Surgery for Lower Cervical Spine Injuries

Objectives. To analyze the outcomes of anterior stabilization for lower cervical spine injuries. Material and Methods. Total of 235 patients was operated on for lower cervical spine injuries. Long-term results (6 months to 3 years) were assessed in 68 patients. All of them underwent plan and functional radiography of the cervical spine. MSCT and MRI were performed to the patients with pain syndrome and residual neurologic symptomatology. Results. Control radiograms demonstrated interbody fusion in all patients. There was a loss of correction on 3° ± 2° in 9 % of cases caused by subsidence of a crown fixator in a cancellous part of the vertebral body after anterior mono-segmental spinal fusion with resection of a damaged part of the vertebral body. In a group of patients with a plate fixator the achieved perioperative correction of a segment kyphosis was preserved including the cases after anterior mono-segmental spinal fusion with resection of a damaged part of the vetebral body. Conclusion. Anterior spinal fusion with a bone autograft and plate fixation is a method of choice for unstable lower cervical spine injuries. Complete correction of all types of deformations at a damaged spine segment, safe stabilization of achieved correction, and efficient rehabilitation permit to achieve favorable outcomes after surgery.