Analysis of patient variables affecting neurologic outcome after traumatic cervical facet dislocation

Abstract

Background context Traumatic cervical facet dislocation accounts for a disproportionate rate of neurologic disability. The relative importance of patient and management variables, including the timing of spinal reduction, in ultimate neurologic outcome has not been well defined. Purpose To analyze data from a cohort of patients sustaining traumatic cervical facet dislocation to determine the relative importance of several patient and management variables in neurologic recovery after injury. Study design/setting A retrospective study was conducted at a major referral center for spinal-cord-injured patients. Patient sample Forty-five patients sustaining traumatic cervical facet dislocation. Outcome measures Using improvement in American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score as the primary outcome measure, patient data were used to construct a statistical model allowing the analysis of several clinically relevant variables. Methods The records of patients sustaining a traumatic cervical facet dislocation over a 5-year period were reviewed. Clinical data were collected for all patients with adequate follow-up. The data were used to construct a statistical model designed to analyze the contribution of the variables age, gender, time to reduction of the spine and initial motor score to neurologic improvement (the outcome measure). In addition, the effect of variable interaction was studied. Results Most patients demonstrated neurologic improvement over the course of follow-up after cervical facet dislocation. For this data set, the variables age and initial motor score were significantly associated with neurologic improvement. However, time to reduction of the spine did not demonstrate a significant independent relationship to neurologic outcome. No significant interaction was found between patient age or gender and the time to reduction with regard to predicting neurologic recovery. Conclusion The present study uses a statistical model to determine the relative importance of clinically relevant variables for a population of patients after traumatic cervical facet dislocation. This model confirms the clinical impression that younger patients with lesser degrees of neurologic injury tend to achieve the best neurologic recovery after a traumatic facet dislocation. Although a strong benefit from earlier spinal column reduction did not emerge from the present data set, additional study is needed to define those patients who would benefit from immediate reduction of the spinal column.