Zina percutaneous screw fixation combined with endoscopic lumbar intervertebral fusion under intraoperative neuromonitoring: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Traditional open discectomy and intervertebral fusion surgery is the common strategy for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). However, it has the disadvantages of long recovery time and severe paravertebral soft tissue injury. Zina percutaneous screw fixation combined with endoscopic lumbar intervertebral fusion (ZELIF), as a novel minimally invasive surgical technique for LDH, has the advantages in quicker recovery, less soft tissue destruction, shorter hospital stays and less pain. We report a novel technique of ZELIF under intraoperative neuromonitoring (INM) for the treatment of LDH. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 51-year-old male presented to our hospital with left lower extremity pain and numbness for 1 year. DIAGNOSIS: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH). INTERVENTIONS: This patient was treated with Zina percutaneous screw fixation combined with endoscopic neural decompression, endplate preparation, and intervertebral fusion through Kambin's triangle. Each step of the operation was performed under INM. OUTCOMES: The follow-up period lasted 12 months; the hospitalization lasted 4 nights; the blood loss volume was 65 ml, and the time of operation was 266 min. INM showed no neurological damage during the surgery. No surgical complications, including neurological deterioration, cage migration, non-union, instrumentation failure or revision operation, were observed during the follow-up period. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score reduced from 7 to 1; the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) decreased from 43 to 14; the EQ-5D score was 10 preoperatively and 15 at the final follow-up visit; the Physical Component Summary of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was 48 preoperatively and 49 at the last follow up visit; the SF-36 Mental Component Summary was 47 before surgery and decreased to 41 postoperatively. CONCLUSION: ZELIF under INM may represent a feasible, safe and effective alternative to endoscopic intervertebral fusion and percutaneous screw fixation, for decompressing the lumbar's exiting nerve root directly with minimal invasion in selected patients.

Comparative evaluation of posterior percutaneous endoscopy cervical discectomy using a 3.7 mm endoscope and a 6.9 mm endoscope for cervical disc herniation: a retrospective comparative cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Posterior percutaneous endoscopy cervical discectomy (p-PECD) is an effective strategy for the treatment of cervical diseases, with a working cannula ranging from 3.7 mm to 6.9 mm in diameter. However, to date, no studies have been performed to compare the clinical outcomes of the use of endoscopes with different diameters in cervical disc herniation (CDH) patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of patients with unilateral CDH treated with p-PECD using a 3.7 mm endoscope and a 6.9 mm endoscope. METHODS: From January 2016 to June 2018, a total of 28 consecutive patients with single-level CDH who received p-PECD using either the 3.7 mm or the 6.9 mm endoscope were enrolled. The clinical results, including the surgical duration, hospitalization, visual analog scale (VAS) score and modified MacNab criteria, were evaluated. Cervical fluoroscopy, CT, and MRI were also performed during follow-up. RESULTS: Tthere was a significant difference in regard to the average identification time of the "V" point (18.608 ± 3.7607 min vs. 11.256 ± 2.7161 min, p < 0.001) and the mean removal time of the overlying tissue (16.650 ± 4.1730 min vs. 12.712 ± 3.3079 min, p < 0.05) for the use of the 3.7 mm endoscope and the 6.9 mm endoscope, respectively. The postoperative VAS and MacNab scores of the two endoscopes were significantly improved compared with those the preoperative scores (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The application of both the 3.7 mm endoscope and 6.9 mm endoscope represent an effective method for the treatment of CDH in selected patients, and no significant difference can be observed in the clinical outcomes of the endoscopes. The 6.9 mm endoscope shows superiority to the 3.7 mm endoscope in terms of the efficiency of "V" point identification, the removal of overlying soft tissue and the prevention of spinal cord injury. However, the 6.9 mm endoscope may be inferior to the 3.7 mm endoscope in regards to anterior foraminal decompression due to its large diameter; this result needs to be further evaluated with the support of a large number of randomized controlled trials.

[Application of percutaneous pie-crusting deep medial collateral ligament release for posterior horn surgery of medial meniscus].

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical and radiographic effects of percutaneous pie-crusting deep medial collateral ligament release in patients with posterior horn tear of medial meniscus combined with tight medial compartment. METHODS: From January 2012 to December 2016, 35 patients with medial meniscus posterior horn injury were treated with percutaneous pie crusting deep medial collateral ligament release technique, including 21 males and 14 females, aged from 21 to 55 years old with an average of (39.1±6.5) years old. Degree of meniscus extrusion were recorded before and 24 months after operation. The knee valgus stress test was performed to evaluate stability of medial collateral ligament, and compared difference between healthy and affected side. Lysholm and IKDC functional scores were compared before and 24 months after operation. RESULTS: All patients were followed up from 27 to 60 months with an average of (36.7±6.8) months. All patients were underwent operation, the wound healed well without complications. Operative time ranged from 0.5 to 1.2 h with an average of (0.8±0.4) h. Nineteen patients were performed partial meniscectomy, 16 patients were performed repair suture. Convex of meniscus before operation was (1.5±0.7) mm, and (1.7±0.4) mm after operation;had no statistical difference(P>0.05). Lysholm score was improved from 53.4±8.8 before operation to 91.5±4.6 at 24 months after operation;IKDC score was increased from 50.7±9.2 before operation to 90.6±3.9 at 24 months after operation;there was statistically significant (P<0.05). Valgus stress test was performed on 0 ° and 30 ° position of knee flexion in affected side and compared with ipsilateral side, all patients showed negative. CONCLUSION: For patients with medial meniscus tear of posterior horn combined with tight medial compartment, percutaneous pie-crusting deep medial collateralligament release could improve medial compartment space, and Knee valgus instability and meniscus extrusion are not affected.

Selective nerve root block combined with posterior percutaneous cervical endoscopic discectomy for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy with double nerve root variation: A case report.

RATIONALE: The aim of this report is to present the technique of selective nerve root blockage combined with posterior percutaneous cervical endoscopic discectomy (PPECD) for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR). PATIENT CONCERNS: A 49-year-old female has pain in the skin area of the left scapular, pain in left elbow and limitation of left upper limb movement for 1.5 years. DIAGNOSIS: She was diagnosed with CSR and C6-7 double nerve root variation. INTERVENTIONS: We used selective nerve root block to determine the lesion segment and applied PPECD to relieve pressure on the patient's nerve roots. OUTCOMES: The pain symptoms disappeared after the patient was treated with C6-7 nerve root block. Endoscopic displayed C6-7 double nerve root variation on the left side of the spinal cord intraoperative. The neurological function was intact postoperatively and no recurrence of cervical disc herniation during the 5 months' follow-up period. The hospitalization time was 5 days, the operation time was 68.2 minutes and the bleeding volume was 52.6 ml. There was no change in cervical curvature and cervical disc height postoperatively. Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, SF-36 score and Visual Analogue Scale score improved significantly postoperatively. LESSONS: The application of selective nerve root blockage combined with PPECD for CSR could achieve satisfactory effect of position and decompression of the injured nerve root. Besides, we recommend that surgery be performed under general anesthesia to minimize patients' emotional stress and discomfort.

[Arthroscopic pullout suture repair of posterior root tear of the medial meniscus via the double tibial tunnels].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the surgical technique and clinical effect of arthroscopic pullout suture repair of posterior root tear of the medial meniscus via the double tibial tunnels. METHODS: From May 2014 to May 2017, 22 patients with posterior root tear of medial meniscus were treated by pullout suture repair via the double tibial tunnels, including 8 males and 14 females, aged 34 to 53 years old, with a mean of averaged(45.7±4.7) years old. The patients were followed up for 12 to 24 months, with a mean of (16.4±5.2) months. RESULTS: The Lysholm score of knee joint before operation was 61.8±4.3, IKDC score before operation was 59.9±2.9, Lysholm score at the latest follow-up was 89.1±3.0, and IKDC score was 89.0±2.5. The difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic pullout suture repair via the double tibial tunnelsis an effective treatment for symptomatic posterior root tear of medial meniscus, and it can significantly improve the knee functional outcome.

[Ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block combined with acupuncture for the treatment of calcified tendinitis of rotator cuff].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the method and effect of ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block combined with acupuncture in the treatment of calcified tendinitis of rotator cuff. METHODS: From January 2015 to December 2017, total 30 patients with calcified tendinitis, including 23 cases of supraspinatus tendon, 5 cases of infraspinatus tendon and 2 cases of subscapular tendon, were treated with ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block combined with acupuncture. There were 7 males and 23 females, ranging in age from 36 to 71 years old, with an average of 51.6 years old. There were 17 cases on the right and 13 cases on the left. VAS pain score, Constant-murley score, UCLA score and X-ray examination were used to evaluate the clinical results before and after surgery. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 14.3 months (6 to 30 months). The preoperative VAS score was 3.82±1.13, Constant-Murley score was 36.91±7.95 and UCLA score was 11.35±2.17. The final follow-up scores were 1.32±1.06, 90.61±2.89 and 33.22±1.51, respectively. The final follow-up scores were improved significantly(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Conservative treatment of calcified rotator cuff tendinitis is ineffective. Suprascapular nerve block guided by ultrasound combined with acupuncture has a good therapeutic effect. It is a minimally invasive, economic, safe and effective method, which is worth promoting.