Restoration of fracture and dislocation of lower cervical spine：bone graft fusion and cervical stability / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:The treatment of lower cervical spine fracture and dislocation is aimed to improve neurological functions of patients, the selection of surgical approach is conductive to the reduction and spinal decompression, also maintain strong fixation and bone graft fusion. OBJECTIVE:To explore the restoration approach of lower cervical spine fracture and dislocation, and investigate the effect on bone graft fusion and cervical stability. METHODS: A total of 126 patients with lower cervical spine fracture and dislocation were treated surgicaly from January 2009 to September 2013 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University. Based on Frankel system, 7 cases were grade A, 48 were grade B, 54 were grade C, and 17 were grade D before surgery. Based on SLIC system, 15 cases were 4 points, 23 were 5 points, 25 were 6 points, 22 were 7 points, 18 were 8 points, 16 were 9 points, and 6 were 10 points. Surgical approaches were determined based on the SLIC system, with a combination of sub-axial injury classification system, the type of fracture, spinal cord compression, and cervical spine injury degree. Anterior surgery (single gap or cervical corpectomy and fusion, bone graft internal fixation) was performed on 91 cases; Posterior treatment (posterior decompression, reduction and internal fixation) was performed on 6 cases; Combined posterior and anterior approach was performed in 29 cases. The neurological function improvement was evaluated at folow-ups; fracture healing, bone graft fusion and cervical stability were determined with imaging findings. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al the 126 patients underwent surgery safely without severe complications such as tracheal or esophageal injury. Four patients appeared spinal cord injury and cerebrospinal fluid leakage, which were healed after corresponsive intervention. Al patients were immobilized in a hard colar for 3 months postoperatively and were folowed up for 6-18 moths. At postoperative 6 months, 5 cases of grade A were not recovered, one case of grade B was not recovered, 1-2 degree of neurological function recovery was achieved in the remaining cases by Frankel system. X-ray finding showed the good recovery of cervical vertebrae sequence after operation. Fusion was achieved in al cases within 12 months (mean 8.5 months) except non-fusion in one case and delayed fusion in two cases. There was no pseudarthrosis or nonunion occurred. The interbody height, physiological curvature and cervical stability maintained wel. The SLIC system, with a combination of sub-axial injury classification system, the type of fracture, spinal cord compression, and cervical spine injury degree should be considered before surgery. Reasonable selection of surgical approach can reconstruct spinal stability and achieve anatomical reduction and complete decompression, which is conducive to the recovery of neurological function.