Clinical Analysis of Cervical Spine Injured Patients in Military Services

ABSTRACT

The authors had analyzed the cases of 40 patients in military services with traumatic cervical spine injuries retrospectively. Among the 40 patients, 20 patients underwent surgical treatment. The results were summarized as follows 1) The causes of injury were traffic accidents(45.5%), falling down(32.5%), and sports injuries(17.5%). 2) The common mechanisms of injury were flexion, vertical compression and extension. 3) Fifty percent of these patients had surgical intervention by anterior approach(10), posterior approach(8), combined anterior/posterior approach(1), and anterior approach after posterior approach(1). 4) As for the final outcome, there was no statistical difference in Frankel's neurological grade between patients treated with and without surgical stabilization procedures(p>0.005) 5) Except for the cases with progressive neurological deficits by bony fragments, disc protrusion, hematoma or other irreducible lesions, delayed surgical treatment(after 10 days)was recommended.