Clinical Study of Shentong Zhuyu Decoction Combined with Massage Therapy in the Treatment of Exertional Chronic Lumbar Muscle Strain

[Objectives]To explore the effects of Shentong Zhuyu decoction combined with massage therapy in the treatment of exertional chronic lumbar muscle strain.[Methods]Sixty-four cases of exertional chronic lumbar muscle strain were randomly divided into two groups(32 cases each group).The patients in the control group only took celecoxib capsules,and those in the treatment group additionally took Shentong Zhuyu decoction combined with massage therapy.TCM syndrome score,lumbar function,hemorrheology index and clinical effect were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.[Results]After treatment,the TCM syndrome scores of lumbar distension/dull pain,tingling-like lumbago,adverse lateral turn,body weight loss,dark purple tongue,slow or astringent pulse,and Oswestry disability index(ODI)score in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group,and the levels of plasma viscosity,red blood cell aggregation index,platelet aggregation rate(PAG)and fibrinogen(Fib)were lower than those in the control group,showing statistical significance(P<0.05).The overall clinical effect distribution of the treatment group was better than that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).[Conclusions]Shentong Zhuyu decoction combined with massage therapy can effectively relieve the symptoms of patients with lumbago and improve the lumbar mobility function and hemorrheology,with obvious therapeutic effects in the treatment of exertional chronic lumbar muscle strain.

Treatment of lumbar disc herniation with robot combined with unilateral biportal endoscopic technology:A case report

BACKGROUND This reported procedure combines the orthopedic surgical robot with the unilateral biportal endoscopy-lumbar interbody fusion(UBE-LIF),utilizing the UBE's wide viewing field and operating space to perform minimally invasive decompressive fusion of the lesioned segment,and the orthopedic surgical robot's intelligence and precision to perform percutaneous pedicle screw placement.The advancement of this procedure lies in the superposition of advantages and offsetting disadvantages of the two new technologies,and the maximum effect of treatment is achieved with maximum minimization of invasiveness and precision under the monitoring of imaging instruments to maximize the benefit of patients,and this review reports a case of multiple-segment lumbar decompression and fusion surgery for lumbar disc herniation via robot-assisted UBE for reference.CASE SUMMARY A 44-year-old patient presented to our hospital.Combining various clinical data,we diagnosed the patient with lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy,lumbar spondylolisthesis,and lumbar spinal stenosis.We developed a surgical plan of"UBE decompression+UBE-LIF+orthopedic surgery robot-assisted percutaneous pedicle screw implantation for internal fixation".The results were satisfactory.CONCLUSION We present an extremely rare case of multiple-segment lumbar decompression and fusion surgery for lumbar disc herniation via robot-assisted UBE and achieved good results.Therefore,the technique is worthy of clinical promotion.

Attitudes and Practices of Lumbar Puncture among Students, Interns, and Residents of the Pediatric Department of the Mohammed VI University Hospital Center of Oujda, Morocco

Introduction: Even though lumbar puncture (LP) represents an important tool in the diagnosis of certain neurological diseases, this procedure is little practiced by our students. We aimed to evaluate the attitudes and practices of students, interns, and residents about LP, and to assess their feelings about how this procedure is taught. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 160 participants, using an anonymous questionnaire, to evaluate the attitudes and practices of students, interns and residents in the pediatrics department concerning lumbar puncture. Results: Half of the participants had never performed LP, usually because of the risk involved or lack of confidence, while 20% had performed it more than 4 times. None of the participants had learned to perform the procedure through simulation sessions, while (42%) had learned it under the supervision of a senior physician and had not been able to perform it successfully the first time. Most participants inform the patient about the procedure before performing it. Only 44% of participants acknowledged that LP can be performed under local anesthetic. The sitting position (60%) was by far the most commonly used. Most LPs were performed for diagnostic purposes. Most participants stated that the pediatric ward and the pediatric emergency department are among the departments that perform LP most frequently, and that they would be interested in taking part in simulated lumbar puncture sessions in children in the future. Conclusion: The results of our study show that LP is perceived by students as a risky procedure that is difficult to perform. Teachers should reconsider how this technical procedure is taught, by integrating simulation on mannequins into student training.

A meta-analysis on the clinical efficacy of fire dragon cupping in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation

Background:The incidence of lumbar disc herniation(LDH)is notably high.Consensus among experts highlights non-surgical treatments as the primary therapeutic approach for LDH.Contemporary medicine frequently employs pharmacotherapy and epidural injections in such treatments,which are associated with numerous adverse effects.Prolonged use can severely impair the liver and kidney functions of patients.Hence,the role of safe and effective traditional Chinese medicine techniques becomes pivotal.Among various traditional Chinese medicine approaches for treating LDH,fire dragon cupping,renowned for its remarkable efficacy,cost-effectiveness,and ease of application,is extensively utilised in clinical settings for managing LDH.Nonetheless,there is a scarcity of systematic and standardised evidence from evidence-based medicine studies.Therefore,conducting a meta-analysis is imperative.Methods:A comprehensive computerised search was conducted in databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure,WanFang Data,VIP,China Biology Medicine disc,PubMed,EMbase,The Cochrane Library,Web of Science,and CINAHL.The search aimed to gather randomised controlled trials on fire dragon cupping therapy for LDH,spanning from the inception of these databases until December 2023.Two researchers independently screened the literature according to inclusion and exclusion criteria,extracted data,and assessed the methodological quality of the studies included,utilising RevMan 5.3 software for meta-analysis.Results:The results show that the fire dragon cupping therapy group had better clinical effectiveness(relative risk=1.23,95%confidence interval(CI)(1.14,1.33),P<0.00001),less pain(standardized mean difference=–1.33,95%CI(–1.49,–1.16),P<0.00001),and some improvement in lumbar function(Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores:mean difference=3.37,95%CI(2.31,4.43),P<0.00001.Conclusion:The fire dragon cupping therapy significantly alleviates LDH,warranting its extensive application.However,considering the limitations in the number and quality of studies included,the aforementioned conclusion necessitates further validation through more high-quality research.

Effect of three-volt moxibustion with helium-neon laser irradiation on quality of care in patients with lumbar radiculopathy spondylosis

BACKGROUND Lumbar radiculopathy spondylosis is a relatively common orthopedic disease with a high incidence rate.It most commonly occurs in the lumbar 4-5 and lumbar 5-sacral 1 vertebrae,which account for approximately 95%of cases.It mostly occurs in people aged 30-50 years old and greatly affects their quality of life.AIM To determine the effect of triple-voltage acupuncture combined with helium-neon laser irradiation on the quality of care and improvement of symptoms in patients with lumbar radiculopathy spondylolisthesis.METHODS In this study,we selected 120 patients with lumbar radiculopathy spondylosis who were treated at our hospital between June 2019 to June 2020.The patients were divided into control and observation groups according to the random number table method,with 60 patients in each group.Patients in the observation group were treated with three-volt moxibustion combined with helium-neon laser irradiation,and those in the control group were treated with lumbar traction.After 1 month of treatment,the lumbar pain scores,lumbar spine motor functions,clinical treatment effects,and nursing satisfaction of the two groups were compared.RESULTS The results showed that acupuncture combined with laser irradiation significantly improved the patients'clinical symptoms,i.e.,reduced their low back pain,significantly lower numerical rating scale pain scores in the observation group than in the control group,and better lumbar spine motility than in the control group,compared to lumbar traction.In addition,they were cared for.The treatment effectiveness rate of the observation group was 95.5%,which was significantly higher than that of the control group(81.67%).Satisfaction with care was higher than 90 points in both groups,but the difference was not statistically significant.CONCLUSION Our study provides a clinical rationale for the future treatment of patients with lumbar spine disease.However,further extensive research is needed for validation.

Reduction of epinephrine in the lumbar spinal cord following repetitive blast-induced traumatic brain injury in rats

Traumatic brain inju ry-induced unfavorable outcomes in human patients have independently been associated with dysregulated levels of monoamines,especially epinephrine,although few preclinical studies have examined the epinephrine level in the central nervous system after traumatic brain injury.Epinephrine has been shown to regulate the activities of spinal motoneurons as well as increase the heart rate,blood pressure,and blood flow to the hindlimb muscles.Therefore,the purpose of the present study was to determine the impact of repeated blast-induced traumatic brain injury on the epinephrine levels in seve ral function-s pecific central nervous system regions in rats.Following three repeated blast injuries at 3-day intervals,the hippocampus,motor cortex,locus coeruleus,vestibular nuclei,and lumbar spinal cord were harvested at post-injury day eight and processed for epinephrine assays using a high-sensitive electrochemical detector cou pled with high-performance liquid chromatography.Our results showed that the epinephrine levels were significantly decreased in the lumbar spinal cord tissues of blast-induced traumatic brain injury animals compared to the levels detected in age-and sex-matched sham controls.In other function-specific central nervous system regions,although the epinephrine levels were slightly altered following blast-induced tra u matic brain injury,they were not statistically significant.These results suggest that blast injury-induced significant downregulation of epinephrine in the lumbar spinal cord could negatively impact the motor and cardiovascular function.This is the first repo rt to show altered epinephrine levels in the spinal cord following repetitive mild blast-induced traumatic brain injury.

Lower extremity peripherally inserted central catheter placement ectopic to the ascending lumbar vein:A case report

BACKGROUND Peripherally inserted central catheters(PICCs)are an essential infusion route for oncology patients receiving intravenous treatments,but lower extremity veni-puncture is the preferred technique for patients with superior vena cava syndrome(SVCS).We report the case of a patient with a lower extremity PICC ectopic to the ascending lumbar vein,to indicate and verify PICC catheterisation in the lower extremity is safe and feasible.And hope to provide different per-spectives for clinical PICC venipuncture to get the attention of peers.CASE SUMMARY On 24 August 2022,a 58-year-old male was admitted to our department due to an intermittent cough persisting for over a month,which worsened 10 d prior.Imaging and laboratory investigations suggested the patient with pulmonary malignancy and SVCS.Chemotherapy was not an absolute contraindication in this patient.Lower extremity venipuncture is the preferred technique because administering upper extremity venous transfusion to patients with SVCS can exacerbate oedema in the head,neck,and upper extremities.The patient and his family were informed about the procedure,and informed consent was obtained.After successful puncture and prompt treatment,the patient was discharged,experiencing some relief from symptoms.CONCLUSION Inferior vena cava catheterisation is rare and important for cancer patients with SVCS,particularly in complex situations involving ectopic placement.

Clinical therapeutic effect of self-prescribed Sanhanchushi Tongbi on lumbar disc herniation

BACKGROUND Lumbar disc herniation(LDH)commonly occurs during spinal surgery;LDH is on the increase in younger patients and is classified as"paralysis"and"back pain."Sanhanchushi Tongbi(SPST)is a customized prescription.It disperses cold,relieves pain,removes cold from the meridians and viscera,and treats neuropathic pain.However,few studies have investigated its mechanism of pain relief.AIM To observe the clinical therapeutic effects on LDH treated with self-prescribed SPST.METHODS A total of 211 patients with LDH syndrome were divided into two groups:107 patients in the control group were treated with conventional massage combined with traction,and 104 patients in the observation group were treated with a combination of the control regimen and self-prescribed oral SPST.The patients were treated for 4 wk.Indices of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome score and serum inflammatory factor levels were measured.RESULTS After therapy,the TCM syndrome score in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).The main symptoms,clinical signs,daily activities,and Japanese Orthopedic Association scores in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group after therapy(P<0.05).The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6,and C-reactive protein were lower in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).In the observation group,superoxide dismutase levels were significantly higher,whereas malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower,compared with the control group(P<0.05).The overall efficacy rate in the observation group was 96.15%,which was substantially higher than that in the control group(88.79%;P<0.05).CONCLUSION Self-prescribed SPST can reduce the levels of inflammatory and pain-causing factors as well as lumbar pain in patients with LDH.

Clinical Observation of the Hot and Humid Compress Therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis Type of Lumbar Disc Herniation

Background: Although a number of studies have reported that the hot and humid compress from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is effective in treating lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with qi stagnation and blood stasis, clinical evidence is limited. Objective: The purpose of this study is to provide high-quality evidence to support the effectiveness of the traditional Chinese hot and humid compress in the treatment of LDH with qi stagnation and blood stasis. Methods: From October 2021 to November 2023, 86 patients with LDH of qi stagnation and blood stasis type were recruited in our hospital and divided into a control (n = 43) and an observation group (n = 43) according to the random number table method. The control group was given routine clinical treatment, and the observation group was treated with the hot and humid compress therapy for two weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, TCM syndrome score, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were observed and compared between the two groups before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated. Results: After treatment, the VAS score, TCM symptom score, and serum IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels decreased in both groups (P P P P P Conclusions: The hot and humid compress of traditional Chinese medicine can effectively relieve pain, restore lumbar function, improve TCM syndromes, reduce the level of inflammatory factors, and have a curative effect in treating LDH.

Surgical Management of Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis with Instrumentation at the Yaounde Central Hospital: Comparison of Unilateral versus Bilateral Pedicle Screw Fixation Combined with Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Introduction: The choice of adopting unilateral pedicle screw fixation or using bilateral pedicle screw fixation in lumbar spinal stenosis remains controversial. In our context, very few studies have been performed comparing the clinical effectiveness of unilateral versus bilateral fixation in the surgical management of lumbar spinal canal stenosis. Objective: Evaluate the impact on quality of life and clinical efficacy of unilateral spondylodesis compared to bilateral spondylodesis in the surgical management of lumbar spinal canal stenosis at the Yaounde Central Hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study for a period of 4 years, from June 2015 to June 2019. It involved all patients operated for lumbar canal stenosis and who underwent spondylodesis or spinal fusion at the neurosurgery department of the Yaounde Central Hospital. Results: A total of 68 participants were recruited during our study period. 32 (47%) of the study population were in the 50 - 60 age group, with a mean age of 56.98 years ranging from 41 to 75 years. Females, housewives and farmers were the most affected. In our study, 72% of patients had unilateral spondylodesis and 28% had bilateral fusion. Preoperatively, 71% of patients had insurmountable pain, refractory to medical treatment. At 3 months postoperatively, 73.7% of patients with bilateral setup had moderate pain compared to 69% of those with unilateral setup. At 6 months postoperatively, 79% of patients with bilateral fusion had mild pain compared to 82% of patients with unilateral setup. At 1 year postoperatively, all patients had mild pain. Preoperatively, 66.2% of patients were unable to walk and 19.1% of patients were bedridden according to the Oswestry score. At 3 months postoperatively, 10.2% of patients with unilateral setup were unable to walk compared to 10.5% of patients with bilateral fixation, while 67.3% of patients with unilateral fixation had moderate disability compared to 52.6% of patients with bilateral fixation. At 6 months postoperatively, 51% of patients with unilateral setup had moderate disability compared to 47.4% of patients with bilateral fixation, while 42.9% of patients with unilateral fixation had mild disability compared to 42.1% of patients with bilateral fixation. At 1 year postoperatively, 81.6% of patients who underwent unilateral fixation had only mild disability compared to 73.7% of patients with bilateral fixation. Conclusion: The assessment of quality of life according to the set-up used shows similar results at 3 months, 6 months and 1 year, with no statistically significant differences. Single-sided pedicle screw fixation combined with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion or mounting has the advantage of being faster, with less bleeding and is less expensive compared to bilateral fixation.

Factors that influence the results of indirect decompression employing oblique lumbar interbody fusion

BACKGROUND Indirect decompression is one of the potential benefits of anterior reconstruction in patients with spinal stenosis.On the other hand,the reported rate of revision surgery after indirect decompression highlights the necessity of working out prediction models for the radiographic results of indirect decompression with assessing their clinical relevance.AIM To assess factors that influence radiographic and clinical results of the indirect decompression in patients with stenosis of the lumbar spine.METHODS This study is a single-center cross-sectional evaluation of 80 consecutive patients(17 males and 63 females)with lumbar spinal stenosis combined with the instability of the lumbar spinal segment.Patients underwent single level or bisegmental spinal instrumentation employing oblique lumbar interbody fusion(OLIF)with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation.Radiographic results of the indirect decompression were assessed using computerized tomography,while MacNab scale was used to assess clinical results.RESULTS After indirect decompression employing anterior reconstruction using OLIF,the statistically significant increase in the disc space height,vertebral canal square,right and left lateral canal depth were detected(Р<0.0001).The median(M)relative vertebral canal square increase came toМ=24.5%with 25%-75%quartile border(16.3%;33.3%)if indirect decompression was achieved by restoration of the segment height.In patients with the reduction of the upper vertebrae slip,the median of the relative increase in vertebral canal square accounted for 49.5%with 25%-75%quartile border(2.35;99.75).Six out of 80 patients(7.5%)presented with unsatisfactory results because of residual nerve root compression.The critical values for lateral recess depth and vertebral canal square that were associated with indirect decompression failure were 3 mm and 80 mm2 respectively.CONCLUSION Indirect decompression employing anterior reconstruction is achieved by the increase in disc height along the posterior boarder and reduction of the slipped vertebrae in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis.Vertebral canal square below 80 mm2 and lateral recess depth less than 3 mm are associated with indirect decompression failures that require direct microsurgical decompression.

Muscle Strength, Lumbar Curve, Fear of Movement and Functional Disability among Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Review

Introduction: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) refers to the rupture of the fibrous annulus of the intervertebral discs. Lumbar curvature may lead to the occurrence of lumbar disc degeneration. Fear of movement may worsen their disc herniation and cause further pain and injury. LDH conditions impact the individuals’ quality of life, to explore the relationship between lumbar curve, muscle strength, fear of movement and functional disability among patients with LDH. Methods: An electronic search was conducted on PubMed, Medline, Science Direct, Springerlink, Google Scholar and a hand search from reference lists was reviewed. Publications were included in human studies, patients 25 - 85 years of age, original studies and published in English language journals from January 2002 to December 2023. Result: In total, 64 articles were researched through the online search engines, and 9 papers were found through manual searches of reference lists. As a result, a total of 11 articles were included for the purpose of this review. The comprehensive analysis revealed the presence of eight cross-sectional studies, two retrospective studies and one experimental study. A minimum of 25 participants and a maximum of 360 participants were included. Ten studies included both genders, only one studies included healthy adults and patients with LDH but these studies didn’t mention gender. Results showed that the factors influencing LDH can be categorized into non-modifiable factors, such as gender, age, height or others. Modifiable factors included increased BMI, DM, smoking, alcohol, employment status, lifestyle and health problems or psychology. Conclusion: Females with greater VASC may be at risk of LDH. The lumbar extensor muscles indicated a localized disc herniation or nerve root pathology in patients with LDH. The fear of movement may lead to psychological consequences and reduce functional disability among patients with LDH.

Effects of different moxibustion durations on lumbar disk herniation:a clinical study

Objective:To explore the best duration of moxibustion on lumbar disk herniation(LDH).Methods:A total of 88 patients were randomly divided into control group and 15-min,30-min,and 45-min moxibustion groups.The control group was treated with conventional therapy,while the other 3 groups were intervened with different moxibustion durations.Low back pain,dysfunction,lumbar function,and effective rates were evaluated before,in the first week and second week of intervention.Results:In low back pain,compared with the control group,the score of the 15-min group had no significant difference,but it was significantly lower in the 30-min and 45-min groups.In dysfunction and lumbar function,compared with the control group,the scores of the 15-min,30-min,and 45-min groups were significantly higher,and the scores of the 30-min and 45-min groups were significantly higher,but there was no significant difference between the 30-min and 45-min group.In effective rates,there was no significant difference between the control group and 15-min group;the effective rates of the 30-min and 45-min groups were significantly higher than those of the control group.Conclusions:Moxibustion has good therapeutic effect on LDH with specific moxibustion time.

Research Progress on Conservative Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation

Lumbar disc herniation(LDH)is a common orthopedic disease in clinical practice,with main symptoms of varying degrees of pain and functional impairment,seriously affecting the quality of work and life of patients,and also causing a certain degree of economic burden to the patient's family and society.At present,there are various conservative treatment methods for LDH in clinical practice.Conservative treatment has the characteristics of small trauma and high safety,which can achieve symptom relief and cure for most patients in clinical practice.This article aims to provide a scientific reference for the selection of treatment plans for LDH patients by reviewing relevant literature on conservative treatment of LDH that has been publicly reported both domestically and internationally in recent years.

Meta-Analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Mongolian Medical Warm Acupuncture in the Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation

Objective:To systematically evaluate the safety and efficacy of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation(LDH).Methods:CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,Pubmed,Embase,Cochrane Library,and other databases were searched.The randomized controlled trials(RCTs)on the treatment of LDH with Mongolian medical warm acupuncture were manually searched in the Chinese Journal of Ethnic Medicine,Chinese Journal of Mongolian Medicine,Journal of Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities,and Journal of Inner Mongolia Medical University.The search time limit was from January 2000 to October 2023.RevMan5.4 software was used to analyze the included and excluded literature.Results:A total of 8 RCTs involving 1,042 patients with LDH were included,with 551 patients in the observation group and 491 patients in the control group.The results of the meta-analysis showed that a total of 8 randomized controlled trials were included in the treatment of LDH with Mongolian medical warm acupuncture compared with simple acupuncture(RR=1.18,95%CI=[1.12,1.23],P<0.00001).Conclusion:The total effective rate of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture for LDH is higher than that of simple acupuncture.However,due to the low quality of the literature included in this study,multi-dimensional,large sample size,and more rigorous clinical randomized trials are needed for further verification in the future.

Application of the cortical bone trajectory technique in posterior lumbar fixation

The cortical bone trajectory(CBT) is a novel technique in lumbar fixation and fusion.The unique caudocephalad and medial-lateral screw trajectories endow it with excellent screw purchase for vertebral fixation via a minimally invasive method.The combined use of CBT screws with transforaminal or posterior lumbar interbody fusion can treat a variety of lumbar diseases,including spondylolisthesis or stenosis,and can also be used as a remedy for revision surgery when the pedicle screw fails.CBT has obvious advantages in terms of surgical trauma,postoperative recovery,prevention and treatment of adjacent vertebral disease,and the surgical treatment of obese and osteoporosis patients.However,the concept of CBT internal fixation technology appeared relatively recently;consequently,there are few relevant clinical studies,and the long-term clinical efficacy and related complications have not been reported.Therefore,large sample and prospective studies are needed to further reveal the long-term complications and fusion rate.As a supplement to the traditional pedicle trajectory fixation technique,the CBT technique is a good choice for the treatment of lumbar diseases with accurate screw placement and strict indications and is thus deserving of clinical recommendation.

Risk factors and care of early surgical site infection after primary posterior lumbar interbody fusion

Objectives:To explore the risk factors and nursing measures of early surgical site infection(SSI)after posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF).Methods:A total of 468 patients who received PLIF in our hospital from January 2017 to June 2020 were enrolled into this study.According to the occurrence of early SSI,the patients were divided into two groups,and the general data were analyzed by univariate analysis.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted with the dichotomous variable of whether early SSI occurred and other factors as independent variables to identify the risk factors of early SSI and put forward targeted prevention and nursing measures.Results:Among 468 patients with PLIF,18 patients developed early SSI(3.85%).The proportion of female,age,diabetes mellitus and urinary tract infection(UTI),operation segment,operation time,post-operative drainage volume,and drainage time were significantly higher than those in the uninfected group,with statistical significance(P<0.05),whereas the preoperative albumin and hemoglobin in the infected group were significantly lower than those in the uninfected group,with statistical significance(P<0.05).There was no significant difference between the two groups in the American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA)grading,body mass index(BMI),complications including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases or hypertension(P>0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative diabetes mellitus(OR=2.109,P=0.012)/UTI(OR=1.526,P=0.035),prolonged drainage time(OR=1.639,P=0.029)were risk factors for early SSI.Men(OR=0.736,P=0.027)and albumin level(OR=0.526,P=0.004)were protective factors in reducing early SSI.Conclusions:Women,preoperative diabetes/UTI,hypoproteinemia,and prolonged drainage time are risk factors for early SSI after PLIF.Clinical effective preventive measures should be taken in combination with targeted nursing intervention to reduce the risk of early SSI.

Retrospective Case Series of Porous Titanium Cages in Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery Assessing Subsidence, Fusion and Functional Outcomes

Purpose: Implant subsidence is a possible complication of spinal interbody fusion. We aim to evaluate porous titanium cages subsidence, fusion and functional outcomes in patients subjected to oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) with these novel devices. Methods: Our institutional review board approved a single-center experience which included 60 patients who underwent OLIF from June 2018 to June 2020 utilizing the porous titanium implants. Data was collected in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and written informed consent was obtained. Imaging studies including radiographs 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and computed tomography (CT) scan at 6 months obtained during routine postoperative follow-up visits, were studied for signs of implant subsidence, fusion and clinical parameters to determine the effectiveness of surgery such as Oswestry disability index (ODI). Results: Radiographic subsidence occurred in 1 out of 89 porous titanium interbody cages (1.1%). No subsidence was observed in the posterior screws and rods fixation group (N = 57). However, one case of subsidence occurred in the lateral plate fixation group (N = 3). The subsidence occurred in an osteoporotic elderly patient operated for adjacent segment disease, and she was later revised with posterior instrumentation using cemented screws and rods. She had an uneventful recovery. Fusion rates were evaluated under CT scan at 6 months with a rate of 88%. In terms of clinical outcomes, ODI decreased significantly from 20.3 preop to 10.7 postop with a P-value Conclusions: In our study, the subsidence rate was lower than previously reported in the literature. Also, we had good fusion rates at 6 months likely due to the porous titanium cages use. We had no subsidence in the posterior instrumented group and one case in the lateral fixation group with improved clinical outcomes.

Treatment of Single Level Lumbar Spondylolisthesis with Lumbar Interbody Fusion via Oblique Lateral Approach (OLIF)

Objectives: To investigate the effect of lumbar interbody fusion via the oblique lateral approach (OLIF) in the treatment of single level lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods: Retrospective analysis was made on 32 cases of single level lumbar spondylolisthesis treated by lumbar interbody fusion via the oblique lateral approach from July 2020 to July 2021. 14 males and 18 females;the age was (66.5 ± 11.5) years (55 - 82 years). 1) The operation time, intraoperative blood loss and complications were recorded;2) the scores of visual analog scale. VAS and Oswestry disability index (ODI) of low back pain and lower limb pain were collected before operation and at the last follow-up;by observing the imaging data, the height of the intervertebral space, the anterior convex angle of the intervertebral space, the anterior convex angle of the lumbar spine, the sagittal diameter of the dural sac and the spondylolisthesis were measured. Results: All patients successfully completed the operation, the average operation time was (103.9 ± 21.1) min, the average intraoperative bleeding volume was (72.3 ± 16.4) ml. There was no vascular injury during the operation, no infection occurred in all surgical incisions, and Class I/A healing was achieved. The VAS scores of low back pain and leg pain before operation and at the last follow-up were lower than those before operation, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05);the ODI at the last follow-up was lower than that before operation, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). At the last follow-up, the height of intervertebral space, the height of intervertebral foramen and the sagittal diameter of dural sac were greater than those before operation, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05);the spondylolisthesis rate at the last follow-up was lower than that before operation, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Left thigh surface numbness occurred in 2 cases (6.3%) and disappeared after 1 week;Hip flexion weakness occurred in 1 case (0.03%), which recovered after 12 days;there were no complications such as retroperitoneal hematoma, ureteral injury, retrograde ejaculation, intestinal and lumbar plexus injury. Conclusion: The early clinical effect of OLIF in the treatment of single level lumbar spondylolisthesis is significant. This surgical method is minimally invasive, safe and effective, which can significantly reduce the amount of intraoperative bleeding and reduce the risk of postoperative complications. Its main working principle is to make the annulus fibrosus, posterior longitudinal ligament and ligamentum flavum shrink and recover the height of the intervertebral space through decompression, loosening and stretching of the intervertebral space, so as to achieve the reduction of the slipped vertebral body, increase the height of the intervertebral foramen Enlarge the spinal canal volume and eliminate dynamic compression to play an indirect decompression role, improve the symptoms of low back and leg pain, and reconstruct the stability of the spine through interbody fusion.

Lumbar Synovial Cyst, Literature Review: Challenges of the Surgical Management, the Role of Minimal Invasive Techniques and Endoscopy

The management of symptomatic lumbar synovial cysts is still a challenge and a matter of debate with no existing strong consensus. There are different treatment techniques and strategies, the most debated matter is to fuse or not to fuse, efficiency of less invasive techniques. One of our purposes was to provide an updated review of a literature about treatment of juxta facet synovial cysts and as standard surgical strategies are inconsistent, we present a small series of patients treated using different approaches, most of them were treated with MISS techniques, endoscopy, providing good results.