Transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy in the treatment of far-lateral lumbar disc herniations in children.

PURPOSE: The use of transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy for the treatment of far-lateral lumbar disc herniations has been applied mostly in adults. However, transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy in children has probably been rarely documented. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy in the treatment of far-lateral lumbar disc herniations in children. METHODS: Overall, 12 cases of far-lateral lumbar disc herniations were treated with the procedure of transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy between January 2010 and December 2014. There were seven male and five female children included, with an average age of 12.6 years (11-16 years). Pre-operative and post-operative (6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months) clinical outcome data (back and leg visual analog scale [VAS] and Macnab criteria) were collected along with clinical assessments of motor strength (graded 0-5). RESULTS: All patients were discharged to home on the same day of surgery. The average leg VAS score improved from 8.6 ± 1.6 to 2.1 ± 0.4 (p < 0.005). Six patients had excellent outcomes, five had good outcomes, one had fair outcomes, and none had poor outcomes, according to the Macnab criteria. Eleven of 12 patients had excellent or good outcomes, for an overall success rate of 91.6 %. No patients required re-operation. There were no incidental durotomies, infections, vascular or visceral injuries. There was one complication, a case of leg numbness caused by ganglion injury. The numbness improved after two weeks. After three months, it was obvious that the total area of numbness in the legs had become smaller. At last follow-up, the patient had no pain, and only a few areas with numbness remained and did not affect the patient's activities of daily living. CONCLUSIONS: Transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy achieved satisfactory results for children with far-lateral lumbar disc herniations.

Treatment for severe idiopathic upper thoracic scoliosis in adolescence.

STUDY DESIGN: To review the study of severe upper thoracic scoliosis (>90 degrees) in adolescence treated with pedicle screw constructs. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to analyze the treatment for upper thoracic scoliosis in adolescence. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Upper thoracic scoliosis is an uncommon spinal deformity in young children. Upper thoracic scoliosis is special. METHODS: There were 21 patients (11 boys and 10 girls) with severe upper thoracic scoliosis and their mean age was 15 years (range, 13-18 y). The mean Cobb angle was 102.2 degrees (90-118 degrees) The clavicle angle ranged from 18 to 23 degrees, with an average of 21 degrees. Patients with the major curve of scoliosis located in the upper thoracic spine were treated with a posterior spinal fusion with a pedicle screw-only construct. There was a minimum 2-year follow-up. Follow-up information was obtained clinically and radiologically. RESULTS: All patients underwent a posterior spinal fusion with a pedicle screw-only construct. Their shoulders were nearly balanced. The preoperative major curve was 102.2±8.9 degrees with a flexibility of 25.8%±8.1% in a side-bending film. The deformity was corrected to 29.7±5.9 and 32.1±5.6 degrees at the most recent follow-up. There was a 3.9-degree correction loss during the postoperative follow-up. There were no neurological or vascular complications at 2 years of follow-up. There was no crankshaft phenomenon. CONCLUSIONS: The pedicle screw constructs can be safely used for severe upper thoracic scoliosis. Curve correction is powerful for these curves, which are stiff and difficult to manage. Screw accuracy was excellent in this review.

Percutaneous Endoscopic Posterior Decompression for Therapy of Spinal Cord Compression Due to Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum: A Long-Term Follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is a pathologic condition that affects ligamentation of the OLF and causes slowly progressive myeloradiculopathy. There is a trend toward performing minimally invasive surgery. In this study, we assess the long-term efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic surgical management of thoracic OLF. METHODS: Twenty patients with thoracic myelopathy due to thoracic OLF underwent percutaneous endoscopic surgical management. We investigated clinical outcomes and neurologic improvements. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed on all patients preoperatively and postoperatively, and intramedullary signal changes were evaluated. RESULTS: The operation time averaged at 170.4 minutes (range 110-320 minutes). The mean intraoperative blood loss was 29.6 mL (range 5-100 mL). Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 1 patient and healed well. The follow-up period ranged from 60 to 72 months. The mean score on the Japanese Orthopedic Association scale improved from (6.0 ± 1.41) preoperatively to (7.83 ± 1.40) at 1 month postoperatively to (9.67 ± 1.30) at the final follow-up (P < 0.05). At the final follow-up stage, 11 patients had excellent outcomes, 6 good, 2 fair, and 1 unchanged, according to the Hirabayashi recovery rate. No patient had postoperative deterioration in neurologic status. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous endoscopic surgical management of thoracic OLF has proven to be both safe and effective for the resection of the OLF in the thoracic spine.

The Effect and Possible Mechanism of Intradiscal Injection of Simvastatin in the Treatment of Discogenic Pain in Rats.

To study the effect of intradiscal injection of simvastatin on discogenic pain in rats and its possible mechanism, 30 adult female rats were used in this experiment. Twenty rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (Control group), intervertebral disk degeneration group (DDD group), intervertebral disk degeneration + hydrogel group (DDD + GEL group), and intervertebral disk degeneration + simvastatin group (DDD + SIM group). The mechanical pain threshold and cold sensation in rats were measured. The contents of NF-kappa B1, RelA, GAP43, SP, CGRP, TRPM 8, IL-1ß, and TNF-α in the intervertebral disk (IVD), the corresponding contents of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and plantar skin GAP43 and TRPM 8 were quantitatively detected by PCR. The corresponding IVDs were stained to detect their degeneration. There was no significant difference in the mechanical pain threshold between the groups at each time point. From the first day to the 8th week after surgery, the cold-sensing response of the DDD group was significantly higher than that of the Control group (P < 0.05). At 7 and 8 weeks postoperatively, the cold-sensing response of the DDD + SIM group was significantly lower than that of the DDD + GEL group (P < 0.05). The levels of NF-κB1, RelA, GAP43, SP, CGRP, TRPM8, IL-1ß, and TNF-α in the IVD of DDD + SIM group were significantly lower than those in DDD group (P < 0.05). The content of GAP43 and TRPM8 in rat plantar skin decreased significantly and TRPM8 in DRG decreased significantly (P < 0.05).

Computed tomographic morphometry of thoracic pedicles: safety pedicle parameter measurement of the Chinese immature thoracic spine.

Our objective was to quantify the morphometric characteristics of the pedicles of the Chinese immature thoracic spine. A total of 120 patients aged 5-14 years underwent standard thoracic computed tomography (CT). The patients were grouped according to age: group 1 (5-8 years of age), group 2 (9-11 years of age) and group 3 (12-14 years of age). Images were reformatted, and multiplanar reconstructions were used to attain images of thoracic pedicles on sagittal, coronal and transverse planes. The measurements included the inner and outer pedicle diameters on the transverse plane, pedicle sagittal diameter, pedicle length and the pedicle angle on the transverse. (1) Pedicle diameters on the transverse plane decreased gradually from T1 to T4 and increased gradually from T5 to T12. The shortest transverse diameter of the thoracic pedicle was T4 or T5. (2) The sagittal diameter was significantly larger than the transverse diameter except at T1. (3) The length of the pedicle from the posterior cortex to the anterior cortex of the vertebra increased from T1 to T12. (4) The pedicle angle decreased gradually from T1 to T8 and became negative below the level of T10. The length of the pedicle changed with age significantly, but the pedicle angle changed with age insignificantly. The success of transpedicular fixation requires a better understanding of morphological features at different ages and reasonable selection of the diameter, length and direction of the pedicle screws based on X-ray and CT films.

One-stage surgical management for children with spinal tuberculosis by anterior decompression and posterior instrumentation.

The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of one-stage surgical management for children with spinal tuberculosis by anterior decompression, bone grafting, posterior instrumentation, and fusion. Between January 2002 and December 2006, 15 cases with spinal tuberculosis were treated with one-stage posterior internal fixation and anterior debridement. All cases were followed-up for an average of 30.3 months (range 12-48 months). The average neurological recovery in the patients was 0.93 grades on the scale of Frankel et al. (Paraplegia 7:179-192, 1969). The average preoperative kyphosis was 36 degrees (range 19-59 degrees ), and the average postoperative kyphosis was 23 degrees (range 15-38 degrees ) at final follow-up. At final follow-up, minimal progression of kyphosis was seen, with an average kyphosis of 27 degrees (range 16-40 degrees ). An average loss of correction of 4 degrees was seen at final follow-up. One-stage surgical management for children with spinal tuberculosis by anterior decompression, bone grafting, posterior instrumentation, and fusion was feasible and effective.

Posterior Percutaneous Endoscopic Cervical Diskectomy: A Single-Center Experience of 252 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Posterior percutaneous endoscopic cervical foraminotomy and diskectomy has remarkably evolved with successful results. Although percutaneous endoscopic cervical diskectomy (PECD) has gained popularity, the risk of surgical failure may be a major obstacle to performing PECD. We analyzed unsuccessful cases requiring reoperation. The objective of this article was to find common causes of surgical failure and elucidate the limitations of the conventional PECD technique. METHODS: Surgery-related complications were reviewed from the initial 252 cases of a single surgeon. The patients had cervical disk herniation or radiculopathy and underwent percutaneous endoscopic surgical management. We investigated clinical outcomes and complications. A retrospective review was performed on all patients who had undergone PECD between April 2013 and April 2016. Unsuccessful PECD was defined as a case requiring reoperation within 6 weeks after primary surgery. Chart review was done, and pre-, intra-, and postoperative radiographic reviews were performed. All unsuccessful PECD cases were classified according to the type of herniated disc, location of herniation, extruded disk migration, working channel position, and intra- and postoperative findings. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 89.4 minutes (range, 60-180 minutes). The mean intraoperative blood loss was 20.3 mL (range, 10-800 mL). Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 1 patient and healed well. The follow-up period ranged from 24 to 60 months. The mean score on the visual analog scale improved from 8.67 ± 1.30 preoperatively to 7.83 ± 1.40 at 1 month postoperatively to 1.67 ± 1.30 at the final follow-up (P < 0.05), with a recovery rate of 67.9% ± 21.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons should be aware of the specific complications for the PECD approach.

Transforaminal Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy and Foraminoplasty after Lumbar Spinal Fusion Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The most common causes of pain following lumbar spinal fusions are residual herniation, or foraminal fibrosis and foraminal stenosis that is ignored, untreated, or undertreated. The original surgeon may advise his patient that nothing more can be done in his opinion that the nerve was visually decompressed by the original surgery. Post-operative imaging or electrophysiological assessment may be inadequate to explain all the reasons for residual or recurrent symptoms. Treatment of failed lumbar spinal fusions by repeat traditional open revision surgery usually incorporates more extensive decompression causing increased instability and back pain. The authors, having limited their practice to endoscopic surgery over the last 10 years, report on their experience gained during that period to relieve pain by transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic revision of lumbar spinal fusions. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy and foraminoplasty in patients with pain after lumbar spinal fusion. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Inpatient surgery center. METHODS: Sixteen consecutive patients with pain after lumbar spinal fusions presenting with back and leg pain that had supporting imaging diagnosis of foraminal stenosis and/or residual/recurrent disc herniation, or whose pain complaint was supported by relief from diagnostic and therapeutic injections, were offered percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy and foraminoplasty over a repeat open procedure. Each patient sought consultation following a transient successful, partially successful or unsuccessful open lumbar spinal fusions treatment for disc herniation or spinal stenosis. Endoscopic foraminoplasty was also performed to either decompress the bony foramen in the case of foraminal stenosis, or to allow for endoscopic visual examination of the affected traversing and exiting nerve roots in the axilla. The average follow-up time was 30.3 months, minimum 12 months. Outcome data at each visit included MacNab criteria, visual analog scale (VAS), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). RESULTS: The average leg VAS improved from 9.1 ± 2.0 to 2.0 ± 0.8 (P < 0.005). Ten patients had excellent outcomes, 5 had good outcomes, one had a fair outcome, and none had poor outcomes, according to the MacNab criteria. Fifteen of 16 patients had excellent or good outcomes, for an overall success rate of 93.7%. No patients required reoperation. There were no incidental durotomies, infections, vascular, or visceral injuries. There was one complication, a case of leg numbness caused by dorsal root ganglion injury. The numbness improved after 2 weeks. After 3 months, physical exam showed that the total area of numbness in the legs had decreased. At last follow-up, the patient had no pain, and only a few areas with numbness remained that did not affect the patient's activities of daily living. The patient was relieved to be able to avoid open decompression. LIMITATIONS: This is a retrospective study. CONCLUSIONS: The transforaminal endoscopic approach is effective for patients with back or leg pain after lumbar spinal fusions due to residual/recurrent nucleus pulposus and foraminal stenosis. Failed initial index surgery may involve failure to recognize patho-anatomy in the axilla of the foramen housing the traversing and the exiting nerve. The transforaminal endoscopic approach effectively decompresses the foramen and does not further destabilize the spine needing stabilization. It also avoids going through the previous surgical site. KEY WORDS: Full-endoscopic, foraminal stenosis, recurrent herniation, surgical treatment, fusion.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic anterior surgery combined posterior instrumentation for children with spinal tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: The use of thoracoscopy for the treatment of spinal disorders has been applied mostly in adults. However, thoracoscopic decompression of spinal tuberculosis in children has probably been rarely documented. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic anterior surgery (VATS) combined with posterior instrumentation for children with spinal tuberculosis. STUDY DESIGN: Total 15 consecutive children with spinal tuberculosis with VATS combined with posterior instrumentation were included. METHODS: Overall 15 cases of spinal tuberculosis were treated with the procedure of posterior internal fixation and anterior debridement by VATS combined with posterior instrumentation between January 2002 and December 2006.There were nine males and six females with an average age of 11.6 years (8-15 y). All patients were given appropriate chemotherapy for 4 to 12 weeks preoperatively and 12 to 15 months postoperatively. All patients were followed up with evaluation of the changes of kyphotic deformity noted. RESULTS: All the cases were followed up over an average of 37.3 months (range, 12-48 mo).The wounds were healed without chronic infection or sinus formation. Four patients improved three grades, two patients improved two grades, and seven patients improved one grade. The average neurological recovery in the patients was 1.44 grades on the scale by Frankel et al. The average preoperative kyphosis was 37 degrees (range, 23-59 degrees) and the average postoperative kyphosis was 25 degrees (range, 18-35 degrees) at final follow-up. Also, minimal progression of kyphosis was seen at final follow-up with an average kyphosis of 28 degrees (range, 20-40 degrees); and average loss of correction of 3 degree was seen at final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: VATS combined with posterior instrumentation achieve satisfactory results for children with spinal tuberculosis.

Association between P-glycoprotein expression and response to chemotherapy in patients with osteosarcoma: a systematic and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the association between p-glycoprotein (Pgp) expression and response to chemotherapy in patients with osteosarcoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched and included the openly published articles evaluated the correlation between Pgp expression and response to chemotherapy. The odds ratio (OR) of response rate for Pgp positive group versus Pgp negative group was aggregated by random or fixed effect model. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included in our meta-analysis. The mean Pgp positive rate was 0.39 ± 0.10 with its range of (0.14-0.53). The summary response rate was 0.46 ± 0.16 in Pgp positive and 0.57 ± 0.27 in the Pgp negative group, with no statistical difference between two groups (P > 0.05). The pooled OR of response rate for Pgp positive group versus Pgp negative group was 0.75 with its 95% confidence interval of 0.47-1.22, indicating there was no association between Pgp expression and response to chemotherapy in patients with osteosarcoma. CONCLUSION: The present evidence indicated that there was no association between p-glycoprotein expression and chemotherapy response in patients with osteosarcoma.

A case report of a metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor occurring in femur.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are mesenchymal neoplasms that most commonly affect the stomach or small intestine, but can occur anywhere throughout the gastrointestinal tract. To the best of our knowledge, few cases have been reported in the literature about the femur metastasis of GIST. This paper describes a metastasis of a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) to the femur in a 62-year-old male, 2 years after treatment for a gastric primary. There were no signs of tumor recurrence at followup after 12 mo. This case suggests that the femur can be a potential metastatic site of GIST.

[Current state and development in surgical treatment for children with spinal tuberculosis].

This article reviews a large number of recent years' literatures about surgical treatment for children with spinal tuberculosis on the characteristics of children with spinal tuberculosis, and analyzes the development of surgical treatment for children with spinal tuberculosis. Then it summarizes the indications of surgical treatment for children with spinal tuberculosis, and analyzes the clinical effect of various surgical methods of spinal tuberculosis, assesses that anterior debridement combined with anterior and posterior interbody autografting can be a good growth rate and deformity correction. Pedicle fixation on the children with spinal tuberculosis is safe and feasible. The positive early surgery can control children kyphosis. Minimally invasive surgery is the development direction of treatment for children spinal tuberculosis.