Anterior Decompression Treatment in the Cervical Spine Injuries with Neurologic Deficits

Jeong, Soon Taek; Park, Young June

Abstract

To evaluate the neurologic and functional improvement of anterior decompression and fusion in patients with cervical spin injury, the clinical records and x-rays of 17 patients who were treated at Gyeong-Sang National University Hospital between January 1989 and December 1993 were analyzed. The results were as follows 1. There were complete injuries of the cord in six cases, incomplete injuries in nine and nerve root injuries in two. All the patients were treated using anterior decompression and autogenous iliac bone graft with cervical plate fixation within 7 days after trauma. 2. The average time lapse from the operation to radiological union was 9.2 weeks(range;7-14 weeks). 3. The prognosis for neurologic recovery mainly depends on the severity of the initial neurologic status. The recoveries of neurologic deficit were complete in four cases, partial in ten and none in three. The motor index improved from 45.6 to 64.6 and the modified Barthel index was 71.2 points at the last follow-up. 4. The clinical results were excellent in nine cases, good in three, fair in two and poor in three. In conclusion, anterior decompression and fusion with bone graft and cervical plate provided early mobilization and rehabilitation, and improved neurological function in a considerable portion of the patient who had neurologic deficits after cervical spine injuries.