Magnetic resonance evaluation of the intervertebral disc, spinal ligaments, and spinal cord before and after closed traction reduction of cervical spine dislocations.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective clinical study using magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine in a consecutive series of patients with cervical spine dislocations. OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of intervertebral disc herniations and injury to the spinal ligaments before and after awake closed traction reduction of cervical spine dislocations. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Prior series in which the prereduction imaging of disc herniations in the dislocated cervical spine are described have been anecdotal and have involved small numbers of patients. In addition, no uniform clinical criteria to define the presence of an intervertebral disc herniation in the dislocated cervical spine has been described. The incidence of disc herniations in the unreduced dislocated cervical spine is unknown. METHODS: Eleven consecutive patients with cervical spine dislocations who met the clinical criteria for an awake closed traction reduction had prereduction and postreduction magnetic resonance imaging. Using strict clinical criteria for the definition of an intervertebral disc herniation, the presence or absence of disc herniation, spinal ligament injury, and cord injury was determined. Neurologic status before, during, and after the closed reduction maneuver was documented. RESULTS: Disc herniations were identified in 2 of 11 patients before reduction. Awake closed traction reduction was successful in 9 of the 11 patients. Of the nine patients with a successful closed reduction, two had disc herniations before reduction, and five had disc herniations after reduction. No patient had neurologic worsening after attempted awake closed traction reduction. CONCLUSIONS: The process of closed traction reduction appears to increase the incidence of intervertebral disc herniations. The relation of these findings, however, to the neurologic safety of awake closed traction reduction remain unclear.

Neurologic outcome of early versus late surgery for cervical spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective analysis evaluating neurologic outcome after early versus late surgery for cervical spinal cord trauma. OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to determine whether neurologic and functional outcome is improved in traumatic cervical spinal cord-injured patients (C3-T1, American Spinal Injury Association grades A-D) who had early surgery (<72 hours after spinal cord injury) compared with those patients who had late surgery (>5 days after spinal cord injury). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There is considerable controversy as to the appropriate timing of surgical decompression and stabilization for cervical spinal cord trauma. There have been numerous retrospective studies, but no prospective studies, to determine whether neurologic outcome is best after early versus late surgical treatment for cervical spinal cord injury. METHODS: Patients meeting appropriate inclusion criteria were randomized to an early (<72 hours after spinal cord injury) or late (>5 days after spinal cord injury) surgical treatment protocol. The neurologic and functional outcomes were recorded from the acute hospital admission to the most recent follow-up. RESULTS: Comparison of the two groups showed no significant difference in length of acute postoperative intensive care stay, length of inpatient rehabilitation, or improvement in American Spinal Injury Association grade or motor score between early (mean, 1.8 days) versus late (mean, 16.8 days) surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study reveal no significant neurologic benefit when cervical spinal cord decompression after trauma is performed less than 72 hours after injury (mean, 1.8 days) as opposed to waiting longer than 5 days (mean, 16.8 days).

Steroids and gunshot wounds to the spine.

OBJECTIVE: The second National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study demonstrated that there were neurological benefits from "spinal cord injury" doses of methylprednisolone for blunt spinal cord injuries. In this review, we examined the relative risk/benefit ratio of intravenously treating spinal gunshot wound victims with steroids. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of 254 consecutive patients who were treated between 1979 and 1994 for gunshot wounds to the spine (C1-L1) and a spinal cord injury. Three subgroups were established based on the administration of the steroids methylprednisolone (National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study 2 protocol), dexamethasone (initial dose, 10-100 mg), and no steroids. All patients who received steroids were initially treated at another hospital and then transferred. No patients received steroids at our institution. The data analyzed included neurological outcome and infectious and noninfectious complications. RESULTS: No statistically significant neurological benefits were demonstrable from the use of steroids (methylprednisolone, dexamethasone). Infectious complications were increased in both groups receiving steroids (not statistically significant). Gastrointestinal complications were significantly increased in the dexamethasone group (P = 0.021), and pancreatitis was significantly increased in the methylprednisolone group (P = 0.040). The mean duration of follow-up was 56.3 months. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective, nonrandomized review, no neurological benefits were detectable from intravenously administered steroids after a gunshot wound to the spine. Both infectious and noninfectious complication rates were higher in the groups receiving steroids. Patients who sustain a spinal cord injury secondary to a gunshot wound to the spine should not be treated with steroids until the efficacy of such treatment is proven in a controlled study.

Occurrence of infection in anterior cervical fusion for spinal cord injury after tracheostomy.

STUDY DESIGN: This study retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of 11 patients treated for a cervical spine injury with a tracheostomy placed before anterior cervical spine surgery. OBJECTIVES: The primary goal was to show that anterior cervical spine surgery in the setting of spinal cord injury is a viable option in patients with previous tracheostomy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Respiratory failure after cervical cord injury commonly requires tracheostomy, possibly increasing the risk of soft tissue or bony infection in patients at high risk for morbidity after surgery. Although numerous studies have explored the risk of infection after tracheostomy or anterior cervical spine surgery, no study has been performed to explore the risk of infection in patients with previous tracheostomy at the time of anterior cervical spine surgery. METHODS: A retrospective review of the clinical data of 1800 spinal cord injury patients seen from 1979 to the present at the Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center of the Delaware Valley of Thomas Jefferson University with affiliated institutions of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Magee Rehabilitation Hospital was performed. Eleven patients were found who had existing tracheostomy at the time of anterior cervical spine surgery. Clinical follow-up period averaged 28 months with a range of 6-51 months, and radiographic analysis averaged 7 months with a range of 1-51 months. Autogenous iliac crest graft was used in all patients, consisting of an intervertebral graft after a discectomy or a strut graft after a complete corpectomy. Anterior instrumentation was used in more than 50% of the patients. RESULTS: After all patient interviews and review of all radiographs for evidence of infection, no patient was noted to have evidence of a cervical soft tissue or bony infection after surgery. The tracheostomy complications were minor and resolved quickly. CONCLUSIONS: The authors concluded that in patients with cervical cord damage resulting from nonpenetrating trauma, tracheostomy was not found to increase the risk of infection in subsequent anterior cervical surgery. Careful preparation of the skin and placement of the second surgical incision lateral to the tracheostomy site is recommended. Anterior cervical spine surgery remains a viable treatment option in this severely injured patient population.

Prognostic significance of magnetic resonance imaging in the acute phase of cervical spine injury.

Fifty-seven patients with acute cervical spine injuries and associated major neurological deficit were examined within 2 weeks of injury by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. All patients had abnormal scans, indicating intramedullary lesions. This study was undertaken to determine if the early MR imaging pattern had a prognostic relationship to the eventual neurological outcome. Three different MR imaging patterns were observed in these patients: 21 patients had patterns characteristic of intramedullary hematoma (Group 1); 17 had intramedullary edema over more than one spinal segment, but no hemorrhage (Group 2); and 19 had restricted zones of intramedullary edema involving one spinal segment or less (Group 3). The neurological state was determined using standard motor index scores at admission and at follow-up examination. Characteristically, the patients in Group 1 had admission motor scores significantly lower than the other two groups. At follow-up examination, the median percent motor recovery was 9% for Group 1, 41% for Group 2, and 72% for Group 3. These studies suggest that the MR imaging pattern observed in the acutely injured human spinal cord has a prognostic significance in the final outcome of the motor system. It is only when an accurate prognosis can be given at the outset that useful treatment data might be collected for homogeneous injury groups, and accurately based long-term planning made for the best patient care.

Acute cervical spine trauma: correlation of MR imaging findings with degree of neurologic deficit.

A retrospective analysis of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies of 78 patients with acute cervical spinal cord injuries was undertaken to determine which observations related directly to the neurologic injury. All MR imaging studies were performed on a 1.5-T unit and assessed with respect to 14 parameters related to the bony spine, ligaments, prevertebral soft tissues, intervertebral disks, and spinal cord. Forty-eight patients also underwent non-contrast material-enhanced thin-section computed tomography (CT) of the cervical spine. MR imaging was the definitive modality in the assessment of soft-tissue injury, especially in the evaluation of the spinal cord and intervertebral disks. All patients with a neurologic deficit had abnormal spinal cords at MR imaging. Intramedullary hemorrhage was predictive of a complete lesion. The degree of associated bone and soft-tissue injury had no bearing on the extent of spinal cord injury or neurologic deficit. Patients with residual cord compression following reduction demonstrated greater neurologic compromise than those without compression.

Magnetic resonance imaging of acute cervical spine trauma. Correlation with severity of neurologic injury.

Prior to the advent of computer-assisted imaging techniques, conventional radiographic studies did not accurately depict the severity of soft tissue injury (spinal cord and paravertebral tissue) attending severe spinal trauma. Computed tomography scanning is clearly superior to plain radiography in the demonstration of osseous fractures and impactions, but this modality does not clearly depict ligamentous or disc injuries and does not image the spinal cord directly. The authors' preliminary experience indicates that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) more accurately defines the extent of soft tissue damage in the zone of injury. In this study, the authors correlate these objective imaging techniques with findings on neurologic exam. Seventy-eight patients with cervical spine injuries admitted to the Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center of the Delaware Valley between August 1987 and January 1989 were evaluated with surface-coil MRI on a 1.5-Tesla unit. Fifty-nine patients were studied within 7 days of injury. Image sequences consisting of T1-, proton density, and T2-weighted images were obtained in saggital views. Axial gradient recalled acquisitions in the steady state (GRASS) images were obtained from most patients. We learned that certain patterns of MRI signal were associated with severe neurologic deficit. These include: 1) intramedullary hematoma and 2) spinal cord contusion associated with edema encompassing more than one spinal segment. Magnetic resonance imaging findings also correlated with less severe injury and include 1) normal spinal cord signal and 2) small focal contusions associated with edema encompassing one spinal segment or less.

Obstructive emphysema due to mucus plugging in quadriplegia.

A quadriplegic patient with obstructive emphysema caused by mucus in the bronchi of the hyperinflated lung, demonstrated by chest radiograph and corrected by bronchoscopic aspiration of secretions from the hyperexpanded side, is reported. Subsequently, this phenomenon recurred in the opposite lung. This case is of particular interest, as it is the only documented report of obstructive emphysema due to mucus plugging in an adult with grossly normal airways. This case contrasts markedly with the usual picture of atelectasis and lobar or segmental collapse observed with large airway obstruction by mucus in this setting.

Dumbbell neuroblastoma presenting without spinal cord findings.

Patients with dumbbell neuroblastoma present with a wide variety of spinal cord problems. We recently treated an infant with a large dumbbell neuroblastoma who was neurologically intact. Because a CAT scan showed a retroperitoneal mass to be abutting the right vertebral body at T12-L1, a precautionary myelogram was performed, which revealed extensive intraspinal extension. We report this case to emphasize the need to have a high index of suspicion of spinal cord involvement in light of a normal neurologic examination since, any attempt at removing the extraspinal part, first, could cause serious neurologic sequelae. We also wish to emphasize avoiding radiation therapy when the tumor has been removed grossly to lessen the development of kyphoscoliatic deformity. The infant will be routinely followed with serial VMAs and ultrasound.

Management of lumbar translocation injuries: case reports.

Lumbar translocation (complete lumbar dislocation) injuries constitute a severe and highly unstable form of thoraco-lumbar spinal injury and are uncommon. Adequate management of such injuries includes removing the neural tissue compression and realigning and stabilizing the spine. Computerized axial tomographic scans of the spine are very dramatic in demonstrating encroachment on the spinal canal by bony fragments. We report two cases of lumbar translocation injuries with favorable outcomes. The patients were initially managed with halo-femoral traction, resulting in spinal reduction and eliminating the need for acute surgical intervention, and subsequently underwent posterior fusion for stability. Anterior decompression was done at a later date as computed tomography showed retropulsed intracanalicular bone fragments. The use of Harrington rod instrumentation and realignment of the spine did not free the canal of bony fragments and, hence, decompression was required.

The use of autografts for vertebral body replacement of the thoracic and lumbar spine.

Thirty-seven patients with fractures of the thoracic or lumbar spine underwent anterior corpectomy (partial or complete) and vertebral body replacement for either destructive lesions from tumor or infection (13 patients) or trauma (24 patients). The vertebral bodies were replaced using either rib (12 patients) or tricortical iliac crest (25 patients) autografts. The Dunn device was utilized in conjunction with the autografts in 19 patients. Posterior stabilization was used in five patients; three prior to anterior stabilization and two after anterior stabilization. Within 2 weeks of the operative procedure, all patients began walking or sitting. Of the 37 patients, 21 with incomplete neurologic deficits improved, and 10 of those went onto complete recovery. Of the 27 patients who have been followed for a minimum of 1 year, 25 have obtained solid fusions, one developed a pseudarthrosis that required regrafting, and one had a delayed union prior to death from metastatic disease. There were two deaths in the immediate postoperative period and three deaths in the first six postoperative wounds due to metastatic disease. The purpose of this study is to present a consecutive series of patients who have undergone corpectomy and vertebral body replacement as well as to define the adequacy of stabilization.

Baclofen for the treatment of acute low-back syndrome. A double-blind comparison with placebo.

The efficacy and safety of baclofen (30-80 mg daily) for the treatment of acute low-back syndrome were evaluated in a 14-day, double-blind, randomized study of 200 patients (100 baclofen, 100 placebo). Patients with initially severe or extremely severe symptoms (as opposed to moderate symptoms) benefitted most from treatment with baclofen. The incidence of adverse effects was significantly higher in the baclofen group; however, most were mild to moderate and disappeared in all but two patients who required a reduction in dosage, without reduced drug efficacy. Baclofen was shown to be effective, safe, and well-tolerated for the treatment of patients with acute low-back syndrome.

Reanalysis of central cervical cord injury management.

Early investigators indicated that conservative management was superior to operative intervention in the treatment of central cord injuries. Their clinical data suggested that operative treatment, in fact, worsened the condition. Recent experience with this clinical entity, however, indicates that in selected patients operative intervention may be of value in improving the rate and degree of motor recovery. A retrospective study of all individuals admitted to our hospital (Delaware Valley Spinal Cord Injury Center) with central cervical spinal cord injury was done (28 patients). One-half had been treated with medical therapy alone (Group I); the others were treated both medically and surgically (Group II). Medical therapy consisted of intravenous mannitol, dexamethasone, and sodium bicarbonate given during the acute phase of the injury. Both groups were immobilized using either a halo or a Philadelphia collar. Criteria for entry into the surgical group were one or both of the following: (a) failure to improve progressively after an initial period of improvement, with persistent compression of neural tissue visualized on myelography and (b) unacceptable instability of the spinal bony elements. The patients were given neurological scores based on the motor power of the major muscle groups. The stability of the spine was scored using the Panjabi-White scale. The two groups were compared using Student's t-test and the two-factor analysis of variance. There was no significant difference in initial neurological scores between the groups. The surgical groups had a higher incidence of instability of the bony elements of the cervical spine, as judged by the Panjabi-White scale.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Real-time ultrasonography of the spinal cord: intraoperative and postoperative imaging.

Fourteen subjects with spinal cord pathology were studied with 10 MHz linear array or 5 MHz mechanical sector ultrasound scanners. Twelve patients were studied intraoperatively. The examinations were rapid, aiding the surgeon at the time of exploration. Sonography defined cysts, outlined the extent of neoplasia and aided in the localization of bone fragments. Guidance for placement of syringo -subarachnoid shunts reduced the amount of surgical manipulation. Four patients were examined postoperatively through laminectomy defects, three confirming adequate position and function of shunts and in one case demonstrating tumor recurrence.

Arachnoid clearance of red blood cells.

Labelled red blood cells were instilled intraventricularly in groups of dogs and monkeys for evaluation of transfer to the vascular compartment. Blood levels were minimal (5% of the original material) with low-pressure infusions. A large movement (above 25%) of the type originally described by Simmonds occurred with high-pressure intraventricular infusions, cisternal injections, or after the induction of intracranial hypertension. Large amounts of the label were released after cell lysis and accumulated in various tissues. Five to ten per cent of the instilled material was absorbed by the nasal lymphatic route in the dog and a significant local loss of red cells occured after posterior cisternal punctures. Simulated whole blood was useful in demonstrating arachnoid retention. Ventriculospinal washouts aided in the elimination of tagged cells only in the first 24 hours. Thereafter, the yield was small and the fluid requirement was unusually high.