Summary:
Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate long-term results of the subaxial cevical spine injuries treatment,
using splint and bicortical screws stabilization via frontal access, as well as to describe the opinion on subaxial
cervical spine injuries treatment methods development.
Methodology:Duringatwelve-year period, starting in1990,75patients sufferingfromsubaxial cervical spineinjuries
were treated by the authors‘work-team. In 96%of the cases, decompression followed by frontal access stabilization using
theCaspar techniquewith a splint and bicortically inserted screwswas performed. TheDucker andCooper classification
scale was employed to classify the fracture type. A neurological deficit was classified according to Frankel. The trauma
mechanism was determined, as well as peri- and post operation complications and the patients survival rate. Furthermore,
the graphic documentation taken during the observation period was assessed.
Results: In the patient group, the number of male subjects was three times higher and 56% of the patients
under the age of 30 were reported. 40% of the patients were injuried in conjunction with a traffic accident, 27%
were injuried following a fall from a height and 15% after jumping into unknown water. 30% of the patient
fractures were classified as flexion-compression types,30% as flexion-dislocation types, 32% as burst- compression
types and 6% as extension fracure types. 22% of the patients were accepted as Frankel A, 7% as B, 5% as C, 14%
as D and 52% were Frankel E. 91% of the patients sufferred from monotrauma. 96% of the patients, using the
frontal access exclusively, were treated with splints, bicortical srewsand autologic grafts. The neurological picture
improved in 8% of the patients, 15% died in the first year.
Conclusion: The surgical treatment should be aimed at the earliest possible decompression of the neurological
tissue, followed by re-introduction of the stable situation. The frontal access may be, in the majority of cases,
considered the access of choice.
Key words:
cervical spine injury – frontal access – stabilization
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