Analysis of patient variables affecting neurologic outcome after traumatic cervical facet dislocation.
BACKGROUND
Traumatic cervical facet dislocation accounts for a disproportionate rate of neurologic disability. The relative importance of patient and management variables, including the timing of spinal reduction, in ultimate neurologic outcome has not been well defined.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze data from a cohort of patients sustaining traumatic cervical facet dislocation to determine the relative importance of several patient and management variables in neurologic recovery after injury.


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted at a major referral center for spinal-cord-injured patients.


METHODS
Forty-five patients sustaining traumatic cervical facet dislocation.


METHODS
Using improvement in American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score as the primary outcome measure, patient data were used to construct a statistical model allowing the analysis of several clinically relevant variables.


METHODS
The records of patients sustaining a traumatic cervical facet dislocation over a 5-year period were reviewed. Clinical data were collected for all patients with adequate follow-up. The data were used to construct a statistical model designed to analyze the contribution of the variables age, gender, time to reduction of the spine and initial motor score to neurologic improvement (the outcome measure). In addition, the effect of variable interaction was studied.


RESULTS
Most patients demonstrated neurologic improvement over the course of follow-up after cervical facet dislocation. For this data set, the variables age and initial motor score were significantly associated with neurologic improvement. However, time to reduction of the spine did not demonstrate a significant independent relationship to neurologic outcome. No significant interaction was found between patient age or gender and the time to reduction with regard to predicting neurologic recovery.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study uses a statistical model to determine the relative importance of clinically relevant variables for a population of patients after traumatic cervical facet dislocation. This model confirms the clinical impression that younger patients with lesser degrees of neurologic injury tend to achieve the best neurologic recovery after a traumatic facet dislocation. Although a strong benefit from earlier spinal column reduction did not emerge from the present data set, additional study is needed to define those patients who would benefit from immediate reduction of the spinal column.
Greg Anderson
D
D
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Rothman Institute, 925 Chestnut St., 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. greg.anderson@rothmaninstitute.com
Voets
Chris
C
Ropiak
Ray
R
Betcher
Josh
J
Silber
Jeff S
JS
Daffner
Scott
S
Cotler
Jerome M
JM
Vaccaro
Alexander R
AR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009043:Motor Activity; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies