Neurological outcome following early versus delayed lower cervical spine surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the timing of surgery affects neurological outcome in patients with lower cervical spine trauma.


METHODS
29 patients with a fracture and 38 with a fracture-dislocation of C3 to C7 cervical vertebrae were treated operatively during the inclusive period January 1987 to December 2000. Surgery was performed as soon as the patient's medical condition allowed, within 72 hours in 31 and more than 72 hours after the injury in 36.


RESULTS
Only patients with incomplete spinal cord injury had neurological improvement after surgery. There was no statistically significant difference in final neurological outcomes in patients having early as opposed to delayed surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical intervention for cervical injuries is safe, as no postoperative neurological deterioration was recorded. Timing of surgery does not affect neurological outcome.
Sapkas
G S
GS
A' Department of Orthopaedics, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
Papadakis
S A
SA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome