Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Human Brucellar Spondylodiscitis

Brucellar spondylodiscitis (BS) is the most prevalent and significant osteoarticular presentation of human Brucellosis, which is commonly manifested in ...

First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University

To evaluate the indications and effect of surgical treatment of basilar invagination (BI) with atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD) on the basis of retrospective analysis of the clinical and imaging data of patients.

[Selection of indications and surgical treatment of basilar invagination with atlantoaxial dislocation].

 To retrospective analysis the clinical characteristics of diagnosis and treatment the disease of tuberculous psoas abscess (TPA).  The medical records of 13 consecutive patients presenting to our hospital with TPA were reviewed from November 2002 to December 2015.Demographic data, presenting features, predisposing factors and the investigations performed were recorded and the outcomes were analysed.  The thirteen patients were included, 11 cases all had lower backache, 6 cases had Lower abdomen or groin area pain, 2 cases had fever, eleven cases were treated with Open drainage, one with Ultrasound guided drainage, and the last case used antibiotics alone, median hospital stay of 35 days, follow-up showed no recurrence or death in patients.  The incidence of TPA is probably underreported.The vague presentation leads to delays in diagnosis and increases morbidity and a high index of suspicion is the key to early diagnosis.Open drainage has Lower recurrence and death rates, and used widely, is the most reliable method for the treatment of primary tuberculous psoas abscess.

[Diagnosis and treatment of Tuberculous primary psoas abscess].

Spinal brucellosis is a less commonly reported infectious spinal pathology. There are few reports regarding the surgical treatment of spinal brucellosis in existing literature. This retrospective study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of single-stage transforaminal decompression, debridement, interbody fusion, and posterior instrumentation for lumbosacral spinal brucellosis.

Single-stage transforaminal decompression, debridement, interbody fusion, and posterior instrumentation for lumbosacral brucellosis.

The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy and safety of Smith-Petersen osteotomy combined with anterior debridement and allogenic strut bone grafting for the treatment of active thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis with kyphotic deformity in young children.Spinal tuberculosis is more destructive in young children and often causes severe kyphosis and paraplegia. Despite much progress has been made, surgical treatment is still controversial and technically challenging.From October 2010 to August 2014, 25 children (11 males, 14 females; aged under 6 years) with active thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis treated by Smith-Petersen osteotomy combined with anterior debridement and allogenic strut bone grafting were enrolled in this study. The pre- and postoperative data, follow-up medical records, imaging studies, and laboratory data were collected prospectively. Clinical outcomes were evaluated on the basis of kyphotic angle and the Frankel motor score system. The changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), clinical symptoms, and complications were investigated. Graft fusion was evaluated using the Bridwell grading criteria.The mean age was 3.5 ± 1.76 years (range, 1-6 years). All patients were followed up for 25 to 45 months (average, 34.3 ± 5.86 months). The average kyphotic angle was changed significantly from a preoperative value of 44.1 ± 10.8° to a postoperative value of 11.4 ± 3.9°, with an average correction rate of 74% (P < .05). According to the Frankle motor score system, neurological deficits were significantly improved by the time of the last follow-up, with an average improvement of 1.7 grades (P < .05). There were 2 cases of rod breakage and 1 case of graft bone displacement. No patients experienced a recurrence of tuberculosis. According to Bridwell criteria, the degree of fusion was grade I in 23 patients and grade II in 2 patients with a fusion rate of 92%.For young children with active thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis, Smith-Petersen osteotomy combined with anterior debridement and allogenic strut bone grafting is a safe and simple procedure to achieve sufficient kyphosis correction, good neurological recovery, and reliable anterior column reconstruction.

Smith-Petersen osteotomy combined with anterior debridement and allografting for active thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis with kyphotic deformity in young children: A prospective study and literature review.

Objective To study the clinical application of lumbar isthmus parameters in guiding pedicle screw placement. Methods Lumbar isthmus parameters were measured in normal lumbar x-rays and cadaveric specimens from a Chinese Han population. Distance between the medial pedicle border and lateral isthmus border was recorded as a 'D' value and was compared between X-rays and cadavers. Orthopaedic surgeons estimated different distances (2-6 mm) and angles (5-20°), and bias ratios between estimated and real values were compared. Orthopaedic residents placed pedicle screws on cadaveric specimens before and after application of the 'D' value, and screw placement accuracy was compared. Results Except for L4 vertebrae, significant differences in the 'D' value were found between 25 cadaveric specimens and x-ray films from 120 patients. Distances and angles estimated by 40 surgeons were significantly different from all real values, except 2 mm distance. Accuracy of pedicle screw placement by six orthopaedic residents was significantly improved by applying the 'D' value. Conclusions Surgeon estimates of distance were more accurate than angle estimates. Addition of a 'D' value to conventional parameters may significantly improve pedicle screw placement accuracy in lumbar spine surgery.

Anatomical and radiologic characteristics of isthmus parameters in guiding pedicle screw placement.

Brucellar spondylodiscitis, the most prevalent and significant osteoarticular presentation of human Brucellosis, is difficult to diagnose and usually yields irreversible neurologic deficits and spinal deformities. However, no animal models of Brucellar spondylodiscitis exist, allowing for preclinical investigations. The present study investigated whether intraosseous injection of attenuated  vaccine into rabbits' lumbar vertebrae imitates the radiographic and histopathological characteristics of human Brucellar spondylodiscitis. Radiographic and histopathological analyses at 8 weeks postoperatively revealed radiographic changes within vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs, abscesses formation within the paravertebral soft tissue, and typical prominent inflammation response without caseous necrosis, which were largely comparable to human Brucellar spondylodiscitis. Such a medium-sized, surgically feasible rabbit model provides a promising  setting for further preclinical investigation of Brucellar spondylodiscitis.

Establishment and Initial Testing of a Medium-Sized, Surgically Feasible Animal Model for Brucellar Spondylodiscitis: A Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of 3 different surgical methods for treating spinal tuberculosis (ST) in children. MATERIAL AND METHODS We reviewed the cases of 62 children with ST who were treated in our hospital from January 2010 to December 2014. In this study, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) level, Frankel classification of neurological function, pain visual analog scale (VAS) score, and kyphosis Cobb (k-Cobb) angle were dynamically monitored to evaluate the efficacy of different surgical methods. Complications in the patients were evaluated at 3 time points: before surgery (T1), after surgery (T2), and during final follow-up (T3). The average follow-up was 27.4 months. Twenty-two patients underwent simple anterior debridement alone or combined with internal fixation (Method A), 13 patients underwent posterior debridement alone (Method B), and 27 patients received anteroposterior debridement and bone graft fusion together with internal fixation (Method C). RESULTS In all 3 groups after surgery, ESR, CRP levels, VAS scores, and k-Cobb angles significantly decreased. However, compared with patients who received Methods B and C, patients who received Method A had a significant rebound in k-Cobb angle and a higher incidence of complications at the T3 time point. The overall reoperation rate during follow-up was 37.10%. Fourteen patients (22.58%) had kyphosis, 2 patients (3.23%) had tuberculosis recurrence combined with kyphosis, and other complications were reported in 5 patients (8.06%). CONCLUSIONS Considering the incidence of complications and level of postoperative biochemical indicators, we concluded that caution should be exercised in using an anterior approach to treat pediatric ST.

Maierdan Maimaiti

Department of Spine Surgery

First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University

Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Human Brucellar Spondylodiscitis

Maierdan Maimaiti

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Department of Spine Surgery

First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University

Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Human Brucellar Spondylodiscitis

Department of Spine Surgery