[Cervical Spine Injuries]. / Verletzungen der oberen Halswirbelsäule.

Around a third of all cervical spine injuries occur in the upper cervical spine in the area between the occiput and the second cervical vertebra. The latter being the most common location of the injury with around 70%. But also atlas fractures, occipital condyle fractures, traumatic spondylolisthesis of C2, atypical fractures in the corpus area as well as atlantooccipital and atlantoaxial ligamentous lesions should be mentioned in connection with injuries in this area. In many cases, conservative therapy regimen is possible. In unstable or displaced injuries, however, surgical intervention is required, with various surgical procedures being used. The frequency, diagnostics, classification, and standard therapy of the individual entities are presented in detail in this continuing medical education article.

[Vertebral artery dissection during traumatic injury of the cervical spine, two case reports]. / Nyaki gerinc traumás sérülése során jelentkezo arteria vertebralis dissectio, két esetbemutatás.

If severe cervical spinal cord injury or severe cervical vertebral fracture, subluxation or luxation is confirmed, 20-40% of the cases have vertebral artery dissection or occlusion. These can be asymptomatic, but can cause additional neurological damage in addition to cervical myelon and cervical nerve root symptoms. Vertebral artery dissection can be caused by direct injuries, stab wounds or gunshot wounds. Indirect vertebral artery dissection can occur at the same time as subluxation, luxation, or complex fractures of the cervical vertebra. CTA is the examination procedure of choice. In many cases, digital subtaction angiography examination and, if necessary, neurointerventional treatment must precede open neurosurgery. In our report, in the first patient, complete luxation of the C.VI vertebra caused unilateral vertebral artery 2-segment dissection-occlusion, while in our second patient, a stab injury caused direct vertebral artery compression and dissection. The occlusion of the vertebral artery did not cause neurological symptoms in any of the cases. In both of our cases, parent vessel occlusion was performed at the level of the vertebral artery injury before the neurosurgical operation.

Safety of anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) for the treatment of subaxial cervical spine injuries, a single center comparative matched analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) and Anterior Cervical Corpectomy and Fusion (ACCF) are both common surgical procedures in the management of pathologies of the subaxial cervical spine. While recent reviews have demonstrated ACCF to provide better decompression results compared to ACDF, the procedure has been associated with increased surgical risks. Nonetheless, the use of ACCF in a traumatic context has been poorly described. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of ACCF as compared to the more commonly performed ACDF. METHODS: All patients undergoing ACCF or ACDF for subaxial cervical spine injuries spanning over 2 disc-spaces and 3 vertebral-levels, between 2006 and 2018, at the study center, were eligible for inclusion. Patients were matched based on age and preoperative ASIA score. RESULTS: After matching, 60 patients were included in the matched analysis, where 30 underwent ACDF and ACCF, respectively. Vertebral body injury was significantly more common in the ACCF group (p = 0.002), while traumatic disc rupture was more frequent in the ACDF group (p = 0.032). There were no statistically significant differences in the rates of surgical complications, including implant failure, wound infection, dysphagia, CSF leakage between the groups (p ≥ 0.05). The rates of revision surgeries (p > 0.999), mortality (p = 0.222), and long-term ASIA scores (p = 0.081) were also similar. CONCLUSION: Results of both unmatched and matched analyses indicate that ACCF has comparable outcomes and no additional risks compared to ACDF. It is thus a safe approach and should be considered for patients with extensive anterior column injury.

Long-term outcomes after surgery for subaxial cervical spine injuries in octogenarians, a matched population-based cohort study.

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate surgical outcomes in octogenarians with subaxial cervical spine injuries and determine the predictors of complications and mortality. METHODS: Eligible for inclusion were all patients surgically treated between 2006 and 2018, with either anterior or posterior fixation for subaxial spine injuries. A cohort of octogenarians was identified and matched 1:1 to a corresponding cohort of younger adults. Primary outcomes were perioperative complications and mortality. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients were included in each of the octogenarian and younger groups (median age: 84.0 vs. 38.5). While the risks for surgical complications, including dural tears and wound infections, were similar between groups, the risks of postoperative medical complications, including respiratory or urinary tract infections, were significantly higher among the elderly (p < 0.05). Additionally, there were no differences in operative time (p = 0.625) or estimated blood loss (p = 0.403) between groups. The 30 and 90-day mortality rates were significantly higher among the elderly (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001). These differences were due to comorbidities in the octogenarian cohort as they were revoked when propensity score matching was performed to account for the differences in American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) grade. Multivariable logistic regression revealed age and ASA score to be independent predictors of complications and the 90-day mortality, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Octogenarians with comorbidities were more susceptible to postoperative complications, explaining the increased short-term mortality in this group. However, octogenarians without comorbidities had similar outcomes compared to the younger patients, indicating that overall health, including comorbidities, rather than chronological age should be considered in surgical decision-making.

Neurosurgical Injuries Associated with Recreational Horseback Riding: A 6-year Retrospective Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Horseback riding can cause severe brain and spinal injuries. This study aimed to identify the spectrum of neurosurgical injuries related to recreational horseback riding. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed utilizing the University of Puerto Rico neurosurgery database to identify patients who were consulted to the neurosurgery service between 2018 and 2023 after a horse fall during recreational activities. The outcome upon discharge using the modified Rankin scale (mRS) was documented. Descriptive statistics were used to report frequency and median values. RESULTS: The neurosurgery service evaluated and managed 112 patients with a horseback riding fall-related injury during 6 years. Ninety-eight (87.5%) patients were male. The patients' median age was 31.5 (IQR 22-40). There were 89 head injuries (79.5%), 19 spinal injuries (17%), and 4 combined head/spine injuries (3.5%). Forty percent of the patients were admitted to inpatient care with a median length of stay of 7 days (IQR 3-17). Twenty-four patients (21%) required surgery. Upon discharge, 86.6% of the patients had an mRS grade of 0-2, 3.6% had a grade of 3, 1.8% had a grade of 4, and 1.8% had a grade of 5. Seven patients (6%) died (mRS grade 6). CONCLUSIONS: Most neurologic injuries involve isolated trauma to the head. Fifteen percent of the riders' falls were caused after the horse was impacted by a motor vehicle. Forty percent of the patients require admission and 21% undergo surgery. Ten percent of the patients had a poor mRS grade of 4- to 6 when discharged.

Multi-institutional review of characteristics and management of gunshot wounds to the spine.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Gunshot wounds (GSWs) to the vertebral column represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, constituting approximately 20% of all spinal injuries. The management of these injuries is an understudied and controversial topic, given its heterogeneity and lack of follow-up data. PURPOSE: To characterize the management and follow-up of GSWs to the spine. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A multi-institutional retrospective review of the experience of two urban Level 1 trauma centers. PATIENT SAMPLE: Patients with GSWs to the spine between 2010-2021. OUTCOME MEASURES: Measures included work status, follow-up healthcare utilization, and pain management were collected. METHODS: Charts were reviewed for demographics, injury characteristics, surgery and medical management, and follow-up. Statistical analysis included T-tests and ANOVA for comparisons of continuous variables and chi-square testing for categorical variables. All statistics were performed on SPSS v24 (IBM, Armonk, NY). RESULTS: A total of 271 patients were included for analysis. The average age was 28 years old, 82.7% of patients were black, 90% were male, and 76.4% had Medicare/Medicaid. The thoracic spine (35%) was most commonly injured followed by lumbar (33.9%) and cervical (25.6%). Cervical GSW was associated with higher mortality (p<.001); 8.7% of patients developed subsequent osteomyelitis/discitis, 71.3% received prophylactic antibiotics, and 56.1% of cervical GSW had a confirmed vertebral or carotid artery injury. ASIA scores at presentation were most commonly A (26.9%), D (20.7%), or E (19.6%), followed by C (7.4%) and B (6.6%). 18.8% of patients were unable to be assessed at presentation. ASIA score declined in only 2 patients, while 15.5% improved over their hospital stay. Those who improved were more likely to have ASIA B injury (p<.001). Overall, 9.2% of patients underwent spinal surgery. Of these, 33% presented as ASIA A, 21% as ASIA B, 29% as ASIA C, and 13% as ASIA D. Surgery was not associated with an improvement in ASIA score. CONCLUSIONS: Given the ubiquitous and heterogeneous experience with GSWs to the spine, rigorous attempts should be made to define this population and its clinical and surgical outcomes. Here, we present an analysis of 11 years of patients presenting to two large trauma centers to elucidate patterns in presentation, management, and follow-up. We highlight that GSWs to the cervical spine are most often seen in young black male patients. They were associated with high mortality and high rates of injury to vertebral arteries and that surgical intervention did not alter rates of discitis/osteomyelitis or propensity for neurologic recovery; moreover, there was no incidence of delayed spinal instability in the study population.

Is Routine Use of External Spinal Orthoses Necessary After Operative Stabilization of Cervical Spine Injuries?

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective Review. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of postoperative cervical orthoses to prevent fixation failure and loss of reduction after operative treatment of cervical spine fractures. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: While cervical orthoses are most times tolerated in trauma patients, it is not clear that postoperative bracing is effective at reducing the rate of fixation failure or nonunion in this patient population. Cervical collars may delay rehabilitation, increase the risk of dysphagia and aspiration, and can contribute to skin breakdown. METHODS: All patients who underwent operative stabilization for cervical spine injuries at a single institution between January 2015 and August 2019 were identified through the institutional Research Electronic Data Capture (REDcap) database. Patient data, including cervical spine injury, surgery, post-operative orthosis use, and secondary surgeries for loss of reduction or infection, were recorded for all patients meeting the inclusion criteria. The primary outcome was the loss of reduction or failure of fixation, requiring revision surgery. Statistical analysis was performed using Jamovi (Version 1.1) statistical software. RESULTS: In all, 201 patients meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria were identified within the study period. Overall, 133 (66.2%) patients were treated with a cervical orthosis postoperatively and 68 (33.8%) patients were allowed to mobilize as tolerated without a cervical orthosis. Fixation failure and loss of reduction occurred in 4 (1.99%) patients. Of these 4, three patients were treated with a cervical orthosis postoperatively. There was no significant difference in the risk of instrumentation failure between patients in the postoperative orthosis and no orthosis groups ( P =0.706). CONCLUSION: The use of cervical orthoses after operative stabilization of cervical spine injuries remains controversial. There was no statistically significant difference in hardware failure or loss of fixation between patients treated in cervical orthoses postoperatively and those who were not.

Comparison of iCT-based navigation and fluoroscopic-guidance for atlantoaxial screw placement in 78 patients with traumatic cervical spine injuries.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Studies have shown biomechanical superiority of cervical pedicle screw placement over other techniques. However, accurate placement is challenging due to the inherent risk of neurovascular complications. Navigation technology based on intraoperative 3D imaging allows highly accurate screw placement, yet studies specifically investigating screw placement in patients with traumatic atlantoaxial injuries are scarce. The aim of this study was to compare atlantoaxial screw placement as treatment of traumatic instabilities using iCT-based navigation or fluoroscopic-guidance with intraoperative 3D control scans. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of patients with traumatic atlantoaxial injuries treated operatively with dorsal stabilization of C1 and C2. Patients were either assigned to the intraoperative navigation or fluoroscopic-guidance group. Screw accuracy, procedure time, and revisions were compared. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients were included in this study with 51 patients in the navigation group and 27 patients in the fluoroscopic-guidance group. In total, 312 screws were placed in C1 and C2. Screw accuracy was high in both groups; however, pedicle perforations > 1 mm occurred significantly more often in the fluoroscopic-guidance group (P = 0.02). Procedure time was on average 23 min shorter in the navigation group (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the available data showing that navigated atlantoaxial screw placement proves to be feasible as well as highly accurate compared to the fluoroscopic-guidance technique without prolonging the time needed for surgery. When comparing these data with other studies, the application of different classification systems for assessment of screw accuracy should be considered.

Analysis of Neurosurgical Injuries and The Lessons Learned After the Catastrophic Double Earthquakes in Turkey.

AIM: To identify the patterns and types of neuorosurgical injuries sustained by victims of the double earthquakes affected ten cities with a population of 15 million in southern and central Türkiye. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this descriptive observational study, we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of a university hospital located in one of the ten cities affected by the earthquake. RESULTS: A total of 1,612 patients with earthquake-related injuries were admitted during the study period, of which 139 (8.6%) had neurosurgical injuries. The mean age of the patients was 42.4 ± 21.1 years (median, 42 years), and 53.2% of them were female. Of the 139 patients with neurosurgical injuries, 41 (29.5%) had craniocerebral injuries, 95 (68.3%) had spinal injuries, and three (2.2%) had both craniocerebral and spinal injuries. A total of 31 surgeries were performed (22.3%) (five [3.6%] for craniocerebral injuries and 26 [18.7 %] for spinal injuries). Ninety-eight patients (70.5%) had concomitant systemic traumas. The overall mortality rate was 5.75%, with crush syndrome (n=4, 50%), being the leading cause of death, followed by neurosurgical pathologies (n=3, 37.5%) and pneumonia with septic shock (n=1, 12.5%). CONCLUSION: Neurosurgical injury is an important cause of post-earthquake mortality and morbidity. To ensure efficient medical rescue and judicious resource allocation, it is essential to recognize the characteristics of earthquake-related neurosurgical injuries. This study provides valuable information regarding the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of neurosurgical injuries in earthquake-affected patients. Our findings highlight the need for prompt diagnosis and management of such injuries, particularly in those with concomitant systemic trauma.

Penetrating head and spine injuries due to artisanal Sahelian metal arrows: experience from a tertiary hospital in Niger.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Metal arrows are medieval weapons typically used for hunting and war. The incidence of metal arrow wounds has declined considerably since the 16th century. Different metal arrowheads exist, and the traditional Sahelian arrowhead is barbed. Extraction of this type of metal arrow is challenging because of the risk of extensive damage to surrounding structures. To the best of our knowledge, there are no guidelines in the literature for intracranial and spinal penetrating Sahelian arrow injuries and their surgical extraction. Most authors referred to the principles of common trauma injury. In this study, we aimed to share our experience with the surgical extraction of intracranial and spinal artisanal Sahelian arrows leading to penetrating injuries, and to propose some guidelines for such lesions. METHODS: We present a consecutive case series of 8 patients admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery of the National Hospital of Zinder for metal arrow injuries of the head and spine between November 2015 and June 2023. RESULTS: Eight patients with penetrating head and spine barbed-arrow injuries were admitted to our department. Mean age was 19.37 years (range, 15 to 25 years). Patients were all male, from a rural area. Trauma circumstances involved fighting between farmers and herders. All patients received antibiotics, analgesics and tetanus prophylaxis at admission before undergoing surgical extraction under general anesthesia. Successful extraction was achieved in all cases. CONCLUSION: Extraction of intracranial or spinal artisanal Sahelian arrows is a challenge, particularly in limited facility structures. The proposed guidelines may lead to good extraction outcomes.

Development of a Novel Risk Stratification Score to Predict 30-Day Mortality in Cervical Trauma Patients: CLAAD Score.

STUDY DESIGN: Case control. OBJECTIVE: Traumatic cervical spine injuries are associated with a substantial risk of mortality. The aim of this study is to develop a novel mortality prediction model for patients with cervical trauma who require operative treatment. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Patients with cervical spine trauma have a high risk of postoperative complications and mortality. There are few reliable systems that can accurately predict mortality after surgery for cervical spine trauma, and those that do exist are typically not specific to cervical trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was used to identify patients undergoing surgery for cervical spine trauma. Univariate analyses were performed to identify variables associated with mortality. Variables that were found to be significant in the univariate models were compiled into a multivariable model. The final model was compared with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), a modified Charlson comorbidity index (mCCI), and the 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) in respect to predicting 30-day mortality after cervical trauma. The score was then externally validated using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. RESULTS: Fifty-five (6.7%) of 822 patients did not survive 30 days after surgery. The final multivariable logistic regression model consisted of the following variables: circumferential fusion "C." long "L" fusion (more than 4 levels), anemia "A," age over 60 "A," and dialysis "D." The risk of mortality increased with increasing CLAAD score, with mortality rates of 0.9%, 3.1%, 7.4%, 22.7%, and 14.3% for scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The CLAAD model had an AUC of 0.73 for predicting mortality after cervical trauma. CONCLUSIONS: The CLAAD score is a simple and effective system that can help identify patients at risk of increased mortality within 30 days of cervical trauma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

The sensitivity of limited-sequence magnetic resonance imaging in identifying pediatric cervical spine injury: A Western Pediatric Surgery Research Consortium multicenter retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical clearance of a child's cervical spine after trauma is often challenging because of impaired mental status or an unreliable neurologic examination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the criterion standard for excluding ligamentous injury in children but is constrained by long image acquisition times and frequent need for anesthesia. Limited-sequence magnetic resonance imaging (LSMRI) is used in evaluating the evolution of traumatic brain injury and may also be useful for cervical spine clearance while potentially avoiding the need for anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to assess the sensitivity and negative predictive value of LSMRI as compared with criterion standard full-sequence MRI as a screening tool to rule out clinically significant ligamentous cervical spine injury. METHODS: We conducted a 10-center, 5-year retrospective cohort study (2017-2021) of all children (0-18 years) with a cervical spine MRI after blunt trauma. Magnetic resonance imaging images were rereviewed by a study pediatric radiologist at each site to determine if the presence of an injury could be identified on limited sequences alone. Unstable cervical spine injury was determined by study neurosurgeon review at each site. RESULTS: We identified 2,663 children younger than 18 years who underwent an MRI of the cervical spine with 1,008 injuries detected on full-sequence studies. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of LSMRI were both >99% for detecting any injury and 100% for detecting any unstable injury. Young children (younger than 5 years) were more likely to be electively intubated or sedated for cervical spine MRI. CONCLUSION: Limited-sequence magnetic resonance imaging is reliably detects clinically significant ligamentous injury in children after blunt trauma. To decrease anesthesia use and minimize MRI time, trauma centers should develop LSMRI screening protocols for children without a reliable neurologic examination. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Test/Criteria; Level III.

Validation of the AO Spine CROST (Clinician Reported Outcome Spine Trauma) in the clinical setting.

PURPOSE: To evaluate feasibility, internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, and prospective validity of AO Spine CROST (Clinician Reported Outcome Spine Trauma) in the clinical setting. METHODS: Patients were included from four trauma centers. Two surgeons with substantial amount of experience in spine trauma care were included from each center. Two separate questionnaires were administered at baseline, 6-months and 1-year: one to surgeons (mainly CROST) and another to patients (AO Spine PROST-Patient Reported Outcome Spine Trauma). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze patient characteristics and feasibility, Cronbach's α for internal consistency. Inter-rater reliability through exact agreement, Kappa statistics and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Prospective analysis, and relationships between CROST and PROST were explored through descriptive statistics and Spearman correlations. RESULTS: In total, 92 patients were included. CROST showed excellent feasibility results. Internal consistency (α = 0.58-0.70) and reliability (ICC = 0.52 and 0.55) were moderate. Mean total scores between surgeons only differed 0.2-0.9 with exact agreement 48.9-57.6%. Exact agreement per CROST item showed good results (73.9-98.9%). Kappa statistics revealed moderate agreement for most CROST items. In the prospective analysis a trend was only seen when no concerns at all were expressed by the surgeon (CROST = 0), and moderate to strong positive Spearman correlations were found between CROST at baseline and the scores at follow-up (rs = 0.41-0.64). Comparing the CROST with PROST showed no specific association, nor any Spearman correlations (rs = -0.33-0.07). CONCLUSIONS: The AO Spine CROST showed moderate validity in a true clinical setting including patients from the daily clinical practice.

Adverse events after surgery for injuries to the subaxial cervical spine: analysis of incidence and risk factors.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of severe surgical adverse events (sSAE) after surgery of patients with subaxial cervical spine injury (sCS-Fx) and to identify patient, treatment, and injury-related risk factors. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical and radiological data of sCS-Fx patients treated surgically between 2010 and 2020 at a single national trauma center. Baseline characteristics of demographic data, preexisting conditions, treatment, and injury morphology were extracted. Incidences of sSAEs within 60 days after surgery were analyzed. Univariate analysis and binary logistic regression for the occurrence of one or more sSAEs were performed to identify risk factors. P-values < .05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-two patients were included. At least one sSAE occurred in 49 patients (16.8%). Most frequent were sSAEs of the surgical site (wound healing disorder, infection, etc.) affecting 29 patients (9.9%). Independent potential risk factors in logistic regression were higher age (OR 1.02 [1.003-1.04], p = .022), the presence of one or more modifiers in the AO Spine Subaxial Injury Classification (OR 2.02 [1.03-3.96], p = .041), and potentially unstable or unstable facet injury (OR 2.49 [1.24-4.99], p = .010). Other suspected risk factors were not statistically significant, among these Injury Severity Score, the need for surgery for concomitant injuries, the primary injury type according to AO Spine, and preexisting medical conditions. CONCLUSION: sSAE rates after treatment of sCS-Fx are high. The identified risk factors are not perioperatively modifiable, but their knowledge should guide intra and postoperative care and surgical technique.

Our experience with the surgical management of lower cervical spine fractures: fifty case series.

PURPOSE: Trauma to the lower cervical spine is a serious lesion due to its neurological consequences which jeopardize the vital and functional prognosis. They constitute a public health problem due to their frequency and seriousness requiring rapid and adequate treatment. The aim of our study is to (1) describe the epidemiological, clinical, and radiological characteristics of lower cervical spine trauma patients; (2) support the therapeutic management of these patients and show our experience in surgery for lower cervical spine trauma; and (3) analyze the anatomical and functional results and discuss them with literature data. METHODS: This is a retrospective descriptive study of 50 patients with lower cervical spine trauma treated surgically over a period of five years from January 1, 2016, to December 2020. RESULTS: The average age of our patients was 34.5 years, with a sex ratio of 1.7. The etiologies are dominated by accidents on public roads (58%). They show neurological disorders such as spinal cord damage in 30% of cases and root damage in 20% of cases. The radiological assessment revealed eight tear drops, ten comminuted fractures, 12 severe sprains, 12 biarticular dislocations, six uniarticular dislocations, and two herniated discs. Treatment was surgical in all patients with an anterolateral approach and anterior arthrodesis. The evolution was favourable in 21 patients and stationary in 29 patients. CONCLUSION: Our study concluded that dislocations and fracture dislocations were the predominant type of injury in cases of AVP. Tetraplegia was mainly observed with uni- and biarticular dislocations. The variation in consolidation time was not correlated with trauma-to-surgery time. Better neurological recovery was observed with mild initial neurological damage than with initially severe damage. The appearance of an adjacent syndrome is less frequent with monosegmental arthrodesis than with multisegmental arthrodesis. Cage arthrodesis was an alternative to iliac harvesting with similar results.

Anterior approach for a stab wound with penetrating rebar injury causing incomplete cauda equina syndrome in lumbosacral spine lesion: a case report and literature review.

PURPOSE: To report a unique case of incomplete CES following a rebar penetrating injury in perineal region with retro-pulsed fragment, which was treated with anterior approach and discuss suitable surgical approach. METHODS: Incomplete cauda equina syndrome caused by non-missile penetrating injury is extremely rare. A 26-year-old male patient presented incomplete cauda equina syndrome due to a penetrating rebar wound from his perineal region to the lumbosacral spine. Computed tomography demonstrated a bony fragment broken from S1 body compressing into the spinal canal. RESULTS: By anterior approach, we performed partial corpectomy of L5, decompression by retrieving the bony fragment and L5-S1 interbody fusion. The patient had a significant recovery, and no clinical complication was found after over 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: It is challenging to determine the optimal strategy of surgical treatment for penetrating spinal injuries with retained foreign bodies, here we suggest an anterior approach situation that has the advantage of being able to effectively perform decompression and prevent iatrogenic damages of thecal sac and nerve rootlets.

Cardiac risk stratification and adverse outcomes in surgically managed patients with isolated traumatic spine injuries.

INTRODUCTION: As the incidence of traumatic spine injuries has been steadily increasing, especially in the elderly, the ability to categorize patients based on their underlying risk for the adverse outcomes could be of great value in clinical decision making. This study aimed to investigate the association between the Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) and adverse outcomes in patients who have undergone surgery for traumatic spine injuries. METHODS: All adult patients (18 years or older) in the 2013-2019 TQIP database with isolated spine injuries resulting from blunt force trauma, who underwent spinal surgery, were eligible for inclusion in the study. The association between the RCRI and in-hospital mortality, cardiopulmonary complications, and failure-to-rescue (FTR) was determined using Poisson regression models with robust standard errors to adjust for potential confounding. RESULTS: A total of 39,391 patients were included for further analysis. In the regression model, an RCRI ≥ 3 was associated with a threefold risk of in-hospital mortality [adjusted IRR (95% CI): 3.19 (2.30-4.43), p < 0.001] and cardiopulmonary complications [adjusted IRR (95% CI): 3.27 (2.46-4.34), p < 0.001], as well as a fourfold risk of FTR [adjusted IRR (95% CI): 4.27 (2.59-7.02), p < 0.001], compared to RCRI 0. The risk of all adverse outcomes increased stepwise along with each RCRI score. CONCLUSION: The RCRI may be a useful tool for identifying patients with traumatic spine injuries who are at an increased risk of in-hospital mortality, cardiopulmonary complications, and failure-to-rescue after surgery.

Pediatric case of a penetrating lumbar spinal injury.

PURPOSE: Penetrating spinal injuries are generally extremely rare and are seldom encountered in pediatric patients. The non-compliance of pediatric patients with physical examination can sometimes delay diagnosis and treatment. Here, we present a case of a child who had a fall and suffered penetrating spinal trauma due to a small glass fragment. CASE REPORT: A penetrating foreign body was detected in the lumbar spinal region of a 2-year-old patient with complaints of increased restlessness on physical activity followed by difficulty in walking. The patient was operated on and followed up without any complications in the perioperative and late postoperative periods. CONCLUSION: A detailed physical examination is necessitated in the pediatric age group because of insufficient anamnesis. The high number of patients per physician, especially in societies having a low socioeconomic standard, prevents detailed examinations, and unnecessary examinations may cause delays in diagnosis. However, one must note that the skin findings of pediatric patients can be very helpful, especially in pediatric neurosurgery, and examination should not be neglected.

Is it true that treatment in patients with Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Classification System (SLICS) 4 is the surgeon's choice?

BACKGROUND: The Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Classification System (SLICS) is a commonly used algorithm for diagnosing and managing subaxial cervical spine trauma. A SLIC score 4 suggests either surgery or non-surgically treatment depending on the surgeon's experience and patient's conditions. OBJECTIVE: Prognosis and treatment results were analyzed in patients with SLIC score 4. METHODS: The patients with SLIC score 4 were retrospectively reviewed from 2012 to 2019. Forty-one patients were included and divided into two groups: non-surgically treated and surgically treated. Demographic data and radiographs were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the difference between the two clinical groups. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were non-surgically treated, and nineteen patients were surgically treated. There was no neurological deterioration in both groups. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the last follow-up AISA and Nurick grade (p> 0.05). There was no significant difference in the number of patients who showed improvement when comparing the initial and the last follow-up neurological status (p> 0.05). CONCLUSION: Regardless of the treatment method, the spinal cord injury patients with SLICS point 4 showed a relatively good prognosis. Patients with SLIC score 4 could be treated non-surgically or surgically based on the surgeon's experience and factors associated with the patient's acute health status and chronic comorbidities.

Diagnosis and treatment of cervical spine injuries in children.

Cervical spine injuries in children are a common reason for emergency room visits, while bone, ligament or spinal cord cervical lesions are relatively rare (1-1.5% of severe trauma in children) and mainly involve the upper cervical spine. The main causes are sports injuries, accidents at home and traffic accidents. Clinical triage is needed to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure from imaging. We propose a protocol to optimize the diagnosis and treatment. In children, conservative treatment using rigid immobilization (cervical collar or halo-vest) is the preferred option in stable and/or minimally displaced injuries. Frequent clinical and radiological monitoring is required to ensure the patient's condition does not deteriorate due to inappropriate or poorly tolerated treatment. In these cases, surgical treatment can be proposed as second-line treatment. Internal fixation is indicated as the first-line treatment if the injury is unstable or a neurological deficit is present. The fixation methods must be adapted to the pediatric population by taking into account the vertebral volume and residual growth potential. Intraoperative CT scans or neuronavigation can make the surgical procedure safer and easier. Clinical, radiographic and CT scan monitoring should continue until the end of growth in a child who underwent surgical treatment to quickly detect any mechanical complications or sagittal imbalance due to poor craniocervical or cervicothoracic alignment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.