Transcorporeal cervical foraminotomy: description of technique and results / Foraminotomia cervical transcorporal: descrição da técnica e dos resultados / Foraminotomía cervical transcorporal: descripción de la técnica y de los resultados

OBJECTIVE: Retrospective analyses of 216 patients undergoing foraminal decompression with transcorporeal approach and review of the surgical technique. METHOD: 216 patients with minimum follow-up of 2 years and an average of 41.8 months were included in the study. The clinical records of these patients were reviewed for complications, NDI (neck disability index) and VAS (visual analogue scale). Pre and post-operative radiographs were used to evaluate the disc height. RESULTS: At the end of follow-up patients had significant clinical improvement with reduction of NDI of 88.3% and 86.5% and 68.3% of the VAS for neck and upper limb, respectively (p<0.05). A reduction of 8.8% of the disc height was observed without other complications associated (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Radicular decompression through a transcorporeal approach is an alternative that provides good clinical results without the need for a fusion and with few complications. .

OBJETIVO: Análise retrospectiva de 216 pacientes submetidos a descompressão foraminal cervical por abordagem transcorporal e revisão da técnica cirúrgica. MÉTODO: Duzentos e dezesseis pacientes com seguimento mínimo de 2 anos e média de 41,8 meses foram incluídos no estudo. Os prontuários desses pacientes foram revisados quanto a complicações, NDI (neck disability index) e EVA (escala visual analógica). Radiografias pré e pós-operatórias foram usadas para avaliar a altura discal. RESULTADOS: Ao final do seguimento, os pacientes obtiveram uma melhora clínica significativa com redução do NDI de 88,3% e de 86,5% e 68,3% da EVA para o membro superior e região cervical, respectivamente (p < 0,05). Uma redução de 8,8% da altura discal foi observada sem outras complicações associadas (p < 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: A descompressão radicular por abordagem transcorporal é uma alternativa que proporciona bons resultados clínicos, sem a necessidade de uma fusão e com poucas complicações. .

OBJETIVO: Análisis retrospectivo de 216 pacientes sometidos a descompresión foraminal cervical por abordaje transcorporal y revisión de la técnica quirúrgica. MÉTODO: Doscientos dieciséis pacientes con seguimiento mínimo de 2 años y promedio de 41,8 meses fueron incluidos en el estudio. Los prontuarios de esos pacientes fueron revisados cuanto a complicaciones, NDI (neck disability index) y EVA (escala visual analógica). Radiografias pre y postoperatorias fueron usadas para evaluar la altura discal. RESULTADOS: Al final del seguimiento, los pacientes obtuvieron una mejora clínica significativa con reducción del NDI de 88,3% y de 86,5% y 68,3% de la EVA para el miembro superior y región cervical, respectivamente (p < 0,05). Una reducción de 8,8% de la altura discal fue observada sin otras complicaciones asociadas (p < 0,05). CONCLUSIÓN: La descompresión radicular por abordaje transcorporal es una alternativa que proporciona buenos resultados clínicos, sin la necesidad de una fusión y con pocas complicaciones. .

Fractures of the cervical spine

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to review the literature on cervical spine fractures. METHODS: The literature on the diagnosis, classification, and treatment of lower and upper cervical fractures and dislocations was reviewed. RESULTS: Fractures of the cervical spine may be present in polytraumatized patients and should be suspected in patients complaining of neck pain. These fractures are more common in men approximately 30 years of age and are most often caused by automobile accidents. The cervical spine is divided into the upper cervical spine (occiput-C2) and the lower cervical spine (C3-C7), according to anatomical differences. Fractures in the upper cervical spine include fractures of the occipital condyle and the atlas, atlanto-axial dislocations, fractures of the odontoid process, and hangman's fractures in the C2 segment. These fractures are characterized based on specific classifications. In the lower cervical spine, fractures follow the same pattern as in other segments of the spine; currently, the most widely used classification is the SLIC (Subaxial Injury Classification), which predicts the prognosis of an injury based on morphology, the integrity of the disc-ligamentous complex, and the patient's neurological status. It is important to correctly classify the fracture to ensure appropriate treatment. Nerve or spinal cord injuries, pseudarthrosis or malunion, and postoperative infection are the main complications of cervical spine fractures. CONCLUSIONS: Fractures of the cervical spine are potentially serious and devastating if not properly treated. Achieving the correct diagnosis and classification of a lesion is the first step toward identifying the most appropriate treatment, which can be either surgical or conservative. .