Contribution to the surgical treatment of patients with cervical spine cord injury using simple procedures

Trop Doct. 2003 Jan;33(1):13-4. doi: 10.1177/004947550303300108.

Abstract

Thirty-nine patients with acute cervical spine fractures and/or dislocations between C3 and C7 were submitted to an anterior approach using bone graft fixation without screw and plate systems and three required a preliminary posterior approach to reduce a dislocation. Graft dislodgement due to technical problems occurred at a rate of 7.7% postoperatively and 2.8% 1 month later. No redislodgement occurred. All fusions became solid after 3 months. Their progress was based on the Frankel scale, before surgery, at the moment of the discharge, and at 6 months follow-up. This experience shows how patients with an acute cervical injury can improve even when admitted late after trauma.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Bone Transplantation / methods
  • Bone Transplantation / statistics & numerical data
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Cervical Vertebrae / injuries*
  • Cervical Vertebrae / surgery
  • Child
  • Female
  • Fracture Fixation / methods
  • Fracture Fixation / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Injury Severity Score
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Spinal Fractures / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Fractures / epidemiology
  • Spinal Fractures / pathology
  • Spinal Fractures / surgery*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed