Area Of Intervertebral Foramen Research Articles

The postoperative clinical effects of utilizing 3D printed (Ti6Al4V) interbody fusion cages in posterior lumbar fusion: A retrospective cohort study.

The research focused on the postoperative effect of using interbody fusion cage in lumbar posterior lamina decompression and interbody fusion with pedicle screw by comparing the postoperative effect of using 3D printing (Ti6Al4V) and PEEK material interbody fusion cage. Ninety-one patients with lumbar degenerative diseases from the Department of Spine Surgery of Tianjin Hospital were included in the study cohort. They were divided into 3D group (n = 39) and PEEK group (n = 52) according to the use of interbody fusion cage. The imaging data of the patients were collected and the postoperative data of the 2 groups were compared to evaluate patients' health status and the recovery of lumbar structure and function after operation. Combined with the degree of fusion, the clinical effect of 3D printing titanium alloy interbody fusion cage was comprehensively judged. At the last follow-up, the JOA score, ODI index, VAS, prolo function score, and SF-36 scale of the 2 groups showed that the clinical symptoms were better than those before operation (P < .05). The height of intervertebral disc, the area of intervertebral foramen and the physiological curvature of lumbar vertebrae increased in varying degrees after operation (P < .05). At the last follow-up, the vertebral cage fusion rates were as high as 89.13% and 90.91% in the 3D and PEEK groups, with collapse rates of 6.5% and 4.5%, respectively. There were 10 cases of cage displacement in 3D group and 7 cases of cage displacement in PEEK group. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups (P > .05). In conclusion, 3D printed (Ti6Al4V) interbody fusion cage can obtain good clinical effect in the surgical treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases. Posterior lumbar lamina decompression, bilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with 3D printed cage interbody fusion is excellent in rebuilding the stability of lumbar vertebrae. 3D printed interbody fusion cage can be an ideal substitute material for intervertebral bone grafting. The stable fusion time of interbody fusion cage after lumbar fusion is mostly from 3 months to half a year after operation.

Uniportal Full-endoscopic Foraminotomy for Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis: Clinical Characteristics and Functional Outcomes.

Uniportal full-endoscopic foraminotomy offers a promising alternative to conventional surgical methods for individuals afflicted by lumbar foraminal stenosis. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and clinical outcomes of uniportal full-endoscopic foraminotomy in patients diagnosed with lumbar foraminal stenosis. A comprehensive retrospective analysis was conducted on individuals who underwent full-endoscopic foraminotomy in our medical center, between January 2018 and December 2019. The investigation encompassed the demographic data of patients and key clinical metrics such as the visual analogue scale of leg (VAS-L) and back pain (VAS-B), Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores, the Short Form-36 Health Survey physical component summary (SF-36 PCS) and the mental component summary (SF-36 MCS), as well as modified MacNab grades, were systematically assessed and compared. Furthermore, radiological parameters: Coronal Cobb angle (CCA), Intervertebral angle changes (IAC), Disc height index (DHI), the foraminal cross-sectional area (FCSA) and the FCSA enlargement ratio were also compared. A variety of statistical analyses including Student t-test, chi-square tests, Fisher's exact tests, Pearson's and Spearman's correlation analyses, and Interclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) were employed. 64 patients, including 34 males and 30 females were enrolled. The mean follow-up period extended to 22.66 ± 7.05 months. Distribution by affected segments revealed 26.6% at L4-5, 67.1% at L5-S1 level, and 6.25% at both L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels. At the final follow-up, VAS-L decreased from 7.26 ± 1.19 to 1.37 ± 1.25, while VAS-B decreased from 6.95 ± 0.54 to 1.62 ± 1.13 (p < 0.001). ODI score also demonstrated a substantial decrease from 74.73 ± 8.68 to 23.27 ± 8.71 (p < 0.001). Both SF-36 PCS and SF-36 MCS scores improved significantly (p < 0.001). Modified MacNab criteria revealed 58 excellent-good patients (90.7%), and 6 fair-poor patients (9.3%). No significant differences were founded in the CCA (p = 0.1065), IAC (p = 0.5544), and DHI (p = 0.1348) between pre-operation and the final follow-up. However, the FCSA significantly increased from 73.41 ± 11.75 to 173.40 ± 18.62 mm2 (p < 0.001), and the enlargement ratio was 142.9% ± 49.58%. Notably, the final follow-up FCSA and the FCSA enlargement ratio were found to be larger in the excellent and good group compared to the fair and poor group, according to the modified MacNab criteria. The utilization of uniportal full-endoscopic foraminotomy has demonstrated its safety and efficacy in addressing lumbar foraminal stenosis. The clinical success of this procedure appears to be closely associated with the radiological decompression of the intervertebral foramen area. Importantly, the application of this technology does not seem to compromise the overall stability of the lumbar region.

Clinical Observation of 10-mm Endoscopic Minimally Invasive Interlaminar Decompression in the Treatment of Ossified Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

This study aims to observe the safety and effectiveness of 10-mm endoscopic minimally invasive interlaminar decompression in the treatment of ossified lumbar spinal stenosis. The clinical data of 50 consecutive patients with ossified lumbar spinal stenosis were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent minimally invasive interlaminar decompression with 10-mm endoscope. Patient demographics, perioperative data, and clinical outcomes were recorded. Visual analog scale scores, Oswestry disability index scores, and modified Macnab criteria were used to assess clinical outcomes. The lateral recess angle, real spinal canal area, and effective intervertebral foramen area were used to assess the effect of decompression. The mean age of all patients was 59.0±12.3years. The mean operative time and intraoperative blood loss were 43.7±8.7minutes and <20ml, respectively. Two years after surgery, the leg pain Visual analog scale score decreased from 7.4±1.0 to 1.6±0.6 (P<0.05) and the Oswestry disability index score decreased from 63.8±7.6 to 21.7±3.4 (P<0.05). The lateral recess angle, real spinal canal area and effective intervertebral foramen area were significantly larger than before surgery (P<0.05). The overall excellent and good rate at the last follow-up was 92.0% according to the modified Macnab criteria. The 10-mm endoscopic minimally invasive interlaminar decompression can safely and effectively remove the ossification in the spinal canal and achieve adequate decompression in patients with ossified lumbar spinal stenosis.

Efficacy of OLIF combined with pedicle screw internal fixation for lumbar spinal stenosis on spinal canal changes before and after surgery

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of OLIF combined with pedicle screw internal fixation in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis by assessing the changes in spinal canal before and after surgery.MethodsIn this retrospective study, we included sixteen patients who underwent a combination of single-segment OLIF and pedicle screw internal fixation for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine between February 2018 and August 2022. The patients' pre- and post-operative data were compared. Intraoperative bleeding, duration of surgery, visual analogue score (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), disc height (DH), cross-sectional area of vertebral canal (CSAVC), cross-sectional area of dural sac (CSADS), cross-sectional area of intervertebral foramen (CSAIF), spinal canal volume (SCV), spinal canal volume expansion rate, lumbar lordosis, and sagittal vertical axis were observed and recorded. The efficacy of OLIF combined with pedicle screw internal fixation for lumbar spinal stenosis on spinal canal changes before and after surgery was summarized.ResultsThe results showed that OLIF combined with pedicle screw internal fixation effectively restored disc height and increased the cross-sectional area of the spinal canal. It also had an indirect decompression effect. The intraoperative bleeding and duration of surgery were within acceptable ranges. The VAS and ODI scores significantly improved after surgery, indicating a reduction in pain and improvement in functional disability. The CSAVC, CSADS, CSAIF, SCV, and spinal canal volume expansion rate were all increased postoperatively. Additionally, there was improvement in lumbar lordosis and sagittal vertical axis. We conducted a follow-up of all patients at 1 year after the surgery. The results revealed that the parameter values at 1 year post-surgery showed varying degrees of decrease or increase compared to the immediate postoperative values. However, these values remained statistically significant when compared to the preoperative parameter values (P < 0.05).ConclusionsOLIF combined with pedicle screw internal fixation effectively restores disc height and increases the cross-sectional area of the vertebral canal in patients with LSS, reflecting the indirect decompression effect. Measuring parameters such as DH, CSAVC, CSADS, CSAIF, SCV, and SCV expansion rate before and after surgery provides valuable information for evaluating the efficacy and functional recovery of the lumbar spine in LSS patients treated with OLIF surgery.

Comparison between OLIF and MISTLIF in degenerative lumbar stenosis: an age-, sex-, and segment-matched cohort study

To compare outcomes after oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) versus minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MISTLIF) with bilateral decompression via unilateral approach for treating mild to moderate symptomatic degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS). We retrospectively compared patients who underwent single-level (L4/5) OLIF with an age-, sex-, and segment-matched MISTLIF with bilateral decompression via unilateral approach cohort. Perioperative data were collected for the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, drainage in the first postoperative day, postoperative hospital stay, cost, intraoperative fluoroscopy, and complications. Lumbar radiographs were measured for changes in posterior intervertebral space height (PISH), intervertebral space foramen height (IFH), intervertebral foramen area (IFA), and area of the spinal canal (ASC). Clinical and psychological outcomes included the visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). 35 OLIF patients were compared with 35 MISTLIF patients in L4/5 DLSS. The OLIF group had shorter bedtime, postoperative hospital stays, less intraoperative and postoperative blood loss (all P < 0.05), but had more times of intraoperative fluoroscopy, longer operative time, and higher cost (all P < 0.05). The complication rates were equivalent (OLIF vs MISTLIF: 22.86% vs 17.14%). PISH (11.94 ± 1.78 mm vs 9.42 ± 1.94 mm, P < 0.05), IFH (23.87 ± 3.05 mm vs 21.41 ± 2.95 mm, P < 0.05), and IFA (212.14 ± 51.82 mm2 vs 177.07 ± 51.73 mm2, P < 0.05) after surgery were significantly increased in the OLIF group. The ASC was increased significantly after the operation in both groups, but the ASC in the MISTLIF group was increased significantly more than that in the OLIF group (450.04 ± 66.66 mm2 vs 171.41 ± 58.55 mm2, P < 0.05). The lumbar VAS scores at 1 month (1.89 ± 0.87 vs 2.34 ± 0.84, P = 0.028) and 6 months (1.23 ± 0.97 vs 1.80 ± 0.99, P = 0.018) after operation in the OLIF group were significantly lower. There were no significant differences in lower extremity VAS and ODI scores between the two groups. Compared with MISTLIF group, HADS scores on postoperative day 3 (2.91 ± 1.46 vs 4.89 ± 1.78, P < 0.05) and prior to hospital discharge (PTD) (2.54 ± 1.38 vs 3.80 ± 1.78, P = 0.002) in the OLIF group were decreased significantly. OLIF showed more advantages of less surgical invasion, lower incidence of postoperative low back pain, faster postoperative recovery, and less anxiety compared with MISTLIF. Regardless of cost, OLIF seems to be a better option to treat mild to moderate symptomatic DLSS.

Analysis of the curative effect of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy with osseous foraminal stenosis using ultrasonic osteotome in anterior cervical surgery

PurposeTo explore the clinical efficacy and operation points of cervical radiculopathy with osseous foraminal stenosis treated with ultrasonic osteotome in anterior cervical surgery.MethodsFrom January 2018 to June 2021，a retrospective analysis of 23 patients with cervical radiculopathy with bony foraminal stenosis during this period was retrospectively analyzed. Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) was used for all cases in this group. Intraoperative use of ultrasonic osteotome to decompress the nerve in the intervertebral foramina. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss and complication rate were recorded in this group of patients. Interbody fusion was evaluated using Brantigan criteria. The IC-PACS imaging system was used to measure the intervertebral foramen area (IFA) before and after surgery to evaluate the range of decompression. The VAS (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS) score and NDI (Neck Disability Index, NDI) score before and after surgery were recorded to evaluate the clinical efficacy.ResultsAll enrolled patients were followed up regularly for 1 year or more. The mean operative time was 61.5 ± 8.0 minutes. The average intraoperative blood loss was 88.3 ± 12.8 ml, and the average hospital stay was 8.1 ± 1.7d. Twenty one cases of successful fusion were followed up 1 year after operation, and the fusion rate was 91.3%. IFA expanded from 25.1 ± 4.0 mm2 before operation to 57.9 ± 3.4 mm2 at 1 year after operation, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The VAS score and NDI score of patients 3 days after surgery, 3 months after surgery, and 1 year after surgery were significantly lower than those before surgery (P < 0.001). There was 1 case of dysphagia and 1 case of Cage subsidence after operation, and the complication rate was 8.6%.ConclusionAnterior cervical surgery using ultrasonic osteotome in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy with bony foraminal stenosis has reliable clinical efficacy and high safety, and is worthy of clinical promotion.

Posterior cervical full-endoscopic technique for the treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy with foraminal bony stenosis: A retrospective study.

In the treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR), spinal endoscopy has been developed vigorously in the past 30 years. However, its effectiveness and subsequent problem of cervical spine stability have always been the controversial hotspots. This study aims to conduct a retrospective study using posterior cervical full-endoscopic technique for the treatment of CSR with foraminal bony stenosis, and evaluate its clinical effect and application value. All 22 patients treated for CSR with foraminal bony stenosis using posterior cervical full-endoscopic technique were analyzed since Dec 1, 2016, to Apr 30, 2020. The data collection included operation time, length of stay, wound healing, surgical complications, visual analog scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, intervertebral foramen diameter, intervertebral foramen area and cervical instability. The relevant indicators were observed on admission, at postoperative 1 week and 3 months, and at the last follow-up. The operation time was 141.6 ± 13.7 min. The length of stay was 6.0 ± 2.5 days. VAS and JOA at different time points after operation were decreased compared with before operation (p < 0.05). There were no statistical differences between VAS or JOA at different postoperative time points (p > 0.05). The height, anteroposterior diameter and area of intervertebral foramen after operation were significantly increased compared with before operation (p < 0.05). Posterior cervical full-endoscopic technique shows the advantages of smaller invasion, faster recovery, significant effectiveness and fewer complications in our study. Meanwhile, it has little influence on the ROM and stability of the cervical spine. Therefore, it is a minimally invasive, safe and effective surgical method for the treatment of CSR with foraminal bony stenosis.

MRI changes of adjacent segments after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and foraminal endoscopy: A case-control study.

Background:Intervertebral foramen endoscopy has developed rapidly, but compared with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), the progress of degeneration is unknown. We aim to compare the changes of intervertebral disc and intervertebral foramen in adjacent segments after TLIF and endoscopic discectomy for patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).Methods:From 2014 to 2017, 87 patients who were diagnosed with single-level LDH and received surgery of TLIF (group T, n = 43) or endoscopic discectomy (group F, n = 44) were retrospectively analyzed. X-ray, MRI, CT and clinical symptoms were recorded before operation and at the last follow-up (FU). The neurological function was originally evaluated by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores. Radiological evaluation included the height of intervertebral space (HIS), intervertebral foramen height (FH), intervertebral foramen area (FA), lumbar lordosis (CA) and intervertebral disc degeneration Pfirrmann scores.Results:There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics, JOA improvement rate, reoperation rate and complications between the two groups. The age, average blood loss, average hospital stays and average operation time in group F were lower than those in group T. During the last FU, HIS, CA and FA decreased in both groups, and the changes in group T were more significant than those in group F (P < .05). There was no significant difference in FH changes between the two groups (P > .05).Conclusion:Both TLIF and endoscopic surgery can achieve good results in the treatment of LDH, but the risk of lumbar disc height loss and intervertebral foramina reduction in the adjacent segment after endoscopic surgery is lower.

Correlation between C7-T1 Intervertebral Foramen Area and Sagittal Parameters in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is an incomplete spinal cord injury characterized with pain and stiffness in the neck and motor and sensory dysfunction. This study aims to determine whether C7-T1 intervertebral foramen area could be used as a parameter to evaluate the sagittal curvature of cervical spine. Patients with clinical manifestations of spinal cord compression were hospitalized in our hospital from September 2018 to August 2019. All patients were diagnosed with CSM by nuclear magnetic imaging and other imaging methods. C2-C7 Cobb angle and T1 slop (T1S) were measured on the sagittal, T2-weighted magnetic resonance image of cervical spine, and C7-T1 intervertebral foramen area were measured using oblique cervical spine X-rays. Patients were divided into two groups according to the value of C2-C7 Cobb angle, including lordosis group (C2-C7 Cobb angle >10°, n=45) and straight group (C2-7 Cobb angle ≤10°, n=55). The reliability of the data was evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and the correlation of the imaging parameters was analyzed by Pearson correlation. A total of 100 patients diagnosed with CSM hospitalized in our department were included. The ICC of the cervical parameters was 0.73. C7-T1 intervertebral foramen area was 40.69 ± 11.44 and 39.95 ± 10.94 mm2 in lordosis and straight group, respectively. The results showed that C7-T1 intervertebral foramen area was positively correlated with both C2-C7 Cobb angle (r=0.23, p=0.02) and T1S (r=0.21, p=0.03). In lordosis group, there was a positive correlation between C7 and T1 intervertebral foramen area and C2-C7 Cobb angle (r=0.69, p < 0.01) and T1S (r=0.34, p=0.02). However, in straight group, C7-T1 intervertebral foramen area was not correlated with either C2-C7 Cobb angle or T1S. C7-T1 intervertebral foramen area measured by oblique X-ray could be an effective method to evaluate the sagittal balance of cervical vertebrae for CSM patients with cervical lordosis.

Comparative analysis of the effects of OLIF and TLIF on adjacent segments after treatment of L4 degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis

BackgroundThe fusion of the lumbar spine may lead to the degeneration of the adjacent segments. In this study, the effects of OLIF and TLIF on adjacent segments after treatment of L4 degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) were compared and analysed.MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of the medical records of consecutive patients treated with OLIF or TLIF for L4DLS. They were divided into the OLIF group and TLIF group based on different treatment methods. Cage height, segmental lordosis (SL), lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), and sacral slope (SS) were compared between the two groups, and the postoperative biomechanical changes were analysed by establishing the disc angle (DA). The clinical outcomes were analysed by comparing the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and incidence of adjacent segment disease (ASDis) between the two groups. The intervertebral disc height (IDH), intervertebral foramen height (IDH), intervertebral foramen area (IFA), sliding distance (SD), and angular displacement (AD) in L3-4 and L5-S1 were compared between the two groups. The incidence of aggravated disc degeneration (ADD), the incidence of aggravated zygapophyseal joint degeneration (AJD) and the incidence of adjacent segment degeneration (ASDeg) were compared between the two groups for radiological degeneration.ResultsAt the last follow-up, there was one case of ASDis in the OLIF group (2.78%) and two cases in the TLIF group (5.56%). At the last follow-up, compared with the preoperative values, IDH, IFH, and IFA of the adjacent segments above and below L4-5 decreased in both groups (P < 0.05); the SD and AD increased in both groups (P < 0.05). The cage height and L4-5 IDH in the OLIF group were significantly higher than those in the TLIF group (P < 0.05). SL, LL, PT, SS, and L5- S1DA were significantly improved in the OLIF group compared with the TLIF group (P < 0.05). The incidence of L3-4ASDeg in the two groups was higher than that of L5-S1. The incidence of ASDeg and the incidence of L5-S1ADD in the OLIF group were lower than those in the TLIF group, but the incidence of L5-S1AJD was higher than that in the TLIF group.ConclusionL4DLS after OLIF and TLIF treatment will cause adjacent segment degeneration, and L3-4 degeneration is more obvious than L5-S1 degeneration. OLIF has more advantages in restoring lumbar sagittal balance. Compared with TLIF, OLIF can weaken the degeneration of the L5-S1 disc and increase the degeneration of the L5-S1 zygapophyseal joints.

Analysis of early and middle stage efficacy and complications of oblique lumbar interbody fusion in treating degenerative lumbar diseases

To investigate the early and middle stage efficacy and complications of minimally invasive extraperitoneal oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) in the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases. The clinical data of 22 patients with degenerative lumbar diseases underwent OLIF from October 2017 to March 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, including 14 males and 8 females, aged from 51 to 72 years with an average of (63.15±7.22) years. There were 6 cases of lumbar spinal stenosis, 5 cases of lumbar spondylolisthesis, 4 cases of adjacent vertebral disease, 3 cases of degenerative lumbar scoliosis, 3 cases of discogenic low back pain, and 1 case of recurrence after posterior lumbar decompression. Posterior minimally invasive pedicle screw fixation was performed in 13 cases and Stand-alone fixation in 9 cases. Intraoperative blood loss, operation time, postoperative drainage volume, landing time were recorded. The intervertebral disc height(IDH), intervertebral foramen height(IFH), intervertebral foramen area( IFA), canal diameter(CD), canal area(CA) were measured before and after operation. The imaging changes (including location of fusion cage, interbody fusion, and cage subsidence) and complications were observed. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), numerical rating scales (NRS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores were compared before and 3, 6, 12 months after operation. All 22 patients successfully completed the operation. The intraoperative blood loss was 25 to 280 ml with an average of (95.45±79.07) ml and that of simple anterior approach was 25 to 70 ml with an average of (45.71±15.42) ml. The operation time was 75 to 210 min with an average of (137.72±37.66) min, and the simple anterior operation time was 75 to 105 min with an average of (91.40±15.96) min. The total drainage volume was 10 to 110 ml with an average of (56.23±31.15) ml, and the time to go down to the ground was 24 to 72 hours (54.48±18.24) hours after operation. Postoperative IDH improved (6.63±2.61)mm(P<0.05), the IFH improved (5.35±2.47)mm (P<0.05), the IFA improved (97.67±33.58)mm2(P<0.05), the CD improved (3.31±1.61) mm(P<0.05), the CA improved (57.52±31.39) mm2(P<0.05). Five patients got interbody fusion at 6 months after operation and all 22 patients got interbody fusion at 12 months after operation. There was 5 cases of fusion cage subsidence, all of which occurred in the cases without posterior fixation(using Stand-alone fixation). There was no serious complication such as big blood vessel injury, ureter injury, dural sac injury and nerve root injury. Peritoneal injury occurred in 1 case, postoperative transient thigh pain, decrease of quadriceps femoris muscle strength in 4 cases and sympathetic nerve injury in 1 case. The symptoms of lumbago and radicular pain of lower extremities were alleviated obviously 3 days after operation. The ODI, NRS and JOA scores at 6, 12 months after operation were significantly improved(P<0.05). The treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases with definite indications by OLIF can achieve satisfactory clinical results, and it has advantages of less intraoperative bleeding, fast time to land, less complications, good imaging improvement and indirect decompression. But the operation time and fluoroscopy time are longer in the early stage, and complications such as peritoneal injury and lumbar plexus over traction may occur. The long-term incidence of settlement of fusion cage with Stand-alone technology is higher.

Associations between Patient Report of Pain and Intervertebral Foramina Changes Visible on Axial-Loaded Lumbar Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

The intervertebral foramen may influence spinal nerve roots and, therefore, be related to the corresponding dermatomal pain. In vivo evaluation of the intervertebral foramen–dermatome relationship is essential for understanding low back pain (LBP) pathophysiology. The study aimed to correlate the lumbar MRI unloaded-loaded foraminal area changes with dermatomal pain in the patient’s pain drawings. Dynamic changes of the dermatomal pain distribution related to the intervertebral foramen area changes between quantitative conventional supine MRI (unloaded MRI) and axial-loading MRI (alMRI) were analyzed. The MRI axial-loading intervertebral foramen area changes were observed, and the most significant effect of reducing the foraminal area (−6.9%) was reported at levels of L2–L3. The incidence of pain in the dermatomes increases linearly with the spine level, from 15.6% at L1 to 63.3% at L5 on the right and from 18.9% at L1 to 76.7% at L5 on the left. No statistically significant effect of changes in the intervertebral foramen area on the odds of pain along the respective dermatomes was confirmed. Changes in the foraminal area were observed between the unloaded and loaded phases, but differences in area changes between foramen assigned to painful dermatomes and foramen assigned to non-painful dermatomes were not significant.

Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of L4-5 Degenerative Lumbar Disc Traction under Different Pushing Heights.

Objective To study and analyze the changes of intervertebral foramen height and area of the degenerative L4-5 intervertebral disc under different pushing heights by the finite element method. Methods CT and MRI images of T12-S1 segments were obtained from a healthy volunteer who met the inclusion criteria. A DR machine was used to capture images of the lumbar lateral section before and after simultaneous pushing of the L4 and L5 spinous processes by manipulation called Daogaijinbei, and the measurement showed that the displacement changes of L4 and L5 were both approximately 10 cm, so the pushing height was set at 0–10 cm. A three-dimensional finite element model of the entire normal lumbar spine was established using Mimics 16.0, Geomagic Studio 2014, Hypermesh 13.0, MSC.Patran 2012, and so on. The disc height and nucleus area of the lumbar disc of the normal entire lumbar disc model were adjusted to establish models of the L4-5 disc with mild, moderate, and severe degeneration. Changes of disc height and area of the L4-5 degenerative intervertebral disc under different pushing heights were calculated. Results The size of the L4-5 intervertebral foramen was analyzed from the height and area of the intervertebral foramen, and the results showed the following: (1) as for the normal lumbar disc and a lumbar of the L4-5 disc with mild and moderate degeneration, the height of the L4-5 intervertebral foramen and its area both increased during pushing between 0 and 8 cm. After the pushing height reached 8 cm, the height and area of the L4-5 intervertebral foramen gradually became stable; (2) as for the L4-5 disc with severe degeneration, during the process of pushing, the height and area of the L4-5 intervertebral foramen increased slightly, but this change was not obvious. Conclusions After the spinal manipulation, the sizes of the L4-5 intervertebral foramen of the L4-5 disc with mild and moderate degeneration were significantly larger than those before pushing; in contrast, the size of L4-5 intervertebral foramen of the L4-5 disc with severe lumbar degeneration was not significantly changed.

Spine system changes in soldiers after load carriage training in a plateau environment: a prediction model research

BackgroundLow back pain is the most common spinal disorder among soldiers, and load carriage training (LCT) is considered the main cause. We aimed to investigate changes in the spine system of soldiers after LCT at high altitudes and the change trend of the lumbar spine and surrounding soft tissues under different load conditions.MethodsMagnetic resonance imaging scans of the lumbar spines of nine soldiers from plateau troops were collected and processed. We used ImageJ and Surgimap software to analyze changes in the lumbar paraspinal muscles, intervertebral discs (IVDs), intervertebral foramina, and curvature. Furthermore, the multiple linear regression equation for spine injury owing to LCT at high altitudes was established as the mathematical prediction model using SPSS Statistics version 23.0 software.ResultsIn the paraspinal muscles, the cross-sectional area (CSA) increased significantly from 9126.4 ± 691.6 mm2 to 9862.7 ± 456.4 mm2, and the functional CSA (FCSA) increased significantly from 8089.6 ± 707.7 mm2 to 8747.9 ± 426.2 mm2 after LCT (P < 0.05); however, the FCSA/CSA was not significantly different. Regarding IVD, the total lumbar spine showed a decreasing trend after LCT with a significant difference (P < 0.05). Regarding the lumbar intervertebral foramen, the percentage of the effective intervertebral foraminal area of L3/4 significantly decreased from 91.6 ± 2.0 to 88.1% ± 2.9% (P < 0.05). For curvature, the lumbosacral angle after LCT (32.4° ± 6.8°) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that before LCT (26.6° ± 5.3°), while the lumbar lordosis angle increased significantly from 24.0° ± 7.1° to 30.6° ± 7.4° (P < 0.05). The linear regression equation of the change rate, △FCSA% = − 0.718 + 23.085 × load weight, was successfully established as a prediction model of spinal injury after LCT at high altitudes.ConclusionThe spinal system encountered increased muscle volume, muscle congestion, tissue edema, IVD compression, decreased effective intervertebral foramen area, and increased lumbar curvature after LCT, which revealed important pathophysiological mechanisms of lumbar spinal disorders in soldiers following short-term and high-load weight training. The injury prediction model of the spinal system confirmed that a load weight < 60% of soldiers’ weight cannot cause acute pathological injury after short-term LCT, providing a reference supporting the formulation of the load weight standard for LCT.

The clinical value of oblique lateral interbody fusion in lumbar degenerative diseases: a meta-analysis

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) in the surgical treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases. Methods All literatures of OLIF performed in lumbar degenerative diseases were searched in recognized databases including Pubmed, OVID, Embase, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, springer, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP databases. Methodological Indexfor Non-randomized Studies (MINORS) was used to evaluate the quality of the literatures. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 15.0 statistical software. Results A total of 35 literatures were included, including 22 English literatures and 13 Chinese literatures. There were 3 630 patients with 45.2% of males, aged from 14 to 89 years old (mean, 62.6 years). The average of length of stay (LOS), operation time (OT) and blood loss (BL) of OLIF procedure were 6.7 days, 117 minutes, and 128 ml, respectively. The VAS scores of low back pain of postoperative and final follow-up decreased by 4.33 and 4.70, respectively. The VAS scores of leg pain decreased by 4.57 points and 5.31, respectively. Compared with preoperative, the postoperative JOA score increased by 7.58 and the postoperative ODI were also improved by 33.89%. All the postoperative imaging data were significantly different from those before surgery. The surgical level intervertebral heightincreased 4.14 mm, and the intervertebral foramen height and intervertebral foramen area increased by 3.54 mm, 53.96 mm2, while the dura sac cross-sectional area increased by 36.61 mm2, and the overall lumbar lordosis increased by 13.78° with the local segmental lordosis increased by 4.62°. The overall incidence of complications of OLIF was 32%, with a 95% confidence interval of 25%-38%. Conclusion OLIF is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases. OLIF has a simply procedure and short learning curve, with short LOS and operation time, less blood loss. OLIF can effectively open the narrow intervertebral space and increase the spinal canal and nerve root canal, significantly improve the symptoms, while the complication rate is low, so OLIF is worthy of widespread clinical application. Key words: Lumbar vertebrae; Spinal fusion; Meta-analysis

Efficacy of computed tomography in prediction of operability of L5/S1 foraminal stenosis using region of interest

Symptoms of intervertebral foraminal stenosis are caused by compression of nerve root exiting the intervertebral foramen. Many attempts to measure the size of the neuromuscular exit have been made; however, only a few studies to compare the area differences between foramens by computed tomography (CT) were done. In this retrospective comparative study, we used the region of interest (ROI) in CT to measure and compare the area of intervertebral foramen between the healthy control group and the patient group.Eighty-one patients who underwent CT of the lumbar spine between May 2014 and December 2017 were enrolled. Using the medical imaging program, the foraminal area between L5 and S1 vertebrae was measured on the sagittal, coronal, and axial planes using ROI. Four groups were established for comparison: those diagnosed with foraminal stenosis by a radiologist and those who were not, those diagnosed with foraminal stenosis by orthopedic surgeons and those who were not. These groups were further divided into subcategories depending on whether the area was operated on for foraminal stenosis. Interobserver and intraobserver agreements were assessed.The mean age of patients was 56.5 years (range 17–84). The foraminal area of the surgical group on sagittal plane was significantly narrower than the control group (P = .005). However, the difference between the 2 groups on axial and coronal planes was not statistically significant (P > .1). Foraminal area <80 mm2 on sagittal images was a statistically significant risk factor for clinical symptom (P = .028) and that <65 mm2 was a statistically significant risk factor in predicting operability (P = .01). Interobserver and intraobserver agreements were fair to good on axial and coronal planes (about 0.7), whereas the agreements were excellent on sagittal plane (>0.9).In this study, we proved that measuring the intervertebral foraminal area using the ROI in CT in the lumbar spine is useful for diagnosing L5-S1 foraminal stenosis, especially on sagittal plane. Furthermore, not only does it provide aid in diagnosis, but it also helps predicting the operability of foraminal stenosis.

Finite element analysis of bending and standing manipulation in the treatment of lumbosacral joint disorder

To analyze the displacement, stress and mechanism of lumbosacral joint disorder patients after bending and standing manipulation in the finite element model. A three-dimensional finite element model of a patient with lumbosacral joint disorder was established. The finite element analysis method was used to observe and analyze the three loading conditions of the model:axial, 34 degree inclined upward and vertical upward. In the lumbosacral joint disorder model, the L₅ vertebral body was concentrated in the middle of the lower endplate, the intervertebral disc was concentrated in the center of the intervertebral disc, and the stress of S₁ and related structures were concentrated in the anterior and posterior edges of the vertebral body. After simulated manipulation, stress mainly concentrated in the anterior, posterior and central circular areas of L₅ vertebral upper endplate. The posterior structures of vertebral body concentrated in the ventral part of pedicle, isthmus and dorsal part of lamina. The stress of intervertebral disc dispersed in the posterior edge of vertebral body. Displacement results:In the lumbosacral joint disorder model, the left transverse process, the upper and lower articular process and the left part of spinous process were significantly displaced to the left, and the intervertebral disc was protruded forward. After simulated manipulation, the lower notch of L₅ vertebral body moved forward and upward; the area of intervertebral foramen increased; the inferior articular process of L₅ vertebral body moved forward; the superior articular process of sacrum moved forward and downward; the distance of articular process joints increased; and the displacement of sacrum concentrated on the posterior edge of vertebral body and the median sacral crest. Successful lumbosacral joint modeling can be carried out by finite element analysis, and the mechanism of bending and erecting manipulation is clear, which is effective and safe for the treatment of lumbosacral joint disorders.

The shor-term clinical outcomes and safety of extreme lateral interbody fusion combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of degenerative lumbar disease

To evaluate the early efficacy and safety of extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for lumbar degenerative disease. From January 2013 to June 2014, 13 patients with degenerative lumbar disease were treated with XLIF combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation, including 8 cases of lumbar instability, 5 cases of mild to moderate lumbar spondylolisthesis;there were 5 males and 8 females, aged from 56 to 73 years with an average of 62.1 years. All patients were single segment fusion. Operation time, perioperative bleeding and perioperative complications were recorded. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy. Interbody fusion rate was observed and the intervertebral foramen area changes were compared preoperation and postoperation by X-rays and CT scanning. The mean operation time and perioperative bleeding in the patients respectively was(62.8±5.2) min and(82.5±22.6) ml. One case occurred in the numbness of femoribus internus and 1 case occurred in the muscle weakness of hip flexion after operation, both of them recovered within 2 weeks. All the patients were followed up from 12 to 19 months with an average of 15.6 months. VAS was decreased from preoperative 7.31±0.75 to 2.31±0.75 at final follow-up(P<0.05); ODI was decreased from preoperative (42.58±1.55)% to (12.55±0.84)% at final follow-up(P<0.05). At final follow-up, CT scanning confirmed 8 cases completely fused and 5 cases partly fused;the intervertebral foramen area was increased from preoperative (94.86±2.44)mm2 to (150.70±7.02)mm2(P<0.05). Extreme lateral interbody fusion combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation is an ideal method and can obtain early good clinical effects in treating lumbar degenerative disease.

Application of oblique lateral interbody fusion in the degenerative lumbar disease

Objective To investigate the operation key points and clinical efficacy of oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) for the treatment of degenerative lumbar disease. Methods The clinical data of 22 patients with degenerative lumbar disease treated with OLIF at the Department of Neurosurgery, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital from December 2014 to October 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Eight patients were treated with the combined posterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation, 11 were treated with the combined anterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation, and 3 did not treated with the screw-rod system fixation. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI) score, and imaging findings before and after procedure were compared. The clinical efficacy of the surgical method was evaluated. The follow-up time ranged from 3 to 9 months (mean, 6.6 months). Results Postoperative VAS score (2.73±0.84) and ODI score (20.97±3.83) were significantly decreased compared with before procedure (VAS score: 7.10±0.97; ODI score: 60.86±6.88; all P<0.05). The average operation time was 92.5±14.8 min, the average blood loss was 78.4±29.6 ml, and the average length of stay was 8.2±2.4 d. Compared with before procedure, the postoperative intervertebral space height was increased (after procedure: 9.12±1.09 mm, before procedure: 5.24±1.07 mm, P<0.001) and the intervertebral foramen area was increased in 22 cases (after procedure: 1.81±0.25 cm2, before procedure: 0.83±0.10 cm2, P<0.001). None of them had severe complications, such as vascular injury, lumbar plexus nerve injury, ureteral injury and infection. Conclusions OLIF is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive surgical method for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease. Its clinical efficacy is reliable in the near future. It has the advantages of short operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, less trauma, and quick recovery. Strict selection of patients and grasping the technical details are the keys to the success of surgery. Key words: Lumbar vertebrae; Intervertebral disc degeneration; Surgical procedures, minimally invasive; Oblique lateral interbody fusion

Intervertebral Foramen Size and Volume Changes in Low Grade, Low Dysplasia Isthmic Spondylolisthesis

Anatomic study. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the slip amount, slip angle, and disc height on the geometry of the L5 foramen in low-grade, low-dysplasia isthmic L5 spondylolisthesis using a human cadaveric model. Radicular pain and varying degrees of nerve root dysfunction are present in many adult isthmic spondylolisthesis patients and can be the result of compression of the L5 root within its foramen. The intervertebral foramens of six L5 vertebra and sacrum cadaver specimens had a standardized pars defect created and were mounted on an adjustable frame. Plasticene molds of the foramens were made by varying sagittal translocation (0%, 12.5%, 25%, and 50%), slip angle (kyphotic 10° and lordotic 0°, 10°, 20°, and 30°), and disc height (0, 5, and 10 mm). The volume of each mold was measured. The surface area was determined by sagittally slicing on a microtome the mold and each section's face was measured by computer image analysis. The area and volume of the foramen at a sagittal slip of 0%, slip angle of 0°, and 0 mm disc height were used as a control. As disc height decreased from 10 to 5 mm, 10 to 0 mm, and 5 to 0 mm, the foramen area and volume significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Incremental slip percentage from 0% to 12.5%, 25%, and 50% produced significantly reduced foramen area and volumes (P < 0.05). As slip angle increased from 10° kyphosis to 0°, 10°, 20°, and 30° lordosis, foramen area and volume decreased (P < 0.05). Disc height and slip percentage had the largest effect on intervertebral foramen area and volume in this model of low-grade, low-dysplasia isthmic spondylolisthesis. Slip angle changes affected foramen area to a lesser degree. Surgical treatment strategies should consider restoration of disc height in cases with foraminal stenosis.