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01-02-2006 | Original Paper

Surgical treatment for injuries of the middle and lower cervical spine

Authors: Eiren Toh, Takeshi Nomura, Masahiko Watanabe, Joji Mochida

Published in: International Orthopaedics | Issue 1/2006

Abstract

We reviewed the surgical treatment of 31 patients with burst fractures or teardrop dislocation fractures in the middle and lower cervical spine. Patients were treated with anterior instrumentation, posterior instrumentation, or a combination of both. Patients were evaluated radiographically and with the Frankel neurological outcomes grading scale. Anterior decompression and fusion restored the spinal canal diameter by approximately 60% whereas the posterior or combined approaches restored the canal diameter by only 6%. In addition, nine of 24 patients treated anteriorly gained improved neurological function whereas none of the patients treated posteriorly had neurological improvement. Based on the anatomical and neurological findings, the study demonstrates that anterior fusion is preferable to posterior fusion for the treatment of burst fractures and tear-drop dislocation fractures of the middle and lower cervical spine.

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Title: Surgical treatment for injuries of the middle and lower cervical spine
Authors: Eiren Toh
Takeshi Nomura
Masahiko Watanabe
Joji Mochida
Publication date: 01-02-2006
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Orthopaedics / Issue 1/2006
Print ISSN: 0341-2695
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5195
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-005-0016-4

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Surgical treatment for injuries of the middle and lower cervical spine

Abstract

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Abstract

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