Is Dynesys dynamic stabilization system superior to posterior lumbar fusion in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases?

Dynesys,a pedicle-based dynamic stabilization system,was introduced to overcome some undesirable complications of fusion procedures.Nevertheless,the theoretical advantages of Dynesys over fusion have not been clearly confirmed.The purpose of this editorial was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes of patients who underwent Dynesys system with those who underwent posterior lumbar fusion according to the existing literature and to see if the application of the Dynesys system is superior to the traditional lumbar fusion surgery.According to published clinical reports,the short-term effects of the Dynesys dynamic stabilization system are similar to that of traditional lumbar fusion surgery.Three comparative studies of Dynesys dynamic stabilization and fusion surgery with medium-term follow-up are encouraging.However,the results from four single-treatment-arm and small-sample studies of case series with long-term follow-up were not encouraging.In the present circumstances,it is not possible to conclude that the Dynesys dynamic stabilization system is superior to fusion surgery for lumbar degenerative diseases.

Application of Finite Element Analysis in Biomechanical Research of Degenerative Diseases of Lumbar Spine

As the elderly population continues to grow, the number of patients with low back pain is gradually increasing. Among them, Lumbar Degenerative Diseases (LDD) is one of the major contributors to low back pain. Biomechanical in vivo studies of the lumbar spine are mainly performed by implants or imaging data to record the real-time changes of form and stress on the intervertebral disc during motion. However, the current developments are slow due to the technological and ethical limitations. In vitro experiments include animal experiments and cadaver experiments, which are difficult to operate or differ greatly from normal human structures, and the results still need to be verified repeatedly to test their accuracy. As for finite element method, it is relatively low cost and can repeat the experimental results. Therefore, we believe that finite element analysis plays an extremely important role in biomechanical research, especially in analyzing the relationship between different surgical models and the degeneration caused by different mechanics.

Unilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases

Objective To explore the feasibility and efficiency of the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and posterolateral fusion (PLF) procedures in which unilateral pedicle screw fixation was used.

Cortical bone trajectory screws in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease in patients with osteoporosis

Lumbar degenerative disc disease(DDD)in the elderly population remains a global health problem,especially in patients with osteoporosis.Osteoporosis in the elderly can cause failure of internal fixation.Cortical bone trajectory(CBT)is an effective,safe and minimally invasive technique for the treatment of lumbar DDD in patients with osteoporosis.In this review,we analyzed the anatomy,biomechanics,and advantages of the CBT technique in lumbar DDD and revision surgery.Additionally,the clinical trials and case reports,indications,advancements and limitations of this technique were further discussed and reviewed.Finally,we concluded that the CBT technique can be a practical,effective and safe alternative to traditional pedicle screw fixation,especially in DDD patients with osteoporosis.

Cortical bone trajectory fixation in cemented vertebrae in lumbar degenerative disease:A case report

BACKGROUND Percutaneous vertebroplasty(PVP)has been widely used in osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture(OVCF).Following surgery,the bone cement would be positioned permanently.However,in some cases of lumbar degenerative disease,the cemented vertebrae needs to be fixed after decompression and fusion procedure.It is difficult to implant traditional pedicle screws into the cemented vertebrae because of the bone cement filling.At present,the main treatment strategy is to skip the cemented vertebra and conduct a long segment fixation.This article presents a cortical bone trajectory(CBT)fixation technique for cemented vertebrae.CASE SUMMARY PVP involving the L3 and L4 was performed in an 82-year-old man due to OVCF.During the surgery,bone cement leakage occurred,resulting in compression of the root of the right L3 nerve.We performed a partial facetectomy to retrieve the leaked bone cement and to relieve the patient’s neurological symptoms.After 3 mo,the patient developed lumbar disc herniation in L3/4,potentially due to instability caused by the previous surgery.Therefore,it was necessary to perform intervertebral fusion and fixation.It was difficult to implant traditional trajectory pedicle screws in L3 and L4 because of the bone cement filling.Hence,we implanted CBT screws in the L3 and L4 vertebrae.As a result,the patient’s symptoms resolved and he reported satisfaction with the surgery at follow-up after 8 mo.CONCLUSION It is feasible to utilize CBT in cemented vertebrae for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease.

A comparison of unilateral and bilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for lumbar degenerative diseases

Background Bilateral transpedicular screw fixation in conjunction with interbody fusion is widely used to treat lumbar degenerative diseases; however, there are some disadvantages of using this fixation system. This study comparatively analyzes the results of unilateral and bilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion （TLIF） for one-level lumbar degenerative diseases. Methods Sixty-six cases with one-level lumbar degenerative diseases were studied. The patients were divided according to surgical approach into a unilateral group （Group A） and a bilateral group （Group B）. The patients were evaluated for pain by visual analog scale （VAS） and Oswestry Disability Index （ODI）. Operating time, blood loss, duration of hospitalization, and complication rate were also evaluated. Patients were examined at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively and every year thereafter. Results Group A patients＇ average preoperative VAS and ODI scores were 7.03 ±0.98 and （64.22±6.38）%, respectively, significantly decreased to 2.91 ± 0.88 and （14.42＋2.08）%, respectively, at the last follow-up （P = 0.000）. In Group B, the average preoperative VAS and ODI scores were 6.79±0.86 and （63.22±4.70）%, respectively, significantly decreased to 3.12±0.96 and （14.62±2.08）%, respectively, at the last follow-up （P=-0.000）. No significant difference in the duration of hospitalization was found between groups. Operating time and blood loss of （125.9±13.0） minutes and （211.4±28.3） ml, respectively, in Group A were significantly less than （165.2±15.3） minutes and （258.6±18.3） ml, respectively, in Group B （P=0.000）. All patients achieved good bone union and had no pseudarthrosis at the last follow-up. Conclusions There are no clinical differences between unilateral and bilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with TLIF for one-level lumbar degenerative diseases. Unilateral fixation reduces operating time, bleeding, and cost of hospitalization.

Dynesys dynamic stabilization system for the lumbar degenerative disease： a preliminary report from China

Background Dynesys dynamic stabilization system in 2007. Therefore, it was a new technique for Ch about Dynesys in China. The objective of this study degenerative disease in China. was first implanted in patients in 1994, and introduced to China nese orthopedics and hence necessary to collect clinical data was to report the preliminary results of Dynesys for the lumbar Methods Twenty-seven patients were treated with the Dynesys between July 2007 and January 2009. The diagnosis included degenerative spondylolisthesis （12 cases）, degenerative spinal stenosis （nine cases）, and lumbar intervertebral disc herniation （six cases）. Back pain and leg pain were evaluated using 100-mm visual analog scales （VAS）. The Oswestry Disability Index （ODI） was used to evaluate the patients＇ function. The intervertebral disc height and range of motion at the operative level were taken on radiographs. Results All the patients were followed-up, with an average of （22.40±4.23） months （range 15±32 months）. VAS of back pain and leg pain were improved significantly （P 〈0.05） at foUow-up. The ODI scores were reduced from （62.58±12.01）% preoperatively to （15.01±5.71）% at follow-up （P 〈0.05）. The preoperative mean height of the intervertebral disc was （11.21±1.58） mm （range 8.5±13.8 mm） and mean was （10.10±1.78） mm （range 7.0±13.4 mm） at follow-up （P 〈0.05）. The mean range of motion of the implanted segment was （6.00±1.79）° （range 2.5-9.3°） preoperatively and （5.47±1.27）° （range 2.9±7.8°） at follow-up （P=0.11）. Conclusions The preliminary results of Dynesys for the lumbar degenerative disease in China are similar to the published results of other countries. It can significantly improve the clinic symptoms and preserved motion at the level of implantation. However, the long-term follow-up data need to be collected.

Comparing minimally invasive and open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for treatment of degenerative lumbar disease： a meta-analysis

Background Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion （TLIF） through a minimally invasive approach （mTLIF） was introduced to reduce soft tissue injury and speed recovery. Studies with small numbers of patients have been carried out, comparing mTLIF with traditional open TLIF （oTLIF）, but inconsistent outcomes were reported.

Minimum 5-year follow-up study on the effects of the Wallis dynamic stabilization system in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease

Background Short-term outcomes of the Wallis system in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease （LDD） have been shown to be effective, whereas there is a paucity of studies on the mid-long-term effects of the treatment of the Wailis system. This study was to evaluate the mid-long-term effects of the Wallis dynamic stabilization system in the treatment of LDD. Methods A total of 26 patients who received the treatment of the Wallis system between February 2008 and January 2009 were included in the study, with 14 patients （Group 1） with L4/5 disc herniation and 12 patients （Group 2） with L5/S1 disc herniation and L4/5 intervertebral disc degeneration （IDD）. Visual analog scale （VAS） and Oswestry Disability Index （ODI） were used to evaluate the clinical outcomes and lumbar X-rays and MRI were obtained to observe imaging changes before and after operation. Results The mean follow-up period was （63.50＋2.12） months. The mean ODI and VAS scores decreased obviously three months and five years after operation （P 〈0.05）. In Groups 1 and 2, L4/5 Cobb angle and range of motion （ROM） decreased and L4/5 posterior disc height increased at the last follow-up （P 〈0.05）. There were no statistically significant changes in L4/5 anterior disc height and L3/4 University of California at Los Angeles grading before and after operation. There was no statistically significant change in Pfirrmann grading system of L4/5 IDD in Group 2 before and after operation. Adjacent segment degeneration at the last follow-up was found in two patients （2/26, 7.69%） and Modic changes in L4/5 endplates were detected in one patient （1/26, 3.85%）. Conclusions The mid-long-term effects of the Wallis system in the treatment of LDD were satisfied. The Wallis system, as a dynamic stabilization system, which can preserve some ROM of the fixed segment, sustain the lumbar stabilization, and prevent adjacent segment disease and fixed segment degeneration, is an effective instrument to treat LDD.

Preliminary evaluation of posterior dynamic lumbar stabilization in lumbar degenerative disease in Chinese patients

Background There has been some controversy related to the use of the Wallis system,rather than disc fusion in the treatment of patients with degenerative spine disease.Furthermore,there are no reports concerning the application of this dynamic stabilization system in Chinese patients,who have a slightly different lifestyle with Western patients.The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the dynamic stabilization system in the treatment of degenerative spinal diseases in Chinese patients.Methods The clinical outcomes of 20 patients with lumbar degenerative disease treated by posterior decompression with the Wallis posterior dynamic lumbar stabilization implant were studied.All of the patients completed the visual analogue scale and the Chinese version of the Oswestry Disability Index.The following radiologic parameters were measured in all patients：global lordotic angles and segmental lordotic angles （stabilized segments,above and below adjacent segments）.The range of motion was then calculated.Results Nineteen patients （95%） were available for follow-up.The mean follow-up period was （27.25±5.16） months （range 16-35 months）.The visual analogue scale decreased from 8.55±1.21 to 2.20±1.70 （P 〈0.001）,and the mean score on the Chinese version of the Oswestry Disability Index was improved from 79.58%±15.93% to 22.17%±17.24% （P 〈0.001）.No significant changes were seen in the range of motion at the stabilized segments （P=0.502） and adjacent segments （above,P=0.453; below,P=0.062）.The good to excellent result was 94.4% at the latest follow-up.No complications related to the use of the Wallis posterior dynamic lumbar stabilization occurred.Conclusions It was found to be both easy and safe to use the Wallis posterior dynamic lumbar stabilization implant in the treatment of degenerative lumbar disease,and the early therapeutic effectiveness is good.The Wallis system provides an alternative method for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease.

Mineralized collagen-modified PMMA cement enhances bone integration and reduces fibrous encapsulation in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease

As a minimally invasive surgery,percutaneous cement discoplasty(PCD)is now contemplated to treat lumbar disc degeneration disease in elder population.Here,we investigated whether the osteogenic mineralized collagen(MC)modified polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA)cement could be a suitable material in PCD surgery.Injectability,hydrophilicity and mechanical properties of the MC-modified PMMA(PMMA-MC)was characterized.The introduction of MC did not change the application and setting time of PMMA and was easy to be handled in minimally invasive operation.Hydrophilicity of PMMA-MC was greatly improved and its elastic modulus was tailored to complement mechanical performance of bone under dynamic stress.Then,PCD surgery in a goat model with induced disc degeneration was performed with implantation of PMMA-MC or PMMA.Three months after implantation,micro-computed tomography analysis revealed a 36.4%higher circumferential contact index between PMMA-MC and bone,as compared to PMMA alone.Histological staining confirmed that the surface of PMMA-MC was in direct contact with new bone,while the PMMA was covered by fibrous tissue.The observed gathering of macrophages around the implant was suspected to be the cause of fibrous encapsulation.Therefore,the interactions of PMMA and PMMA-MC with macrophages were investigated in vitro.We discovered that the addition of MC could hinder the proliferation and fusion of the macrophages.Moreover,expressions of fibroblaststimulating growth factors,insulin-like growth factor,basic fibroblast growth factor and tumor necrosis factor-b were significantly down-regulated in the macrophages cocultured with PMMA-MC.Together,the promoted osteointegration and reduced fibrous tissue formation observed with PMMA-MC material makes it a promising candidate for PCD surgery.

Diagnosis of lumbar degenerative disc disease by using L^(p)-spaces related to generalized interval-valued m-polar neutrosophic choquet integral Operator

Innovative and astonishing developments in the field of spine analysis can commence with this manuscript.The lumbar disks(L1−L2 to L5−S1)are most commonly impaired by degeneration due to their long-standing degeneration and associated strain.We investigate the indications,purposes,risk factors,and therapies of lumbar degenerated disc disease(L-DDD).We assume that the degeneration of five discs creates many effects,making it difficult to differentiate between the different types of degenerated discs and their seriousness.Since the indeterminacy and falsity portions of science or clinical diagnosis are often ignored.Due to this complexity,the reliability of the patient’s progress report cannot be calculated,nor can the period of therapy be measured.The revolutionary concept of interval-valued m-polar neutrosophic Choquet integral aggregation operator(IVmPNCIAO)is proposed to eliminate these problems.We associate generalized interval-valued m-polar neutrosophic Choquet integral aggregation operator(GIVmPNCIAO)with the statistical formulation of L^(p)-spaces and use it to identify the actual kind of degenerative disc in the lumbar spine.For the classification of interval-valued m-polar neutrosophic numbers(IVMPNNs),we set the ranking index and score function.These concepts are appropriate and necessary in order to better diagnose degeneration by associating it with mathematical modeling.We construct a pre-diagnosis map based on the fuzzy interval[0,1]to classify the types of degenerative discs.We develop an algorithm by using GIVmPNCIAO based on interval-valued m-polar neutrosophic sets(IVMPNNs)to identify the degenerative disc appropriately and to choose the most exquisite treatment for the corresponding degeneration of every patient.Furthermore,we discuss the sensitivity analysis with parameter p in GIVmPNCIAO to investigate the patient’s improvement record.

Decompression and fusion combined with rehabilitation training for the foot drop secondary to lumbar degenerative disease:Case report and literature review

Foot drop(FD)secondary to lumbar degenerative disease is a relatively uncommon finding in spinal practice.Although only a part of patients with FD can obtain satisfactory recovery of their muscle strength after operation,most of the articles still advocate surgical intervention at early stage.Despite the double roots compression is one of the accepted causes for FD,we describe an extremely rare case of a middle-age man presenting with a severe foot drop(tibialis anterior=0/5)resulted from three roots compression(L4-S1),who had undergone pedicle screws fixation(L3-S1),transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(TLIF)at L4/5,laminotomy and discectomy at L5/S1 with laminotomy at L3/4 as well as conventional rehabilitation training postoperatively,which included strength training of the active and antagonistic muscles in the week lower extremity.Twelve months after surgery,the patient recovered from his deficit(tibialis anterior improved from 0/5 to 4/5).Therefore,we discuss the possible pathological mechanism and surgical option for the foot drop due to the lumbar degenerative disease as well as the potential risk factors portending prognosis postoperatively.

Biomechanical evaluation of two fusion techniques based on finite element analysis:Percutaneous endoscopic and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion

As a novel minimally invasive technique,percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(PETLIF)has been widely used in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases.The purpose of this study was to analyze these two operation types’biomechanical performances of PE-TLIF and traditional minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(MIS-TLIF)using the finite element(FE)method.The intact FE models of L4-L5 were established and validated based on the CT images.On this basis,the FE models of MIS-TLIF and PETLIF were established and analyzed.It is demonstrated that for lumbar interbody fusion with the oblique asymmetrically implanted cage under bilateral pedicle screws and rods fixation,such as MIS-TLIF and PE-TLIF,different degrees of articular process resection have no significant effect on the cage subsidence,and the surgical segment can achieve similar stability.In addition,the maximum stress of the L4 inferior endplate of MIS-TLIF and PE-TLIF is greater than that of the L5 superior endplate,which indicates that MIS-TLIF and PE-TLIF can cause cage subsidence in the L4 inferior endplate.