Treatment of unilateral cervical facet fractures without evidence of dislocation or subluxation: a narrative review and proposed treatment algorithm.

Isolated cervical spine facet fractures are often overlooked. The primary imaging modality for diagnosing these injuries is a computed tomography scan. Treatment of unilateral cervical facet fractures without evidence of dislocation or subluxation remains controversial. The available evidence regarding treatment options for these fractures is of low quality. Risk factors associated with the failure of nonoperative treatment are: comminution of the articular mass or facet joint, acute radiculopathy, high body mass index, listhesis exceeding 2 mm, fragmental diastasis, acute disc injury, and bilateral fractures or fractures that adversely affect 40% of the intact lateral mass height or have an absolute height of 1 cm.

Seguridad de la cirugía de luxofracturas vertebrales toracolumbares según la oportunidad quirúrgica / Safety of surgical treatment for thoracolumbar fracture-dislocations according to surgical timing

Introducción: Las luxofracturas vertebrales toracolumbares se producen por traumatismos de alta energía, representan el 10% de las lesiones traumáticas de la columna vertebral y se asocian frecuentemente con otras lesiones. El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar las complicaciones tempranas en pacientes con una luxofractura toracolumbar según la oportunidad quirúrgica, antes o después de las 24 h del trauma. Materiales y métodos: Estudio multicéntrico, analítico, observacional y retrospectivo de una cohorte de pacientes operados por una luxofractura toracolumbar, desde el 1 de enero de 2014 hasta el 1 de enero de 2023. Se inclu-yó a pacientes de ambos sexos, >18 años, operados por una luxofractura vertebral de alta energía. Se los agrupó según si habían sido operados de columna antes o después de las 24 h del trauma. Se registraron las complicaciones totales y agrupadas. Resultados: Se evaluó a 72 pacientes, 64 hombres (88,9%) y 8 mujeres (11,1%), con una edad promedio de 35.94 años. Predominaron las instituciones laborales (n = 60; 83,3%). El mecanismo de lesión más frecuente fueron los accidentes de tránsito (n = 42; 58,3%), seguidos de las caídas de altura (n = 26; 36,1%). El 86% sufrió una o más lesiones asociadas. Se registraron 283 complicaciones en 67 (93,1%) pacientes y 45 complicaciones quirúrgicas en 26 pacientes (36,1%). La mediana de complicaciones fue mayor en pacientes operados tardíamente (p = 0,004). Conclusiones:Los pacientes con luxofractura toracolumbar operados después de las primeras 24 h presentaron una mediana de complicaciones totales significativamente mayor que los operados precozmente. Nnivel de Evidencia: IV

Introduction: Thoracolumbar fracture-dislocations account for 10% of traumatic spinal injuries and typically occur in the context of high-energy trauma. Our objective is to compare early complications in patients with thoracolumbar fracture-dislocation based on surgical timing, either before or after 24 hours from the trauma.materials and methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of patients surgically treated for thoracolumbar dislocations, from January 1, 2014 to January 1, 2023. We included adult patients (>18 years old) of any gender, surgically treated for high-energy thoracolumbar fracture-dislocations. Patients were grouped based on when they underwent spinal surgery: before or after 24 hours following trauma. Total and grouped complications were recorded. Results: Our sample comprised 72 patients, with 64 men (88.9%) and 8 women (11.1%) at an average age of 35.94 years. Occupational health care centers were predominant (n=60; 83.3%). Road traffic accidents (n=42; 58.3%) were the most frequent cause of injury, followed by falls from height (n=26; 36.1%). Furthermore, 86% of patients had one or more associated injuries. In total, 283 complications were recorded, with 67 patients (93.1%) suffering at least one complication, and 26 patients (36.1%) experiencing surgical complications. The median number of complications was significantly higher in late-operated patients (p=0.004). Conclusions: Patients with thoracolumbar dislocations who underwent surgery after the first 24 hours following trauma had a significantly higher median rate of complications than those who underwent early surgery. Level of Evidence: IV

Tratamiento de las fracturas cervicales aisladas de tipo "masa lateral flotante": serie de casos / Treatment of isolated "floating lateral mass" fractures of the cervical spine: A case series

Objetivo: Presentar una serie de casos de pacientes con fracturas cervicales de tipo "masa lateral flotante" con énfasis en describir el rol de la lesión discal en la potencial inestabilidad segmentaria. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo de una serie de pacientes con fracturas facetarias de tipo "masa lateral flotante", aisladas, diagnosticadas entre el 1 de enero de 2016 y el 1 de enero de 2022. Se incluyeron pacientes con lesiones de tipo "masa lateral flotante" según la clasificación AO, diagnosticadas por tomografía computarizada y, al menos, 6 meses de seguimiento. Se excluyó a aquellos con fracturas patológicas, lesiones por fragilidad ósea y registros incompletos. Resultados: Se analizó a 16 pacientes (media de la edad 42.86; DE 12,396), con predominio del sexo masculino (81,25%). El 68,75% tenía una lesión del disco intervertebral en el segmento fracturado y el 18,75%, anterolistesis. A 11 pacientes se les propuso un tratamiento conservador durante 12 semanas. La fractura consolidó en el 45,4% y 6 (54,6%) evolucionaron con traslación. El fracaso del tratamiento conservador se asoció con lesión del disco intervertebral. Once pacientes fueron operados, en su mayoría, con artrodesis cervical anterior monosegmentaria. Conclusiones: En esta serie de casos, la presencia de una lesión asociada del disco intervertebral fue más frecuente cuando el tratamiento conservador fracasó y cuando se decidió una artrodesis como tratamiento inicial. La mayoría de las cirugías se realizaron por vía anterior con discectomía y artrodesis cervical anterior en un único nivel, y se lograron buenos resultados. Nivel de Evidencia: IV

Introduction: We report a series of patients with "floating lateral mass" cervical fractures, focusing on the role of disc injury in potential segmental instability. materials and methods: We conducted a descriptive and retrospective study on a case series of isolated floating lateral mass facet fractures diagnosed between January 1, 2016 and January 1, 2022. Patients with floating lateral mass lesions according to the AO classification, diagnosed by computed tomography, and at least 6 months of follow-up were included. Patients with pathological fractures, bone fragility injuries and incomplete records were excluded. Results: We included 16 cases, the average age was 42.86 (SD 12.396), and the majority were male (n=13; 81.25%). 68.75% (n=11) had intervertebral disc injury in the fractured segment, while 18.75% (n=3) had anterolisthesis. Conservative treatment was proposed for 12 weeks in 11 patients (68.75%), of whom 5 (45.4%) achieved fracture healing and 6 (54.6%) progressed to translation. Cases where conservative treatment failed were associated with intervertebral disc injury. Eleven patients were treated surgically, mostly with monosegmental anterior cervical arthrodesis. Conclusions: We report a series of cases in which the existence of an associated intervertebral disc injury was more frequent in patients with failed conservative treatment and in those initially treated with arthrodesis. Most of the surgical cases were treated using an anterior approach with discectomy and anterior cervical arthrodesis at a single level, with favorable outcomes. Level of Evidence: IV

Surgical timing prevails as the main factor over morphologic characteristics in the reduction by ligamentotaxis of thoracolumbar burst fractures.

BACKGROUND: thoracolumbar burst fractures are associated with spinal canal occupation. The indirect decompression of the spinal canal and reduction of the fragment can be achieved with the distraction of the middle column and ligamentotaxis. Nevertheless, the factors that influence the effectiveness of this procedure and its temporality are controversial. METHODS: The aim of this observational, cross-sectional study was to evaluate the effectiveness of indirect reduction by ligamentotaxis in thoracolumbar burst fractures according to the fracture's radiologic characteristics and the procedure's temporality. Patients diagnosed with a thoracolumbar burst fracture between 2010 and 2021 were submitted to indirect reduction by distraction and ligamentotaxis. A retrospective analysis of radiologic characteristics and temporality of the procedure was performed with an independent sample t-test or Pearson's correlation coefficient, as required. RESULTS: A total of 58 patients were included in the analysis. Postoperatively, ligamentotaxis significantly improved all radiologic parameters (canal occupation, endplates distance, and vertebra height). Still, none of the radiological characteristics of the fracture (width, height, position, sagittal angle) were associated with the postoperative change in canal occupation. The endplates distance and the temporality of ligamentotaxis significantly predicted the reduction of the fracture. CONCLUSION: Fragment reduction effectiveness is more significant when performed as early as possible and adequate distraction is achieved using the internal fixator system. The radiologic characteristics of the fractured fragment do not determine its reduction capacity.