An innovative adjustable prone positioning frame for treatment of severe kyphosis secondary to ankylosing spondylitis with two-level osteotomy.

PURPOSE: This study aims to introduce an innovative adjustable prone positioning frame (APPF) and explore its feasibility and safety for treatment of severe kyphosis secondary to ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with two-level osteotomy. METHODS: A retrospective, non-controlled study was conducted to illustrate the process where 13 patients diagnosed with severe kyphosis secondary to AS received operations on the APPF. Parameters of chin brow vertical angle (CBVA), global kyphosis (GK), thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK), lumbar lordosis (LL) and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were measured. Positioning time, operation time, intraoperative blood loss ahd complications were also determined. The Scoliosis Research Society outcomes instrument (SRS-22) was applied for clinical assessment. RESULTS: All patients were placed on the APPF successfully with the positioning time of 2.92 ± 0.76 min, received operation with 457.00 ± 88.04 min and had blood loss of 2330.77 ± 1423.25 ml. Four cases experienced pain due to tensional skin of the abdomen and one case suffered cerebrospinal fluid leakage postoperatively, but these patients were all cured conservatively. No neurological complications were observed, although sagittal translation occurred in four patients. Significant improvements were detected in CBVA, GK, TLK, LL and SVA postoperatively (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed between postoperation and the final follow-up (P > 0.05). The SRS-22 scores at 2 years after operation were significantly higher than those before operation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The innovative APPF provided great convenience to place patients with severe kyphosis secondary to AS in a prone position. Performing two-level osteotomy with the aid of APPF is safe, feasible and effective.

[Anatomical characteristics and surgical selections of upper lumbar disc herniation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the anatomical characteristics and surgical selections of upper lumbar disc herniation, and evaluate its clinical effects. METHODS: From January 2009 to January 2013, 26 patients with upper lumbar disc herniation were treated in our department. There were 16 males and 10 females, aged from 28 to 51 years old with an average of 45.7 years, 4 cases were in L1,2, 9 cases in L2,3, and 13 cases in L3,4. The data was collected including distance between outer edge of lower facet and the spinous process, the outer edge of the isthmus and spinous process, the lower edge of lamina and the upper edge of the intervertebral space, nerve root arising points and lower edge of the corresponding pedicle. Transforaminal discectomy and interbody fusion combined with pedicle screw fixation was performed in patients with L1,2, L2,3 herniated disk and 5 patients with L3,4 herniated disk complicated with lumbar instability. However another 8 patients with L3,4 herniated disk were treated with posterior fenestration decompression. Clinical effects were evaluated by Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA). The relative height rate(R) of the intervertebral space was measured preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively. The fusion of the bone graft was also observed. RESULTS: Intraoperative anatomical measurement was taken in all patients. All patients were followed up for more than 1 year with an average of 16 months, and all incisions got healing, JOA was improved from preoperative(10.13±1.49) points to last follow up (25.21±2.13) points with the improvement rate of 79.9%. Among the patients underwent fusion operation, 17 cases obtained bone fusion and 1 case maybe non fusion and no internal fixation failure was found;the R value was (0.231±0.056) mm preoperatively, however (0.345±0.076) mm at 1 year after operation with statistical difference(P<0.05). In the patient underwent posterior fenestration decompression, the R value was(0.243±0.036) mm preoperatively, and (0.212±0.046) mm at 1 year after operation without statistical difference (P>0.05). No spinal instability and lumbar disc herniation recurrence were found in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: According to the anatomical characteristics of L1,2 and L3,4 herniated disk, these patients could be treated with transforaminal discectomy and interbody fusion. The anatomical characteristics and clinical manifestations of L3,4 herniated disk is similar with the lower lumbar disc herniation, for the patients, an appropriate surgical method should be chosen according to the lumbar stability.