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Background. Standard posterior percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD) is considered an effective minimally invasive surgery. Although standard PECD can be used to treat radiculopathy with relatively minimal trauma, it is still a challenge to use this approach for treating myelopathy. Objective. This report is aimed at first describing a posterior transpedicular approach under endoscopy for myelopathy and evaluating the feasibility and short-term clinical effects of this approach. Methods. In our retrospective analysis between Feb. 2016 to Mar. 2017, 16 patients managed with PECD using the posterior transpedicular approach for symptomatic single-segment myelopathy. Surgery involved drilling 1/2 to 2/3 of the medial portion of the pedicle under endoscopy to provide sufficient space and an appropriate angle for inserting the endoscope into the spinal canal, followed by ventral decompression of the spinal cord. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were used to evaluate pedicle healing and spinal cord decompression. The primary outcomes included a visual analog scale (VAS) scores of axial neck pain and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores of neurological conditions. Results. All patients completed a 1-year follow-up examination. The mean duration of surgery was 95.44 ± 19.44 min (52–130 min). The fluoroscopy duration was 5.88 ± 1.05 (4–7). The VAS scores of axial pain significantly improved from 6.94 ± 0.75 preoperatively to 2.88 ± 1.22 postoperatively (P < 0.05). The mean JOA scores improved from 8.50 ± 1.12 preoperatively to 14.50 ± 1.46 at the final follow-up (P < 0.05). The effects were excellent in 8 cases, good in 6 cases, and fair in 2 cases. After partial pedicle excision, the width of the remaining pedicle was 1.70 ± 0.22 mm postoperatively and significantly recovered to 3.38 ± 0.49 mm at the 1-year follow-up. There were no surgery-related complications, such as dural tearing, spinal cord injury, nerve root injury, pedicle fracture, and cervical hematocele or infection. Conclusions. The posterior transpedicular approach is an effective method for the treatment of myelopathy in select patients and is a supplement to the described surgical approach for PECD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To compare the difference in clinical and radiographic outcomes between anterior transcorporeal and transdiscal percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy (ATc-PECD/ATd-PECD) approaches for treating patients with cervical intervertebral disc herniation (CIVDH). Method. We selected 77 patients with single-segment CIVDH and received ATc-PECD or ATd-PECD in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between March 1, 2010, and July 1, 2015. 35 patients suffered from ATc-PECD, and there were 42 patients in the ATd-PECD group. Obtaining the data of 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively, the VAS for neck and arm pain and the modified MacNab criteria were used to evaluate the clinical outcomes, comparing radiographic outcomes and complications of these two groups. Results. We found that the mean operative time was significantly longer in the ATc-PECD group (P < 0.05). At the 2-year follow-up, the mean VAS score for neck and arm pain was significantly decreased in both two groups. There was no significant difference in the VAS score for arm pain and neck pain between the two groups at the 2-year follow-up (P = 0.783 and P = 0.785 , respectively). For the ATc-PECD group, the difference in the height of IVS or vertebral body was significant between the preoperative and postoperative groups (P < 0.05 , respectively). For the ATd-PECD group, there was only a significant decrease in the height of the IVS (P < 0.05); the decrease in the surgical vertebral body was not significant between the preoperative and postoperative groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion. In the 2-year follow-up, there is no significant difference in the clinical outcomes between the 2 approaches. While the longer time was consumed in the ATc-PECD group, the lower rate of disc collapse and recurrence is notable. Additionally, when the center diameter of tunnel was limited to 6 mm, the bony defect can be healed without the occurrence of the collapse of the superior endplate, and ATc-PECD may be preferable in the endoscopic treatment of CIVDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To compare the clinical efficacy and complications which obtained foraminoplasty at the tip or base of the superior articular process (SAP) for the patients with lateral recess stenosis treated by percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD). Methods. Between January 2015 and January 2016, 156 patients of lumbar disc herniation accompanying with lateral recess stenosis were treated with PELD in five tertiary hospitals and fulfilled the 2-year follow-up. Among them, 78 patients obtained a foraminoplasty at the tip of SAP (group A), and foraminoplasty at the base of SAP was performed in the other 78 cases (group B). Clinical efficacy was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) score for back and leg pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) score. The intervals of follow-up were scheduled at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. Results. Mean operative duration is shorter in group B (55 versus 61 min, P = 0.047). Only one case belonged to group A could not tolerate the neural irritation and required conversion to an open procedure. During the surgery, no dura tears, cauda equina syndrome, or infections were observed. 5 patients experienced transient dysesthesia located at the exiting nerve in group A, while no cases complained dysesthesia in group B. 2 cases who suffered temporary motor weakness all belonged to group A. A total of 5 cases obtained a revision surgery after recurrence in the follow-up, in which 3 patients belonged to group A. Compared to the preoperative data, significant improvements in VAS scores of low back pain and sciatica, ODI, and SF-36 PCS and MC were observed in the follow-up, respectively (P < 0.05, respectively). However, no statistical difference was observed at all time-points after surgery between these two groups (P > 0.05, respectively). Conclusions. For the patients of LDH accompanying with lateral recess stenosis, compared with the routine foraminoplasty at the tip of SAP, our modified foraminoplastic technique does not only change place of foraminoplasty to the base of SAP but also simplified puncture process in transforaminal PELD. Although there was no significant difference in symptom relief, the modified foraminoplasty showed the advantages in decreasing the incidence of postoperative neural dysfunction and reducing operation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We sought to preliminarily explore the efficacy and safety of percutaneous endoscopic spinal surgery for epidural cement leakage. We report a case series of patients who underwent percutaneous retrieval of leaked epidural cement and achieved spinal decompression under endoscopy. Methods Five patients with neurologic impairment due to epidural cement leakage after percutaneous vertebroplasty were treated with percutaneous endoscopic spinal decompression. Computed tomography reconstruction and 3-dimensional imaging were used to evaluate the extruded material. During follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively, all patients were advised to undergo plain radiograph and computed tomography examinations. Results The leaked epidural cement was successfully removed in all patients under percutaneous endoscopy through a unilateral or bilateral approach. At the 12-month follow-up, the visual analog scale score of all patients improved. In addition, the neurologic function of each patient improved to at least 1 grade level, as evaluated using the American Spinal Injury Association. According to the modified MacNab criteria, 2 patients had excellent recovery, whereas the other 3 patients had good recovery. Conclusions We described a novel and minimally invasive procedure to ameliorate intractable epidural cement extrusion. As an alternative to conventional laminectomy, percutaneous endoscopic retrieval achieved the targeted decompression without damaging the posterior lamina. Moreover, the whole operation was performed under regional anesthesia accompanied with dexmedetomidine sedation, allowed real-time neural function evaluation, and had lower risks of anesthesia-related complications, compared with general anesthesia. Highlights • Generally, an urgent and extensive laminectomy was required to thoroughly remove the intraspinal extravasated comment. • Percutaneous endoscopic retrieval could achieve targeted decompression without damaging the posterior lamina. • It is not only capable of being monitored for efficacy but also avoids the risks associated with general anesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurpose:Large stone burden can be treated ureteroscopically, but the treatment often requires more than one procedure. Placement of a preoperative stent may theoretically enhance stone clearance by dilating the ureter to facilitate both access and stone removal. This study determines the impact of stent placement before ureteroscopy on operative time, radiologic stone clearance, and reoperative rates.Materials and Methods:We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent ureteroscopic stone intervention at our institution from 2002 to 2008 by a single surgeon. Nonstented matched controls were used for comparison. Demographics, stone characteristics (size, number, density, and location), presence of preprocedural ureteral stent, operative time, and results of postoperative imaging were compared between the two cohorts. Statistical analysis was performed.Results:There were 104 patients included in the study (45 prestented and 59 nonstented). Median stone size was 1 cm (range 0.3–4 cm). Overall stone clearance was 95.8%. The median number of procedures was one. Prestenting significantly reduced operative time during first ureteroscopy in patients with large stone requiring multiple ureteroscopies (p= 0.008) and total operative time to stone clearance in patients with stone >1 cm (p= 0.01), but not in patients with stone burdens <1 cm (p= 0.48). Prestenting also significantly reduced reoperative rates in patients with stone burden >1 cm (p= 0.001), especially for stones located in proximal ureter and kidney. Prestenting improves postoperative radiologic clearance, but this was not statistically significant (p= 0.56).Conclusions:Results show that ureteroscopic lithotripsy of large stone burden can be performed with a high success rate. Preureteroscopic stent placement was associated with a decreased operative time and reoperative rates in patients with larger stone burdens of >1 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myelosuppression, gastrointestinal toxicity and hypersensitivities always accompany chemotherapy of osteosarcoma (OS). In addition, the intricate karyotype of OS, the lack of targeted antitumor drugs and the bone microenvironment that provides a protective alcove for tumor cells reduce the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy. Here, we developed a multifunctional bone cement loaded with Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles and the antitumor drug doxorubicin (DOX/Fe 3 O 4 @PMMA) for synergistic MH ablation and chemotherapy of OS. The localized intratumorally administered DOX/Fe 3 O 4 @PMMA can change from liquid into solid at the tumor site via a polyreaction. The designed multifunctional bone cement was constructed with Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles, PMMA, and an antitumor drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug administration (FDA). The injectability, magnetic hyperthermia (MH) performance, controlled drug release profile, and synergistic therapeutic effect of DOX/Fe 3 O 4 @PMMA in vitro were investigated in detail. Furthermore, the designed DOX/Fe 3 O 4 @PMMA controlled the release of DOX, enhanced the apoptosis of OS tissue, and inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells, demonstrating synergistic MH ablation and chemotherapy of OS in vivo. The biosafety of DOX/Fe 3 O 4 @PMMA was also evaluated in detail. This strategy significantly reduced surgical time, avoided operative wounds and prevented patient pain, showing a great clinical translational potential for OS treatment. • Developed a multifunctional bone cement (DOX/Fe 3 O 4 @PMMA) • Determined the drug release properties of DOX/Fe 3 O 4 @PMMA • Provided a minimally invasive modality for removal of osteosarcoma • Explored the synergistic magnetically induced ablation and the chemotherapy of osteosarcoma [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]