Lumbar spinal stenosis.

Lumbar spinal stenosis, the results of congenital and degenerative constriction of the neural canal and foramina leading to lumbosacral nerve root or cauda equina compression, is a common cause of disability in middle-aged and elderly patients. Advanced neuroradiologic imaging techniques have improved our ability to localize the site of nerve root entrapment in patients presenting with neurogenic claudication or painful radiculopathy. Although conservative medical management may be successful initially, surgical decompression by wide laminectomy or an intralaminar approach should be done in patients with serious or progressive pain or neurologic dysfunction. Because the early diagnosis and treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis may prevent intractable pain and the permanent neurologic sequelae of chronic nerve root entrapment, all physicians should be aware of the different neurologic presentations and the treatment options for patients with spinal stenosis.     

Foot Drop Caused by Lumbar Degenerative Disease: Clinical Features,Prognostic Factors of Surgical Outcome and Clinical Stage

Objective

The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical features and prognostic factors of surgical outcome of foot drop caused by lumbar degenerative disease and put forward the clinical stage.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 135 patients with foot drop due to lumbar degenerative disease. The clinical features and mechanism were analyzed. Age, sex, duration of palsy, preoperative muscle strength of tibialis anterior (TA), sensation defect of affected lower limb, affected foot, diagnosis and compressed nerve roots were recorded and compared with surgical outcome.

Results

Foot drop was observed in 8.1% of all inpatients of lumbar degenerative disease. L5 nerve root compression was observed in 126 of all 135 patients (93.3%). Single, double and triple roots compression was observed respectively in 43, 83, and 9 patients (31.9%, 61.5%, and 6.6%). But there was no significant relationship between preoperative muscle strength of TA and the number of compressed roots. The muscle strength of TA was improved in 113 (83.7%) patients after surgery, but it reached to >=4 in only 21 (15.6%) patients. Improvement of the muscle strength of TA was almost stable at the 6-month follow-up. At the last follow-up, the muscle strength of TA was 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 respectively in 28, 24, 62, 13, 8 patients. Multivariate logistic regression showed duration of palsy (p=0.0360, OR=2.543), preoperative muscle strength of TA (p=0.0064, OR=5.528) and age (p=0.0309, OR=3.208) were factors that influenced recovery following an operation.

Conclusions

L5 nerve root was most frequently affected. The muscle strength of TA improved in most patients after surgery, but few patients can get a good recovery from foot drop. Patients of shorter duration of palsy, better preoperative muscle strength of TA and younger age showed a better surgical outcome.     

神经根型颈椎病和脊髓型颈椎病手术治疗的研究进展

颈椎病是一种临床发病率较高的退行性病变,发病原因主要是颈椎长期劳损、骨质增生或椎间盘脱出、韧带增厚等导致颈椎脊髓、神经根或椎动脉受压,进而引起一系列功能性障碍。临床普遍认为,对于已经得到明确诊断,且神经根压迫症状严重的患者,以及经保守治疗后症状无明显好转的患者应及时采取手术治疗,解除压迫状态,从而获得良好的预后。随着融合技术的进步及合成材料的改进,颈椎病的手术治疗效果也不断提高。本文对近年来国内外神经根型颈椎病和脊髓型颈椎病手术治疗的相关文献进行综述。     

3.0T磁共振扩张量成像对腰椎间盘突出致神经根受压的诊断价值及其与Oswestry功能障碍指数及视觉模拟评分的相关性

目的:研究3.0T磁共振扩张量成像(DTI)对腰椎间盘突出致神经根受压的诊断价值及其与Oswestry功能障碍指数(ODI)及视觉模拟评分(VAS)的相关性。方法:纳入我院从2017年1月~2019年1月收治的腰椎间盘突出致神经根受压患者50例进行研究,记作研究组。另取同期我院收治的单纯腰椎间盘突出患者50例作为对照组。两组受试者均接受DTI扫描以及ODI、VAS评分。比较两组神经根不同层面的各向异性分数(FA)值、弥散系数(ADC)值、ODI、VAS评分,并作相关性分析。同时,以手术病理诊断为金标准,分析DTI诊断腰椎间盘突出致神经根受压的敏感性、特异性、准确度。结果:研究组患者神经根近层、中层、远层的FA值均显著低于对照组,而ADC值均显著高于对照组(均P<0.05)。以手术病理诊断为金标准,DTI诊断腰椎间盘突出致神经根受压的敏感性为94.00%、特异性为96.00%、准确度为95.00%。研究组ODI、VAS评分分别为(43.22±7.25)分、(6.68±1.92)分,相较于对照组的(28.56±6.22)分、(4.02±1.34)分显著更高(均P<0.05)。经Pearson相关性分析可得:腰椎间盘突出致神经根受压患者的FA值与ODI、VAS评分均呈负相关关系(均P<0.05),而ADC值与ODI、VAS评分无相关性(均P>0.05)。结论:DTI对腰椎间盘突出致神经根受压的诊断价值较高,且FA值与ODI、VAS均存在明显相关性。临床工作中可能将DTI的FA值作为量化神经根结构改变的重要参数,值得临床重点关注。     

中医药外治法在腰椎管狭窄症中的应用

腰椎管狭窄症是由于腰椎的骨与软组织因某种原因而发生形态与组织结构方面的变化,造成椎管容积变小,导致脊神经根受到机械性压迫而出现特有的临床症状的一种疾病。本文拟通过对近年来腰椎管狭窄症的研究文献的分析、总结,从针刺、推拿、注射、牵引等对腰椎管狭窄症的中医药外治现状进行总结,旨在指导临床治疗。     

MA-OTIF与MIS-TLIF治疗老年腰椎退行性病变的近期疗效的病例对照研究

目的:比较小切口开放经椎间孔腰椎椎体间融合术(MA-OTIF)与微创经椎间孔融合术(MIS-TLIF)治疗老年性腰椎退行性病变的近期疗效。方法:收集2010年1月-2013年1月我院收治的老年性腰椎退行性病变患者,根据治疗方式不同,选择行MA-OTIF治疗者作为研究组,行MIS-TLIF者作为对照组,按一定条件以1:1比例进行配对研究,比较两组患者的手术相关指标及术前和术后的视觉模拟评分(VAS)和功能障碍评分(ODI)。结果:本研究共纳入60例患者,均完成至少1年的随访,平均随访时间1.36年。与MIS-TLIF组比较,MA-OTIF组的手术时间明显缩短,X线透视次数显著减少、术中出血量明显增加,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05),但两组的住院时间比较均无明显统计学差异(P0.05)。两组术后VAS和ODI评分均较术前显著降低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),但两组术前与术后VAS和ODI评分比较均无显著性差异(P0.05)。随访期间,两组均未发生神经根损伤、手术部位感染和椎弓根螺钉断裂等不良情况。结论:MA-OTIF与MIS-TLIF治疗老年性腰椎退行性病变近期疗效相似,MA-OTIF兼备OTLIF和MIS-TLIF的优势。     

TLIF与PLIF对退行性腰椎滑脱合并腰椎管狭窄患者临床疗效及安全性比较

目的:比较经椎间孔椎体间融合术(transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion,TLIF)与经后路椎体间融合术(posterior lumbar interbody fusion,PLIF)对退行性腰椎滑脱合并腰椎管狭窄患者临床疗效及安全性。方法:选择2013年6月到2015年6月我院收治的90例退行性腰椎滑脱合并腰椎管狭窄患者,随机分为TLIF组和PLIF组,各45例。TLIF组患者给予TLIF治疗,PLIF组患者给予PLIF治疗。记录并比较两组患者手术时间、术中失血量、术后引流量及术后卧床时间。评价并比较两组患者治疗前后视觉疼痛评分(visual analogue scale,VAS)和Oswestry功能不良指数(oswestry disability index,ODI)。记录并比较两组患者治疗后神经根损伤、感染、硬膜囊破裂等并发症发生情况。结果:TLIF组患者的手术时间、术中失血量、术后引流量及术后卧床时间均明显小于PLIF组,均具有显著性差异(P0.05)。治疗前,两组患者VAS、ODI评分,相比均无显著性差异(P0.05);治疗后,两组患者VAS、ODI评分均明显小于治疗前,且TLIF组患者的VAS、ODI评分均明显小于PLIF组,均具有显著性差异(P0.05)。TLIF组患者的并发症发生率明显低于PLIF组,均具有显著性差异(X~2=3.873,P=0.049)。结论:相比于PLIF,TLIF治疗退行性腰椎滑脱合并腰椎管狭窄患者的临床疗效显著,有助于腰椎功能的恢复,并发症发生率较低,值得在临床上推广应用。     

Percutaneous radiofrequency lumbar rhizolysis (rhizotomy).

Low back pain may arise from degenerative changes in the posterior joints of the lumbar spine. These joints are innervated by a branch of the posterior primary ramus, which follows an anatomically constant course. Pain impulses from these joints can be interrupted by coagulating this nerve with a radiofrequency wave, the probe having been placed in the area of the nerve percutaneously. Percutaneous lumbar rhizolysis was carried out under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis in 82 patients, most of whom had multiple level rhizolysis. Rhizolysis was successful in 67% of patients with mechanical low back pain without evidence of disc herniation and nerve-root compression or psychogenic pain, who had not previously undergone an operation for relief of the pain.     

Bilateral activation of STAT3 by phosphorylation at the tyrosine-705 (Y705) and serine-727 (S727) positions and its nuclear translocation in primary sensory neurons following unilateral sciatic nerve injury

Unilateral sciatic nerve compression (SNC) or complete sciatic nerve transection (CSNT), both varying degrees of nerve injury, induced activation of STAT3 bilaterally in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons of lumbar (L4-L5) as well as cervical (C6–C8) spinal cord segments. STAT3 activation was by phosphorylation at the tyrosine-705 (Y705) and serine-727 (S727) positions and was followed by their nuclear translocation. This is the first evidence of STAT3(S727) activation together with the well-known activation of STAT3(Y705) in primary sensory neurons upon peripheral nerve injury. Bilateral activation of STAT3 in DRG neurons of spinal segments anatomically both associated as well as non-associated with the injured nerve indicates diffusion of STAT3 activation inducers along the spinal cord. Increased levels of IL-6 protein in the CSF following nerve injury as well as activation and nuclear translocation of STAT3 in DRG after intrathecal injection of IL-6 shows that this cytokine, released into the subarachnoid space can penetrate the DRG to activate STAT3. Previous results on increased bilateral IL-6 synthesis and the present manifestation of STAT3 activation in remote DRG following unilateral sciatic nerve injury may reflect a systemic reaction of the DRG neurons to nerve injury.     

Topography and distribution of nerve fibers in the posterior longitudinal ligament of the rat: an immunocytochemical and electron-microscopical study

The distribution and immunocytochemical characterization of nerve fibers and their terminals in the posterior longitudinal ligament of the rat lumbar vertebral column was studied in whole-mount preparations and serial semithin and ultrathin sections. Differences in the localization, distribution pattern and density of peptidergic and catecholaminergic nerve fibers were found in the vertebral and intervertebral regions of the posterior longitudinal ligament. For immunocytochemistry, free floating specimens were incubated with primary antibodies against protein gene product 9.5, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and neuropeptide Y together with the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method. In whole-mount preparations, the neural marker protein gene product 9.5 is immunostained in all unmyelinated nerve fibers in the posterior longitudinal ligament, thus giving a panoramic view of the nerve fiber plexus. The most striking nerve fiber plexus is localized in the intervertebral region. In this region, the posterior longitudinal ligament is rich in capillaries that form a dense plexus within its ventral part and extend to the outer layer of the annulus fibrosus. The peptidergic and catecholaminergic innervation of the posterior longitudinal ligament is discussed in the context of pain syndromes related to the vertebral column and degenerative lumbar spine diseases.     

Great-toe Extensor Reflexes in the Diagnosis of Lumbar Disc Disorder

The tendon reflexes obtainable from the extensors of the great toe require practice to elicit, but have been found particularly valuable in the assessment of lesions affecting the fifth lumbar nerve root, especially compression radiculopathy from disc prolapse.     

Myelography; diagnostic value in lesions of the lumbar intervertebral discs with variation in technique

Myelography using pantopaque in greater than usual amount with a variation in technique, which is described, is believed to provide increased accuracy in differential diagnosis and precise localization of lesions in the lumbar spine. The need for multiple space exploration is eliminated and more detailed information concerning the size and shape of lesions is provided as compared to that secured by the use of 3 or 6 cc. of opaque medium and fluoroscopic examination alone. In 53 cases in which lumbar myelography was performed and the diagnosis verified or disproved at operation, there was a 5 per cent diagnostic error in 41 instances in which the method outlined was used, as compared with 17 per cent error in 12 cases in which only 3 or 6 cc. of radiopaque material and fluoroscopy alone were used. The accuracy of the procedure would appear to warrant its use in the evaluation of patients suspected of having abnormalities of the lumbar discs associated with nerve root compression.     

MYELOGRAPHY—Diagnostic Value in Lesions of the Lumbar Intervertebral Discs with a Variation in Technique

Myelography using pantopaque in greater than usual amount with a variation in technique, which is described, is believed to provide increased accuracy in differential diagnosis and precise localization of lesions in the lumbar spine. The need for multiple space exploration is eliminated and more detailed information concerning the size and shape of lesions is provided as compared to that secured by the use of 3 or 6 cc. of opaque medium and fluoroscopic examination alone. In 53 cases in which lumbar myelography was performed and the diagnosis verified or disproved at operation, there was a 5 per cent diagnostic error in 41 instances in which the method outlined was used, as compared with 17 per cent error in 12 cases in which only 3 or 6 cc. of radiopaque material and fluoroscopy alone were used. The accuracy of the procedure would appear to warrant its use in the evaluation of patients suspected of having abnormalities of the lumbar discs associated with nerve root compression.     

The Use of Chymopapain in Degenerative Disc Disease: A Preliminary Report

On the basis of the early results of the use of intradiscal injection of chymopapain in 15 patients with degenerative lumbar disc disease, the following statements are warranted: The injection can be beneficial in selected patients with lumbar disc disease. The relief of leg symptoms seems to be more striking than that of the accompanying low back symptoms although both are apparent. The exact mechanism by which pain is relieved is still obscure, but helpful information has been obtained from the early results of this investigation. The failure of chymopapain in carefully selected patients has resulted in only a brief time delay in operative intervention.     

改良半椎板切除法建立大鼠腰神经根压迫模型

目的探讨改良半椎板切除法建立大鼠腰神经根压迫模型的优势和特点。方法选用SD大鼠40只,随机分为实验组和对照组,实验组采用改良半椎板切除法建立大鼠腰神经根压迫模型,对照组则采用全椎板切除法,通过观察两组建模手术时间、术中出血量、伤口愈合情况、死亡率、大鼠下肢神经功能、神经根组织病理改变及TNF-α及IL-1在细胞质中灰度值表达水平评估两种方法的效果。结果实验组在建模手术时间、术中出血量、伤口愈合状况、死亡率明显少于对照组(P0.01),而大鼠下肢神经功能、神经根组织病理改变及TNF-α及IL-1在细胞质中灰度值表达水平无明显差异,同时,实验组所需的切口小,脊柱后方软组织破坏少。结论采用改良半椎板切除法可保证成功建立大鼠腰神经根压迫模型,并且这一改良方法具有手术时间短,伤口愈合快,出血量少,软组织破坏少,死亡率低等优点,这一改良方法更注重动物伦理。     

Routing of transported materials in the dorsal root and nerve fiber branches of the dorsal root ganglion.

After injection of the L7 dorsal root ganglion with 3H-leucine, fast axoplasmic transport carries some 3--5 x more labeled materials down the sensory fibers branches entering the sciatic nerve as compared to the dorsal root fiber branches of the neurons. Freeze-substitution preparations taken from the two sides of the lumbar seventh dorsal root ganglia of cats and monkeys showed little difference in the histograms of nerve fiber diameters of the sensory nerve fiber branch of these neurons as compared to the dorsal root fiber branches. A similar density of microtubules and of neurofilaments in the dorsal root and sensory nerve fiber branches over a wide range of fiber diameters was found in electron micrograph preparations. In the absence of an anatomical difference in the fibers to account for the asymmetrical outflow, a functional explanation based on the transport filament model was advanced.     

Routing of transported materials in the dorsal root and nerve fiber branches of the dorsal root ganglion

After injection of the L7 dorsal root ganglion with ³H-leucine, fast axoplasmic transport carries some 3–5 × more labeled materials down the sensory fibers branches entering the sciatic nerve as compared to the dorsal root fiber branches of the neurons. Freeze-substitution preparations taken from the two sides of the lumbar seventh dorsal root ganglia of cats and monkeys showed little difference in the histograms of nerve fiber diameters of the sensory nerve fiber branch of these neurons as compared to the dorsal root fiber branches. A similar density of microtubules and of neurofilaments in the dorsal root and sensory nerve fiber branches over a wide range of fiber diameters was found in electron micrograph preparations. In the absence of an anatomical difference in the fibers to account for the asymmetrical outflow, a functional explanation based on the transport filament model was advanced.     

Decompressive Laminectomy for Low Back and Sciatic Pain

A proportion of patients with lumbar disc syndromes have little in the way of disc protrusion, but have spinal canals, either congenitally narrow, or else narrowed by degenerative changes. These patients require myelography for their assessment and decompression by complete laminectomy for their treatment, as opposed to the more usual practice of discectomy via partial laminectomy and/or fusion. Five such cases with myelographic findings are presented.     

Mechanical thresholds for initiation and persistence of pain following nerve root injury: mechanical and chemical contributions at injury

There is much evidence supporting the hypothesis that magnitude of nerve root mechanical injury affects the nature of the physiological responses which can contribute to pain in lumbar radiculopathy. Specifically, injury magnitude has been shown to modulate behavioral hypersensitivity responses in animal models of radiculopathy. However, no study has determined the mechanical deformation thresholds for initiation and maintenance of the behavioral sensitivity in these models. Therefore, it was the purpose of this study to quantify the effects of mechanical and chemical contributions at injury on behavioral outcomes and to determine mechanical thresholds for pain onset and persistence. Male Holtzman rats received either a silk or chromic gut ligation of the L5 nerve roots, a sham exposure of the nerve roots, or a chromic exposure in which no mechanical deformation was applied but chromic gut material was placed on the roots. Using image analysis, nerve root radial strains were estimated at the time of injury. Behavioral hypersensitivity was assessed by measuring mechanical allodynia continuously throughout the study. Chromic gut ligations produced allodynia responses for nerve root strains at two-thirds of the magnitudes of those strains which produced the corresponding behaviors for silk ligation. Thresholds for nerve root compression producing the onset (8.4%) and persistence of pain (17.4%-22.2%) were determined for silk ligation in this lumbar radiculopathy model. Such mechanical thresholds for behavioral sensitivity in a painful radiculopathy model begin to provide biomechanical data which may have utility in broader experimental and computational models for relating injury biomechanics and physiologic responses of pain.     

Superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of neuroinflammation in a rat model of radicular pain

In many clinical cases of radicular pain, no noticeable neuropathology is detected by conventional medical imaging strategies. Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles were evaluated as magnetic resonance contrast agents to specifically detect neuroinflammation at sites of painful injury in a rat model of cervical nerve root compression. Two separate groups of rats were used: an injury group that underwent controlled transient compression of the dorsal root and a sham group that received the same surgical procedures but no injury. Precontrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed 6 days after surgery, followed by administration of SPIO via tail vein injection. After 24 hours, T2*-weighted imaging at the site of root injury revealed a postcontrast enhancement of 72.9 ± 31%. This was significantly greater than that of injured animals prior to SPIO administration (5.3 ± 12.9%). SPIO did not generate any significant postcontrast enhancement in the nerve roots of the sham group. Histology confirmed colocalization of SPIO with macrophage at the injury site. These findings suggest that SPIO-enhanced MRI may be a valuable tool to identify otherwise undetectable nerve root compression and enable improved patient management.