囊内型。对破裂型椎间盘突出症的诊断、预防、治疗及预后提出了讨论。     

胸椎间盘突出症诊断思路与术式选择

目的：探讨胸椎间盘突出症的诊断与术式选择。方法：分析胸椎间盘突出症１３例临床资料,观察其临床特点及影像学改变。１３例均行后方入路侧前方减压术。结果：临床表现均以胸髓损害为主,中央型突出９例,旁中央型４例。ＭＲＩ可明确显示其类型。１３例术后随访平均３．５年（６个月～７年）,优良率为８４．６％（１１／１３）。结论：正规理学检查是诊断本病的必要前提,ＭＲＩ对确诊及预后判定具有重要价值。侧前方减压能彻底去     

突出椎间盘自然吸收现象的回顾性研究

目的研究突出椎间盘自然吸收的现象,为腰椎间盘突出症的非手术或手术治疗选择提供依据。方法对18例发生突出椎间盘自然吸收现象患者的病程、症状、体征及影像学资料进行回顾性分析。结果所有患者均为破碎型突出。18例均获随访,时间6~72(17±15)个月。突出物吸收率:完全消失12例,显著缩小6例。其中1例后纵韧带破裂者遗留少许腰痛,跟腱反射未恢复,但能正常工作及生活;另有1例腰腿痛复发,影像学显示突出间盘缩小后再次大块脱出,后纵韧带破裂;其余患者症状体征完全恢复,腰椎主动活动自如。结论腰椎间盘突出症如果后纵韧带完整,即使突出物巨大,症状重,只要没有马尾综合征或进行性单根神经根麻痹,都可以进行非手术治疗,且预后良好;但椎间盘吸收后在合适的条件下可再次突出。     

Posterior extrusion of Biocompatible Orthopaedic Polymer (BOP) graft mimicking a calcified lumbar disc herniation: case report

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: We present a case of intracanalar extrusion of a L5S1 Biocompatible Orthopaedic Polymer (BOP) graft associated with a L4L5 disc herniation 19 years after a lumbar intersomatic fusion for a L5S1 disc herniation. Radiological aspect of this complication should be recognized by neurosurgeons. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 55-year old man presented with a right L5 sciatic pain. Neurological examination found a severe weakness in dorsal flexion of the foot. A lumbar CT scanner disclosed aspects consistent with right L4L5 and huge calcified L5S1 lumbar disc herniation. INTERVENTION: The patient was operated via a bilateral paravertebral approach and a L5 laminectomy. A dense and extensive epidural scarring was seen. The right L4L5 herniated disc was excised. At the left L5S1 level, fibres from a BOP graft had separated into large fragments extruded into the vertebral canal through the dura. The fibres could only be removed partially because of nerve roots adherence. The patient developed postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage that required a second operation for dural closure. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient recovered the right L5 root deficit. CONCLUSION: Neurosurgeons should be aware of the radiological aspect of this complication. If it is recognized on CT scan and asymptomatic, conservative management should be proposed because of the risk of nerve roots injury or postoperative CSF leakage.     

高位腰椎间盘突出症

报告39例高位腰椎间盘突出症。L1-22例，L2-33例，L3-434例。均行手术治疗。术后平均随访4年5个月，疗效优25例，良10例，可3例，差1例。从发病机理、解剖结构及临床特点讨论了高位腰椎间盘突出症的诊断和治疗，并提出了术中的注意点及二次以上手术的预防。     

Migration patterns of herniated disc fragments: a study on 1,020 patients with extruded lumbar disc herniation

Background contextHerniated disc fragments are known to migrate in various directions within the spinal canal. To date, no comprehensive studies have been undertaken to examine the migration patterns of herniated disc material using a standard nomenclature and classification system.PurposeTo report migration patterns of extruded lumbar disc fragments.Study designA review of magnetic resonance (MR) images.Patient sampleA total of 1,020 consecutive Azeri patients with symptomatic extruded lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.Outcome measuresMigration patterns of extruded lumbar disc fragments in vertical and horizontal planes and their association with age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and the level of herniation.MethodsHigh-quality axial and sagittal MR images of the lumbar spine were used. Disc material that was displaced away from the site of extrusion, regardless of continuity, was considered “migrated.” The migration patterns observed were rostral or caudal in the vertical plane and central, paracentral, subarticular, foraminal, or extraforaminal in the horizontal plane.ResultsIn the vertical plane, rostral and caudal migrations were observed in 27.8% and 72.2% of the patients, respectively. The number of rostral migrations increased significantly with increasing age and in higher levels in the lumbar spine (p<.001 for both). Radiculopathy was significantly more frequent in caudal migrations than in rostral migrations (78.9% vs. 65.1%, p<.001). There was no significant association between gender or BMI and migration patterns in the vertical plane. In the horizontal plane, central, paracentral, subarticular, foraminal, and extraforaminal migrations were reported in 17.3%, 74.2%, 4.3%, 2.5%, and 1.8% of the patients, respectively. The youngest (median age 39 years, interquartile range [IQR] 13 years) and the oldest (median age 55 years, IQR 15 years) groups of patients (p<.001) had the most formainal and extraforaminal migrations, respectively. Radiculopathy was present in 66.5%, 76.8%, 88.6%, 96%, and 27.8% of the patients with central, paracentral, subarticular, foraminal, and extraforaminal migrations, respectively (p<.001). No significant association was found between gender, BMI, or the level of herniation and migration pattern in the horizontal plane.ConclusionsCaudal and paracentral migrations are the most common patterns of migration in patients with extruded lumbar disc herniation in the vertical and horizontal planes, respectively. Age and the level of herniation may affect the migration patterns of herniated lumbar disc material.     

重复注射胶原酶治疗腰椎间盘突出症

目的:探讨重复注射胶原酶治疗腰椎间盘突出症的疗效及安全性。方法:经过注射胶原酶治疗效果不理想的腰椎间盘突出症患者58例,重复注射胶原酶,观察疗效及影像学变化。L4,527例L5S131例;年龄20~61岁,平均42岁;男25例,女33例;病程2个月~5年,平均3·7个月。第1次注射到本次注射的时间平均为3·8个月。结果:根据疗效评价标准优46例,良5例,可2例,差5例。46例症状体征消失,患者术后1个月复查CT,原突出的椎间盘缩小2~6mm,平均3·4mm;余12例效果不理想的患者,术后1周复查CT,7例突出的椎间盘较术前大,5例椎间盘形态、体积无改变。此12例第3次溶盘术后其中10例症状体征消失,2例症状体征有所改善,其中1例行第4次溶盘术后症状进一步改善。27例CT显示有椎间盘出现真空征。复查CT突出的椎间盘溶解率73%,未发生过敏、感染、破坏、椎体滑脱等情况。结论:注射胶原酶治疗腰椎间盘突出症可以重复进行,适应证选择恰当可以彻底治愈此病,并且有较高的安全性。