Objective To evaluate the application of surgical strategies for the treatment of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) involving the C2 segment. Methods The literature about the surgery for cervical OPLL involving C2 segment was reviewed, and the indications, advantages, and disadvantages of surgery were summarized. Results For cervical OPLL involving the C2 segments, laminectomy is suitable for patients with OPLL involving multiple segments, often combined with screw fixation, and has the advantages of adequate decompression and restoration of cervical curvature, with the disadvantages of loss of cervical fixed segmental mobility. Canal-expansive laminoplasty is suitable for patients with positive K-line and has the advantages of simple operation and preservation of cervical segmental mobility, and the disadvantages include progression of ossification, axial symptoms, and fracture of the portal axis. Dome-like laminoplasty is suitable for patients without kyphosis/cervical instability and with negative R-line, and can reduce the occurrence of axial symptoms, with the disadvantage of limited decompression. The Shelter technique is suitable for patients with single/double segments and canal encroachment >50% and allows for direct decompression, but is technically demanding and involves risk of dural tear and nerve injury. Double-dome laminoplasty is suitable for patients without kyphosis/cervical instability. Its advantages are the reduction of damage to the cervical semispinal muscles and attachment points and maintenance of cervical curvature, but there is progress in postoperative ossification. Conclusion OPLL involving the C2 segment is a complex subtype of cervical OPLL, which is mainly treated through posterior surgery. However, the degree of spinal cord floatation is limited, and with the progress of ossification, the long-term effectiveness is poor. More research is needed to address the etiology of OPLL and to establish a systematic treatment strategy for cervical OPLL involving the C2 segment.
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 investigate the operational method of cervical vertebral flavectomy and its cl inical appl ication in the management of cervical canal stenosis. Methods From June 1997 to June 2007, 25 patients suffering from cervical spinal canal stenosis caused by obvious flaval l igament hypertrophy were given flavectomy. There were 22 males and 3 females, with an age range of 32 to 68 years (average 54 years). The course of disease was from 3 weeks to 7 years, with an average of 3 years and 7 months. All patients had degenerative cervical canal stenosis; of them, 5 cases had a history of cervical injury 2 to 3 weeks before operation (3 cases of fall ing injury and 2 cases of traffic accident injury). The X-ray film, CT, and MRI examinations showed that the compression locations were C4-7 in 12 cases, C3-7 in 9 cases, C5-7 in 3 cases, and C6,7 in 1 case. Spinous process and vertebral lamella were exposed by central posterior approach. The insertions of flaval l igaments were cut off at the superior vertebral lamella border, then the starting points of which were cut down from the anterior side of the upper vertebral lamella at their inferior border after l ifting up the flaval l igaments. The residual flaval l igaments in front of the vertebral lamella were scraped off by slope rongeur, the dura mater then could be seen to inflate from the intervertebral lamella space, showing the compression having been rel ieved. Twenty-five cases were all given posterior flavectomy. At 1 week to 3 months after operation, 12 patients received anterior cervical discectomy or vertebral gaining decompression with fusion by bone graft. Results The time for flavectomy was from 60 to 180 minutes, with an average of 95 minutes. The blood loss during operation was from 90 to 360 mL, with an average of 210 mL. The dura maters were lacerated by knife tips during operation with the cervical vertebrae in hyperflexion in 2 cases. Immediate suture and repair were performed and there were no postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage. All the incisions healed by first intension after operation. All of the 25 cases were followed up from 2 to 10 years, with an average of 3 years and 9 months. All patients had no compl ication of axial symptoms, and no restenosis at their operation site of cervical canal stenosis. The section area ratios of functional spinal canal to spinal cord were 1.12 ± 0.07 before operation and 2.11 ± 0.19 at 24 months after operation, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). The range of motion of cervical vertebrae was (39.4 ± 3.2)º befeore operation and (42.1 ± 2.9)° at 24 months after operation in 13 cases without anterior cervical discectomy fusion, showing no significant difference (P gt; 0.05); was (34.3 ± 3.4)° before operation and (29.2 ± 3.6)° at 24 months after operation in 12 cases with anterior cervical discectomy fusion, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). The bone graft achieved bony union 3-5 months after operation (average 3.8 months). The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores were 7.9 ± 2.2 before operation and 15.6 ± 1.4 at 24 months after operation, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05), with an average improvement rate of 86.3%. Conclusion Cervical flavectomy could rel ieve compression to spinal cord and nerves caused by the flaval l igament hypertrophy without damaging the normal integral ity of bony canal, thus avoiding the compl ication of axial symptoms and so on which are encountered in open-door expansile cervical laminoplasty.
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of spinal dural release on the effectiveness of expansive cervical laminoplasty for treating multi-segmental cervical myelopathy with ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament. MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 32 patients with multi-segmental cervical myelopathy with cervical ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament who underwent expansive cervical laminoplasty and spinal dural release between February 2011 and October 2013 (group A); and 36 patients undergoing simple expansive cervical laminoplasty between January 2010 and January 2011 served as controls (group B). There was no significant difference in gender, age, disease duration, affected segments, combined internal disease, preoperative cervical curvature, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and visual analogue scale (VAS) score between 2 groups (P>0.05). Postoperative JOA score and improvement rate, VAS score, posterior displacement of the spinal cord, and the change of cervical curvature were compared between 2 groups. ResultsSpinal dural tear occurred in 3 cases (2 cases in group A and 1 case in group B) during operation. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 3 cases (2 cases in group A and 1 case in group B) after operation. The patients were followed up 12-46 months (mean, 18.7 months). At last follow-up, the JOA score and VAS score were significantly improved in 2 groups when compared with preoperative scores (P<0.05). JOA score and improvement rate of group A were significantly higher than those of group B (P<0.05), but VAS score of group A was significantly lower than that of group B (P<0.05). At last follow-up, no significant difference in cervical curvature was found between 2 groups (P>0.05); posterior displacement of the spinal cord of group A was significantly larger than that of group B (P<0.05). No reclosed open-door was observed during follow-up. ConclusionFor patients with multi-segmental cervical myelopathy with ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament, full spinal dural release during expansive cervical laminoplasty can increase the posterior displacement of spinal cord, and significantly improve the effectiveness.
Objective To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of applying self-stabilizing zero-profile three-dimensional (3D) printed artificial vertebral bodies in anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 37 patients diagnosed with cervical spondylotic myelopathy who underwent single-level ACCF using either self-stabilizing zero-profile 3D-printed artificial vertebral bodies (n=15, treatment group) or conventional 3D-printed artificial vertebral bodies with titanium plates (n=22, control group) between January 2022 and February 2023. There was no significant difference in age, gender, lesion segment, disease duration, and preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score between the two groups (P>0.05). Operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, hospitalization costs, JOA score and improvement rate, incidence of postoperative prosthesis subsidence, and interbody fusion were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results Compared with the control group, the treatment group had significantly shorter operation time and lower hospitalization costs (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in intraoperative bleeding volume between the two groups (P>0.05). All patients were followed up, with a follow-up period of 6-21 months in the treatment group (mean, 13.7 months) and 6-19 months in the control group (mean, 12.7 months). No dysphagia occurred in the treatment group, while 5 cases occurred in the control group, with a significant difference in the incidence of dysphagia between the two groups (P<0.05). At 12 months after operation, both groups showed improvement in JOA scores compared to preoperative scores, with significant differences (P<0.05); however, there was no significant difference in the JOA scores and improvement rate between the two groups (P>0.05). Radiographic examinations showed the interbody fusion in both groups, and the difference in the time of interbody fusion was not significant (P>0.05). At last follow-up, 2 cases in the treatment group and 3 cases in the control group experienced prosthesis subsidence, with no significant difference in the incidence of prosthesis subsidence (P>0.05). There was no implant displacement or plate-screw fracture during follow-up.Conclusion The use of self-stabilizing zero-profile 3D-printed artificial vertebral bodies in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy not only achieves similar effectiveness to 3D-printed artificial vertebral bodies, but also reduces operation time and the incidence of postoperative dysphagia.
ObjectiveTo observe the effectiveness of posterior cervical laminoplasty, and to determine the significance of the classification of spinal cord compression of multi-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). MethodsThe clinical data were analyzed from 1 216 cases of multi-level CSM undergoing posterior cervical laminoplasty between February 1998 and February 2013. The patients were divided into 4 groups: soft anterior spinal cord compression and light canal occupation (<50%) in 569 cases (46.8%, group A), soft anterior spinal cord compression and heavy canal occupation (≥ 50%) in 365 cases (30.0%, group B), bony anterior spinal cord compression and light canal occupation in 210 cases (17.3%, group C), and bony anterior spinal cord compression and heavy canal occupation in 72 cases (5.9%, group D). There was no significant difference in gender, age, disease duration, lesion level, and complications among 4 groups (P>0.05). Because of different levels of spinal cord compression, there were significant differences in visual analogue scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score among 4 groups (P<0.05). ResultsCerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 9 cases (2 cases in group A, 1 case in group B, 3 cases in group C, and 3 cases in group D), and was cured after symptomatical treatment. There was no postoperative complication of wound infection, lamina re-closing, or C5 nerve root paralysis in 4 groups. The follow-up time ranged from 24 to 74 months (mean, 35 months). In group D, 17 patients (23.6%) had deteriorated symptom at 6-12 months after operation, and good recovery was achieved in the patients of the other 3 groups. At last follow-up, the JOA score and VAS score were significantly improved when compared with the preoperative scores in 4 groups (P<0.05); the JOA score, improvement rate, and VAS score of group D were significantly lower than those of groups A, B, and C (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference among groups A, B, and C (P>0.05). ConclusionIn the multi-level CSM, the anterior compression of the spinal cord should be classified, this has a guiding significance for the prognosis of CSM and the choice of surgical method.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility of posterior debridement, decompression, bone grafting, and fixation in treatment of thoracic spinal tuberculosis with myelopathy, and investigate the effects of surgical timing on postoperative outcomes.MethodsThe clinical data of 26 patients with thoracic spinal tuberculosis with myelopathy between August 2012 and October 2015 was retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent posterior unilateral transpedicular debridement, decompression, bone grafting, and fixation and were divided into two groups according to surgical timing. Group A included 11 patients with neurological dysfunction lasting less than 3 months; group B included 15 patients with neurological dysfunction lasting more than 3 months. No significant difference was found between the two groups in gender, age, involved segments, preoperative erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), Cobb angle of involved segment, and preoperative American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospitalization stay, perioperative complications, and bone fusion time were recorded and compared between the two groups. The change of pre- and post-operative Cobb angle of involved segments was calculated. Neurological function was assessed according to ASIA classification.ResultsAll patients were followed up 25-60 months (mean, 41.6 months). No cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred intra- and post-operation. The hospitalization stay and perioperative complications in group A were significantly less than those of group B (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and bone fusion time between the two groups (P>0.05). At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in ESR and CRP between groups A and B (P>0.05), but they were all significantly lower than those before operation (P<0.05). In group A, 1 patient with T6, 7 tuberculosis developed sinus that healed after dressing; the implants were removed at 20 months with bony union and no recurrence was found after 36 months of follow-up. One patient with T4, 5 tuberculosis in group B underwent revision because of recurrence and distal junctional kyphosis of the thoracic spine at 26 months after operation. There was no internal fixation-related complications or tuberculosis recurrence occurred in the remaining patients. At last follow-up, the Cobb angles in the two groups significantly improved compared with those before operation (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the Cobb angle and correction degree between the two groups (P>0.05). At last follow-up, the ASIA classification of spinal cord function was grade C in 1 case and grade E in 10 cases in group A, and grade D in 2 cases and grade E in 13 cases in group B; the ASIA classification results in the two groups significantly improved compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between the two groups (Z=–0.234, P=1.000).ConclusionPosterior unilateral transpedicular debridement, decompression, bone grafting, and fixation is effective in treatment of thoracic spinal tuberculosis with myelopathy. Early surgery can reduce the hospitalization stays and incidence of perioperative complications.
Objective To assess the mid-term effectiveness of anterior decompression and fusion with nano-hydroxyapatite/polyamide 66 (n-HA/PA66) cage in treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Methods A retrospective study was made on 48 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy who underwent anterior decompression and fusion with n-HA/PA66 cage between August 2008 and January 2010. There were 33 males and 15 females with an average age of 54.5 years (range, 42-72 years). The disease duration was 3-12 months (mean, 6 months). The affected segments included 35 cases of single segment (C3, 4 in 7, C4, 5 in 18, and C5, 6 in 10) and 13 cases of double segments (C3-5 in 7 and C4-6 in 6). Of 48 patients, 28 was diagnosed as having intervertebral disc protrusion, 12 as having ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament, and 8 as having vertebral osteophyte; 35 patients underwent single segmental anterior corpectomy and fusion, and 13 patients underwent single segmental anterior discectomy and fusion. The pre- and post-operative radiographs (cervical anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films and three-dimensional CT scans) were taken to measure the segmental height and lordosis angle. Brantigan et al assessment standard and visual analogue scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores were used to evaluate the graft fusion and the improvement of clinical symptoms, respectively. Results All patients were followed up for 46 months on average (range, 36-54 months). No cage breaking, displacement, or sliding was found. At last follow-up, 36 cases were rated as Brantigan grade E, 10 cases as grade D, and 2 cases as grade C; the fusion rate was 96%. Both segmental height and lordosis angle were corrected significantly at immediate and 6 months after operation and last follow-up than those before operation (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference was found among different time points after operation (P gt; 0.05). At last follow-up, the cage subsidence was (1.3 ± 1.0) mm. The VAS and JOA scores at 6 months after operation and last follow-up were significantly improved when compared with preoperative scores (P lt; 0.05), and the scores at last follow-up were superior to ones at 6 months after operation (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The mid-term effectiveness of anterior decompression and fusion with the n-HA/PA66 cage in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy is satisfactory because it can effectively restore and maintain segmental height and lordosis angle and promote osseous fusion.
Objective To evaluate the cl inical outcomes and values of anterior segmental decompression and double-plate fixation (ASDDF) for treatment of ski p cervical spondylotic myelopathy (SCSM). Methods Between June 2005 and June 2008, 17 patients with SCSM were treated with ASDDF. There were 10 males and 7 females with an average age of 58.8 years (range, 41-74 years) and an average disease duration of 9.7 months (range, 6-39 months). According to JapaneseOrthopaedic Association (JOA) score system, 2 patients were rated as extreme severe condition, 7 as severe, 7 as moderate, and 1 as mild. MRI images showed 42 affected cervical disc levels, including 26 disc levels with high-intensity intramedullary lesions on T2, 4 with low-intensity intramedullary lesions on T1, and 12 with significant cord compression but no signal change; according to Nagata classification scale, there were 5 abnormal segments at class I, 21 at class II, and 16 at class III. The rate of fusion, the Cobb angle, and the range of motion (ROM) of the cervical spine were measured preoperatively and postoperatively by the X-ray examinations. The improvement of the neurological function was evaluated by the JOA score. Results The average time of follow-up was 28.6 months (range, 24-58 months). After operation, dysphagia occurred in 2 cases (symptom rel ief after 1 month), hoarseness in 1 case (symptom rel ief after 3 months of methylcobalamin treatment), and degeneration of adjacent segments without symptom in 3 cases. The X-ray films showed the fusion rate of 100% at 12 months after operation without displacement, resorption or collapse of bone graft, and without breakage or loosening of plate and screw. The Cobb angles were (13.3 ± 10.4)° preoperatively, (15.8 ± 10.8)° immediately postoperatively, and (15.4 ± 11.4)° at last follow-up; the ROM of the cervical spine were (41.3 ± 17.4)° preoperatively and (23.8 ± 18.8)° at last follow-up; and the JOA scores were 8.2 ± 2.9 preoperatively, 13.7 ± 3.0 at 12 months postoperatively, and 13.9 ± 2.8 at last follow-up. All indexes showed significant differences between before operation and after operation (P lt; 0.05). The results of JOA scores were excellent in 8 cases, good in 6, fair in 2, and poor in 1 with an average improvement rate of 66.8% (range, 14%-88%) for the neurological function. Conclusion Adequate decompression, high rate of fusion, sol id mechanical stabil ity, improvement of total cervical lordosis,and the neurological function can be achieved through ASDDF for treatment of SCSM.
Objective To investigate the effect and safety of the anterior uncovertebral joint resection in treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy accompanied by radiculopathy. Methods From March 2002 toJuly 2004, 9 patients (5 males, 4 females; aged 38-66) with cervical spondylotic myelopathy accompanied by radiculopathy underwent the anterior uncovertebral joint resection and discectomy using the titanium cage implantation. There were 6 unilateral and 3 bilateral compressed nerve roots. Results During the follow-up for 3-16 months, CT scanning or X-ray films revealed thatall the patients improved with an enlargement of the intervertebral foramen, and MRI demonstrated that compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots vanished.Seven patients had a relief in the radicular pain although the other 2 still had a residual pain. All the patients improved to some extent in symptoms of myelopathy. No patient suffered vertebral artery injury during the operation. Conclusion The uncovertebral joint resection can directly decompressthe nerve roots. The key to avoidance of an injury to the vertebral artery is agood understanding of the regional anatomy and a good performance of the operation.