Objective: To analyze the effect of short-segment circumferential decompression and the nerve function improvement in 30 cases of multilevel thoracic OPLL assisted by intraoperative ultrasound.
Methods: A total of 30 patients with multilevel thoracic OPLL from January 2016 to January 2021 were enrolled, all of whom were located by intraoperative ultrasound and underwent circumferential decompression. There were 14 males and 16 females, with an average age of (49.3±11.4) years. The initial symptoms were mainly numbness and weakness of lower limbs (83.3%), and the mean duration of symptoms was (33.9±42.9) months (1-168 months). Neurological function was assessed by the Modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) score (0-11) preoperative and at the last follow-up, in which the rate of neurological improvement was calculated by the Harabayashi method. The patients were divided into excellent improved group and poor improved group according to the improvement of neurological function. The age, body mass index (BMI), duration of symptoms, operation time, blood loss, mJOA score, surgical level, and cerebrospinal fluid leakage of the two groups were collected and analyzed for statistical differences. The factors influencing the improvement of neurological function were analyzed by univariate and multivariate Logisitic regression analysis.
Results: The mean operation time was 137.4±33.8 (56-190) min, and the mean blood loss was (653.7±534.2) mL (200－3 000 mL). The preoperative mJOA score was 6.0±2.1 (2－9), and the last follow-up mJOA score was 7.6±1.9 (4－11), which was significantly improved in all the patients (P < 0.001). The average improvement rate of neurological function was 38.1%±24.4% (14.3%－100%), including 75%－100% in 4 cases, 50%－74% in 3 cases, 25%－49% improved in 14 cases, and 0%－24% in 9 cases. There was significant difference in intraoperative blood loss between the excellent improved group and the poor improved group (P=0.047). Intraoperative blood loss was also an independent risk factor in regression analysis of neurological improvement.
Conclusion: Thoracic circumferential decompression assisted with intraoperative ultrasound can significantly improve the neurological function of patients with multilevel OPLL and achieve good efficacy. The improvement rate of nerve function can be improved effectively by controlling intraoperative blood loss.
目的: 分析多节段胸椎后纵韧带骨化症(ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, OPLL)术中超声辅助下环形减压术的手术疗效和术后神经功能改善情况。
方法: 选择2016年1月至2021年1月北京大学第三医院多节段胸椎OPLL患者的病例资料进行回顾性分析, 所有病例均完成后壁切除后行术中超声检查确定环形减压节段, 并进行环形减压。纳入研究的30例患者男性14例, 女性16例, 平均年龄(49.3±11.4)岁。首发症状以下肢麻木无力为主(83.3%), 平均症状持续时间为(33.9±42.9)个月(1~168个月)。神经功能通过术前及末次随访时改良日本骨科协会(modified Japanese Orthopedic Association, mJOA)评分(0~11分)评估, 神经功能改善率根据Harabayashi法计算。根据神经功能改善率是否大于25%将患者分为较优改善组和较差改善组, 收集两组患者的年龄、体重指数(body mass index, BMI)、病程时间、手术时间、出血量、mJOA评分、手术节段、脑脊液漏并进行分析比较。
结果: 病例平均手术时间为(137.4±33.8) min(56~190 min), 平均出血量为(653.7±534.2) mL(200~3 000 mL); 术前mJOA评分为(6.0±2.1)分(2~9分), 末次随访时mJOA评分为(7.6±1.9)分(4~11分), 所有患者神经功能均较术前改善(P < 0.001)。神经功能改善率平均为(38.1±24.4)%(14.3~100.0%), 其中神经功能改善率75%~100% 4例, 50%~74% 3例, 25%~49% 14例, 0~24% 9例。较优改善组与较差改善组相比较, 术中出血量差异具有统计学意义(P=0.047)。
结论: 通过术中超声辅助下胸椎环形减压术可以对长节段OPLL患者进行有效的减压, 并显著改善患者的神经功能, 控制患者术中出血量有助于术后神经功能的改善。
Keywords: Circumferential decompression; Intraoperative ultrasound; Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament; Thoracic spinal stenosis; Thoracic vertebra.