1/321. Transoral fusion with internal fixation in a displaced hangman's fracture.STUDY DESIGN: A case is reported in which late displacement of a "hangman's fracture" was managed by transoral C2-C3 fusion by using bicortical iliac crest graft and a titanium cervical locking plate. OBJECTIVES: To review the management of unstable fractures of the axis and to study other reports of transoral instrumentation of the cervical spine. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Undisplaced fractures of the axis are considered to be stable injuries. Although late displacement is unusual, it can lead to fracture nonunion with persisting instability and spinal cord dysfunction. In this situation, an anterior fusion of the second and third cervical vertebrae is preferred to a posterior fusion from the atlas to the third cervical vertebra, which would abolish lateral rotation between C1 and C2. methods: The literature on hangman's fractures was reviewed. Clinical and radiographic details of a case of C2 instability were recorded, and the particular problems posed by late displacement were considered. RESULTS: There are no other reports of transoral instrumentation of the cervical spine. A sound fusion of C2-C3 was obtained without infection or other complications. Good neck movement returned by 6 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Undisplaced fractures of the axis are not always stable. The transoral route allows good access for stabilization of displaced hangman's fractures. In special circumstances, a locking plate may prove useful in securing the bone graft. The cervical spine locking plate can be inserted transorally with no complications and by using standard instrumentation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/321. Lumbar intraspinal synovial cysts of different etiologies: diagnosis by CT and MR imaging.Intraspinal synovial cysts arises from a facet joint and may cause radicular symptoms due to nerve root compression. In the present study, three surgically and histologically proved cases of synovial cyst of the lumbar spine with different etiology are described. The purpose of this report is to illustrate the imaging features of various etiologies of intraspinal synovial cysts allowing a correct preoperative diagnosis. review of the literature enables us to say that to our knowledge, there is no reported article collecting the imaging findings of intraspinal synovial cysts with different etiologies. Only single cases with rheumatoid arthritic or traumatic origin have been reported to date. We believe that computed tomography and particularly magnetic resonance imaging are the methods of choice which provide the most valuable diagnostic information.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/321. Fatty infiltration of osseous structures: a long-term complication of oleothorax--case report.Thoracic imaging of a patient treated for pulmonary tuberculosis with oleothorax therapy before the antibiotic era demonstrated a rare complication. Gross invasion by lipid with subsequent pathologic fracture of the adjacent thoracic vertebra may give rise to symptomatic spinal cord compression. magnetic resonance imaging is a useful modality for help in diagnosing treatment complications of oleothorax.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/321. Adjacent fracture-dislocations of the lumbosacral spine: case report.OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Traumatic fracture-dislocations of the lumbosacral junction are rare, with all previously reported cases involving fracture-dislocations at a single level. No cases of multiple fracture-dislocations of contiguous spinal segments in the lumbosacral spine have been reported. A case of traumatic adjacent fracture-dislocations of the fifth lumbar segment is presented. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: An 18-year-old male patient sustained open lumbar spinal trauma after a motor vehicle accident. A neurological examination revealed an L4 level. Radiographic evaluation of the spine revealed a three-column injury at L5 with spondyloptosis of the L5 vertebral body. Aorto-ilio-femoral angiography revealed no evidence of vascular injury. INTERVENTION: The patient was treated with a combined anterior and posterior approach in a two-stage operation. Six months postoperatively, he was neurologically unchanged; however, he was able to walk with the aid of a cane. Plain films revealed normal alignment of the lumbosacral spine. CONCLUSION: The management of traumatic lumbosacral fracture-dislocations requires careful consideration of retroperitoneal structures and possible exploration of the iliac vessels in addition to spinal reconstruction.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/321. Neurologic compromise after an isolated laminar fracture of the cervical spine.STUDY DESIGN: Report of a rare fracture of the cervical spine. OBJECTIVES: To illustrate the importance of the cervical spinolaminar line in the diagnosis of this unusual injury and to comment on appropriate investigations, management, and outcome. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Laminar fractures of the cervical spine are uncommon and are often missed. They usually occur after a hyperextension injury. It is unusual for these injuries to cause neurologic compromise. The injury reported here differs in that it was a result of direct trauma to the posterior aspect of the neck, and there was a significant neurologic deficit. methods: The clinical findings, roentgenographic appearance, treatment, complications, and follow-up assessment are presented and discussed. RESULTS: Initial neurologic examination revealed a right hemiparesis. Radiographs showed disruption of the spinolaminar line at C5 and a computed tomography scan revealed a fracture of the lamina of C5 with spinal canal encroachment. Management included high-dose corticosteroid administration and a posterior spinal decompression. The patient's initial postoperative course was complicated by acute pulmonary edema, which responded well to intravenous furosemide and ventilation. Follow-up assessment showed significant neurologic improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The satisfactory outcome in the case of this rare injury was the result of a prompt, accurate diagnosis and appropriate management.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.4926511356431keywords = spinal, spinal canal, canal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/321. Laminar and arch fractures with dural tear and nerve root entrapment in patients operated upon for thoracic and lumbar spine injuries.OBJECTIVE: To determine the neurological outcome in patients with laminar fractures associated with dural tears and nerve root entrapment, operated upon for thoracic and lumbar spine injuries. PATIENT population: Out of 103 patients operated upon consecutively for thoracic and lumbar spine injuries during the period 1990 to 1994 inclusive, 24 (23.3%) patients had laminar fractures out of whom 3 (2.9%) had an associated dural tear and an other 17 (16.5% or 70.8% of the total patients with laminar fractures) had an associated dural tear and nerve root entrapment. RESULTS: Twelve (70.5%) patients had injury at the thoraculumbar junction, 13 (76.5%) had Magerl's type A3 or above, 10 (58.8%) had a kyphotic angle deformity greater than 5 degrees. Seven (41.1%) had their spinal canal's sagittal diameter reduced by at least 50% and two had dislocations. Nine (52.9%) had initial neurological deficits. Four (50%) out of 8 patients with no initial neurological deficits (Frankel E) worsened to Frankel D. However, one patient among the 3 with initial Frankel A improved to Frankel C while both patients with initial Frankel C usefully improved to final Frankel grades D and E respectively. Two of the four patients with initial Frankel D improved to Frankel E, the other 2 remaining unchanged. All in all five patients neurological status improved, 4 worsened and 8 remained unchanged after neurosurgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Vertical laminar fractures with dural tears and nerve root entrapment represent a special group of thoracic and lumbar spine injuries that carry a poor prognosis. However, special operative precautions lead to significant improvement in some of them although a majority remain unchanged or even worsened.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.4926511356431keywords = spinal, spinal canal, canal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/321. Spinous process fractures in a jockey: a case report.Spinous process fractures typically represent avulsion injuries involving the lower cervical spine. This case report describes the clinical and radiographic findings in a patient with spinous process fractures at the T-2, T-3, and T-4 vertebral levels. The fractures, which were obscured on conventional radiographs by overlying osseous and soft-tissue structures, were optimally shown on axial and computer-reconstructed sagittal computed tomographic (CT) images. Although isolated spinous process fractures do not compromise spinal stability, chronic sequelae associated with fracture nonunion may occur if a fracture is not recognized and treated. Because conventional radiographic assessment of the thoracic posterior elements is often limited, cases of clinically suspected spinous process fracture often require CT evaluation to confirm the diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/321. Management of an unstable lumbar fracture with a laminar split.This is a case report describing the injury sustained by a 36-year-old man injured in a motorcycle crash who sustained a fracture dislocation of L2 upon L3, associated with a split in the lamina of L3. His neurologic lesion was T12 asia B: with a motor score of 52 but with preservation of sensory function (sensory score 96) in most parts of his lower extremities. He also suffered a lower extremity fracture. Imaging of the spine is presented showing a multiplanar fracture associated with translation and with a defect in the lamina that may be seen in certain AO type B or type C fractures, that may entrap the lumbar spinal nerve roots. Discussants of this case comment on the classification and clinical significance of this fracture pattern. and present their operative approaches, both for management of this particular fracture pattern and for any associated dural tear. The issues of steroid use and the place of rehabilitation are also discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/321. Conservative management of C5-C6 fracture-luxation in the elderly. Case report.The case of a 86-year-old female victim of cervical trauma with C5-C6 fracture-luxation and bilateral locked facets is hereinafter described. The case was reputed representative of the complexity in deciding between conservative and surgical treatment in spine surgery. Conservative management would have been dictated by the additional risks linked to the age of the patient, whereas the surgical treatment would have been favored by the easy access to the anterior cervical spine for reduction and fixation. On the way to plan the definitive treatment, the patient died by pulmonary embolism. The controversial aspects and the indication to anticoagulant therapy in spinal surgery, frequently faced in the treatment of spine trauma in patients of this age group, are discussed in this case report.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/321. Sledging related spinal injuries and fracture patterns: a report on five cases.The cases are reported of five patients who presented to The Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham after a sledging accident. All five patients presented consecutively during the first weekend in 1997 having sustained the accident in the same public park. The mechanism and subsequent fracture type is described for each. These injuries are preventable, and increasing public awareness of the risk of sledging in public places may reduce the incidence.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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