title: Injuries of the cervical spinal cord. The Ga-Rankuwa Hospital experience.
abstract: A retrospective analysis of 40 cervical spinal cord-injured patients showed that the commonest cause of injury was a motor vehicle accident (60%). C5 - 6 was the level most commonly injured. Eight patients had complete and 32 incomplete neurological lesions. Surgery was the elective treatment in 78%. Surgical treatment did not result in more rapid mobilisation out of bed nor did it significantly reduce the period of hospitalisation, compared with non-surgical management. No patient deteriorated neurologically, 5 remained unchanged and 35 improved. Twenty-one patients eventually walked.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Spine Service, Ga-Rankuwa Hospital, Pretoria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Odendaal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors