Objective To develop a deep learning system for CT images to assist in the diagnosis of thoracolumbar fractures and analyze the feasibility of its clinical application. Methods Collected from West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2019 to March 2020, a total of 1256 CT images of thoracolumbar fractures were annotated with a unified standard through the Imaging LabelImg system. All CT images were classified according to the AO Spine thoracolumbar spine injury classification. The deep learning system in diagnosing ABC fracture types was optimized using 1039 CT images for training and validation, of which 1004 were used as the training set and 35 as the validation set; the rest 217 CT images were used as the test set to compare the deep learning system with the clinician’s diagnosis. The deep learning system in subtyping A was optimized using 581 CT images for training and validation, of which 556 were used as the training set and 25 as the validation set; the rest 104 CT images were used as the test set to compare the deep learning system with the clinician’s diagnosis. Results The accuracy and Kappa coefficient of the deep learning system in diagnosing ABC fracture types were 89.4% and 0.849 (P<0.001), respectively. The accuracy and Kappa coefficient of subtyping A were 87.5% and 0.817 (P<0.001), respectively. Conclusions The classification accuracy of the deep learning system for thoracolumbar fractures is high. This approach can be used to assist in the intelligent diagnosis of CT images of thoracolumbar fractures and improve the current manual and complex diagnostic process.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of pedicle screw fixation combined with non-fusion technology for the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture (AO type A) through Wiltse paraspinal approach. MethodsBetween March 2011 and December 2012, 35 cases of thoracolumbar fractures were treated with pedicle screw fixation combined with non-fusion technology by Wiltse paraspinal approach. There were 27 males and 8 females, aged from 19 to 51 years (mean, 39.7 years). The time from injury to operation varied from 3 to 15 days (mean, 5.9 days). The causes of injury were traffic accident in 17 cases, falling from height in 11 cases, and crush trauma in 7 cases. All fractures were single-segment fracture, including T8 in 1 case, T9 in 2 cases, T10 in 2 cases, T11 in 3 cases, T12 in 12 cases, L1 in 10 cases, L2 in 4 cases, and L3 in 1 case. According to AO classification, there were 17 type A1 fractures (compression fracture), 3 type A2 fractures (splitting fracture), and 15 type A3 fractures (burst fracture). Based on American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) spinal cord injury grade, all cases were in grade E before operation. Perioperative parameters were recorded; the anterior vertebral height and kyphotic Cobb angle of vertebral bodies were measured before and after operation to evaluate the effect of correction. ResultsThe mean operating time was 74 minutes; the mean blood loss was 125 mL; and the mean drainage volume was 51 mL. Skin necrosis of incision occurred in 2 cases and was cured after dressing change; primary healing of incision was obtained in the others. All patients were followed up 15-24 months (mean, 17.3 months). No loosening or breakage of internal fixation was found. The internal fixator was removed at 12-19 months after operation (mean, 15 months). There were significant differences in Cobb's angle and anterior vertebral body height between before operation and immediately after operation, before internal fixator removal as well as at last follow-up (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in anterior vertebral body height among the postoperative time points (P > 0.05). There was significant difference in Cobb's angle between immediately after operation and before internal fixator removal as well as at last follow-up (P < 0.05), but the difference was not significant between before internal fixator removal and at last follow-up (P > 0.05). The motion of fixed segment was restored after internal fixator removal. ConclusionIt is an effective method of pedicle screw fixation combined with non-fusion technology through Wiltse paraspinal approach for the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture (AO type A). The method has the advantages of simple operation and less trauma. It can effectively rebuild the height of vertebral body and correct kyphotic deformity.
Objective To compare the surgical efficacy of different operating methods for treating old thoracolumbarfracture with spinal cord injury. Methods From September 2000 to March 2006, 34 cases of old thoracolumbar fractures with spinal cord injury were treated. Patients were divided into 2 groups randomly. Group A (n=18): anterior approach osteotomy, il iac bone graft and internal fixation were used. There were 10 males and 8 females with the age of 17-54 years. The apex level of kyphosis was T11 in 2 cases, T12 in 5 cases, L1 in 8 cases and L2 in 3 cases. The average preoperative Cobb angle of kyphosis was (36.33 ± 3.13)°, and the average preoperative difference in height between anterior and posterior of involved vertebra was (22.34 ± 11.61) mm. Neurological dysfunction JOA score was 10.44 ± 1.12. Group B (n=16): transpedicular posterior decompression and internal fixation were used. There were 8 males and 8 females with the age of 18-56 years. The apex level of kyphosis was T11 in 2 cases, T12 in 6 cases, L1 in 7 cases and L2 in 1 case. The preoperative Cobb angle of kyphosis was (38.55 ± 4.22)°, and the preoperative difference in height between anterior and posterior of involved vertebra was (20.61 ± 10.22) mm. Neurological dysfunction JOA score was 10.23 ± 2.23. Results All the patients were followed up for 9-46 months with an average of 13.5 months. Cobb angle was (12.78 ± 3.76)° in group A, which was improved by (24.23 ± 1.64)° campared to that of preoperation; and was (10.56 ± 4.23)° in group B, which was improved by (26.66 ± 1.66)°. JOA score was 14.21 ± 1.08 in group A, which wasimproved by 3.92 ± 1.33; and it was 13.14 ± 2.32 in group B, which was improved by 3.12 ± 1.95. The average postoperative difference between anterior height and posterior height of vertebral body in group A was (3.11 ± 1.06) mm, which was improved by (18.03 ± 2.14) mm; and it was (2.56 ± 1.33) mm in group B, which was corrected by (20.36 ± 3.78) mm. There were statistically significant differences in the above indexes between preoperation and postoperation in 2 groups (P lt; 0.01), but no significant differences between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). In group A, pleural effusion occurred in 2 cases and local pulmonary collapse in 4 cases and intercostals neuralgia in 1 case. In group B, leakage of cerebrospinal fluid occurred in 3 cases. Conclusion Both anterior and posterior approach are capable of treating of the old thoracolumbar fracture with incomplete spinal cord injury and providing the satisfying result of deformation correction, neurological decompression and neurological functional recovery to a certain extent.
Objective To investigate the effects of different puncture levels on bone cement distribution and effectiveness in bilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures. Methods A clinical data of 274 patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures who met the selection criteria between December 2017 and December 2020 was retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent bilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty. During operation, the final position of the puncture needle tip reached was observed by C-arm X-ray machine. And 118 cases of bilateral puncture needle tips were at the same level (group A); 156 cases of bilateral puncture needle tips were at different levels (group B), of which 87 cases were at the upper 1/3 layer and the lower 1/3 layer respectively (group B1), and 69 cases were at the adjacent levels (group B2). There was no significant difference in gender, age, fracture segment, degree of osteoporosis, disease duration, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and Oswestry disability index (ODI) between groups A and B and among groups A, B1, and B2 (P>0.05). The operation time, bone cement injection volume, postoperative VAS score, ODI, and bone cement distribution were compared among the groups. Results All operations were successfully completed without pulmonary embolism, needle tract infection, or nerve compression caused by bone cement leakage. There was no significant difference in operation time and bone cement injection volume between groups A and B or among groups A, B1, and B2 (P>0.05). All patients were followed up 3-32 months, with an average of 7.8 months. There was no significant difference in follow-up time between groups A and B and among groups A, B1, and B2 (P>0.05). At 3 days after operation and last follow-up, VAS score and ODI were significantly lower in group B than in group A (P<0.05), in groups B1 and B2 than in group A (P<0.05), and in group B1 than in group B2 (P<0.05). Imaging review showed that the distribution of bone cement in the coronal midline of injured vertebrae was significantly better in group B than in group A (P<0.05), in groups B1 and B2 than in group A (P<0.05), and in group B1 than in group B2 (P<0.05). In group A, 7 cases had postoperative vertebral collapse and 8 cases had other vertebral fractures. In group B, only 1 case had postoperative vertebral collapse during follow-up. ConclusionBilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures can obtain good bone cement distribution and effectiveness when the puncture needle tips locate at different levels during operation. When the puncture needle tips locate at the upper 1/3 layer and the lower 1/3 layer of the vertebral body, respectively, the puncture sites are closer to the upper and lower endplates, and the injected bone cement is easier to connect with the upper and lower endplates.
Objective To explore the clinical effect of PSIS-A robot-assisted percutaneous screw in the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture. Methods Patients with thoracolumbar fracture who were hospitalized in Mianyang Orthopedic Hospital between August 2022 and January 2024 and required percutaneous pedicle screw f ixation were selected. Patients were divided into robot group and free hand group by random number table. Operative time, intraoperative bleeding, intraoperative radiation dose and time, implant accuracy rate, small joint invasion rate, Visual Analogue Scale score for pain and other indexes were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 60 patients were included. Among them, there were 28 cases in the robot group and 32 cases in the free hand group. On the third day after surgery, the Visual Analogue Scale score of the robot group was better than that of the free hand group (P=0.003). Except for intraoperative bleeding and radiation frequency (P>0.05), the surgical time, average nail implantation time, and intraoperative radiation dose in the robot group were all lower than those in the free hand group (P<0.05). The accuracy and excellence rate of nail planting in the robot group were higher than those in the free hand group (94.6% vs. 84.9%; χ2=7.806, P=0.005). There was no statistically significant difference in the acceptable accuracy rate (96.4% vs. 91.1%; χ2=3.240, P=0.072) and the incidence of screw facet joint invasion (7.2% vs.14.1%; χ2=3.608, P=0.058) between the two groups. Conclusion The application of PSIS-A type robot assisted percutaneous minimally invasive pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of thoracolumbar fr actures is promising.
ObjectiveTo explore the application of different digestive system management strategies in the perioperative period of thoracolumbar fracture.MethodsThe clinical data of the patients with thoracolumbar fractures and pedicle screw fixation in Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2016 to January 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. According to different perioperative management strategies of the digestive system, they were divided into two groups. Patients with careful management strategy were included in the observation group, and patients with routine management were included in the control group. The baseline conditions, the abnormalities of digestive tract function at admission and before and after surgery, the postoperative first feeding time, exhaust time, defecation time, the incidence of other postoperative complications except digestive tract complication, length of stay and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups. At 6 months after surgery, the fracture healing, loosening or fracture of internal plants were compared between the two groups.ResultA total of 121 patients were included in the study, including 67 cases in the observation group and 54 cases in the control group. There was no significant differences in the baseline conditions between the two groups (P>0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the incidences of digestive system dysfunction at admission (P>0.05). The incidences of digestive system dysfunction in the observation group before and after surgery were lower than those in the control group (29.9% vs. 53.7%, P<0.05; 35.8% vs. 61.1%, P<0.05). The first eating time [(3.7±1.1) vs. (6.7±2.6) h], exhaust time [(7.8±2.3) vs. (13.6±4.2) h], defecation time [(26.7±8.1) vs. (40.9±11.2) h] and length of stay [(6.5±2.4) vs. (9.0±2.7) d] in the observation group were shorter than those in the control group (P<0.005), and the patients’ satisfaction was better than that of the control group (8.3±1.1 vs. 7.6±1.3; t=−3.208, P=0.002). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications except digestive tract complication, and the fracture healing rate, the incidence of nail-rod breakage at6 months after surgery between the two groups (P>0.05). No internal plant loosening was found in the two groups of patients within 6 months after surgery.ConclusionThe application of the careful digestive system management strategy in patients with thoracolumbar fractures can help reduce the incidence of perioperative gastrointestinal dysfunction, promote the recovery of perioperative gastrointestinal function, shorten the length of hospital stay, and improve patient satisfaction.
Objective To investigate the biomechanical characteristics of self-developed distraction reduction fixation system (DRFS) and to evaluate its cl inical effect on thoracolumbar vertebrate fracture. Methods Twelve fresh porcine spines were prepared for the biomechanical test. The stiffness of each intact specimen were recorded on forward bending (20°),backward bending (10°), lateral bending (30°) and axial rotation (20°), and then specimens of fracture dislocation were made by cuneiform osteotomy of L3 vertebral body and excision of posterior facet joints. Finally, DRFS internal fixation was performed on each specimen. The stiffness of specimens in fracture dislocation and after DRFS fixation were measured during the same movements mentioned above, respectively. The cl inical effect of DRFS on thoracolumbar vertebrate fracture in 31 patients (aged 17-46 years with an average of 32.1) from April 1998 to October 2002 was summarized. Fracture types were classified according to Denis classification: 2 patients suffered simple compressed fracture, 16 burst fracture, and 13 fracture dislocation, including 2 cases of T11, 11 cases of T12, 14 cases of L1 and 4 cases of L2. Frankel and X-ray examination were adopted to assess the results. Results The stiffness during forward bending, backward bending, lateral bending and axial rotation in the fracturedislocation state was markedly lower than that of the corresponding movements of the intact porcine spines (P lt; 0.05). After DRFS, the stiffness during various movements increased to the level that significantly higher than that in the fracture-dislocation state (P lt; 0.05), and the stiffness during backward bending was of significant difference (P lt; 0.05), but without significant difference during the rest three movements (P gt; 0.05) when compared to that in intact spines. Regarding cl inical observation, the operation time was 2.2-4.1 hours (2.7 hours on average) and blood loss was 250-600 mL (450 mL on average). The patients were followed up for 5-20 months (10.2 months on average). The heal ing time for fracture was 5-11months (8 months onaverage). The mean anterior and posterior heights of the injured vertebrate recovered from 46.2% ± 7.5% and 76.4% ± 2.4% preoperatively to 89.8% ± 4.6% and 94.1% ± 1.5% postoperatively (P lt; 0.05).The median point height also raised from 60.8% ± 6.4% to 90.7% ± 2.9% (P lt; 0.05). The Cobb’s angle decreased from (26.3 ± 5.9)° to (5.2 ± 1.8)° (P lt; 0.05), and all the sl ipped vertebrates were well repositioned. Spine function was assessed by Frankel classification as follows: 2 of 5 Class A preoperatively improved to Class B postoperatively, and the other 3 remained unchanged ; 4 of 6 from B to C, and the other 2 to D; 6 of 13 from C to D, and the other 7 to E; and 7 from D to E. Conclusion DRFS is capable of providing sufficient stabil ity, meeting the requirement of the spine physical activity without any obvious side effect. DRFS, as a handy, safe and effective technique in cl inical practice, is featured by satisfying functions of distraction, reposition and fixation.
Thoracolumbar injury is a common injury in clinic. Accurate diagnosis and classification is of great significance for guiding treatment. Although there are many typing systems, no typing system has been widely accepted and used to guide clinical practice. Denis classification, spinal load classification, thoracolumbar injury classification system and severity score or thoracolumbar injury classification and severity score and AO classification have great influence in clinical practice, but they all have some shortcomings. In recent years, the classification of thoracolumbar injury has been updated, modified and supplemented constantly. When using these fracture types in clinical practice, different people often have some deviation. This paper reviews the widely used thoracolumbar injury classification system, discusses the main viewpoints, advantages and disadvantages of each classification system, and looks into the future research direction based on the current research progress.
A new method of anterior decompression for thoracolumbar fractures with paralysi s in six cases was reported. In a follw-up of one to five months, was shown that the neurological functions in all six cases has improved ⅡⅢ rank in Frankl classification. The author believe that the method has the following advantages, such as: less trauma from operation; the level and the limit of decompression could be made without Xray during the operation; usually only 1/5 to 1/4 of the vertebral body was excised so that the stability of the spine was not disturbed, and the obvious favourable results.
ObjectiveTo investigate the short-term effectiveness of percutaneous pedicle fixation combined with intravertebral allograft by different methods for thoracolumbar fractures. MethodsThe clinical data of 94 patients with single segment thoracolumbar fracture who underwent percutaneous pedicle fixation combined with intravertebral allograft by different methods between October 2018 and October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different methods of intravertebral allograft, they were divided into group A (bone grafting by Jack dilator, 40 cases) and group B (bone grafting by funnel, 54 cases). There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05) in the gender, age, body mass index, cause of injury, injured segment, Wolter index, time from injury to operation, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, injured vertebral height ratio, and Cobb angle. The operation time, fluoroscopy frequency, allograft volume, and complications were recorded and compared between the two groups. VAS score of low back pain was used to evaluate the remission of clinical symptoms before operation, at 3 days, 3 months, 12 months after operation, and at last follow-up. The injured vertebral height ratio and Cobb angle were measured before operation, at 3 days, 3 months, and 12 months after operation. ResultsThe operation time, fluoroscopy frequency, and allograft volume in group A were significantly higher than those in group B (P<0.05). No complication occurred after operation, such as loosening or fracture of internal fixation. And bone grafting in the injured vertebrae healed at last follow-up. The VAS score, injured vertebral height ratio, and Cobb angle at each postoperative time point significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05); compared with 3 days postoperatively, the VAS score improved further after 3 months, but the injured vertebral height ratio decreased and the Cobb angle increased, and the differences were significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the VAS scores of low back pain between the two groups at each time point after operation (P>0.05); the injured vertebrae height ratio in group A was significantly higher than that in group B, and the Cobb angle was significantly lower than that in group B, all showing significant differences (P<0.05). ConclusionThe intravertebral allograft via Jack dilator can restore the height and decrease the Cobb angle of the injured vertebrae, but accompanied with higher fluoroscopy frequency and longer operation time when compared with funnel bone grafting. For patients with single level thoracolumbar fractures, intravertebral allograft via Jack dilator is recommended.