Comparison of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis and isthmic lumbar spondylolisthesis: effect of pedicle screw placement on proximal facet invasion in surgical treatment

Background Pedicle screw invasion of the proximal articular process will cause local articular process degeneration and acceleration, which is an important factor affecting adjacent segment degeneration. Although lumbar spondylolisthesis is a risk factor for screw invasion of the proximal joint, there is no clear conclusion regarding the two different types of spondylolisthesis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the influence of pedicle screw placement on proximal facet invasion in the treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis and isthmic spondylolisthesis. Methods In total, 468 cases of lumbar spondylolisthesis treated by decompression and fusion in our hospital from January 2017 to January 2020 were included in this retrospective study. Among them, 238 cases were degenerative spondylolisthesis (group A), and 230 cases were isthmic spondylolisthesis (group B). Sex, age, body mass index, bone mineral density, preoperative visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, postoperative VAS and ODI scores at 1 month and 3 months, and angle of the proximal facet joint at the last follow-up were recorded and compared between the two groups. The degree of pedicle screw invasion of the proximal facet joint was graded and compared by the SEO grading method. Results There were no significant differences in sex, age, body mass index, bone mineral density, preoperative VAS and ODI scores, or proximal facet joint angle between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in VAS and ODI scores between the two groups at 1 month and 3 months after the operation (P > 0.05). The VAS score of group A at the last follow-up was 1 (1,2). The VAS score of group B at the last follow-up was 3 (1,3). The ODI score of group A at the last follow-up was 6(4,26). The ODI score of group B at the last follow-up was 15(8,36). The VAS and ODI scores of the two groups at the last follow-up were significantly different (P < 0.05). According to the SEO grading method, the invasion of the proximal articular process by pedicle screw placement in group A involved 320 cases in grade 0, 128 cases in grade I and 28 cases in grade II. In group B, there were 116 cases in grade 0, 248 cases in grade I and 96 cases in grade II, with a significant difference (P < 0.01). Conclusion In summary, a certain number of cases involving screws invading the proximal facet joint occurred in the two different types of lumbar spondylolisthesis, but the number in the isthmic spondylolisthesis group was significantly higher than that in the degenerative spondylolisthesis group, which caused more trauma to the proximal facet joint and significantly affected the patient prognosis.

Results of Using Arthrocentesis in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Disorders Associated with Fractures of the Mandibular Condylar Process

The purpose of the work was to study the effectiveness of arthrocentesis in the complex treatment of post-traumatic temporomandibular disorders. Materials and methods. The clinical part of the study included 24 patients, who had a history of fractures of the mandibular articular process. Patients underwent radiological examination – orthopantomography, computer tomography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance. Patients with titanium mini-plates after osteosynthesis were subjected to ultrasound, and since the reposition and fixation of fragments was performed using intermaxillary fixation they were subjected to magnetic resonance imaging. Pain assessment was performed according to visual analogue scale. Temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis was performed according to a modified method of D. Nitzan (1991) under local anesthesia. Results and discussion. All patients complained of the temporomandibular joint pain, which was rated from 1 to 6 points. All patients noted pain on palpation of the temporomandibular joint. Limited mouth opening ranging from 30 to 38 mm was found in 11 patients. Lower jaw deviation was observed in 18 patients. All patients had articulatory noises – clicking, and 11 had blocked movement of the joint head. Orthopantomograms or computer tomography revealed satisfactory restoration of the anatomical shape of the mandible after fractures and complete consolidation of the fracture. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance revealed signs of unabsorbed hematoma as consequences of hemarthrosis; in 18 patients – deformity of the capsule, in 17 – a slight thickening of the posterior edge of the articular disc, in 18 patients – disc adhesion, in 13 people – forward disc displacement with reduction, in 11 patients – disc protrusion without reduction. According to clinical and radiological signs after traumatic temporomandibular disorders, patients were divided into two groups according to Wilkes classification: 13 patients with stage II (early-middle) and 11 – with stage III (middle). We also found that after surgical treatment – osteosynthesis, the number of patients with stage III according to Wilkes makes up 58.33% (7 people), while those after splinting – 33.33% (4 people). The control ultrasound and MRI carried out 3-6 months after arthrocentesis showed no signs of hemarthrosis in 11 (84.61%) patients with intra-articular disorders of the second degree, and in 8 (72.72%) patients with internal disorders of the third degree, the position and function of the articular disc were restored. Conclusion. Arthrocentesis with temporomandibular joint lavage is a minimally invasive surgical manipulation that has proven itself in temporomandibular disorders of traumatic origin, in particular after fractures of the articular process of the mandible. Arthrocentesis is recommended to be used after ineffective conservative treatment, as well as to prevent post-traumatic intra-articular disorders in the early post-treatment fractures (intermaxillary fixation or osteosynthesis) with the attenuation of acute post-traumatic events, which is our goal of further work

Full-Endoscopic Trans-Kambin Triangle Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Surgical Technique and Nomenclature

Background Full-endoscopic lumbar surgery is used for decompression of lumbar spinal canal stenosis. Now, a cage can be inserted through Kambin's triangle for lumbar interbody fusion (LIF). We have been performing full-endoscopic trans-Kambin triangle LIF (KLIF) at our institution since 2018. In this article, we describe this technique and present our results. Methods We performed full-endoscopic one-level KLIF in 10 patients. The procedure is as follows. First, percutaneous pedicle screws are inserted. Listhesis is reduced if necessary. The endoscope is inserted in Kambin's triangle. Next, the superior articular process is partially removed, enlarging Kambin's triangle to allow safe insertion of the cage. A cannula is inserted into the disk to avoid damaging the exiting nerve. The disk material is shaved and curetted. Finally, the harvested bone is packed in a cage and inserted into the disk space. We analyze the complications, visual analog scores (VAS), and MacNab's criteria. Results One patient had an irritation in the exiting nerve at L4–L5. The VAS for back pain and leg pain decreased from 69 to 9 and from 60 to 9, respectively. The clinical outcome was considered excellent in eight and good in two patients. Conclusions Kambin's triangle lies immediately behind the psoas major. Therefore, we consider KLIF as a lateral LIF procedure comparable with oblique or extreme LIF. However, unlike oblique or extreme LIF, there are no major vessels and organs in the surgical field; therefore, KLIF is the safest type of lateral LIF. Furthermore, using the endoscope, we can perform decompression directly using the facetectomy technique.

Spinal Biomechanical Modelling in the Process of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniation in Middle-Aged and Elderly

Lumbar disc herniation is one of the common clinical diseases of the lower lumbar spine in orthopedics. The purpose is to remove the herniated disc nucleus pulposus tissue, remove the compressed part of the disease, and relieve symptoms, such as nerve pain. In the past, biomechanics research mostly relied on in vitro measurements, but the complicated internal environment of the human body prevented us from further measurement and research. However, with the development of computer technology, the use of computer CT scanning, software three-dimensional reconstruction, and displacement study three-dimensional spine biomechanics method makes the research of biomechanics into in vitro simulation stage and has gradually become the focus of current research. The postoperative biomechanics was simulated and the comparison model was established at the same time. At the same time, we combined the clinical follow-up data and studied the clinical data for the treatment of postoperative recurrence of lumbar disc herniation. We compared and analyzed the initial operation method and the experimental results and obtained the prevention of recurrence. The results showed that when one inferior articular process was removed, the lumbar spine appeared unstable to rotate to the opposite side; when one inferior articular process was completely removed, the movement of the lumbar spine in all directions was unstable. Better research on the biomechanical properties of the spine will help the diagnosis and treatment of clinical lumbar disc herniation. Therefore, when performing posterior lumbar spine surgery, not only should the exposure of the surgical field and thorough decompression be considered, but also the biomechanical properties of the lumbar spine should be comprehensively evaluated.

C6 nerve root palsy after double-door cervical laminoplasty

Background: This study correlated the relationship between postoperative C6 nerve root palsies and various patient-related clinical, radiographic, and surgical parameters. Methods: The medical records of 318 patients undergoing double-door cervical laminoplasty for myelopathy were reviewed. Twelve (3.8%) had postoperative C6 nerve root palsies. Their clinical, radiographic, and surgical procedures were analyzed looking for a correlation/explanation for these new C6 root deficits. Results: The following factors correlated with patients’ developing new postoperative C6 nerve root deficit following double-door cervical laminoplasty; a high correlation with additional C5 palsies, narrower C6 intervertebral foraminal widths, greater anterior protrusions of the C6 articular process, and larger posterior shifts of the spinal cord on magnetic resonance (MR) between the C4/C5-C6/C7 levels. Conclusion: Factors correlating with the new onset of C6 nerve root palsies following double-door cervical laminoplasty included; a high correlation with new C5 palsies, more severe foraminal stenosis, greater anterior protrusions of the C6 articular process, and more extensive dorsal spinal cord migration.