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Abstract
A retrospective analysis of sixty patients with cervical spinal cord injury operated
during Jan 2001 to Dec 2003 was carried out. Fifty four (90%) were male and six were
female patients. Amongst them 45 (75%) were in the age group 21 to 40 years. Thirty
six (60%) sustained injury by vehicular accident and 24 due to fall, wrestling, boxing,
obstacle crossing, terrorist activities, cattle and camel hits. All patients presented
with evidence of post-traumatic cervical spinal cord injury and evaluated with Frankel's
neurological grade at admission. Six patients presented with grade ‘A’, 02 grade ‘B’,
36 grade ‘C’, 16 grade ‘D’ neurological deficit as per Frankel's classification. Plain
radiography, Computerised tomography (CT) Scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
of cervical spine revealed disc prolapse in 30, anterior thecal compression due to
burst/compression fracture in 24 and dislocation in 06 patients. Cord contusion and
haematoma in 08 and cord transection in 04 patients were detected in MRI. Anterior
Cervical Microdiscectomy (ACD) and fusion in 10; discectomy, fusion and titanium plating
in 20; corpectomy and bone grafting in 05; corpectomy and cage placement in 03; corpectomy,
bone grafting and titanium plating in 16, post fusion was carried out in 06 cases.
Postoperative radiography showed good alignment, stability of spine and implants in
position. Outcome was evaluated again with Frankel's scale. There were 26 patients
with grade ‘E’, 25 grade ‘D’, 01 grade ‘C’, 06 patients did not show any recovery
and 02 patients died. Recovery was rewarding in patients with initial incomplete spinal
cord injury.
Keywords
cervical spine injury - functional recovery - stabilization
