Multilevel Noncontiguous Spinal Fractures: Surgical Approach towards Clinical Characteristics

Asian Spine Journal

Oğuz Durmuş Karakoyun¹  Ergün Dağlıoğlu¹  Ali Dalgıç¹  Fatih Alagöz¹  Deniz Belen¹  Ozhan Uçkun²  Ömer Polat³  Murat Ömer Ulutaş⁴  Mehmet Seçer⁴ 

[1] Neurosurgery Clinic, Ankara Numune Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.;Neurosurgery Clinic, Eskisehir Yunus Emre State Hospital, Eskişehir, Turkey.;Neurosurgery Clinic, Fatma Hatun Private Hospital, Bolu, Turkey.;Neurosurgery Clinic, Sanko University, School of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey.;

关键词: Spinal column;    Spinal fracture;    Multilevel;    Surgery;   

DOI  :  10.4184/asj.2015.9.6.889

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Study DesignThe study retrospectively investigated 15 cases with multilevel noncontiguous spinal fractures (MNSF).PurposeTo clarify the evaluation of true diagnosis and to plane the surgical treatment.Overview of LiteratureMNSF are defined as fractures of the vertebral column at more than one level. High-energy injuries caused MNSF, with an incidence ranging from 1.6% to 16.7%. MNSF may be misdiagnosed due to lack of detailed neurological and radiological examinations.MethodsPatients with metabolic, rheumatologic diseases and neoplasms were excluded. Despite the presence of a spinal fracture associated clearly with the clinical picture, all patients were scanned within spinal column by direct X-rays, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. When there were ≥5 intact vertebrae between two fractured vertebral segments, each fracture region was managed with a separated stabilization. In cases with ≤4 intact segments between two fractured levels, both fractures were fixed with the same rod and screw system.ResultsThere were 32 vertebra fractures in 15 patients. Eleven (73.3%) patients were male and age ranged from 20 to 64 years (35.9±13.7 years). Eleven cases were the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) E, 3 were ASIA A, and one was ASIA D. Ten of the 15 (66.7%) patients returned to previous social status without additional deficit or morbidity. The remaining 5 (33.3%) patients had mild or moderate improvement after surgery.ConclusionsThe spinal column should always be scanned to rule out a secondary or tertiary vertebra fracture in vertebral fractures associated with high-energy trauma. In MNSF, each fracture should be separately evaluated for decision of surgery and planned approach needs particular care. In MNSF with ≤4 intact vertebra in between, stabilization of one segment should prompt the involvement of the secondary fracture into the system.

【 授权许可】

Unknown