ObjectiveTo explore the safety and preliminary effectiveness of transintervertebral release, bone impaction grafting, and posterior column compressed-closing in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fracture combined with moderate to severe spinal kyphosis.MethodsThe clinical data of 21 elderly patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture combined with moderate to severe spinal kyphosis were retrospectively analyzed between March 2016 and November 2017. There were 1 male and 20 females, aged 55-75 years, with an average of 64.8 years. The disease duration was 8-24 months, with an average of 13.1 months. The bone density T value ranged from ?3.4 to ?2.1, with an average of ?2.3. Lesion segments: T11 in 2 cases, T12 in 6 cases, L1 in 8 cases, L2 in 1 case, T11, 12 in 1 case, T12, L1 in 2 cases, and T12, L2 in 1 case. Preoperative neurological function was classified according to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA): 5 cases of grade D and 16 cases of grade E. All patients underwent transintervertebral release, bone impaction grafting, and posterior column compressed-closing. The effectiveness was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) score before operation, at 3 months after operation, and at last follow-up. The neurological function was assessed by ASIA at last follow-up. Local kyphosis Cobb angle (LKCA), thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), and sagittal vertebral axis (SVA) were measured on the X-ray films of the full-length lateral spine of the patient before operation, at 1 week after operation, and at last follow-up.ResultsNo complication such as fracture of internal fixator or nerve injury occurred. LKCA, TK, and SVA were significantly improved at 1 week after operation and at last follow-up (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between at 1 week after operation and at last follow-up (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in LL before and after operation (F=3.013, P=0.057). The VAS and ODI scores were significantly improved at 3 months after operation and at last follow-up, and further improved at last follow-up when compared with the scores at 3 months after operation, showing significant differences between time points (P<0.05). Five patients with ASIA grade D neurological function recovered to grade E at 6 months after operation.ConclusionTransintervertebral release, bone impaction grafting, and posterior column compressed-closing for treating osteoporotic vertebral fracture combined with moderate to severe spinal kyphosis has definite effectiveness, strong orthopaedic ability, and minimal trauma, which can effectively restore the sagittal balance of the spine, alleviate pain, and improve the patients’ quality of life.
Objective To investigate the changes in spinal-pelvic sagittal parameters from preoperative standing to prone position in old traumatic spinal fractures with kyphosis. Methods The clinical data of 36 patients admitted between December 2016 and June 2021 for surgical treatment of old traumatic spinal fractures with kyphosis, including 7 males and 29 females, aged from 50 to 79 years (mean, 63.9 years), were retrospectively analyzed. Lesion segments included 2 cases of T11, 12 cases of T12, 2 cases of T11, 12, 4 cases of T12 and L1, 12 cases of L1, 2 cases of L2, 1 case of L2, 3, and 1 case of L3. The disease duration ranged from 4 to 120 months, with an average of 19.6 months. Surgical procedures included Smith-Petersen osteotomy in 4 cases, Ponte osteotomy in 6 cases, pedicle subtraction osteotomy in 2 cases, and improved fourth level osteotomy in 18 cases; the remaining 6 cases were not osteotomized. The bone mineral density ranged from ?3.0 to 0.5 T, with a mean of ?1.62 T. The spinal-pelvic sagittal parameters from preoperative standing to prone positions were measured, including local kyphosis Cobb angle (LKCA), thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), and PI and LL mismatch (PI-LL). The kyphotic flexibility=(preoperative standing LKCA?preoperative prone LKCA)/preoperative standing LKCA×100%. Spinal-pelvic sagittal parameters were compared between standing position and prone position before operation, and Pearson correlation was used to judge the correlation between the parameters of standing position and prone position before operation. ResultsWhen the position changed from standing to prone, LKCA and TK decreased significantly (P<0.05), while SS, LL, PT, and PI-LL had no significant difference (P>0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that LL was significantly correlated with SS and PI-LL in both standing and prone positions (P<0.05), and the correlation strength between LL and SS in prone position was higher than that in standing position. In the standing position, LKCA was significantly correlated with SS and PT (P<0.05). However, when the position changed from standing to prone, the correlation between LKCA and SS and PT disappeared, while PT and PI-LL was positive correlation (P<0.05). The kyphotic flexibility was 25.13%-78.79%, with an average of 33.85%. Conclusion For the patients of old traumatic spinal fractures with kyphosis, the preoperative LKCA and TK decrease significantly from standing position to prone position, and the correlation between spinal and pelvic parameters also changed, which should be taken into account in the formulation of preoperative surgical plan.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of the Krackow suture of patellar tendon with vertical fixation through bone tunnels combined with Kirschner wire tension band in the treatment of comminuted fractures of the inferior pole of the patella. Methods The clinical data of 62 patients with unilateral comminuted fractures of the inferior pole of the patella who were admitted between January 2023 and July 2024 and met the selection criteria were retrospectively analyzed. Of these patients, 31 were treated with Krackow suture of patellar tendon with vertical fixation through bone tunnels combined with Kirschner wire tension band fixation (group A), whereas the remaining 31 were treated with conventional Kirschner-wire tension-band fixation (group B). There was no significant difference between the two groups in baseline characteristics, including gender, age, side of injury, body mass index, interval from injury to surgery, preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score for anterior knee pain, and preoperative knee range of motion (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, time to postoperative full weight-bearing, fracture healing time, and postoperative complications were recorded and compared between the two groups. Anterior knee pain was assessed using the VAS before surgery, at 1 week and 1 month after surgery, and at last follow-up. Knee range of motion was measured before surgery, at 1 and 3 months after surgery, and at last follow-up. At last follow-up, the Insall-Salvati index was measured to assess patellar height, and knee function was evaluated using the Bostman score for patellar fractures. ResultsAll patients underwent surgery successfully. Group A had a shorter incision, a shorter operation time, and less intraoperative blood loss than group B, with significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). All patients were followed up with the follow-up time (15.35±1.87) months in group A and (15.81±2.30) months in group B, showing no significant difference in follow-up time between the two groups (P>0.05). No complication, such as internal fixation failure or infection, occurred in group A. In group B, disengagement and failure of the internal fixation occurred in 1 patient, and implant irritation and activity-related pain caused by late posterior migration of the Kirschner wires occurred in 2 patients. The time to postoperative full weight-bearing and fracture healing time were significantly shorter in group A than in group B (P<0.05). In both groups, knee range of motion and VAS scores for anterior knee pain at all postoperative time points significantly improved when compared with the corresponding preoperative values (P<0.05). At each postoperative time point, group A had a greater knee range of motion and a lower VAS score for anterior knee pain than group B, with significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). At last follow-up, both the Bostman score and the Insall-Salvati index were significantly higher in group A than in group B (P<0.05). ConclusionCompared with conventional Kirschner wire tension band fixation, Krackow suture of patellar tendon with vertical fixation through bone tunnels combined with Kirschner wire tension band fixation provides satisfactory fracture reduction and reliable fixation, facilitates early functional rehabilitation, and is associated with a lower risk of internal fixation failure. It may therefore serve as a safe and reliable fixation option for comminuted fractures of the inferior pole of the patella.
Objective To introduce a scout view scanning technique of back-forward bending CT (BFB-CT) in simulated surgical position for evaluating the remaining real angle and flexibility of thoracolumbar kyphosis secondary to old osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. Methods A total of 28 patients with thoracolumbar kyphosis secondary to old osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture who met the selection criteria between June 2018 and December 2021 were included in the study. There were 6 males and 22 females with an average age of 69.5 years (range, 56-92 years). The injured vertebra were located at T10-L2, including 11 cases of single thoracic fracture, 11 cases of single lumbar fracture, and 6 cases of multiple thoracolumbar fractures. The disease duration ranged from 3 weeks to 36 months, with a median of 5 months. All patients received examinations of BFB-CT and standing lateral full-spine X-ray (SLFSX). The thoracic kyphosis (TK), thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK), local kyphosis of injured vertebra (LKIV), lumbar lordosis (LL), and the sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were measured. Referring to the calculation method of scoliosis flexibility, the kyphosis flexibility of thoracic, thoracolumbar, and injured vertebra were calculated respectively. The sagittal parameters measured by the two methods were compared, and the correlation of the parameters measured by the two methods was analyzed by Pearson correlation. Results Except LL (P>0.05), TK, TLK, LKIV, and SVA measured by BFB-CT were significantly lower than those measured by SLFSX (P<0.05). The flexibilities of thoracic, thoracolumbar, and injured vertebra were 34.1%±18.8%, 36.2%±13.8%, and 39.3%±18.6%, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that the sagittal parameters measured by the two methods were positively correlated (P<0.001), and the correlation coefficients of TK, TLK, LKIV, and SVA were 0.900, 0.730, 0.700, and 0.680, respectively. Conclusion Thoracolumbar kyphosis secondary to old osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture shows an excellent flexibility and BFB-CT in simulated surgical position can obtain the remaining real angle which need to be corrected surgically.