An Analysis of Operative Treatment of Lower Cervical Spine Injury

ABSTRACT

The authors retrospectively reviewed the operative cases of 28 patients with lower cervical spine injury from August 1991 to July 1996. Data from charts were reviewed the following clinical parameters, e.g.) etiologies, neurologic findings, degrees of recovery, managements including operative treatments, and complications. The lower cervical injury was most common in men in the third decade. The most common cause, mechanism and site of lower cervical injury were motor vehicle accidents, flexion type injury and C5-6 respectively. The head trauma was frequently combined. In most cases operation for stabilization was done around two weeks after the trauma, but for decompression purpose it was done before two weeks. Three patients who had complete neural injuries died due to pneumonia, adult respiratory distress syndrome, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. A neurological recovery rate was high in incomplete neural injury group. In conclusion, early reduction and decompression of spinal canal in incomplete neural injury group is favorable for good recovery. Careful attention should be paid on the patient with complete injury for the development of serious complications such as upper gastrointestinal bleeding, ARDS and pneumonia.