Clinical Analysis of Injured Cervical Spine Patients

Baek, Seung Ho; Shin, Won Han; Kim, Bum Tae; Park, Yeong Tack; Choi, Soon Kwan; Byun, Bark Jang

Abstract

A retrospective study of 135 injured cervical spine patients who admitted to Soonchunhyang University Hospital between Jan 1, 1989 and May 31, 1994 was conducted. The major results were as follows: 1) The incidence was highest in fourth decade and average age was 39 years old. The ratio of male to female was 3.5:1. 2) Traffic accident(67%) was the most common cause of cervical spine injury, and passenger car accident(55%) was the most frequent cause among them. 3) In 111 patients, 141 cases of radiographic abnormalities were found and vertebral body fracture(57%) was the most common lesion among them. SCIWORA(spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality) patients were seven. High cervical spine(C1-2) injury was 36 cases (26%) and lower cervical spine(C3-7) injury was 105 cases(74%). The most common involved level of injured vertebrae was C2(23%) followed by C5(22%), C6(20%). The anterior dislocation of body was more common than the posterior one, and C5-6 dislocation was the most common among them. The compressive flexion(40%) and distractive flexion(29%) injuries were more common among types of the lower cervical injuries. 4) The associated injuries were head injury, long bone fracture, chest injury, visceral injury and mutiple contusion & laceration, and head injury was the most common among them. 5) According to Franekel's grade, the rates of neurologic improvement were 23%, 47% and 14% in total cases, operated and non-operated patients respectively. There was statistical significance in the difference between the improvement of Frankel's grade of operated and those of non-operated patients(p<0.02). 6) In 101 patients(75%) conservative treatment was performed. Of 34 patients(25%) were operated, 23 patients were performed anterior approach and 11 were done posterior approach. 7) The common complications were respiratory disorder, bed sore, and urinary tract infection, in order of frequency and the rate of complication was 33%. 8) Mortality rate during hospitalization was 5%, and the common causes were pneumonia and septicemia.