Neurologic return versus cross-sectional canal area in incomplete thoracolumbar spinal cord injuries.
Twenty-four patients with incomplete spinal cord injuries secondary to burst fractures of the thoracolumbar spine were reviewed an average of 26 months after their injury. No patient had had a specific attempt to decompress neural elements but the majority had posterior instrumentation and fusion for spine realignment and stabilization. The amount of neurologic recovery in each patient was compared to the final area of the spinal canal as determined by CT scan. It was concluded that there was no correlation between neurologic improvement and the amount of spinal canal encroachment. In addition, posterior instrumentation to realign the spine will usually restore canal patency to greater than 50% of normal.
Herndon
W A
WA
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City.
Galloway
D
D
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000209:etiology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed