ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the clinical effect of anterior cervical decompression with double-way connection intervertebral fusion device (ROI-C) implantation for type Ⅱ or type Ⅱ a Hangman fracture.Methods A retrospective study was made on 14 patients with type Ⅱ or type Ⅱ a Hangman fracture treated with anterior cervical ROI-C implantation between February 2011 and March 2014.The patients (11 males and 3 females) were aged between 22 and 46 years (mean,26.4 years).Nine patients sustained traffic injury,4 fall injury and 1 crash injury.Nine patients were classified as type Ⅱ and 5 type Ⅱ a according to the Levine-Edwards classification.All were completed cervical anteroposterior and lateral X-ray,CT scan,three-dimensional CT reconstruction and MRI examination after adnission.American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade E was noted in all before operation.Clinical posttraumatic neck score,visual analogue scale (VAS) as well as angle deformity and displacement of the axis were recorded before operation and at the latest follow-up.Results All patients were operated successfully.Mean operation time was 61 min(range,45-116 min).There were no injuries of superior laryngeal nerve,hypoglossal nerve,throat wall and vessel during operation.Laryngeal edema,dysphagia,paralysis of tongue,hematoma and wound infection were not observed after operation.Mean period of follow-up was 24.2 months (range,4-32 months).All segments and fracture sites showed solid fusion after 3 months.No cages became subsided or displaced,no discs collapsed,and no malunion occurred at the latest follow-up.Data of preoperation and latest follow-up differed significantly with respect to clinical posttraumatic neck score[(53.1 ±7.2) points vs.(91.1 ±5.0)points],VAS[3.38(2.43,4.33)points vs.0.58(0,1.29) points],axis displacement[(4.0 ± 1.5) mm vs.(1.3 ± 1.2) mm],and angle deformityoftheaxis[(9.2±4.7)° vs.(2.1 ±1.9)°] (P＜O.05 or O.01).Conclusion Anterior cervical surgery with ROI-C implantation for type Ⅱ or type Ⅱa Hangman fracture provides good fusion rate and satisfactory clinical effect.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the preliminary clinical result of thoracolumbar fracture combined with posterior ligamentous complex injuries repaired by posterior transpedicular screw fixation.Methods A retrospective review was performed on 22 patients with thoracolumbar flexion-distraction fracture combined with posterior ligamentous complex injuries treated with transpedicular screw fixation from July 2008 to March 2013.There were 16 males and 6 females with mean age of 39 years (range,23-62 years).After medically stable,posterior pedicle screw fixation was performed under intravenousinhalational anesthesia.According to the degree of fracture displacement and types of ligament injury,posterolateral bone grafting or intervertebral fusion at the level of injury was conducted.Vertebral height restoration,Cobb' s angle and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score were reviewed preoperatively,at postoperative 3 days and at the last follow-up.Results All the patients were operated on smoothly.There were no complications during operation.All the patients were followed up for 5-51 months (mean,26.5 months).Fracture reductions were satisfied with the closure of vertebral posterior element.Mean anterior vertebral height and Cobb' s angle improved by 20.6％ and 10.60°respectively after operation (P ＜0.01).Eight patients with neurological dysfunction showed some recovery after operation with the mean sensory score improved by 20.7％ (P ＜ 0.05) and mean motor function score improved by 30.9％ (P ＜ 0.0l).All bone grafts were healed,without pain,loosening or breakage in the fixation system.Conclusions Posterior pedicular screw fixation attains good short-term outcome for thoracolumbar flexion-distraction fracture combined with posterior ligamentous complex injuries.The surgery provides satisfactory reduction and instant spinal three-column stability for the unstable spine fracture.Sufficient bone graft is the guarantee to permanent stability.