title: Surgical fusion of the posttraumatic spine: a radiologic assessment.
abstract: Radiological assessment of surgical fusion of fractures and dislocations of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine are an integral part of management of spinal cord injury patients. A meaningful assessment of such fusions can be done properly only when there is adequate knowledge of the types of surgical fusions, the biological material used, and metallic devices applied. Early surgical reduction and internal fixation of the traumatized spine facilitate rapid restoration of spinal alignment, make nursing care less difficult, and sometimes lead toward improvement of neurological function. Complications can occur in all types of surgical fusions. They can affect the fusion material, the metallic device, or the alignment of the spine. Most of those complications are radiologically detected.
mesh_terms: D001858:Bone Nails; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery