Efficacy of open-door laminoplasty for cervical hyperextension injury accompanied with or without spinal cord-canal mismatch / 中华创伤杂志

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of open-door laminoplasty in treatment of cervical spinal hyperextension injury accompanied with or without spinal cord-canal mismatch.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was performed to analyze the clinical data of 42 patients with cervical spine hyperextension in Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital，Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from January 2016 to June 2019. There were 31 males and 11 females at age range of 40-78 years［（59.7 ± 9.9）years］. All patients underwent open-door laminoplasty.Preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association score（JOA）was（10.2 ± 3.8）points，and American Spinal Injury Association（ASIA）spinal cord injury score was（260.4 ± 47.5）points. Those with spinal cord occupation rate（SCOR）equal to or more than 70% were classified as spinal cord-canal mismatched group（n=21），and those with SCOR less than 70% were classified as spinal cord-canal matched group（n=21）. ASIA total score，ASIA upper and lower limb motor scores，ASIA sensory score，JOA score，surgical improvement rates and complications were compared between the two groups before operation，at postoperative one week and at the latest follow-up.Results:All patients were followed up for 12-26 months［（19.1 ± 2.3）months］. Both groups had significantly improved ASIA total score at postoperative one week and at the latest follow-up，compared with that before operation（ P < 0.05）. The two groups showed no significant difference in ASIA total score at postoperative one week（ P > 0.05）. ASIA total score in unmatched group was（307.6 ± 9.9）points at the latest follow-up，significantly lower than that in matched group［（315.4 ± 8.7）points］（ P < 0.01）. ASIA upper limb motor score in mismatched group was（29.1 ± 7.0）points and（36.6 ± 6.5）points at postoperative one week and at the latest follow-up，significantly lower than that in matched group［（42.0 ± 5.7）points，（47.4 ± 2.5）points］（ P < 0.01），while there was no significant difference in ASIA lower limb motor score and sensory score between the two groups（ P > 0.05）. Both groups showed significantly improved JOA score at postoperative one week and at the latest follow-up，compared with that before operation（ P < 0.05）. JOA score in mismatched group was（11.5 ± 3.0）points and（12.5 ± 3.0）points at postoperative one week and at the latest follow-up，significantly lower than that in matched group［（13.5 ± 2.4）points，（15.0 ± 2.0）points］（ P < 0.01）. Postoperative improvement rate in matched group was 95%（20/21），and was 85%（18/21）in mismatched group（ P < 0.05）. Cervical axial pain occurred in 3 patients in each group and C 5 nerve root palsy in 2 patients in matched group，all of which were relieved after conservative treatment. No implant loosening or breakage occurred during follow-up. Conclusions:Open-door laminoplasty can improve part of the nerve function of patients with cervical hyperextension injury. However，the overall improvement degree of nerve function especially recovery of upper limb motor function in patients with spinal cord-canal mismatch is inferior to those in spinal cord-canal matched patients.

Complete Cervical Spine Fracture in Ankylosing Spondylitis Caused by Low Speed Motor Vehicle Collision

Cervical spine fracture can occur in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) by even a minor trauma, which can lead to serious results. We report on the case of a 52-year-old male patient suffering from AS, who was admitted to our hospital with cardiac arrest due to fracture of the upper cervical spine without other organ injuries. A computed tomographic scan showed a cervical 2-3 level fracture and posterior dislocation of the upper cervical column. The patient was admitted to ICU, but died in hospital on day 3.

Postmortem MSCT Diagnosis of Whiplash Injuries in a Traffic Accident：A Case Report and Review of the Literature / 法医学杂志

A 45-year-old male car driver died in a traffic accident of four cars rear-end collision on the highway. He was found to have died after a respiratory and cardiac arrest at the scene. No sign of skin injuries was observed from the external inspection. The autopsy was not permitted by the family members because of the local culture. Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) was applied to the current case, showing dislocation of C3~4 cervical vertebrae with Ⅱ degree, C4 vertebral plate fractures, and spinal stenosis. Post-mortem MSCT confirmed the diagnosis as whiplash injuries. MSCT was verified to be effective in showing the severity of whiplash injuries, thus providing certain objective evidence for medicolegal expertise.

A Study of Impact on Head and Neck Using Human Volunteer Low-Speed Rear Impact Tests / 대한법의학회지

Whiplash injury in low-speed traffic accidents are not objectively verified by medical equipment, thereby creating scope for misuse, which has resulted in huge social losses worldwide. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of low-speed vehicular rear-impact collisions on middle-aged men, and to analyze the head and neck injury criteria for the symptomatic human volunteers. Data was examined from the results of 50 dynamic sled tests, originally performed by Hong et al. (2012). In the previous tests, 50 men aged 30~50 years were exposed to an impulse equivalent to a bumper-to-bumper rear collision under medical supervision, and no resulting whiplash injury was identified. In this study, for 6 subjects who experienced dull aches over their bodies, head injury criteria (HIC15) and neck injury criteria (N(km)) were calculated according to the accelerations, forces, and moments at the occipital condyle measured by motion capture system. Although there were no changes in magnetic resonance imaging findings in all subjects at the pre-/post-test orthopedic examination, 6 subjects revealed mild aches around the shoulder, back, or lumbar area, and their symptoms disappeared within 2 days. The head and neck injury criteria, HIC15 (3.086 +/- 2.942) and N(km) (0.077 +/- 0.064) were obtained, and the maximum HIC15 and N(km) were found to be significantly lower than the critical injury assessment reference values (HIC15: 700, N(km): 0.3). Moreover, even though 2 subjects were exposed to the same level of change of velocity (7.9 km/h), each N(km) was significantly different (0.179, 0.057). One can therefore conclude that N(km) can vary according to voluntary movements in the human subject.

Treatment of cervical whiplash injuries: a report of 88 cases / 中华创伤杂志

Objective To compare the efficacy of operation and non-operatlon in treatment of cervical whiplash injuries. Methods A retrospective sturly was carried out in 88 cases of cervical whiplash injuries, of whom 24 cases were treated with non-operation and 64 with operation. There were 44 cases treated via anterior approach and 20 via posterior approach. NNeural function was evaluated by using Frankh classifications and ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) grades. Results All cases were followed up for 6-24 months, which showed that neural function was improved significantly in both operation and non-operation groups. However, the neural function was better improved in the operation group compared with the non-operation, with statistical difference. The anterior approach group had significantly better outcome in neural function than the posterior approach group (P<0.05). Conclusion Operation is a better method and anterior approach should be the choice of treatment for treatment of cervical whiplash injuries.