Objective To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) by using zero-profile anchored cage (ZAC) in treatment of consecutive three-level cervical spondylosis, by comparing with plate-cage construct (PCC). Methods A clinical data of 65 patients with cervical spondylosis admitted between January 2020 and December 2022 and met the selection criteria was retrospectively analyzed. During consecutive three-level ACDF, 35 patients were fixed with ZAC (ZAC group) and 30 patients with PCC (PCC group). There was no significant difference in baseline data between the two groups (P>0.05), including gender, age, body mass index, surgical segment, preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Neck Disability Index (NDI), visual analogue scale (VAS) score, prevertebral soft tissue thickness (PSTT), cervical lordosis, and surgical segmental angle. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, clinical indicators (JOA score, NDI, VAS score), and radiological indicators (cervical lordosis, surgical segmental angle, implant subsidence, surgical segment fusion, and adjacent segment degeneration), and the postoperative complications [swelling of the neck (PSTT), dysphagia] were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results Patients in both groups were followed up 24-39 months. There was no significant difference in follow-up duration between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were lower in ZAC group than in PCC group, and the length of hospital stay was longer, but there was no significant difference (P>0.05). At each time point after operation, both groups showed significant improvements in JOA score, VAS score, and NDI compared with preoperative scores (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups at each time point after operation (P>0.05). Both groups showed an increase in PSTT at 3 days and 3, 6 months after operation compared to preoperative levels (P<0.05), but returned to preoperative levels at last follow-up (P>0.05). The PSTT at 3 days and 3 months after operation were significantly lower in ZAC group than in PCC group (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the two groups at 6 months and at last follow-up (P>0.05). The incidences of dysphagia at 3 days and 3 months were significantly lower in ZAC group than in PCC group (P<0.05), while no significant difference was observed at 6 months and last follow-up between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no postoperative complication in both groups including hoarseness, esophageal injury, cough, or hematoma. Both groups showed improvement in cervical lordosis and surgical segmental angle compared to preoperative levels, with a trend of loss during follow-up. The cervical lordosis loss and surgical segmental angle loss were significantly more in the ZAC group than in PCC group (P<0.05). The incidence of implante subsidence was significantly higher in ZAC group than in PCC group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the ZAC group and PCC group in the incidences of surgical segment fusion and adjacent segment degeneration (P>0.05). ConclusionIn consecutive three-level ACDF, both ZAC and PCC can achieve satisfactory effectiveness. The former can reduce the incidence of postoperative dysphagia, while the latter can better maintain cervical curvature and reduce the incidence of implant subsidence.
目的:探讨CCRS拉钩在颈椎前路手术中的应用方法及结果。方法:回顾分析2007~2008年在我院完成的97例颈椎前路手术中,应用CCRS拉钩来显露切口者的临床资料,并观察平均手术时间、术中出血量、周围软组织突入手术野的次数、术者术中调整撑开器的次数、患者术后咽部不适时间和医生满意度等指标。结果:该组病例平均手术时间103min,平均术中出血量110 mL,每台次软组织突入术野的次数为0~2次,术者术中调整CCRS 1~2次,患者术后咽部不适1~4 d,医生满意度为95.88%。结论:CCRS拉钩撑开切口后颈前方显露清晰,避免了周围软组织突入颈前操作区,从而提高了手术安全性和术者满意度。
Objective To investigate the effect of ultrasonic bone curette in anterior cervical spine surgery. MethodsA clinical data of 63 patients with cervical spondylosis who were admitted between September 2019 and June 2021 and met the selection criteria was retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 32 cases were operated with conventional instruments (group A) and 31 cases with ultrasonic bone curette (group B). There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05) in gender, age, surgical procedure, surgical segment and number of occupied cervical space, disease type and duration, comorbidities, and preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, cervical dysfunction index (NDI), and pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score. The operation time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative drainage, postoperative hospital stay, and the occurrence of postoperative complications were recorded in both groups. Before operation and at 1, 3, and 6 months after operation, the JOA score and NDI were used to evaluate the function and the postoperative JOA improvement rate was calculated, and VAS score was used to evaluate the pain improvement. The anteroposterior and lateral cervical X-ray films were taken at 1, 3, and 6 months after operation to observe whether there was any significant loosening and displacement of internal fixators. ResultsCompared with group A, group B had shorter operation time and postoperative hospital stay, less intraoperative bleeding and postoperative drainage, and the differences were significant (P<0.05). All incisions healed by first intention in the two groups, and postoperative complications occurred in 5 cases (15.6%) in group A and 2 cases (6.5%) in group B, showing no significant difference (P>0.05). All patients were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 7.9 months). The JOA score and improvement rate gradually increased in groups A and B after operation, while the VAS score and NDI gradually decreased. There was no significant difference in VAS score between 3 months and 1 month in group B (P>0.05), and there were significant differences between the other time points of each indicator in the two groups (P<0.05). At 1, 3, and 6 months after operation, the JOA score and improvement rate in group B were better than those in group A (P<0.05). X-ray films examination showed that there was no screw loosening or titanium plate displacement in the two groups after operation, and the intervertebral cage or titanium mesh significantly sank. ConclusionCompared with traditional instruments, the use of ultrasonic bone curette assisted osteotomy in anterior cervical spine surgery has the advantages of shorter operation time, less intraoperative bleeding, less postoperative drainage, and shorter hospital stay.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of stand-alone MC+polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) Cage (single blade type) in anterior cervical double-level fusion for more than 2 years follow-up.Methods A clinical data of 30 patients who were treated with anterior cervical fusion surgery with stand-alone MC+PEEK Cage (single blade type) between January 2013 and December 2016 and followed up for more than 2 years, was retrospectively analyzed. There were 16 males and 14 females, aged from 34 to 72 years with an average of 52.2 years. There were 16 cases of cervical spondylotic myelopathy, 8 cases of cervical spondylotic myelopathy, and 6 cases of traumatic cervical disc herniation. The continuous double segments were C4, 5, C5, 6 in 12 cases and C5, 6, C6, 7 in 18 cases; and the disease duration ranged from3 days to 24 months (mean, 12 months). Postoperative neck hematoma and wound healing were observed; dysphagia was assessed by Bazaz system; and bone fusion was assessed by Suk method. Before operation, at 1 week after operation, and at last follow-up, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was used to evaluate the neurological recovery; the cervical X-ray film was performed to record the cervical curvature (C2-C7 Cobb angle), the height of the intervertebral space of the fusion segment, and to judge the occurrence of the fusion Cage subsidence.ResultsNo complication such as neck hematoma, incision infection, or esophageal fistula was found, primary healing of incisions was obtained in all cases. All patients were followed up 24-72 months (mean, 46 months). Neurological symptoms such as limb numbness and pain gradually disappeared after operation; during the follow-up period, the cervical curvature could be effectively maintained; dysphagia and internal fixation related complications such as displacement of Cages were not found. All patients obtained bony fusion from 3 to 8 months with an average time of 4.3 months. Compared with preoperative ones, the JOA score, intervertebral space height, and Cobb angle of cervical spine were significantly improved at 1 week after operation and at last follow-up (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between 1 week after operation and last follow-up (P>0.05).ConclusionThe application of stand-alone MC+PEEK Cage (single card type) in anterior cervical fusion can provide early cervical stability, effectively maintain the physiological curvature of cervical spine and the height of fusion intervertebral space.
Objective To compare the effectiveness of a zero-profile three-dimensiaonal (3D)-printed microporous titanium alloy Cage and a conventional titanium plate combined with a polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK)-Cage in the treatment of single-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) by anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Methods The clinical data of 83 patients with single-segment CSM treated with ACDF between January 2022 and January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, and they were divided into 3D-ZP group (35 cases, using zero-profile 3D-printed microporous titanium alloy Cage) and CP group (48 cases, using titanium plate in combination with PEEK-Cage). There was no significant difference in gender, age, disease duration, surgical intervertebral space, and preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, neck disability index (NDI), vertebral height at the fusion segment, Cobb angle, and other baseline data between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, complications, interbody fusion, and prosthesis subsidence were recorded and compared between the two groups. VAS score, NDI, and JOA score were used to evaluate the improvement of pain and function before operation, at 3 months after operation, and at last follow-up, and the vertebral height at the fusion segment and Cobb angle were measured by imaging. The degree of dysphagia was assessed by the Bazaz dysphagia scale at 1 week and at last follow-up. Results The operation was successfully completed in all the 83 patients. There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss and hospital stay between the two groups (P>0.05), but the operation time in the 3D-ZP group was significantly shorter than that in the CP group (P<0.05). Patients in both groups were followed up 24-35 months, with an average of 25.3 months, and there was no significant difference in the follow-up time between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence and grade of dysphagia in CP group were significantly higher than those in 3D-ZP group at 1 week after operation and at last follow-up (P<0.05). There was no dysphagia in 3D-ZP group at last follow-up. There was no complication such as implant breakage or displacement in both groups. The intervertebral fusion rates of 3D-ZP group and CP group were 65.71% (23/35) and 60.42% (29/48) respectively at 3 months after operation, and there was no significant difference between the two groups [OR (95%CI)=1.256 (0.507, 3.109), P=0.622]. The JOA score, VAS score, and NDI significantly improved in the 3D-ZP group at 3 months and at last follow-up when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the improvement rate of JOA between the two groups at last follow-up (P>0.05). At 3 months after operation and at last follow-up, the vertebral height at the fusion segment and Cobb angle significantly improved in both groups, and the two indexes in 3D-ZP group were significantly better than those in CP group (P<0.05). At last follow-up, the incidence of prosthesis subsidence in 3D-ZP group (8.57%) was significantly lower than that in CP group (29.16%) (P<0.05). ConclusionThe application of zero-profile 3D-printed Cage and titanium plate combined with PEEK-Cage in single-segment ACDF can both reconstruct the stability of cervical spine and achieve good effectiveness. Compared with the latter, the application of the former in ACDF can shorten the operation time, reduce the incidence of prosthesis subsidence, and reduce the incidence of dysphagia.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of V-shaped stealth decompression technique using ultrasonic bone scalpel in anterior surgery for adjacent two-level cervical spondylosis. Methods A clinical data of 41 patients with adjacent two-level cervical spondylosis, who admitted between January 2020 and December 2023 and met the selection criteria, was analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 22 cases were treated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) assisted by V-shaped stealth decompression technique using ultrasonic bone scalpel (group A) and 19 cases with anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) (group B). There was no significant difference between the two groups in age, gender, disease duration, surgical segment, preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, neck dysfunction index (NDI), pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and the anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal in the responsibility space of axial CT (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, hospital stay, complications during follow-up, JOA score, NDI, and VAS score at last follow-up, and the incidences of intervertebral fusion at 3 months after operation, and cage subsidence at last follow-up were compared between the two groups. Results The operations in the two groups were successfully completed. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, and hospital stay in group A were significantly less than those in group B (P<0.05). Two cases (9.1%) in group A and 4 cases (21.1%) in group B developed complications, with no significant difference in the incidence between the two groups (P>0.05). All patients in the two groups were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 9.3 months). There was no significant difference in follow-up time between the two groups (P>0.05). At last follow-up, the JOA score and VAS score in both groups significantly improved when compared with those before operation (P<0.05). The change values of VAS score and the improvement rate of JOA score in group A were significantly superior to group B (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the change values of NDI and JOA score between the two group (P>0.05). Imaging reexamination showed that the rate of intervertebral fusion at 3 months after operation was significantly higher in group A (81.8%) than in group B (52.6%) (P<0.05), and all patients obtained bony intervertebral fusion at last follow-up. At last follow-up, 2 cases (9.1%) in group A and 11 cases (57.9%) in group B had cage sinking, and the difference in the incidence was significant (P<0.05). No loosening or fracture of internal fixators occurred in all patients. Conclusion Using ultrasonic bone scalpel can transform single vertebral ACCF into two-segment ACDF in anterior cervical spondylosis surgery. The V-shaped stealth decompression technique is safe and efficient, with the advantages of minimal trauma, fewer postoperative complications, and rapid recovery of patients.
【摘要】 目的 探讨纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66（nano-hydroxyapatite polyamide66，n-HA/PA66）颈椎融合器在颈椎间盘突出症前路手术重建中的临床疗效。 方法 2008年12月-2010年6月，对14例颈椎间盘突出症患者行前路椎间盘切除、椎管减压，以n-HA/PA66椎间融合器支撑植骨、钢板螺钉内固定治疗。随访时间3～12个月，平均6.3个月；随访时以日本矫形外科学会（Japan Orthopaedic Assoctiation， JOA）评分改善率评价患者神经功能恢复情况，复查X线片评估椎间融合器植骨融合情况，包括椎间高度及椎间融合器下沉情况。 结果 14例患者均成功完成颈椎前路减压手术以及椎间融合器的安放固定。所有患者术前症状均得到不同程度的改善，术后3、6、12个月的JOA改善率分别为87.0%、94.0%、97.0%。影像学检查显示所有患者植骨融合，椎间高度及椎间融合器的位置维持良好，无下沉、移位。 结论 n-HA/PA66颈椎间融合器具有早期支撑稳定功能，可有效维持颈椎椎间高度；术后植骨融合率高且便于X线片观察，是颈椎间盘突出症患者前路手术植骨的理想支撑材料，但长期效果需进一步随访观察。【Abstract】 Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of artificial cervical vertebra fusion apparatus of n-HA/PA66 in anterior reconstruction of cervical intervertebral disc herniation. Methods From December 2008 to June 2010, 14 patients with cervical intervertebral disc herniation underwent anterior cervical discectomy,spinal canal decompression,spinal canal decompression and reconstruction by n-HA/PA66 composite artificial vertebral body combined with plate instrumentation. The patients were followed up for 3 to 12 months with an average of 6.3 months. Neurological function was evaluated by improvement rate of JOA score and situations of the supporting body was observed by X-ray in 3,6,and 12 months after the surgery.The intervertebral height,the 1ocations, and the fusion rate of the supporting body were assessed in order to evaluate the stability of the cervical spine and alignment improvements. Results All the patients had undergone the operation successfully.The preoperative symptoms improved to varying degrees.JOA improvement rate were 87.0%, 94.0%, and 97.0% 3,6,and 12 months after the operation,respectively.Imaging studies showed that in all cases graft fusion were achieved,and cervical alignments,intervertebral height,cervical spine stability and the locations of the artificial vertebral body were well maintained.No displacement and subsidence of the artificial vertebral body occurred. Conclusion n-HA/PA66 artificial vertebral body can provide early cervical spine support and stability and cervical intervertebral height.It has a high rate of graft fusion and is convenient to observe by X-ray.Therefore,n-HA/PA66 can be taken as an ideal graft for anterior degenerative cervical spine operation,but further follow-up study is still needed to evaluate the long-term effects.
Objective To investigate the microscope-assisted anterior cervical surgery and traditional open surgery for the treatment of cervical myelopathy with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Methods Retrospective selection of patients with OPLL who underwent microscope-assisted and traditional open anterior cervical surgery in West China (Airport) Hospital Sichuan University were selected between January 2016 and August 2020. The patients who underwent traditional open anterior cervical surgery between January 2016 and August 2018 were classified as the conventional group, and the patients who underwent microscope-assisted anterior cervical surgery between September 2018 and August 2020 were classified as the microscope group. The baseline characteristics, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of pain before and after surgery, and surgical complications were collected. Neurological function was assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. Result A total of 46 patients were included. There were 24 cases in the conventional group and 22 cases in the microscope group. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss and length of hospital stay in the microscope group were lower than those in the conventional group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in VSA score and JOA score between the two groups before operation (P>0.05). There were statistically significant differences in VAS score and JOA score between the two groups 18 months after operation (P<0.001). The comparison of VAS score and JOA score in the two groups before and after operation showed that there was a statistically significant difference between 18 months after operation and before operation (P<0.05). In the microscope group, the average improvement rate of neurological function [(79.90±16.67)% vs. (58.12±17.47)%, t=4.317, P<0.001], excellent and good rate [95.45% (21/22) vs. 66.67% (16/24), χ2=4.354, P=0.037] were higher than those in the conventional group. The total number of complications in the microscope group was lower than that in the conventional group (P=0.024). Conclusion Compared with the traditional open anterior cervical surgery, the microscope-assisted anterior cervical surgery for OPLL can reduce intraoperative blood loss and length of hospital stay, reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.