Transdural circumferential decompression for thoracic spinal stenosis caused by beak-type ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: a technical note.

PURPOSE: Thoracic myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in the thoracic spine is usually progressive and responds poorly to conservative therapy, making surgery the only effective treatment option. A variety of surgical procedures have been developed to treat thoracic OPLL. However, the optimal surgical approach for removal of thoracic OPLL remains unclear. In the present study, we described a newly modified posterior approach for the removal of OPLL: circular decompression via dural approach, and complete removal of OPLL can be achieved under direct vision and without neurological deficit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three patients with beak-type thoracic OPLL presented with progressive thoracic myelopathy and leg weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the spinal cord severely compressed. The surgical management of the three patients involved the 'cave-in' circular decompression and transdural resection of OPLL. RESULTS: Transdural circumferential decompression was successfully performed in all three patients. Clinical outcome measures, including pre- and postoperative radiographic parameters, were assessed. All of the patients were followed up for an average of 12 months (ranging from 10 to 15 months), and no surgery-related complications occurred. Weakness relief and neural function recovery were satisfactorily achieved in all patients by the final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Transdural circumferential decompression was an effective method for thoracic spinal stenosis caused by concurrent beak-type OPLL, by which OPLL could be safely removed. It is especially useful when there is a severe adhesion between the dura OPLL.

Application of open-door laminoplasty with ARCH plate fixation in cervical intraspinal tumors.

BACKGROUND: The open-door laminoplasty is an effective procedure for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. However, little information is available about the surgical results of open-door laminoplasty in the treatment of intraspinal tumors. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the clinical effect of open-door laminoplasty with ARCH plate fixation in the treatment of cervical intraspinal tumors. METHODS: This was a retrospective study. From January 2013 to May 2018, 38 patients (13 males and 25 females, the average age of 44 ± 17 years) with cervical intraspinal tumors underwent open-door laminoplasty with ARCH plate fixation in our hospital. The operation time, blood loss, pre- and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS), and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores were determined. To determine the radiographic outcomes, cervical X-ray film and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed before and after the operation, and cervical X-ray sagittal film was used to measure Cobb angle. The clinical data before and after the operation were compared by t-test. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients underwent a successful operation and demonstrated primary healing. The average operation time was 113 ± 12 min. The average blood loss was 120 ± 19 mL. All patients were followed up for 26.1 ± 2.8 months, and the final follow-up time was more than 24 months. VAS scores were much better at 24 months after operation compared with those before the operation, which were decreased from 6.1 ± 1.1 to 1.4 ± 0.7 (t = 32.63, P < 0.01). The JOA score was improved from 9.9 ± 1.5 to 15.5 ± 0.6 (t = - 18.36, P < 0.01), and the mean JOA recovery rate was 79% ± 11% at 24 months after the operation. There was no significant difference in Cobb angle between pre-operation and 24 months after the operation, which was 9.8 ± 2.6 and 10.3 ± 3.1 respectively (t = - 0.61, P > 0.05). Neither spinal malalignment on the coronal plane nor displacement of the laminoplasty flap was observed on postoperative cervical X-ray and MRI examinations at the final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Open-door laminoplasty with ARCH plate fixation was a safe and effective surgical approach for the treatment of cervical intraspinal tumors.

New solution to build constructed wetland in cold climatic region.

Constructed wetland is an efficient and convenient wastewater treatment technology that has been widely used in China and elsewhere. However, seasonal frozen soil is easily formed in the cold regions of northern China. The local wetlands are in the frozen soil layer, causing the pollutants from wastewater not to be removed well. Therefore, a new constructed wetland structure that uses shallow geothermal energy to keep the wetland not frozen in the winter is proposed in this paper. The results of the experiment show that the average removal rates of total nitrogen, ammonium ion, and total phosphorus in the multistage constructed wetland system are 54.8%, 44.5%, and 77.7%, respectively. This performance is substantially better than that of conventional wetlands in winter. The proposed wetland structure can be applied to conventional wetlands and avoid the conventional wetlands being idle during cold seasons, which is conducive to the popularization of constructed wetlands (CWs) in cold regions.

Application of Laminoplasty Combined with ARCH Plate in the Treatment of Lumbar Intraspinal Tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the bone fusion and clinical effect of laminoplasty combined with ARCH plate fixation in the treatment of lumbar intraspinal tumors. METHODS: This was a clinical study. From June 2017 to January 2019, 24 patients (seven males and 17 females, average age 40 ± 16 years) with lumbar intraspinal tumors underwent laminoplasty combined with ARCH plate fixation in our hospital. The bone fusion was evaluated by X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scans that were taken 15.2 ± 2.17 months postoperatively. Each segment showed a bone bridge on one side, which was classified as "segmental partial fusion." Each segment showed bilateral bone bridges, which were classified as "segmental complete fusion". When all segments of the patient showed bilateral bone bridging so that the replanted lamina and the host lamina became a unit on the CT scan, it was defined as "complete fusion". In addition, the operation time and blood loss were recorded. Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the potential influencing factors of bone healing, including age (≤40 years vs >40 years), gender, number of operated levels (single vs two). Paired t-test was used to analyze pre- and postoperative Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scale and low back and leg pain visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: A total of 33 segments of laminoplasty were successfully performed in 24 patients. The average operation time was 128 ± 18 minutes. The average blood loss was 110 ± 19 mL. All patients were followed up at least 12 months after operation (average, 15.2 ± 2.17 months). At the final follow-up, according to the definition of this study, the proportion of "segmental partial fusion" and "segmental complete fusion" were 30.3% (10/33) and 69.7% (23/33), respectively. And the proportion of patients with "complete fusion" was 70.8% (17/24). Age, gender, and number of operated levels were not associated with the fusion (P = 1.0, 0.37, and 0.06, respectively). ODI and VAS were much better at 1 month after operation and the final follow-up than those before the operation (P < 0.01). At 6 months after operation, the results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that the supraspinous ligament was repaired, and there were no complications, such as spinal epidural scar recompression. CONCLUSIONS: Laminoplasty combined with ARCH plate was a better surgical method, and 70.8% of the patients showed complete bone fusion and there was no case of bilateral nonunion.

[Epidemiological study on risk factors of hepatitis E in Yantai, Shandong province].

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalent characteristics and risk factors of viral hepatitis E in Yantai and the relative for strategy on viral hepatitis E control in the area. METHODS: Data on viral hepatitis E incidence reported by the Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting System in 2005-2009 was analyzed. 2028 persons were chosen for hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibody detection by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method. RT-nPCR method was applied to obtain the sequence of HEV in HEV cases. A case-control study was used to identify the risk factors of HEV infection. RESULTS: The distribution of HEV cases was sporadic in Yantai, and the annual incidence rate was 5.70/100 000, with spring as the prevalent season. Farmers were the main population involved and with those over the age of 40. Regional distribution was mainly along the coastline. Data from the sequential analysis showed that gene type of local patients was type 4 and healthy person whose HEV-IgM was positive was type l. Finding from the case-control study suggested that eating seafoods, living condition in the households and unhealthy habits played important roles in the infection of HEV. Results from multiple logistic regression showed that eating seafood, with eat-out history, drinking alcohol and un-boiled water were the main risk factors in the infection of HEV. CONCLUSION: The level of HE in Yantai will maintain in a high level, but there is no chance of epidemic outbreak of HE in large range. Population of incidence mainly concentrates on farmers.