Modified Hidden Blood Loss Based on Drainage in Posterior Surgery on Lumbar Stenosis Syndrome with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: Publications on hidden blood loss (HBL) after posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) for lumbar spine stenosis syndrome (LSS) have been reported, but the modified HBL (mHBL) was different from HBL obtained by classical formula and there are few studies on lumbar spine hemorrhage with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, the aim of our study is to respectively evaluate the importance of hidden blood loss (HBL) and modified HBL (mHBL) after posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in patients diagnosed with LSS and RA, to explore the correlation between RA activity and HBL as well as mHBL.

Methods: A total of 61 patients (nine males and 52 females) diagnosed with LSS and RA who underwent PLIF were included.

Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier in Spinal Cord Injury: A Review.

The blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB), a physical barrier between the blood and spinal cord parenchyma, prevents the toxins, blood cells, and pathogens from entering the spinal cord and maintains a tightly controlled chemical balance in the spinal environment, which is necessary for proper neural function. A BSCB disruption, however, plays an important role in primary and secondary injury processes related to spinal cord injury (SCI). After SCI, the structure of the BSCB is broken down, which leads directly to leakage of blood components.

Roles of extra-cellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 signaling pathway in the development of spinal cord injury.

Background: In consideration of characteristics and functions, extra-cellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 (ERK5) signaling pathway could be a new target for spinal cord injury (SCI) treatment. Our study aimed to evaluate the roles of ERK5 signaling pathway in secondary damage of SCI.

Methods: We randomly divided 70 healthy Wistar rats into five groups: ten in the blank group, 15 in the sham surgery + BIX02188 (sham + B) group, 15 in the sham surgery + dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; sham + D) group, 15 in the SCI + BIX02188 (SCI + B) group, and 15 in the SCI + DMSO (SCI + D) group.

Biomechanical effect of bone resorption of the spinous process after single-segment interspinous dynamic stabilization device implantation: A finite element analysis.

This study aims to explore the influence of bone resorption of the spinous process after single-segment interspinous process device (IPD) implantation on the biomechanics of the lumbar spine.The 3D finite element model of the lumbar spine (L3-L5) was modified, and 2 models that simulated the presence and absence of bone resorption of the spinous process were developed using an IPD (Wallis). Its biomechanical effects, such as change in range of motion (ROM) and intervertebral disc and facet stress, were introduced at operative (L4/5) and adjacent (L3/4) levels.

Clinical and Radiologic Features of 3 Reconstructive Procedures for the Surgical Management of Patients with Bilevel Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease at a Minimum Follow-Up Period of 5 Years: A Comparative Study.

Objective: To assess the mid-long-term follow-up of the safety and efficacy of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), cervical artificial disc replacement (CADR) and hybrid surgery (HS) for bilevel cervical degenerative disc disease (cDDD).

Methods: 77 patients who underwent ACDF, HS, and CADR were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical effects were evaluated based on Neck Disability Index (NDI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores and the Odom criteria.

Radiological Analysis of Thoracolumbar Junctional Degenerative Kyphosis in Patients with Lumbar Degenerative Kyphosis.

Background: Thoracolumbar junction (TLJ) is the transitional area between the lower thoracic spine and the upper lumbar spine. Vertebral compression fractures and proximal junctional kyphosis following spine surgery often occur in this area. Therefore, the study of development and mechanisms of thoracolumbar junctional degeneration is important for planning surgical management.

[Efficacy of delayed administration of etanercept after spinal cord injury].

Objective: To observe the effect of delayed administration of etanercept on the motor function, the expression of apoptosis-related genes and the pathological alterations of spinal cord in vivo in experimental murine model of spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: Seventy-two male adult SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, which were subjected to SCI induced by the application of vascular clips (force of 70 g) to the dura. Experimental groups (E1, E2, and E3 group) were given administration of etanercept immediately, 1 h, and 8 h after SCI.

[Long-term clinical outcomes of selective segmental transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion and posterior spinal fusion for degenerative lumbar scoliosis].

Objective: To explore the surgical techniques and long-term clinical outcomes of degenerative scoliosis (DS) with selective segmental transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and posterior spinal fusion.

Methods: Ninety-five patients with adult degenerative lumbar scoliosis undergoing posterior long fusion at our department from January 1999 to December 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. The average follow-up period was 7.

[Finite element analysis of lumbar fusion and Topping-off surgery].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Topping-off surgery on the adjacent segment of PLIF.

Methods: A finite element model of the human lumbar spine (L1-L5) was developed. The intact spinal model was validated by comparing it with previously reported models.

[Effects of intrathecal injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate in acute spinal cord injury rabbits].

Objective: To investigate the effects and apoptosis of intrathecal injection of Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate (MPss) for acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in New Zealand rabbits.

Methods: Seventy-two healthy New Zealand rabbits were used for the procedure and were randomly divided into two groups: SCI group and SHAM group, which was both divided into 6 subgroups, such as the vehicle group, the MPss intrathecal injection groups (1.5 mg/kg, 3.

[Experimental correlation study of lumbar spinal stenosis and knee joint degeneration].

Objective: To explore the correlation of lumbar stenosis and knee osteoarthritis by establishing a rabbit lumbar spinal stenosis model and observing the hind limb movement function and pathological change of articular cartilage of knee joint.

Methods: A total of 36 healthy adult rabbits were randomly divided into model group and control group. In the model group, spinal canal was filled with bone pieces to make lumbar spinal stenosis; in the control group, sham operation was performed and materials were inserted into spinal canal.

[Comparison of allogenic versus ostetic artificial bone in double door laminoplasty].

Objective: To study the application of allogenic bone and Ostetic artificial bone in double door laminoplasty.

Methods: From June 2004 to June 2010, a total of 111 patients underwent double door laminoplasty. And allogenic (group A, n = 63) and Ostetic artificial (group B, n = 48) bones were used.

Comparison of Topping-off and posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery in lumbar degenerative disease: a retrospective study.

Background: Topping-off surgery is a newly-developed surgical technique which combines rigid fusion with an interspinous process device in the adjacent segment to prevent adjacent segment degeneration. There are few reports on Topping-off surgery and its rationality and indications remains highly controversial. Our study aims to investigate the short-term and mid-term clinical results of Topping-off surgery in preventing adjacent segment degeneration when mild or moderate adjacent segment degeneration existed before surgery.

[The efficacy and complication analysis of interspinous dynamic device (Wallis) in patients of degenerative lumbar disease].

Objectives: To review degenerative lumbar disease treated with Wallis and the re-herniation cases after the implantation of Wallis, so as to evaluate the effect of the device.

Methods: From January 2009 to June 2010, a retrospective analysis was done and 48 patients (30 males and 18 females) with an average age of 43 years (ranging from 17 to 69 years), who received stabilization of the segment using the Wallis device, were reviewed. The involved segments included: 4 cases at L(3-4), 38 cases at L(4-5), 6 cases at L(5)-S(1).

[Clinical outcomes of Hybrid-surgery to treat the two-level cervical disease].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and radiologic outcomes of the Hybrid surgery (cervical artificial disc replacement combined with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)) and the effective of the adjacent segment.

Methods: Between December 2007 to June 2010, 34 patients underwent 2-level cervical disc surgery. There were 17 patients underwent Hybrid surgery (Hybrid group), 17 patients underwent 2-level ACDF (ACDF group).

[The effect of Topping-off surgery on preventing adjacent segment degeneration, a retrospective study].

Objective: To investigate the early-middle stage clinical results of Topping-off surgery in preventing adjacent segment degeneration when mild or moderate adjacent segment degeneration exists before surgery.

Methods: All the cases that received L(5)-S(1) posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF)+L(4)-L(5) interspinous process (ISP) surgeries between April 2008 and March 2010 (Topping-off group) were analyzed retrospectively. The cases received L(5)-S(1) PLIF surgery and whose intervertebral disc degeneration using modified Pfirrmann's grading system were grade 4 - 6 were analyzed retrospectively at the same time (PLIF group).

[Surgical treatment of multilevel lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis].

Objective: To discuss the surgical treatment of multilevel lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Methods: From March 2005 to September 2008, 25 cases of multilevel lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis were treated with total laminectomy, reduction of spondylolisthesis and 360 degrees circumferential fusion through interbody (PLIF), transverse process (PLF) and pedicle screw fixation. All cases were followed up for 0.