Therapeutic options to treate subaxial cervical fracture-dislocation with locked-facet / 中国矫形外科杂志

[Objective]To evaluate a simple,safty and effective therapeutic option to treate subaxial cervical fracture-dislocation with locked-facet.[Method]With the patients being awake and supervized under X-ray fluoroscopy,the authors used the early and continued closed skull traction-reduction to treate 16 cases of traumatic subaxial cervical fracture-dislocation with locked-facet.Before the beginning of the treatment,all the patients were taken for X-ray plain films and MRI/CT examinations as well as American Spinal Injury Association(ASIA) neurological function grade.The dynamic ASIA neurological function scale and X-ray fluoroscopy examnations were asked during the skull traction–reduction procedures.The average interval from the traumatic events to begin to skull traction–reduction was 31 hours(6-52 hours).The authors would continue the skull traction to maintain the anatomy position as soon as they succeeded in reducing the dislocation with locked-facet,forthmore they would take the anterior operation or combinations with anterior and posterior operations during the best condition.[Result]The MRI scans showed that there were 8 disc hernations and 5 disc disruptions at the dislocation levels before traction–reduction procedures.The ASIA scale were 7 grade C,5 grade D and 4 grade E,respectively.All the 16 cases succeeded in reduction as well as no neurological deterioration occurred.The postreduction MRI scans showed that 2 disc herations had converted to nearly normal disc position and another 4 disc hernations remained unchanged.Accordingly,2 disc disruption remained unchanged and another case had converted to disc hernation.The average traction weight was 19 kg(10~32 kg) and average traction time was 53 minutes(30~135 minutes).[Conclusion]Under the intensive dynamic ASIA neurological function grade and X-Ray fluoroscopy examnations,with the patients being awake and co-operation,the early and continued closed skull traction-reduction and then performing elective anterior or anterior-posterior surgery depending on the patient's overall and local status to treate subaxial cervical fracture-dislocation with locked-facet is safe and effective.

Selection of Surgical Approaches for Cervical Fracture-Dislocation

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we retrospectively evaluate the surgical outcome of the cervical fracture-dislocation in order to define the criteria for the operative approach selection based on fracture characteristics. METHODS: Thirty one consecutive patients (29 males and 2 females) who underwent operation for the cervical fracture-dislocation between 1997 and 2001 at a single institute were included in this study. Plain X-ray, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging studies were performed in all patients. Injuries were characterized using Denis's three-column plain X-ray model, Daffer's computed tomography, and Oner's magnetic resonance imaging classifications. The Frankel classification was used for neurological deficits. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 11.93 months (range 1-61 months). RESULTS: The anterior approach was performed in 14 and the posterior approach in 10 of the 31 patients, respectively. Both anterior and posterior fixation was performed electively in 7 of the 31 patients. Daffer and Oner's classification was found to be able to predict surgical failures by either the anterior or the posterior approach. Three-column injury was misinterpreted as two-column injury only by plain radiography. No differences in neurological outcome, pain relief, or bone fusion rate were observed between the anterior approach and the posterior approach. However, the posterior approach was associated more frequently with postoperative kyphosis and instability. CONCLUSION: Surgical approach is usually determined on the basis of whether the compression is ventral or dorsal. Anterior fixation only may be an alternative to both anterior and posterior fixation in three-column injury, but posterior fixation alone is not.

Early Closed Reduction in Patients with Cervical Fracture-Dislocation Injury without Prior Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVE: We report an evaluation of incidence of the traumatic disc herniation and an effect of early closed reduction without prior magnetic resonance(MR) imaging in cervical spine fracture-dislocation injury. METHODS: The medical records and radiologic images of twenty consecutive traumatic cervical spine injury from the C2-3 to C7-T1 were reviewed. The disc injury on MR images was divided into two category: a herniation defined as deforming the thecal sac or nerve root and a disruption defined as a disc with high T2-weighted signal characteristics. Closed reduction was attempted in all patients and neurologic status was measured on admission and following reduction. MR image was obtainted within three days after early closed reduction. RESULTS: Early closed reduction by Gardner-Wells skeletal traction and serial plain radiography was achieved in 90% of patients and there was no associated neurological deterioration after reduction. The incidence of disc injury at the level of the fracture subluxation on the postreduction MR images was 60%(herniation-30%, disruption-30%), but the presence of disc herniation or disruption did not affect the degree of neurological recovery, as measured by American Spinal Injury Association(ASIA) motor score and the Frankel scale following early closed reduction. The average ASIA motor score prior reduction was 48.4 compared with 62.5 following reduction. CONCLUSION: Although disc herniation and disruption can occur following traumatic cervical fracture-dislocation, the actual incidence of neurological deterioration following early closed reduction is rare. Therefore, immediate closed reduction using traction in patients with any neurological deficit can be safe and effective before MR imaging.

Removal of Huge Cervical Intraspinal Fragment Demonstrated Only by CT Scan

Cervical traction has been widely used as an essential method for the treatment of cervical fracture-dislocation. This report, however, was a case in which hazardous effect of traction due to unreduced huge fragment was demonstrated only by cervical CT scan. Surprisingly plain X-rays could not demonstrated this condition. It was apparent that skeletal traction resulted in further injury of the spinal cord. Surgical removal of unreduced huge fragment was accomplished completely and interbody fusion was followed. Postoperative CT findings showed complete removal of fragment and decompression of the spinal cord as well as gratifying interbody fusion. CT scanning is imperative to evaluate the cervical fracture-dislocation and blind skeletal traction may be hazardous.