title: Posterior cervical spine fusion with tension-band wiring.
abstract: In this study the authors detail their experience with posterior tension-band wiring for stabilization of the subaxial cervical spine. Fifty-five patients underwent fusion for trauma (41 patients), degenerative disease (13 patients), and tumor (one patient). The fusion rate was 96% (50 of 52 patients) and postoperative immobilization was accomplished by means of a Philadelphia collar in the majority of cases. Tension-band wiring provides a stable construct that is simple to perform, requires fusion of a minium number of motion segments, and allows early mobilization with only a hard collar needed for support. The details of the technique, which has been modified from preliminary descriptions, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lovely
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001858:Bone Nails; D001864:Bone Wires; D001915:Braces; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D004434:Early Ambulation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D017846:Longitudinal Ligaments / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots; D015996:Survival Rate