Observation of the anterior surgery treatment effect on high cervical spine trauma

Abstract

Objective To explore the anterior surgery treatment effect on high cervical spine trauma. Methods Collected 7 patients who were in our hospital, 5 males and 2 females, aged from 23 to 62 years, with high cervical injury, from 2006 to 2010; among them, 3 cases had odontoid fractures, 4 csses had odontoid fractures with atlantoaxial dislocation. The group were reset by releasing anterior cervical approach, and cannulated screw fixation of odontoid fractures. Results All patients were followed for 6 months to 4 years; the group adopted high anterior approach to expose the complete fixation placement had no case of hypoglossal nerve, carotid artery, carotid sheath, superior laryngeal nerve injury, and posterior wall injury of pharynx; after the operation, it had little influence on cervical rotation, and didn' t have vertebral artery and spinal cord injury; what's more, neurological symptoms were obviously relieved after surgery. Conclusion The anterior cannulated screw fixation of odontoid process fracture and dislocation of atlantoaxial joint can improve the stability of high cervical spine, has exact fixation, does not affect the activities of C1 and C2, has fewer complications, and whose clinical results were satisfactory. Currently,there are many surgical treatments of high cervical injury; each has its own advantages and disadvantages;choosing a different surgical treatment should base on the injury characteristics of patients and whether the patients have vertebrae dislocation; except that, also should strictly control its indication, and give the patients stable fixation and tell them to do some exercise not affecting the joint before the relieving of the symptoms. Key words: High cervical spine injury ; Anterior approach ; Odontoid process fracture