Objective:
The clinical outcome following multilevel stabilization in patients who suffered cervical spinal injury and developed severe neurological deficits and then gradually partially recovered is evaluated. The basis of the surgical concept was that cervical spinal degeneration is a result of single or multilevel spinal instability and that spinal trauma exaggerates the instability.
Materials and Methods:
During the period 2015–2020, 14 patients who suffered severe cervical spinal injury and could be included in the classification of spinal cord injury without computed tomography evidence of trauma were surgically treated. There were 11 males and 3 females. The ages ranged from 45 to 67 years, average being 53 years. Cervical canal stenoses related to degenerative spinal changes were observed in all patients. All patients suffered severe neurological deficits and within few days or weeks had shown significant but incomplete neurological recovery. The identification of the levels of unstable spinal segments was done on the basis of radiological and clinical parameters and direct observation of spinal instability in adjoining spinal segments. Transarticular fixation was done by Camille's transarticular fixation technique. Using ASIA score, modified JOA score, and Goel Clinical Grading Scale, the clinical course of the patients was monitored.
Results:
All patients showed recovery in the neurological status. Recovery started in the immediate postoperative period and the improvement progressed during the period of follow-up.
Conclusions:
Surgery for spinal stabilization can be indicated even in cases that improve in the neurological function.
BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE:
The article identifies the feasibility of transarticular screw fixation after mobilizing the vertebral artery in cases where it is in a “high-riding” location.
CLINICAL PRESENTATION:
A 42-yr-old male patient had a 4-yr history of progressive quadriparesis. Investigations revealed severe basilar invagination. There was assimilation of atlas and C2-3 fusion. The vertebral artery was “high-riding” into the pedicle-facet of C2 vertebra on both sides. Vertebral artery loop was exposed and mobilized inferiorly on both sides after careful drilling of pedicular bone on the posterior aspect of the dome of the artery. C2 facetal bone on the anterior face of the vertebral artery dome was now available for screw insertion. The C1-2 facets and the articulation were directly in line, making transarticular screw fixation relatively straightforward. The wide bone space available permitted insertion of 2 screws in a transarticular fashion on both sides. The patient had satisfactory clinical improvement. Imaging after 22 mo showed bone fusion across the facets.
CONCLUSION:
Mobilization of the high-riding vertebral artery loop can help salvage the surgical procedure of lateral mass stabilization.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.