Structural odontoid lesions in craniovertebral tuberculosis: a review of 15 cases.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review. OBJECTIVE: To describe the presentation and the rationale for management of pathological odontoid fracture and complete odontoid destruction in craniovertebral junction tuberculosis (CVJ TB). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Presentation of CVJ TB ranges from minor osteomyelitic changes to severe structural damage leading to instability. Structural damage to the odontoid process is poorly characterized in the literature. Inadequate knowledge about the radiological presentations has led to controversy in the management of CVJ TB. METHODS: The cohort consisted of 15 consecutive patients with CVJ TB, with structural damage to the odontoid process in the form of either odontoid fracture (n = 7) or complete odontoid destruction (n = 8). These patients presented with pain, neurological deficit, torticollis, dysphagia, or respiratory distress. The cause of neurological deficit was craniocervical instability characterized as anterioposterior (n = 15), rotatory (n = 4), and vertical (n = 6). Displacement reduced anatomically in 13 patients. Apart from antibiotics, all patients were treated surgically by either C1-C2 fusion (n = 7) or occipitocervical fusion (n = 8). RESULTS: Average duration of follow-up was 3.6 years (range, 1.5-8 yr). All patients achieved normal neurological status. No complications were noted, except for 1 case, who had a loss of reduction after the use of Hartshill rectangle for occipitocervical fusion. Postoperative computed tomographic scan showed nonunion of odontoid fracture in 2 of 4 patients. No patient of odontoid destruction, of the 5 investigated, revealed structural reformation of the dens. CONCLUSION: CVJ TB can severely damage the odontoid process, resulting in atlantoaxial dislocation. In these patients, surgery restores and maintains the craniocervical alignment and has a predictable outcome compared with conservative therapy. Pathological odontoid fractures have the potential to go into nonunion. Odontoid process once destroyed completely is rarely restored after antibiotic therapy.

Complex multilevel lumbar spine fractures with transverse sacral fracture.

We report an unusual and complex case of spinal trauma in a 17-year-old boy who presented with a transverse sacral fracture associated with multiple-level lumbar fractures, paraparesis, and bladder involvement. A two-stage surgery was performed. The lumbar spine fractures were treated with posterior instrumented correction of displacements, followed by anterior instrumentation and fusion. The sacral fracture was left untreated. At 5-year followup, the patient had complete neurological recovery except for the right L5 root function. The long-segment lumbar fusion and the untreated displaced sacral fracture contributed to spinal imbalance, due to which the patient is now able to stand only in a crouched posture. Determining the optimal treatment for the case is presented due to the relative rarity of transverse sacral fracture and paucity of evidence-based treatment approaches. In patients with associated lumbar spine fractures that require extension of instrumentation to the upper lumbar spine, it is critical to restore sacropelvic alignment to achieve spinal balance. Adequate reduction of sacropelvic anatomy can be achieved with iliac screw fixation.