Comparing ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection and medial branch block for lumbar facet joint pain: a clinical study.

Purpose: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided intra-articular (IA) injections with medial branch nerve blocks in treating lumbar facet joint pain.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 94 patients clinically diagnosed with lumbar facet joint pain. Diagnostic blocks confirmed the diagnosis in 82 patients, evidenced by a pain visual analog score (VAS) reduction of at least 50% immediately following the injection.

Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy via Transforaminal Approach Combined with Interlaminar Approach for L4/5 and L5/S1 Two-Level Disc Herniation.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to discuss a new surgical strategy that combines percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy (PETD) with percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (PEID) for L4/5 and L5/S1 two-level disc herniation.

Methods: This was a retrospective study. A total of 19 patients with L4/5 and L5/S1 two-level lumbar disc herniation (LDH) who underwent percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) in our hospital from January 2015 to June 2016 were retrospectively examined.

Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation Promotes Motor Functional Recovery by Enhancing Oligodendrocyte Survival and Differentiation and by Protecting Myelin after Spinal Cord Injury in Rats.

Epidural spinal cord stimulation (ESCS) markedly improves motor and sensory function after spinal cord injury (SCI), but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we investigated whether ESCS affects oligodendrocyte differentiation and its cellular and molecular mechanisms in rats with SCI. ESCS improved hindlimb motor function at 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, and 28 days after SCI.

Clinical Outcome and Postoperative CT Measurements of Microendoscopic Decompression for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

Study Design: This was a retrospective case series.

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the clinical outcome of microendoscopic decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) including an evaluation of the extent of decompression using computed tomography.

Summary Of Background Data: Microendoscopic decompression has been a widely applied procedure to treat LSS with satisfactory outcomes and comparatively fewer complications and revision.

Investigation of the relationship between chromobox homolog 8 and nucleus pulposus cells degeneration in rat intervertebral disc.

Here, we aimed to investigate the expression of chromobox homolog 8 (CBX8) in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells from rat intervertebral disc (IVD) and its function in DNA damage and repair. NP cells were isolated from healthy rat IVD for immunohistochemistry staining. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) of CBX8 was applied for gene silencing, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to determine mRNA levels of CBX8, type II collagen, and proteoglycans.

[The clinical results of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for lumbar spinal stenosis with lumbar instability].

Objective: To investigate the clinical results of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) for lumbar spinal stenosis with lumbar instability.

Methods: Retrospective study was done on 42 cases of lumbar spinal stenosis with lumbar instability treated with bilateral decompression via unilateral approach and MIS-TLIF through an expandable tubular retractor from March 2010 to January 2011. There were 18 males and 24 females, and mean age was 61.

Magnetic resonance imaging analysis of surgical trans-sacral axial L5/S1 interbody fusion.

Background: Trans-sacral axial L5/S1 interbody fusion (AxiaLIF), a novel surgical procedure, recently adopted in clinical practice, has excellent clinical outcomes. However, there is inadequate data on the feasibility of the approach in all adult patients and the optimal surgical approach is currently unclear; therefore, further studies are required. In order to enhance the surgical approach for AxiaLIF, prospective anatomical imaging optimization is necessary.