Surgical strategies for upper cervical fracture combined with mild to moderate craniocerebral injury / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To summarize clinical experiences for the management of upper cervical fracture associated with mild to moderate craniocerebral injury in order to improve the outcome of patients with craniocervical injury.Methods Twenty-two cases (13 males and 9 females) of non-nerve damage treated surgically from June 2008 to June 2012 were enrolled.Mean age was 41 years (range,23-68 years).Mechanisms of injury were traffic accidents in 12 cases,high falls in 7 cases and violence or others in 3 cases.Dens fractures were noted in 7 cases,Jefferson fractures in 5 cases and axial vertebral arch fractures in 4 cases,and combined atlas and axis fractures in 6 cases.Admission Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) was 12-14 points in 10 cases and 9-11 points in 12 cases.All cases suffered some degree of brain damage including brain contusion and laceration,and epidural,subdural or intracerebral hematoma.Three cases of cervical fractures were misdiagnosed in the early stage.Twelve cases required emergent craniotomy due to the primary craniocerebral injury and had elective upper cervical spine surgery until the medical condition was stabilized.Another 10 cases underwent conservation treatment of craniocerebral injury and had cervical spine surgery within 1 week due to the severe dislocation of the upper cervical spine.Operation time,blood loss,hospital stay,hospitalization cost and perioperative complications were analyzed.Outcome was evaluated with Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at discharge.Fracture union,bone fusion and cervical stability were assayed with X-rays and CT films.Results All were followed up for a mean period of 18 months (range,12-36 months).Among the 12 cases of primary craniocerebral injury,operation time was (115 ± 22) min,blood loss was (280 ± 72) ml,hospitalization period was (23 ±7)d and overall cost was 88,000 yuan;one case sustained wound infection cured two weeks after debridement and dressing and two cases sustained pulmonary infection cured after antibiotic treatment;discharge GOS was grade Ⅳ in 2 cases and grade Ⅴ in 10 cases.Among the 10 cases of primary cervical injury,operation time was (125 ± 38) min,blood loss was (330 ± 90) ml,hospitalization period was (17 ± 6)d and overall cost was 61,000 yuan;no perioperative complications occurred;discharge GOS was grade Ⅳ in 1 case and grade Ⅴ in 9 cases.Pain radiating to occipital region,limited neck mobility and other clinical symptoms were alleviated at discharge.X-rays verified good healing of the bone and no malposition of the screws.Conclusion For cervical fracture associated with craniocerebral injury,cervical examination and protection are important.Once medical condition becomes stable,early surgery can be performed for upper cervical fracture.