Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) (4)

PLIF

The PLIF procedure takes a posterior (from the back) approach to the lumbar spine through an incision in the patient’s back. The surgeon must detach and move muscles attached to the vertebral, and in some cases a portion of vertebral bone called the lamina, may be removed for better visualization and access to the disc space.

-Surgical times ranges from 3 to 8 hours

-Hospital stay ranges from 3 to 5 days

-Typically a 6-inch incision

-Dissection of muscle and soft-tissue of the spine can cause post-operative pain and slow healing process

-Risks reported in literature of vascular injury, nerve injury, incontinence, impotence, muscle and tissue scarring

TLIF

Like the PLIF procedure, TLIF begins with a posterior (from the back) incision, however the surgical angle approaches the vertebra more laterally, or diagonally toward the patient’s side. The altered approach to the spine, compared to PLIF, limits some of the operative trauma to supporting muscle and soft tissue.

To access the disc space, the surgeon may remove a portion of the lamina (a bone covering the spinal nerves) and all of the facet joint, which is a major stabilizer of the spine. The access route, though less invasive than the PLIF procedure, still involves disruption of muscle, soft tissue and nerves and it may pose a risk of post-operative pain and complications.

-Surgical times range 2 to 4 hours

-Hospital stay ranges from 3 to 5 days

-Typically a 4-inch incision

-Risks reported in literature of vascular injury, nerve injury, incontinence, impotence, muscle and tissue scarring

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your orthopedic doctors for diagnosis and treatment.

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) (3)

Treatments

There are various methods of treating low-back pain including both non-surgical, and surgical techniques. Your doctor will work closely with you to isolate the source of your low-back pain and recommend the course of treatment that is most appropriate for you.

In most cases, a non-surgical treatment will be recommended. Treatments can range from exercise and behavior modification, to medications that reduce pain or swelling, or epidural injections. While some patients may improve with non-surgical treatments, others may try several treatments without success. In such cases, doctors may recommend a surgical treatment.

Fusion techniques

There are several surgical techniques available for spine fusion. Traditional techniques approach the spine directly through open incisions, while newer, minimally invasive techniques approach the spine through small incisions. If you require spine fusion, the fusion techniques selected may depend on the treatment required for your particular case, individual anatomy, or on the preferences of your surgeon.

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your orthopedic doctors for diagnosis and treatment.

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) (2)

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra slips forward in relation to an adjacent vertebra. The symptoms that accompany spondylolisthesis include pain in the low back, thighs and/or legs, muscle spasms, weakness, and/or tight hamstring muscles.

-Degree of slippage classified in grades, Grade I being the least amount, Grade IV the most

-Many people affected experience no pain or symptoms

-May result from improper lifting of heavy items, weightlifting, or high impact sports, such as football or gymnastics

Common symptoms

-Low back pain

-Lordosis (swayback)

-Pain and/or weakness in legs

-Tightness in the hamstrings (muscles at back of thigh)

-Symptoms grow worse with exercise

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the canal that surrounds the spinal cord. The narrowing can be caused by the enlargement of joints, arthritis, bone spurs or the calcification of ligaments in the spine. As the canal narrows, pressure may be placed on nerves causing pain and/or numbness felt in the back and legs.

-A degenerative condition that is most common in older adults

-Years of wear-and-tear contribute to the condition

-It is possible to be born with spinal stenosis

Common symptoms

-Low back pain

-Weakness, tingling, numbness or pain in legs

-Standing or walking brings on symptoms

-Rest may reduce symptoms

-Leaning forward often relieves symptoms

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your orthopedic doctors for diagnosis and treatment.

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)

Degenerative disc disease is not truly a disease. It’s a term used to describe the gradual deterioration of intervertebral discs that may occur naturally with the aging process or as result of injury.
-loss of hydration in the disc can shrink the disc and compromise its ability to act as a shock absorber between each vertebra

-loss of disc height can place pressure on the nerve roots causing pain in the buttocks and legs

-ruptured discs can bulge and put pressure on nerves causing leg and back pain




Common symptoms

-Low back pain
-Pain in legs and/or buttocks
-Pain may increase while sitting or standing for extended time
-Pain may decrease while walking, or laying down

Conditions contributing to low back pain

Painful conditions of the spine may be difficult to understand because often the pain is felt elsewhere, such as in your legs or buttocks. This pain is caused by pressure placed upon the nerves that pass through your spine and extend through the rest of your body.


We’ve seen how the healthy spine works to protect its own structure, including the spinal cord and the nerves that pass through it. We’ll now focus on some conditions that can compromise the normal structure of the spine resulting in nerve compression and pain:

-Degenerative Disc Disease
-Spondylolisthesis
-Stenosis








It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your orthopedic doctors for diagnosis and treatment.

Why do I need surgery?(2)

Preparing for surgery

You may be told to see your general practitioner before surgery to check your overall health. Tell your doctor what medications you are taking, and ask if you should stop taking any medications before surgery. To make your recovery easier, prepare your home for life after surgery. Place important things within easy reach. Remove safety hazards that might cause you to lose your balance. Arrange for someone to help you at home and around the house after surgery. You will most likely be told not to eat or drink the night before the surgery. Be sure you read and understand this entire booklet. Your surgeon is required to let you know of the potential risks, as well as benefits, of this surgery.

After surgery

Ask your surgeon about your specific recovery plan following surgery. It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully to recover from surgery as quickly as possible and increase your chances of a successful outcome.

After surgery your surgeon may refer you to physical therapist who will teach you exercises to improve your strength and increase your mobility. The goal of physical therapy is to help you become active as soon as possible, using safe body movements that protect your neck.

Recovering from pain and surgery is an ongoing process. How fast you recover depends on your commitment to working closely with your physical therapist, and moving and exercising correctly, as recommended by your surgeon.

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your orthopedic doctors for diagnosis and treatment.

Why do I need surgery?(1)

As discs lose their water content because of disease or age, they lose their height and bring the vertebrae closer together. The consequence is a weakening of the shock absorption properties of the disc and a narrowing of the openings for the nerves in the sides of the spine. Additionally, a loss of disc height may cause the formation of bone spurs, which can push against your spinal cord and/or nerves.

When a disc ruptures in the cervical spine, it puts pressure on one or more nerve roots (called nerve root compression) or on the spinal cord, causing pain and other symptoms in the neck and arms. Living with this pain or weakness and tingling in the arms can be disabling.

Disc degeneration

With the advice of your doctor, you may have tried other treatments for some time now which did not relieve your pain or dysfunction. Or perhaps your doctor has determined that irreparable damage would result without surgery. Your doctor has recommended that you consider the PRESTIGE® LP Cervical Disc Prosthesis, which provides for motion following surgery, instead of the more common fusion procedure.

What is involved in a PRESTIGE® LP Cervical Disc System procedure?

This surgery involves the use of a new medical device, which is designed to replace the disc which sits between the vertebrae in your neck. Your disc, which is damaged or diseased, is surgically removed through an incision made in the front of the neck.

In its place, your surgeon will prepare a space and insert a PRESTIGE® LP Cervical Disc Prosthesis. The device utilizes a ball and socket design which is designed to allow for motion to be preserved.

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your orthopedic doctors for diagnosis and treatment.

婦食3大閘蟹 須長服膽固醇藥

大閘蟹季節碰上中秋國慶長假，肥蟹與蟹宴熱銷，但應適可而止。有中年女士一次過吃兩、三只大閘蟹，致膽固醇指數突飈高，結果美味過後要付出代價，需長期服食降膽固醇藥物，也有人貪吃大閘蟹而致中風。

有醫生指，長期進食高膽固醇食品可致慢性血管疾病，秋涼轉季更可增中風風險。


今年豐收 節後價回落1成
今年江蘇太湖和陽澄湖大閘蟹大豐收，「老三陽」董事長祁廣楠指，今年大閘蟹價格，細蟹和大蟹分別最多便宜兩成和一成，五両半至7両的中大蟹，每斤約400元。
臨近中秋，內地因送禮而搶貴價格，但中秋過後價格將回落一成，他預計今年整體銷情將較去年增兩成。

另外，有海鮮酒家已推出大閘蟹宴，每位除了蟹粉菜式，還包食「兩王一後」3只大閘蟹，負責人指近日訂位相當爆滿。

雖然美食當前，卻要小心身體。心髒科專科醫生李麗芬表示，近年一名40多歲女士，本身有家族性膽固醇過高和心髒病問題，她卻忍不住貪吃大閘蟹，還一次過吃了兩至三只大蟹，致膽固醇指數突然飈升。




連吃6天 中年人急性中風
李麗芬指，該女病人本身也有高血壓、膽固醇指數已達6（正常應為5.2），本來不用服藥治療，可靠飲食控制，但吃完蟹後指數急升至7，結果往後都要長期吃降膽固醇的藥物控制。
「除非做到指數降到正常人一樣，但好難，加上她又有家族史，所以多數要長期食藥。」李麗芬說。

另外，有中年人到訪蘇州，連吃6日大閘蟹而出現急性中風，要急送回港求醫。
食過量致慢性血管病

腦神經專科醫生藍明權指，中風個案多發生在天氣轉變時，尤其由熱轉冷為病發高危期，因氣溫轉變致血壓驟升和血管收窄，加上不少人會在這時期進食補品，因多是膽固醇過高的食物，亦易引致慢性中風。

藍明權續表示：「食物很少致急性中風，多是慢慢累積引致。」
根據世衞建議，一般成年人每天攝取膽固醇的上限為300毫克，一只重約6両的大閘蟹，可食用的約100克蟹肉和蟹膏，膽固醇含量達267克，接近每日可攝取上限，故健康人士每次只宜吃一至兩只，而長期病患者包括心髒病患者及患有高膽固醇人士更不宜進食。


心髒病高膽固醇者 忌進食
香港營養學會會長丁浩恩建議，健康人士每天只可吃一至兩只大閘蟹，有血管疾病的長期病患者進食就不要吃膏，但蟹肉也含豐富脂肪和蛋白質，加上節日多聚餐，提醒每餐都不要進食過量，「不要常說只是一餐半餐，一個星期加上來便會好多餐！」







資料來源: http://www.hket.com/

以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，
應向神經外科醫生查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

天氣急凍血壓急升特別多中風

天氣忽冷忽熱，有腦科專家警告，氣溫由暖急劇轉冷，慢性病患者難以適應，血壓容易飆高，每年十一月及一至二月，均是中風高峰期。中風除了半身乏力及口齒不清等典型徵狀外，頸痛及視力短暫模糊亦是危險徵兆。曾有四十歲男教師突然頸痛及半身麻痹，入院檢驗方知頸動脈及腦血管栓塞，至今中風一個多月，仍未回復左手功能，需緊密康復治療才有望重拾教鞭。

仁安醫院神經外科專科醫生藍明權指全港每年有二萬六千多人中風，每年十一月天氣轉冷及一至二月氣溫驟降，是中風高危期，「天氣由暖變凍，血壓會突飆高，特別多中風爆血管個案。」






頸痛危險徵兆
頸痛也是中風徵狀，該院腦神經內科專科醫生梁浩雲指一名四十歲男教師月前突頸痛，及後左邊身麻痹及口齒不清，入院檢查揭右腦缺血性中風，右側頸動脈血塊阻塞，持續半年服抗凝血藥及做物理治療。左腳雖已活動正常可走路，左手活動能力較差，無力拿水杯，也暫不能打字，預料有一半機會完全康復。患者沒有定期身體檢查，中風後才發現有高血壓、高膽固醇及糖尿病，這均是中風高危因素，梁建議中年人士應定期做心腦血管及頸動脈檢查。此外，該院心髒中心總監李少隆指，心房顫動病人有百分之七至一成機會並發中風。

五十歲陳先生健康一直良好，但近半年持續心跳不規則，至出現右邊身乏力才求診，入院後檢驗方發現左腦輕微血管栓塞。原來他病發前三個月其視力已短暫模糊，突然眼前一黑，一分鐘才回復正常。

藍明權 神經外科醫生








資料來源: http://orientaldaily.on.cc/

以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，
應向神經外科醫生查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

脊髓神經刺激療法(下)

 

l   術後護理
手術後的三至六週內應避免彎腰、動身體、牽拉或提舉重物。隨後可逐漸增加活動量和恢復正常生活。
病人必須定期覆診以確保系統操作正常。醫生會根據病情調節刺激度數，以達最佳效果。

 

 

l   日常生活的調節

²  由於強大的電磁波會影響刺激系統的操作，病人應避免使用或接近大型電動機械，如發電設備、雷達基地、高壓電線、高電壓變電所、高輸出的發射塔天線、大型立體揚聲器等等。大多數家用電器是不會影響刺激器的運作。

²  病人應避免觸摸漏電的電器。

²  機場保安系統和商店防盜門或會影響刺激器的開關，病人可出示『病人識別卡』以獲得豁免通過。

²  進行醫療檢查或診治前，(例如磁力共振掃描(MRI)、放射治療、碎石術、心臟除顫、交疊波電療(IFT)、外科手術等等)，應預先告知醫務人員已裝有脊髓神經刺激器，以商議適當的治療方法。

²  病人切記不可接受透熱療法(Shortwave, Microwave, Therapeutic Ultrasound Diathermy)。

藍明權 神經外科醫生

 

 

資料來源: www.union.org/

以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，
應向神經外科醫生查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。