Objective To investigate the surgery tactics for ossification of ligamentum flavum (OLF) associated with dural ossification (DO) in the thoracic spine and the cl inical outcome. Methods Between June 2006 and December 2009, 98 patients with thoracic spinal stenosis secondary to OLF were treated, and DO was found in 18 cases during operation. There were 11 males and 7 females with a mean age of 58 years (range, 46-73 years). The disease duration ranged from 5 to 48 months (mean,20 months). All patients underwent surgical decompression because of recent neurological aggravation. Both DO and OLF were resected with octagonal decompression by dissecting pedicle flavum tunnel. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, modified Oswestry Disabil ity Index (ODI), and the Cobb angle were used to evaluate the effectiveness. Results The initial symptoms were significantly alleviated postoperatively. All patients had transient cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage postoperatively, the CSF leakage disappeared after 8-10 days of conservative treatment. All the incisions healed by first intention. There was no complication of neurologic function deterioration, meningitis, wound infection, or spinocutaneous fistula. Eighteen patients were followed up 20-60 months (mean, 49 months). No recurrence of spinal cord compression symptoms,or neurologic function deterioration was observed at last follow-up. The JOA scores and effectiveness and modified ODI scores were significantly improved after 1 month and 12 months of operation when compared with preoperative scores (P lt; 0.05). The Cobb angles of kyphosis of the involved vertebrae were (6.7 ± 1.6)° before operation and (8.0 ± 1.2)° after 12 months of operation, showing significant difference (t=4.000，P=0.001). Postoperative T2-weighted axial MRI, sagittal MRI scan, and short T1 inversion recovery MRI showed that compressed deformity of the spinal cord returned to normal. Conclusion The surgery tactics for thoracic spinal stenosis secondary to the OLF with DO is safe, and no patching dura mater tears is effective.
Acute pharyngitis belongs to the category of “acute throat impediment” in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which has a high incidence and is easy to recur. In clinical practice of TCM, Chinese patent medicines with the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing swelling and relieving pain are widely used in the treatment of acute pharyngitis. These medicines have the advantages of definite efficacy, low side effects, and low risk of developing drug resistance. However, at present, there are no standardized clinical diagnostic and therapeutic evaluation norms for acute pharyngitis in TCM, which has hindered the application of TCM in the prevention and treatment of acute pharyngitis and the development of new TCM preparations. Therefore, the China Association of Chinese Medicine initiated this expert consensus, which was led the formulation by Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. This expert consensus integrates the current best evidence and extensive clinical expert experience from the front line, covering seven aspects: applicable scope, diagnosis in both Chinese and Western medicine, syndrome classification and evaluation scales, basis for efficacy evaluation, and time for efficacy evaluation. It has formed 8 types of TCM syndromes for acute pharyngitis, as well as the diagnostic criteria, syndrome classification and evaluation scales, evaluation basis for efficacy, and scoring standards for syndromes and diseases. This expert consensus can be used to standardize the diagnosis of the TCM syndromes of acute pharyngitis, as well as the core indicators and evaluation methods for syndrome and disease efficacy, with the aim of providing references for clinical practice and scientific research on acute pharyngitis.