[Diagnosis and surgical management of Hangman's fracture combined with intervertebral disc injury].
OBJECTIVE
To study the pathology characteristics and management of Hangman's fracture combined with intervertebral disc injury.


METHODS
Twenty-one patients suffered from this special injury were converged in this study. All patients underwent anterior C(2 - 3) discectomy and fusion, 18 cases were fixed by anterior cervical plate. The type of fractures, radiology characteristics, and clinical outcomes were investigated.


RESULTS
No graft displacement or absorption, infection and neurologic deterioration occurred. All fresh dislocation of axis and C(2 - 3) angulation were corrected. Fusion of C(2 - 3) intervertebral space and pedicle fracture were acquired in all of the patients. After a mean follow-up of 31 months, ranging from 8 to 48 months, nearly all of the complains disappeared after operation.


CONCLUSIONS
Hangman's fracture is not restricted at pedicle of the axis. Fracture combined with intervertebral disc injury is a special type of Hangman's fracture. Anterior discectomy and fusion of C(2 - 3) intervertebral disc is an effective operation method in accord with the pathophysiology of this special injury.
Department of Orthopaedics, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China.
Xiong-Sheng
XS
Chen
Lian-Shun
LS
Jia
Shi-Feng
SF
Cao
Xiao-Jian
XJ
Ye
Bin
B
Ni
De-Yu
DY
Chen
Xu-Hui
XH
Zhou
Jian-Ru
JR
Xiao
Wen
W
Yuan
Jun
J
Tan
D000328:Adult; D001368:Axis, Cervical Vertebra; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D014143:Traction; D016896:Treatment Outcome