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PubMed · 7846573

Cervical spine trauma.

S J Rizzolo·A R Vaccaro·J M Cotler
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Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: The authors reviewed the results of a large number of studies of patients with acute cervical spine dislocations and subluxations. OBJECTIVES: The authors make recommendations regarding the evaluation and treatment of acute cervical spine dislocations based on a thorough review of the available literature. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Realization that a significant percentage of patients with acute cervical dislocations also have disc herniations has led to some controversy regarding the timing of MRI evaluation and attempted closed reduction. This article review studies of spine dislocations at one institution. METHODS: The review of the literature included 131 consecutive patients with acute cervical spine dislocations treated by the senior author followed both retrospectively and prospectively. These results were compared with those of many other authors. RESULTS: Emergent attempted closed reduction remains the treatment of choice for alert cooperative patients with acute cervical spine dislocations. Open or closed reduction under general anesthesia with an uncooperative or unconscious patient should be preceded by an MRI scan. In this situation, the presence of a herniated disc mandates decompression before reduction.

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Cervical VertebraeHumansIntervertebral Disc DisplacementJoint DislocationsMagnetic Resonance ImagingOrthopedic Fixation DevicesPreoperative CareTomography, X-Ray ComputedTractionJournal ArticleReview

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BibTeXRIS

S J Rizzolo, A R Vaccaro, J M Cotler. 1994-10-15. Cervical spine trauma.. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199410150-00007

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PubMed2007

Surgical treatment of cervical kyphosis in Larsen syndrome: report of 3 cases and review of the literature.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case series. OBJECTIVE: To review the surgical results for midcervical kyphosis in 3 cases with Larsen syndrome, and to discuss the choice of surgical treatments. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Cervical kyphosis is the most hazardous and serious manifestation of Larsen syndrome due to the risk of life-threatening paralysis, and thus usually requires surgical treatment. However, little information has been reported concerning surgical treatments for this challenging condition. METHODS: Three patients with Larsen syndrome were surgically treated for midcervical kyphosis at our institution. RESULTS: An infant with mild cervical kyphosis was successfully treated with posterior arthrodesis using a halo immobilization, and anterior vertebral growth with a mature posterior fusion mass resulted in spontaneous correction of the kyphosis. In the remaining 2 infants with myelopathic symptoms due to severe and structural kyphosis, anterior decompression and fusion via a lateral approach followed by posterior fusion with segmental spinal instrumentation and halo immobilization resulted in improved neurologic symptoms and solid fusion. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior spinal fusion is only indicated for patients with mild and flexible cervical kyphosis, and anterior decompression and circumferential arthrodesis is required for patients with severe kyphotic deformity, who usually develop myelopathic symptoms. Anterior surgery for such a small patient with severe kyphosis involves much higher risk of spinal cord injury during decompression maneuvers and difficulty in stabilization of the reconstructed cervical spine. Therefore, all patients with Larsen syndrome should be screened with radiographs at the first visit to detect cervical kyphosis early so that posterior alone fusion is possible.

Cervical Vertebrae↗