Surgical strategies for cervical spine fracture combined with ankylosing spondylitis and cervicothoracic junction kyphosis / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the operative strategies for cervical spine fracture combined with ankylosing spondylitis and the deformity of cervicothoracic kyphosis.Methods Retrospectively analyzed 21 cases of cervical spine fracture combined with ankylosing spondylitis and the deformity of cervicothoracic kyphosis,who underwent surgeries from January,2007 to August,2014.Twenty males and 1 female were included.Mean age was (48.6±7.5) years (range,36-65 years).The preoperative American Spine Injury Association (ASIA) classification distribution:2 cases of Grade A,6 cases of Grade B,7 cases of Grade C,5 cases of Grade D,and 1 case of of Grade E.The investigative surgical methods including posterior cervical open reduction,internal fixation and bone graft fusion;posterior cervical open reduction/decompression,internal fixation and bone graft fusion;or combined posterior and anterior cervical decompression,bone graft fusion and instrumentation.The operative time and blood loss were recorded,the clinical therapeutic effect was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) score,ASIA grade improvement,cervical curvature (the angle between a line drawn parallel to the inferior endplate of C2 and a line drawn parallel to the inferior endplate of C7 in the lateral plane of an X-ray image) and radiological assessment (including bone graft fusion condition and internal fixation position).Results One case died from severe pulmonary infection and respiratory failure at the 45th day after operation.All the other 20 patients obtained complete follow-up with a mean time of (39.4±8.76) months (range,25-59 months).7 cases received posterior cervical open reduction,internal fixation and bone graft fusion,average operative time was (92.1±5.4) minutes and average blood loss was (96.1+23.7) ml.9 cases received the posterior cervical open reduction and decompression,internal fixation and bone graft fusion,mean operation time was (121.4± 14.0) minutes and blood loss was (250.0±38.9) ml.3 cases experienced combined posterior and anterior cervical decompression,bone graft fusion and fixation,average operative time was (222.4± 14.9) minutes and average blood loss was (354.3+46.7) ml.Mean of VAS scores at the 3th month postoperatively was 2.76±0.46,significantly lower than the preoperatively VAS scores (8.95±0.36).Mean of VAS scores at the 24th month postoperatively was 1.77±0.39,significantly lower than those at the 3th month postoperatively.The neurological function of spinal cord achieved significant improvement after operations and continued recovered gradually in the subsequent follow up.ASIA Classification distribution at the 24th month postoperatively was:0 case of Grade A,0 case of Grade B,3 cases of Grade C,8 cases of Grade D,9 case of Grade E.Mean of the cervical curvature after operation was-7.1°± 1.9°,significantly higher than preoperatively(-13.4°±3.3°) and did not have any loss of Cobb's angles at 24th month after operation.All the surviving cases achieved solid bone graft fusion.Mean bone graft fusion time was 5.8 months (range,4-9 months).There was no internal fixation loose,fracture and dislocation occurred during follow up.Conclusion All procedures can significantly relieve the painful symptoms,effectively restore the normal cervical alignment and stability,and remarkably improve the neural function of the patients suffering cervical spine fracture combined with ankylosing spondylitis and the deformity of cervicothoracic junction kyphosis.