| Abstract | OBJECTIVE: Optimal timing of stabilization for spinal injuries is discussed controversially. The goal of this study is to investigate the neurological recovery and its influencing factors in thoracolumbar spine fractures after surgical decompression and stabilization within 8 h of spinal cord injury versus surgery which is performed between 3 and 15 days. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients undergoing thoracolumbar stabilization with neurological deficit for an acute thoracolumbar spinal injury at the level of Th8-L2 vertebra at Selcuk University between March 2004 and December 2006 were recorded. Patients with neurological deficity and medically stable for surgery underwent immediate stabilization within 8 h defined as group I (n = 12) and patients underwent operation in 3-15 days after thoracolumbar injury were defined as group II (n = 15). Patients were assessed for neurologic deficit and improvement as defined by the scoring system of American spinal injury association (ASIA). RESULTS: In spite of comparable demographic data, patients in group I had a significantly shorter overall hospital and intensive care unit stay and had lesser systemic complications such as pneumonia and also exhibited better neurological improvement than group II (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Early surgery may improve neurological recovery and decrease hospitalization time and also additional systemic complications in patients with thoracolomber spinal cord injuries. Thus early stabilization of thoracolumbar spine fractures within 8 h after trauma appears to be favorable. |
| Authors | Sahika Liva Cengiz, Erdal Kalkan, Aysegul Bayir, Kemal Ilik, Alper Basefer
(Affiliation: Neurosurgery Department, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Selcuk University, A/5 Meram Akyokuş, 42080, Konya, Turkey, livacengiz at yahoo.com.)
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| Journal | Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery
(Arch Orthop Trauma Surg)
Vol. 128
Issue 9
Pg. 959-66
(Sep 2008)
ISSN: 0936-8051 Germany |
| PMID | 18040702
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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