Treatment of lower cervical spine fracture with ankylosing spondylitis by simple long anterior cervical plate: a retrospective study of 17 cases

Frontiers in Neurology, 2024 · DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1300597 · Published: July 2, 2024

Simple Explanation

This study focuses on treating lower cervical spine fractures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), an autoimmune disease that can make the spine more susceptible to fractures, even from minor injuries. The researchers conducted a retrospective study involving 17 AS patients who underwent anterior cervical fixation, analyzing their clinical data, pain levels, complications, and nerve recovery. The study found that anterior internal fixation is a potential treatment for these fractures, providing spinal stability and neurological recovery with proper post-operative care.

Study Duration

June 2010 to December 2022

Participants

17 AS patients with lower cervical spine fractures

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
No postoperative neurological deterioration occurred in any of the 17 cases.
2
All fractures achieved complete fusion during the follow-up period.
3
Approximately 54.5% of patients with preoperative neurological deficits showed improvement after surgery.

Research Summary

This retrospective study evaluated the effectiveness of anterior internal fixation using a long anterior cervical plate for treating lower cervical spine fractures in 17 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The results indicated that this surgical approach provided satisfactory spinal stability and neurological recovery, with no postoperative neurological deterioration and complete fracture fusion in all cases. The study concludes that anterior cervical long plate surgery is a viable treatment option for AS patients with cervical spine fractures, particularly for surgeons less experienced with the posterior approach.

Practical Implications

Surgical technique

Anterior cervical fixation with long segmental steel plates, combined with postoperative skull traction and auxiliary fixation, can effectively treat lower cervical fractures in AS patients.

Neurological recovery

Early comprehensive rehabilitation therapy, including hyperbaric oxygen, can improve neurological recovery in patients with spinal cord injury following surgery.

Treatment approach

The anterior approach offers a simpler, safer, and more effective solution for treating these fractures compared to more complex procedures like combined anterior-posterior fixation.

Study Limitations

1
Retrospective analysis may introduce recall bias among patients.
2
The relatively small sample size limits the generalizability of the study results.
3
Absence of a control group limits the generalizability of the study results.

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