Anterior Cervical Reduction Decompression Fusion With Plating for Management of Traumatic Subaxial Cervical Spine Dislocations

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective case series.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of anterior-only approach, for treatment of type C F4 (AO classification) traumatic subaxial cervical spine injuries.

METHODS

Patients with type C F4 traumatic cervical injuries presenting to a tertiary center between June 2017 and July 2018 were included. Outcome measures included self-reported measures (Neck Disability Index, visual analogue scale, and return to work), radiological measures (local segmental angle, Ishihara curvature index, cervical lordosis angle, and step-off distance), fusion state, and neurological state according to American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS).

RESULTS

Twenty-one cases were operated by anterior approach with mean age 39.1 ± 13.8 years. The most common injury was at C4-5 (47.6%). Six out of 7 cases (85.7%) with preoperative neurological impairment showed late follow-up improvement by one or more grade in AIS. Complete anatomical reduction and imaging measures did not correlate significantly to the self-reported outcome measures. Median value of local segmental angle improved from -16° (-11° to -20) preoperatively to 0° (-7°) to 8°) at late follow-up. The cervical lordotic angle and Ishihara curvature index improved from 35° (29° to 43°) and 6.92 (-2.7 to 28.9) preoperatively, to 44° (33° to 51°) and 18.7 (-3.5 to 26.9) at the late follow-up, respectively. Step-off distance decreased postoperatively, however; complete reduction could not be achieved.

CONCLUSION

Surgical treatment of lower cervical traumatic instability by anterior decompression and fusion is efficient regarding fusion state and patients' satisfaction. The anterior approach can be recommended in cases with neurological impairment and in patients with medical comorbidities or when a short operative time-compared with combined approach-is preferred.

C2-3 Fracture Dislocation and Bilateral Vertebral Artery Occlusion Without Neurological Injury: A Case Report

A 27-year-old female involved a motor vehicle collision as the restrained driver presented to the ER with agonal breathing and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 3. Radiographic imaging demonstrated C2-3 craniocaudal dislocation, bilateral C2 comminuted pedicle fractures extending through the transverse foramina, complete bilateral vertebral artery occlusion, and negative signs of stroke with MRI. After halo immobilization, surgical stabilization, and medical treatment the patient was discharged and at her six-month follow up she was without neurological deficit.

Pediatric cervical spine instability

Cervical spine instability in children is rare but not exceptional and may be due to many factors. Although it mostly occurs at the upper cervical spine, all vertebrae from the occiput to T1 may be involved. It may be acute or chronic, occurring secondary to trauma or due to congenital anomaly, skeletal or metabolic dystrophy or rheumatoid arthritis. It can be isolated or associated with other musculoskeletal or visceral anomalies. A thorough knowledge of embryology, anatomy, physiology and physiopathology of the cervical spine in children is essential to avoid pitfalls, recognize normal variants and identify children at risk of developing cervical spine instability and undertake the appropriate treatment.