title: Indications for surgery in upper cervical spine injury.
abstract: 20% of all spine injuries are cervical spine injuries. Surgical treatment of these injuries must take into account the great mobility of this part of the spinal column. Therefore, biomechanical aspects must be considered, especially in the upper cervical spine-C1 and C2. Describing our own therapeutical regimen in 35 patients with unstable upper cervical spine injuries we explain the biomechanical back-ground and review the literature. It becomes evident that ventral approaches are superior to dorsal techniques for decompression, reposition, and stabilization with minimal loss of mobility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University Hospital GHS Essen, Fed. Rep. of Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pospiech
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schick
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stolke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*