title: [Treatment by limited-incision for posterior edge separation of lumbar vertebral body].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss effective operative method for posterior edge separation of lumbar vertebral body.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve cases of posterior edge separation of lumbar vertebral body were categorized as lateral type and central type, and were operated upon with limited-incision using lamina retractor. All patients were male and with an average age of 30 years (range, 23 to 40 years). The average history of disease was 17.9 months. In lateral type cases, separation bone was in the posterolateral lower edge of L4 vertebral body in 1 case, in the posterolateral upper edge of L5 vertebral body in 3 cases and in the posterolateral upper border of S1 vertebral body in 6 cases, all with ipsilateral disc herniation. Lateral type cases were treated with unilateral fenestration and removal of disc nucleus and posterior bony edge. Separation bone was in the central upper edge of S1 vertebral body with central disc herniation in 2 central type cases. Two central type cases were treated with bilateral fenestration and removal of disc nucleus and posterior bony edge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months, and the average follow-up was 22.5 months. According to Macnab postoperative evaluation criterion, the results were excellent in 10 cases, good in 2 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limited-incision for posterior edge separation of lumbar vertebral body has characteristic of less trauma and convenience. It is an effective method for removal posterior bony edge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics 411th Hospital of PLA, Shanghai 200081, Shanghai, China. nxgzhm@163.com
authors.forename: Xin-Gang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Hong-Mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li-Sheng
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult