OBJECTIVE: To study the therapy effect of improved bilateral tibia lengthening. METHODS: From May 1997 to May 2000, 32 patients (varus knee deformity in 8 cases) with low stature were adopted in this study. Among them, there were 26 females and 6 males, aged from 18 to 45 years old. Operative procedures included: 1. tibia osteotomy 1 cm distal from tibia tuberosity and fibula osteotomy 10 cm proximal from lateral malleolus; 2. fixation of the tibia osteotomy with interlocking nail and locking the proximal nail; 3. fixation of the lengthening apparatus; 4. lengthened bilateral tibia 0.7 mm per day; 5. removed the apparatus and locked the distal nail 2 weeks later after limb lengthening was over. RESULTS: The mean distance of lengthening was 8.5 cm (ranged 3.5 to 12.0 cm), the mean duration of lengthening was 128 days(ranged 53 to 180 days), and the mean time of bone union was 180 days (ranged 120 to 270 days). Followed up for 1 to 3 years, 98% patients felt satisfactory in lengthening, gait and joint movement. CONCLUSION: The improved bilateral tibia lengthening technique is recommended for advantage of short time of bone union, less complication and correcting the varus deformity of knee simultaneously.
Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes ofa surgical approach for decompression of lumbar spinal stenosis, which was featured with reconstruction of posterior spinal structures and epidural space by spinous process-splitting, less osteotomy, laminar flap and keeping spinal process, lamina, outer ligmentum flavum intact. Methods From October 2001 to April 2003, 39 patients (19 males and 20 females, aging 36 to 77 years with a mean age of 49.6 years with lumbar stenosis underwent the surgical decompression procedure with reconstruction of posterior canal structures and epidural space. The involved locations were L3,4 to L5S1(5 cases),L4,5 to L5S1(18 cases), L4,5(11 cases) and L5S1(5 cases). The course of disease was 3 months to 16 years (40.4 months on average). The clinical outcomes after 1 year of operation Results All patients were followed up from 18 to 36 months. No intraoperative and postoperative complications were observed and all patients were satisfactory with the surgery. Computerized tomography showed that spinal and nerve root canal were satisfactorily enlarged 1 week postoperatively in all cases. Fusion of lamina and spinous process were detected on CT in 87.2% patients (34/39) 3 months after operation. No patients presented re-stenosis of lumbar spine and all patients presented bony fusion 1 year after surgery. Conclusion The approach of the current study was a reliable and effective method in the management of lumbar stenosis, it preserved thecontinuity of spinal process, interspinous ligaments, lamina and ligmentumn flavum and integrality of posterior spinal structures and epidural space. The integrity of the psoterior spinal structures can prevent the scar formation and improve the stability of lmbar spine postoperatively.
ObjectiveTo investigate the classification and treatment strategies of symptomatic severe osteoporotic vertebral fracture and collapse. MethodsBetween August 2010 and January 2014, 42 patients with symptomatic severe osteoporotic vertebral fracture and collapse were treated, and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. According to clinical symptom and imaging materials, 23 cases were classified as type I (local pain, limitation of motion, no neurological symptom, and no obvious deformity), 12 cases as type II (slight neurological symptom and kyphotic Cobb angle ≤ 30°), and 7 cases as type III (severe neurological symptom and kyphotic Cobb angle <30°). In 23 type I patients, 17 underwent percutaneous vertebral augmentation, 6 underwent posterior pedicle screw fixation strengthened with bone cement combined with percutaneous vertebral augmentation. In 12 type II patients, they were treated with local spinal decompression and internal fixation strengthened with bone cement. In 7 type III patients, 5 underwent posterior osteotomy, and 2 underwent one stage posterior approach of vertebral resection and reconstruction. The visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and local kyphotic Cobb angle were used to evaluate the neurological function. The complications were recorded. ResultsThe operation was successfully completed in all patients. Wound infection and ketoacidosis secondary to stress blood glucose rise occurred in 1 case of type III patients respectively, and were cured after corresponding treatment; primary healing of wound was obtained in the other patients. The patients were followed up from 6 to 36 months (mean, 11.6 months). The nerve function was improved in 17 cases, and micturition disability was observed in 2 cases. Asymptomatic cement leakage occurred in 13 cases (30.95%) (7 cases in type I, 4 cases in type II, and 2 cases in type III). No bone cement dislocation and internal fixation failure were found during follow-up. The VAS score, ODI, and the local kyphotic Cobb angle at 1 week and last follow-up were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between at 1 week and last follow-up (P>0.05). ConclusionIn order to improve the effectiveness and reduce the risk and complications of operation, individualized strategies should be performed according to different types of severe osteoporotic vertebral fracture and collapse.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of a modified surgical treatment of old Monteggia fracture. MethodsBetween March 2006 and December 2013, 40 cases of old Monteggia fracture were treated with modified operation. Modified operation procedure included expanding excision of pedicled forearm fascia flap for reconstruction of the annular ligament and repair of elbow radial lateral collateral ligament complex and extending osteotomy of the ulna, callus replantation, and internal fixation with steel plate. There were 26 boys and 14 girls, aged 2-10 years with an average age of 4 years. Injury was caused by falling in 24 cases, by traffic accident in 8 cases, and by falling from height in 8 cases. The disease duration was 2-11 months (mean, 4 months). Four patients had combined radial nerve palsy. ResultsIncision healed by first intention after operation, without early complication of radial nerve palsy, fascial compartment syndrome, or decreased hand extensor muscle strength. All the children were followed up 1-5 years (mean, 2.5 years). X-ray films showed fracture healing, and the healing time was 10-20 weeks (mean, 15 weeks). During follow-up, 3 cases had re-dislocation. Neither hand dysfunction caused by hand muscle adhesion nor radial head bottleneck shape change was found. On the basis of the functional evaluation criteria by Mackay, the results were excellent in 32 cases, good in 5 cases, and poor in 3 cases; the excellent and good rate was 92.5% at last follow-up. ConclusionThe modified surgical treatment of old Monteggia fracture is an effective method, with good matching of humeroradial joint and without internal fixation of the humeroradial joint.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of modified "eggshell" osteotomy for the treatment of thoracolumbar kyphoscoliosis. MethodBetween April 2009 and June 2014, 19 patients with spinal deformity underwent modified "eggshell" osteotomy consisting of preserving posterior bony structures initially and enlarging surgical field for cancellous bone removal. There were 14 males and 5 females with an average age of 37.8 years (range, 18-76 years) and with a median disease duration of 7 years (range, 1-40 years). The disease causes included ankylosing spondylitis in 13 cases, spinal tuberculosis in 3 cases, and chronic vertebral compression fracture in 3 cases. Eleven patients showed single kyphosis and 8 patients had kyphoscoliosis. Preoperative Cobb angle of kyphosis was (64.2±30.1) °, while Cobb angle of scoliosis was (19.9±12.8) °. Apical vertebraes were T10 in 1 case, L1 in 3 cases, L2 in 7 cases, T10, 11 in 2 cases, T12, L1 in 4 cases, T12-L2 in 1 case, and T10-L1 in 1 case. Preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score were 6.1±1.9 and 15.2±5.6, respectively. According to Frankel criteria for spinal cord function, 16 cases were rated as grade E and 3 cases as grade D before operation. Cobb angle, VAS, and JOA scors were used to assess relief of symptom. ResultsThe operation time was 215-610 minutes (mean, 343 minutes); intraoperative blood loss ranged from 900 to 3000 mL (mean, 1573 mL). All incisions healed primarily. Delayed onset ischemia-reperfusion injury of spinal cord occurred in 1 case at 6 days after operation, and symptoms alleviated after conservative treatments. All 19 cases were followed up 14-76 months (mean, 46 months). No loosening or breakage of internal fixation was observed during follow-up. Cobb angle of kyphosis, Cobb angle of scoliosis, VAS and JOA scores at 1 week after operation and last follow-up were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05) . VAS and JOA scores at last follow-up were significantly improved when compared with scores at 1 week after operation (P<0.05) , but no significant difference was found in Cobb angle of both kyphosis and scoliosis between at 1 week after operation and at last follow-up (P>0.05) . At 1 week after operation, the correction rate for kyphosis was 34.1%-93.4% (mean, 62.2%), and the correction rate for scoliosis was 42.4%-100% (mean, 68.9%). At 48 months after operation, 3 patients with preoperative impaired spinal cord function achieved full recovery. ConclusionsModified "eggshell" osteotomy owns the advantages of shorter operation time and less intraoperative blood loss, thus it is able to correct thoracolumbar kyphoscoliosis safely and effectively.