Three Cases of Brucellar Spondylitis with Noncontiguous Multifocal Involvement.

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is an endemic disease. Brucellar spondylitis is mainly manifested as a unifocal lesion, but noncontiguous multifocal brucellar spondylitis is more rare. CASE DESCRIPTION: Herein, we report 3 patients with noncontiguous multifocal involvement of brucellar spondylitis who are over 51 years of age. The diagnosis was established by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positive brucellar agglutination test. All patients were cured with antibrucellosis chemotherapy and surgery. For patients with a high degree of suspicion of noncontiguous multifocal brucellar spondylitis, especially elderly patients, screening with the use of serologic test for brucellosis and whole spine MRI is crucial to reduce the rate of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should raise awareness of noncontiguous multifocal brucellar spondylitis. The Wright agglutination test and whole spine MRI are the key methods to reduce misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis of noncontiguous multifocal brucellar spondylitis. Drug therapy for brucellar spondylitis is the basis, and surgical treatment is complementary therapy. The use of alternative chemotherapy and surgery for noncontiguous multifocal brucellar spondylitis is also safe and effective.

Design and biomechanical evaluation of atlantoaxial lateral mass fusion cage / 中华骨科杂志

Objective To design an atlantoaxial lateral mass fusion cage and evaluate its biomechanical stability when it is combined with atlantoaxial vertebral pedicle screw fixation.Methods Forty-six sets of CT 3D reconstruction pieces of the normal atlantoaxial junction were chosen to measure sagittal diameter and transverse diameter of atlantoaxial lateral mass joint,sagittal diameter and transverse diameter of epistropheus lateral mass and space height of atlantoaxial lateral mass joint.An atlantoaxial lateral mass fusion cage was designed on this basis.Six fresh human cadaveric cervical spines (C0-C4) were used as samples to measure 3D motion range of C1,and 2 segments under 1.5 N · m load.3D motion range of samples under the following situations was measured at random:intact state,unstable state (ligament around odontoid process was cut off),fixation with atlantoaxial joint screw+Gallie steel wire,atlantoaxial pedicle screw,atlantoaxial lateral mass joint fusion cage+atlantoaxial vertebral pedicle screw.Results Corresponding width/length of fusion cage is 8/11,9/12,10/13 mm,respectively,and the height is designed to 3.5,4.0,and 4.5 mm,respectively.The motion range of three internal fixation methods is less than that under intact state and unstable state.The difference has statistical significance.The C1+C2+cage fixation produces the least motion range in lateral bending and axial rotation directions and generates the highest motion range in flexion/extension direction.But,the difference has no statistical significance.Conclusion The C1+C2+cage internal fixation technique has similar stability with common atlantoaxial intemal fixation method and can provide extra atlantoaxial fusion spots.Thus,it may be a feasible alternative for atlantoaxial fusion when the posterior arch of the atlas is absent.

Reduction and internal fixation for atlantoaxial dislocation with posterior screw-rod fixation system / 中华创伤杂志

Objective To evaluate the outcome of posterior screw-rod fixation system in reduction and internal fixation of atlantoaxial dislocation. Methods A retrospective study was done on 27 patients with atlantoaxial instability including 18 male and 9 female (at age range of 13-51 years, mean 31 years) from January 2007 to May 2009. There were 11 patients with chronic odontoid fractures, five with isolated bone odontoid, seven with transverse ligament rupture of atlas and four with rheumatoid arthritis. Skeletal reduction was performed in all the patients. The anterior atlantodens interval (ADI)ranged from 8 mm to 15 mm, average 11 mm. All the patients underwent an intraoperative reduction by posterior C1 lateral mass and C2 pedicle screws with rod fixation. According to American Spine Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale, there were eight patients at grade B, 15 at grade C and four at grade D. Results All patients were followed up for 6-24 months (average 13 months), which showed that the neck symptoms were improved, with bony union. The ADI was reduced to 2-4 mm (average 2.8 mm)postoperatively. Postoperative ASIA scale was grade C in four patients, grade D in 12 and grade E in 11.There were no neurologic or vascular complications occurred, or no failure of the internal fixtors, pseudarthrosis or instability. Conclusion Posterior screw-rod fixation system has advantages of simple procedures, few complications and good results and can be used for intraoperative reduction of atlantoaxial dislocation.