[Primary clinical application of artificial vertebral laminae of the biomimetic nanohydroxyapatite/polyamide 66 composites].

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical effects of artificial vertebral laminae of the biomimetic nanohydroxyapatite/polyamide 66 (n-HA/PA66) composites in prevention of the scar formation in lumbar spinal canal and the reconstruction of posterior vertebral laminae structure.

METHODS

From January 2003 to December 2005, 23 patients were treated with artificial vertebral laminae of the biomimetic n-HA/PA66 composites. There were 16 males and 7 females, aging from 48 to 76 years with an average of 59 years. Of 23 cases, 11 cases had spinal stenosis, 7 cases had spinal stenosis with spondylolysis, 3 cases had lumbar disk herniation and 2 cases had spinal tumor. Twenty cases of vertebral laminae were reconstructed by 1 artificial vertebral laminae and 3 cases by 2. The affected locations were C5,6, L1 and L in 1 case respectively; L4,5 in 5 cases; L4-S1 in 9 cases; and L5, S1 in 6 cases.

RESULTS

First intension was achieved in 22 cases and infection occured in 1 case. In the period of follow-up for all cases lasted from 5 to 24 months, the postoperative CT showed that the n-HA/PA66 artificial vertebral laminae enlarged the spinal canal. MRI showed little scar formation and adhesion in the lumbar spinal canal. CT showed ill-defined boundary between artificial vertebral laminae and recipient vertebral laminae. No neural symptoms occured in all cases except one because of stretch injury of nerve root in operation. Also no rejection reaction was observed.

CONCLUSION

The artificial vertebral laminae of the biomimetic n-HA/PA66 composites can effectively prevent the compression to the nerve root and dural sac from the scar and restore the vertebral laminae.