Trauma to anomalous cervical spine

A case of aplastic arch of the atlas (Keller's type) with severe injury to the cervical spine is presented. The impact of the accident was intense enough to produce bony compression of the C7 vertebra, but no injury occurred to the neural elements in the upper cervical spine. The presence of the ligamentous apparatus maintaining the stable movements of the first vertebral connections is of interest. No delay in recovery occurred, and no late complications developed in the seven months following the accident.     

Transoral crossbow injury to the cervical spine: an unusual case of penetrating cervical spine injury

The complexity of missile injuries to the cervical spine has increased as the technology that causes these injuries has become more sophisticated. Management requires adaptation of conventional neurosurgical approaches to the cervical spine in an effort to limit neurological deficit and establish stability. We report an unusual case of a 19-year-old man who suffered transoral penetration of the cervical spine by an arrow released by a crossbow at close range.     

Cystic angiomatosis of bone with massive osteolysis of the cervical spine

The case of a 21/2-year-old boy with diffuse cystic angiomatosis of bone is presented. No evidence of visceral involvement was recorded. The clinical, radiographic and histologic findings during the course of the disease process are discussed. At the age of 15 years the patient died of neurologic alterations developed due to massive osteolysis and collapse of the cervical spine, and severe dyspnoea, secondary to persistent bilateral pleural effusions. Received: 29 August 1997 Revised: 15 January 1998 Accepted: 16 January 1998     

Achondroplasia: unusual bone abnormalities of the cervical spine

We report the case of an achondroplastic child in whom severe morphological and postural abnormalities of the cervical vertebrae were coupled with only mild and stable neurological deficits. The pathogenesis of the abnormalities is discussed.     

Occult ligamentous injury of the cervical spine associated with cervical spine fracture

We report the case of a 20-year-old patient with a C5 cervical spine fracture and an undetected ligamentous lesion between C1 and C2. Cervical spine lesion protocols and the rates of lesions that are not diagnosed with standard evaluation protocols are reviewed, with particular emphasis on comatose patients. Dynamic studies during the surgical procedure for fixation of the fracture are recommended to increase the detection of ligamentous lesions.     

Ventral approach to the cervical spine

Since they were introduced in 1950, ventral approaches for surgical operations on the cervical spine have become widely used. The most frequently used is the anteromedian approach, passing along the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoideus muscle and then between the upper gastrointestinal tract and the vascular bundle to give access to the spine. This approach allows access to practically every segment of the cervical spine. The significance of the transoral approach is stressed in the literature, and we ourselves are also convinced of its importance. In this paper, however, the combined anteroposterior procedures and the cervicothoracic methods used for the transitional zone are also described. Complications affecting the upper gastrointestinal tract, the vessels or the nerves are always possible, and to reduce their likelihood to a minimum it is essential to make a detailed study of the complicated anatomy of the neck region.     

Gunshot wounds to the cervical spine

A retrospective review was performed on 28 patients with low-velocity gunshot wounds to the cervical spine. These composed 31% of all spinal gunshot wounds seen during the study period between 1979 and 1988. Surgical decompression did not seem to improve neurologic recovery in either the incomplete or complete patients. Neurologic recovery also appeared to be unaffected by the presence of retained intracanal bullet fragments. The authors found no advantage to routine neck exploration of this penetrating injury. Complications were seen in 93% of the patients. Most complications were thromboembolic, pulmonary, and urinary tract infections. No cases of instability occurred as a direct result of the gunshot wound. No deaths occurred in this series. Two cases of posttraumatic syrinxes were diagnosed. The authors' current treatment recommendations for these patients include selective wound management and observation of retained intracanal bullet fragments in patients with complete lesions. Surgical decompression after this injury is not recommended.     

High anterior cervical approach to the upper cervical spine

BACKGROUND: Surgical exposure of the upper cervical spine is challenging, and optima approaches are subjects of debate. The high anterior cervical approach to the upper cervical spine is a favorable method that provides direct and wide exposure for fusion and anterior decompression of the upper cervical spine. The authors present their experiences with 15 patients in whom fusion and instrumentation on the upper cervical spine were performed via the prevascular extraoral retropharyngeal approach. METHODS: A series of 15 patients who were surgically treated using the high anterior cervical retropharyngeal approach was reviewed. These cases involved a C2 hangman's fracture with significant angulation and translation (11 patients), C2 EDH (1 patient), C2 chordoma (1 patient), C3-4 metastasis (1 patient), and C2-3-4 OPLL (1 patient). RESULTS: Twelve patients underwent C2-3 fusion followed by instrumentation. C2-5 fusion with instrumentation was performed in 2 patients. One patient experienced occipitocervical fusion after anterior removal of a C2 chordoma. A solid fusion was achieved in 13 patients. However, 1 patient needed additional posterior fusion because of fusion failure, and the other died due to ischemic heart disease. There was 1 patient who developed permanent dysphagia related to the hypoglossal nerve and 2 who had transient dysphagia. No complications occurred related to the marginal branch of the facial nerve or submandibular gland. CONCLUSIONS: The high anterior cervical approach is a useful surgical technique for an upper cervical lesion without severe morbidity, which allows direct anterior access to C2 and C3 while allowing extension to the lower cervical spine.     

前路钛板固定结合异体骨管充填自体骨移植治疗下颈椎骨折脱位

下颈椎骨折脱位合并脊髓损伤临床常见,充分前路减压、重建颈椎解剖序列、椎体融合并使伤椎获得相对坚强固定是目前较为理想的治疗原则和方法.     

Anesthesia of patients with injury to the cervical spine]

This paper reviews the principal aspects of the immediate management of patients suffering from spinal injury. An understanding of the pathophysiology of primary and secondary spinal cord injury enables appropriate initial care to be provided, thereby avoiding exacerbation and/or progressive deterioration of the lesion. It includes protective measures, restoration of vital functions to maintain adequate tissue perfusion and oxygenation, as well as pharmacological prevention of secondary injury. Protective measures include proper immobilisation of the spine with a semi-rigid collar and tape on a long backboard, or on vacuum mattress, taking great care to avoid deleterious in-line compression forces on the spinal column. The combination of cervical spine instability, a full stomach, unopposed vagal reflexes, hypoxia and hypercarbia makes airway management of these patients difficult. Tracheal intubation under fibroscopic control, with insertion of the tube only after topical anaesthesia of the airways under titrated intravenous sedation, offers safety and comfort to the patient. However, in cases of severe deterioration of vital functions, intubation must be performed without any delay at the site of the accident or in the emergency room. Three options are available: blind naso-tracheal intubation with spontaneous breathing, modified rapid sequence induction with orotracheal intubation under double protection, and immediate surgical airway if these techniques fail. Patients with cervical spine injury may demonstrate severe hypotension requiring sympathomimetic agents and careful fluid loading to avoid pulmonary oedema. To prevent aggravation of the spinal cord injury by systemic factors, the goal of initial resuscitation is to restore an adequate perfusion pressure of at least 60 mmHg, a PaO2 > 100 mmHg, and to keep PaCO2 below 45 mmHg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)